For Those of You That Have Naval Service

Air Mobile

I can catch some fish with this setup...

More Than A Box -

Of all the things I have ever received as a gift - this is the end all, be all. Charlie B gave it to me today and yeah I did get choked up... If you had a hand in conceiving the idea for this, setting up the sacrificial engraving, rigging the charges, getting it from point A to point B, or any of the other phases - please accept my biggest MAHALO. Thank you all very much! For reasons best left alone, I chose to not have a ceremony (if you really want to know why, give me a holler and we can have a couple of chicken wings while I tell you - you'll say "oh, that's why" afterwards) - but small gestures here and there over the past few months let me know I did my best and was able to make a difference. I know the time and effort that goes into making a plate and box like this and this was no small feat - I can't say thanks enough and I will miss the camaraderie that this represents. HOOYAH SEABEE DIVER BROTHERS!!! I'll see you on the other side!

Not "G" Rated - You have been warned

There is a distinct culture among US Navy Divers. Diving ain't easy - and it ain't for everyone. The Navy Museum has a small section displaying diving gear in the back corner (fitting place to put the rifraf). This is a close up of the previous picture. Divers always seem to have a blue and gold tshirt on with some saying that other divers before them have immortalized. One tshirt that stands out in my memory is one with a diver wearing a watch cap, suited up with the copper collar on, but no MK V helmet on yet. He has a cup of coffee in his hand and a smile on his face. The caption on the tshirt says "How about a good cup of shut the fuck up!!!" - a nice way of saying "get to work you sniveling piece of shit - if you want to complain go out and be a sillyvilian - if you want to be a Navy Diver, man up, jump in and turn two" The look on this little model's face and the way he is holding the lantern says what that tshirt has in writing. You can't be claustrophobic if you are going to be a diver. This must have sucked. Divers embrace suck. Oh and this guy is naked. Navy Divers do like running around naked - at least in the old days they did. Or when no one is looking. No one that can put you in the brig. As I am closing in on my retirement date (74 working days left, and if you take what leave I'll have left over before going on terminal, I'm really down to 58 working days) I smile remembering all the diving, camaraderie, and tshirts I had. I am proud that I contributed to the Diving culture and will always snicker that I drink coffee too (now GET TO WORK)!!!

Busy at Work

Sorry for not posting lately...

Been busy with work.

Put on a large Change of Command Ceremony last Friday.

Went sailing with Roger and Michelle on Saturday to Cat Island (yes there is still oil out there).

Took the kids to the pool on Sunday.

And have been putting in some hours this week (even though the wind has been blowing nicely in the afternoons).

I was going to do the YOLO Race out in Seaside this weekend, but there is a Mud Run here on base this weekend that I'll do instead.

Hopefully there'll be some wind over the weekend...

Aloha cuz's!

Last Deep Dive

The last known deep dive I am likely to make. My line of work after this job will have very few opportunities - much less than I have now - to make really deep dives.

I hit 174' on this one.

I got NO2 narcosis really good towards the end of this one -

Have I said I love my job????

Hoo Yah!!!

Whitey

If you look closely, you will see a creature that demands complete and utter respect. Anything that stops 23 Hooyah Deep Sea divers and a crew of 5 hardened sailors on a 120 foot vessel in their tracks, make a tight U-turn and stare with awe is one of several politically incorrect human-object scenarios or something big that can eat you.

The estimates ranged from 12' (most probable) to over 25' (estimates from the known embellishers) - this fish was scared of no one...

I've got a race that hits a stretch of open ocean on Saturday... hmmmmmmm.....

Respect to the fish -

Promotion

I just came back from San Diego where I visited with some of my troops and I had the distinct honor and privilege of promoting my senior enlisted leader - Senior Chief Koelbel - to Master Chief.

In what is seeming to be the new standard, the pinning ceremony was conducted underwater. The bay was 62 degrees, so we wore 7mm wetsuits beneath the camouflage uniforms.

This is a great way to recognize the achievements of a great American hero!

Hoo-Yah Master Chief Koelbel!!!

USS Stockdale Commissioning

I took La to the Commissioning Ceremony for the USS Stockdale. They had it right in my backyard (UCT TWO) - the place where we jump in for training dives.

Some great speakers reflecting on the American Spirit as embodied by VADM Stockdale and his 7 years as a POW. Watching a ship come to life is an awesome event. This was my second viewing - USS Arleigh Burke was my first (I was a Midshipman aboard USS Anzio in Norfolk).

Beautiful day!