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LT Floyd F. Oliver
CWO Lowell K. Williams
ENS Kevin R. Murphy
LCDR Timothy A. Devine
floyd
Floyd F. (Bud) Oliver, LT, USN
Training Class 16 COR Graduated /56
Bud entered the service in November of 1953.. He saw Fleet Service on
the USS Brown DD546. He says,” I had completed my second cruise on the
USS Brown in February 1956 with orders to report for UDT training.
During my leave, before reporting for training, I was married in a
snowstorm in Northern Michigan. During the first month of UDT training I
lost over 35 pounds! To this day, I am still not sure whether it was the
rigorous training, our newly married life together, or my wife’s cooking
that caused this weight loss??
Bud says, I had many exciting responsibilities during my 4 years in the Navy. One
that stands out was my assignment while in UDT.. I was the officer in
charge of a group of team members and support staff from the Amphib
base. Our mission was to blast channels in the heavy surf zone off the
coast of San Nicholas Island and Big Sur for laying electronic cables.
The cables provided an electronic network along the West Coast for
detecting submarines and ship. In addition, if plane went down along the
coast, they could detonate a small explosive that provided their exact
location. This was a big responsibility for a Junior
Officer, approximately 26 years old. I believe it helped developed a
“can do” attitude that was valuable during my professional career. One
of the officers I worked closely with was Jon Lindbergh..son of Charles
Lindbergh.
Jon had a similar assignment but at different locations. I did not see
Jon on your list of former team members? As I recall he was probably in
training classes 15 or 15.
Bud was discharged in 1958. He then
formed a professional diving company. In civilian life he was president and
founder of PEI Sales Associates. Floyd has a Masters Degree in
Engineering. After 40 years in business, he retired in 1999. He is
married to Ann P. Oliver and they have one son, Peter, and three
daughters, Merlissa, Amy, and Sandra and eight grandchildren. They
reside at 2216 Deodala Drive, Lost Altos, CA 24024. Tele 650-963-0379,
E-mail FFOIiver@sbcglobal.net.
lowell
CWO Lowell K. (LK) Williams, USN
Training Class 7, Fort Pierce, FL graduated 1944
L. K. or Willie served in Underwater Demolition Team Eleven in WWII
until 1945. After that he had shore duty at Memphis TN and Foley
Alabama. He then served on the carrier USS Palau CV 122 until 1949 when
he was reassigned to Underwater Demolition Teams Two and Twenty One
until 1959.
Click to enlarge and to read the captions
Progressing to Warrant Officer, he spent the rest of his time in fleet
and shore assignments. He retired in 1975 with 33 years service.
When he retired he spent most of his time “piddling” around on his place
in Buckingham, Virginia. And from the looks of it he seems to be
enjoying it. Married to Rudelle C. for 55 years. They have two daughters,
Bonnie Williams, and Joyce R. Camron, both of whom are teachers. They
have one great-grandson whose namesake is Kenneth Thai Justic. He lives
in Buckingham Va.
Legend: L.K. is one of the easiest going frogs I ever met. No
matter when you come upon him, a big grin breaks out across his face. I
hadn’t seen him forty years. He says, "Where the hell have you
been?" and he loads out a batch of memories. It seemed it was like we
just saw each other yesterday. He was as great a teammate as there is.
Sort of a "Cool Hand Luke." He is a walking history book of the teams.
Even when he left to go the fleet for 15 years, he kept up with UDT.
Someone needs to sit down with him and get an oral history. With all the
stories he has , it would be worthwhile.
For some reason he reminds of my younger son, Tom. He has that easy
going way that makes people like you.. Tom was country before country
was hip (Merle Haggard country). Both of them I’m sure liked the
outdoors, farms, woods, lakes, deer, rabbits, and tomatoes fresh from
the garden. Among other things, he liked to piddle around and liked
southern home cooking. Ham and beans, corn bread, buckwheat cakes,
sausage and eggs, black eyed peas and catfish and hush puppies, fried
chicken, hot-wings and beer. Tom was strong as a pickup truck yet quiet
as a fox. Both of them never ever forgot a friend in need. Both were a
cool and welcoming breeze through the lives of all who knew them. And
so, that's why I like L.K. a whole lot. He brings back great memories.
Tom died at the age 34 when a semi-truck ran a red light.
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kevin
Kevin R. Murphy, ENS, USN (Ret)
Training Class 8, COR Graduated
7/53
Born in Stamford, Connecticut. Left Stamford High School in final spring
semester to enlist in the US Navy on April 1, 1946. Graduated with
honors from Submarine school in New London, CT in October 1946. Reported
aboard the USS Diodon, SS349, November 11, 1946. Served aboard the
Diodon in the Korean war zone until January 1953. Volunteered for, and
completed UDT training in Coronado, CA in March 1953. Reported for duty
to UDT-3 in April 1953.
Attended and completed US Navy Deep Sea Diving school and Explosive
Ordinance Disposal school in 1953 and 1954.
Appointed Chief Diving Instructor for UDT-12 in 1956 and given the
assignment to create an open circuit diving instruction -curriculum and
training program for the team.
Transferred to UDT Training Unit on Coronado Amphibious Base in 1957 and
given the same assignment to create a diving program, which up to that
time had not been a part of basic UDT training. In addition to diving
training, other classes I taught were demolitions of all ilk, radio
procedure, cartography, land warfare tactics, physical training, and
hand to hand combat.
Remained in UDTRA until honorably discharged from the US Navy in April
of 1966 after 20 full years of service.
Started career with San Diego Divers Supply, Inc, KA SDDS in April of
1946 as a branch manager and Company Chief Diving instructor. Became
Partner, Secretary-treasurer and General Manager of SDD IN 1969.
Served without compensation for seventeen years as Educational Director
for the National Association of Scuba Diving Store, KA NASDS, My NASDS
responsibilities included organizing, over-seeing, and instructing in
four one-week, Instructor Certification clinics annually and doing the
same once annually at a one-week Store Owners Only business meeting.
Taught volunteer business classes for undergraduates at the then
fledgling National University for two semesters in 1975.
Retired from business in 1996 following thirty years with San Diego
Divers Supply, Inc., and became the sole caregiver for my terminally ill
wife who, during that time suffered from severe dementia and paranoia.
In December of 2000 Kevin became reacquainted with the beautiful Ms.
Gayl Foshee. To my everlasting joy we were married in August of 2003.
Kevin has a son, Kevin, and a daughter, Vivian, and two grand children.
The Murphys live at 4802 Edgeware Rd., San Diego, CA 92116-2337. Tele
619-283-2474.E-mail
bullmoose14@cox.net.
Editors Note: For about five years Kevin has been listed as
deceased in the Fifties Frog Journal. Thankfully, Dick Bonin discovered
our mistake and contacted Kevin and me to bring him back to life. I must
confess I am baffled as to how he got there. But as he says: “The Frog
Lives” and we are grateful for that. Kevin and his family have my
sincerest apology. This corrects the error and it will be noted in the
Navy Historical Center and the Library of Congress Veteran’s Project as
well. To Kevin thanks for being a good sport.
devine
LCDR Timothy (Tad) A. Devine, USNR, Training Class 20, COR, 1958
Tad entered the service in August 22, 1957 . He saw fleet service aboard
the USS Telfair APA210. After graduation from UDTRA, he was assigned to
UDT-11. He spent 3 years on active duty and served in the reserves
thereafter for 15 years.
His civilian profession was as President, Devine Properties, Inc. A
property and asset management, landscape design, and contracting
company. He graduated form Stanford University. He spent 43 years in the
company.
Married 42 years, to Donna S, Devine. They have a daughter Debra (Devine)
Morton, with 2 grandchildren, Timothy James “TJ” and Margarite “Maggie”.
And a son Donald Andrew “Drew” Devine. They reside at 1424 Dolphin
Terrace, Corona del Mar, CA 92625. Tele: 949-644-9664, E-mail:
Bulldivine @aol.com.
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