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I avoided Kodiak by leaving the USCG in 1980. I would have been with Scott in Kodiak that year as that was my next duty location. Could have even deployed on the same flight since he was Aircraft Mechanical Engineer position and I was Radio/Nav and we often flew together in San Diego. Dodged a bullet? IDK.

My only experience with really cold water is from scuba. Part of getting a NAUI Master Diver cert is cold water... we went into the Columbia River outside of Kennewick in 34F water, at the Keystone Jetty near Whidbey Island, and into a flooded abandoned missile silo in E WA (woo, that was cold). I had a thick wetsuit on, which would have felt similar to the Survival Suit that USCG helo crew wears.

Yes, Columbia at Kennewick was cold. I helped put in the light on the northwest corner of the confluence of the Snake and Columbia, there at that park. We put the light out about 50-100 feet in the water on some rocks. We built a square container for concrete - IIRC it was railroad ties with plywood inside - and then poured concrete into that. It was July, sunny and about 90 something degrees, but we were shivering because the water was so cold.

The other time was MLB school at Cape D in February. They were taking us out to swim ashore, but we were to jump in at the docks to get wet and acclimated to the cold water. We had to break ice to get into the water. River water is always so much colder than ocean water - usually.
 
Yes, Columbia at Kennewick was cold. I helped put in the light on the northwest corner of the confluence of the Snake and Columbia, there at that park. We put the light out about 50-100 feet in the water on some rocks. We built a square container for concrete - IIRC it was railroad ties with plywood inside - and then poured concrete into that.

I remember that place... been there many times. Besides normal travel, I had a biz taking care of private payphones in various locations all over NE OR and SE WA. I would swing west and take care of Pendleton, Hermiston, and Boardman, then thru Irrigon and Umatilla out to Hat Rock park. I would swing up Wallula to the confluence, then E towards Touchet, stopping at the Braedon apple facility, and on to Walla Walla. Or in the reverse of that more times than not.
 
Where is that? The one up near Davenport? Askin' for a friend...

Not sure exactly. We went up north along the river and dams and then cut east at about mid state or a bit further. Traveled east on gravel thur grasslands and rolling hills. Several concrete silo tops were visible. Entry to the silo connecting tunnels was down in a gulley and a ladder inside an up ended culvert sunk into the ground. There was also another entry that went into the abandoned facility. We self toured the sleeping quarters, kitchen, galley, a huge generator platform on springs. The silo dive was 125' in gin clear water at 32F. then we traveled underground, did some swim thrus, and jumped off a catwalk into the pool at another silo... with all flashlights turned off... pretty cool.

Undersea Adventures in Kennewick is the scuba shop that put on those dives. AFAIK, the only one that did. A call to them might provide better info.

Some info here: ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) in Washington State
 
Not sure exactly. We went up north along the river and dams and then cut east at about mid state or a bit further. Traveled east on gravel thur grasslands and rolling hills.
Sounds about the place where I know of at least one, near Davenport. East-central part of the state...

Undersea Adventures in Kennewick is the scuba shop that put on those dives. AFAIK, the only one that did. A call to them might provide better info.
I know those guys. I didn't get my cert with them, but a bunch of my dive buddies did. I'll check... :s0155:

Hey, thanks for that!
 
So probably the Quincy site near Royal City.

Went shooting on private land about 20 miles west of Royal City with a bunch of guys from Seattle back in the late 90s IIRC. They had 50s and cannon and mortars and other kewl stuff.
 
Ahhhhh, that makes sense, too. Lots of flat wide open spaces up that way, what with all of the tater fields and alfalfa...
 
Sorry for the drift.
My respect for all the men and women who have served and died was never in question.
 
Barry Horton.jpg

Barry Horton was an M60 gunner in A Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. On 3 Mar 1969 his under-strength rifle company was approaching their night position on a hill near Firebase Pause when they came under intense NVA fire in the Plei Trap Valley, and surrounded by numerically superior enemy forces. As casualties mounted, Barry moved forward and laid down a relentless line of fire on the enemy allowing fellow soldiers to regroup. Although already wounded, he continued firing while other wounded received attention until being mortally wounded. For his actions that day, Barry was posthumously awarded his third Purple Heart and the Silver Star. When I went to The Wall for the first time, at night, I took an etching of your name and cried for you, and for Ann and the daughter you would never meet.
 
I know those guys. I didn't get my cert with them, but a bunch of my dive buddies did. I'll check...

I got certified with them because they're NAUI vs most PADI being at resorts, etc. I thought the NAUI was a more difficult program. Not to throw shade at people with PADI certs... just mi dos centavos. I have a NAUI Master Diver cert. Wish I could still use it but partial pressures really play havoc with meds and I'm so out of shape, IMO it's not a sport for the medically and physically challenged.

You ever go on any of the dive boats out of Anacortes to the San Juan Islands? Some pretty cool dives there. Decent water temps and vis, box crab... lots of fun!
 
William(WD) Truitt
Vietnam, Purple heart
Willie Clucas
WWII - D-Day to the end
Glenn Clucas
Vietnam - Helicopter crew chief
Stan Richardson
WWII and Korea - P-38 and P-51 Pilot and instructor
Henry Bendenelli
WWII and Korea - B-25 navigator
Neil Arney
Vietnam

RIP Friends!!:(:(:(:(:(:(
 
Can a mod please do some thread cleaning and delete the clutter? We are memorializing the people who died in the line of duty and usually at young ages with grieving children and wives left behind. Not talking about damn scuba diving.
 
Can we please show some respect and keep this thread on topic?

Prob not.

We were talking about my buddy that died on a mission and wound up in cold water. After that, a veteran was sharing his experiences in cold water. I also shared how my only expeience was with scuba diving in cold water... two veterans reaching out and relating to each other on a sad day of remembrance..

I cannot imagine why you have a problem with that on a day like this. We veterans share the sorrow of losing our fellows, but we also share the joy in living, or it's all for naught. I put my butt in the water for people in trouble, not for a govt that told me who to kill. No disrespect intended to soldiers, but rescue members deserve a little grace. I'm sorry that some forum members think differently... it disturbs my remembrances of good Coasties.

Can a mod please do some thread cleaning and delete the clutter? We are memorializing the people who died in the line of duty and usually at young ages with grieving children and wives left behind. Not talking about damn scuba diving.

Ya know what... this thread started by talking about loses of USCG personel... then it drifted to everybody putting other military vets names in, when there was already a thread for that. That's okay with me and with ya'll. But one of my best buddies during my service (pulling many damn scuba divers out of the water) was killed by cold water. I mourn for him. Coasties are very skilled in water, next time you are out there doing damn scuba diving, damn boating, or maybe get swept off the damn rocks, you'll be glad a damn Coastie rescue swimmer, with some damn good skills in damn cold water jumps into harms way to save your damn hide. Try to be a little bit grateful for those skills and the damn experiences of a damn veteran SAR Helo Aircrewman... You get that???

Ya'll enjoy the rest of your day!!! Go cry in your beer or something, I'll remember, and HONOR, my USCG friends the way I want to... by living a good life and sharing with other vets.
 
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SA Steven Speer USCG, Station Yaquina Bay, Newport, Oregon - October 1, 1979

Steven (we called him Speerchucker - everybody had nicknames - one guy we called The Hulk), a friend of mine, was just 17 years old when he died in a senseless stupid accident while on duty in the watch tower. It wasn't anything heroic, but it was tragic to see such a young man with so much promise, die so suddenly. It affected us all for years.

He had just returned from a weekend hunting trip with a rifle I sold him. He was all excited about going the next opportunity too, and he was going to tell me all about it, but he had watch tower duty and I had my engineering rounds to make before I went off duty for several days (we were doing 48 on, 48 off at that time) - I was looking forward to seeing my parents and my daughter.

While I was on the Victory doing my daily inspection of the engine room, the OOD came down and told us about the accident, and that Speer had been taken to the ER. I thought he was joking - that OOD often pulled pranks.

I left for the 90 minute trip into Salem for my 2 days of liberty and when I got to my parents home I called the station. The comms watch said he had died shortly after being taken to the hospital.:(

A contingent from the station escorted his body and stood as honor guard for his burial in Idaho.

That was 40+ years ago and I still remember it all quite clearly.
 
No.

Can we let the discussion about what the thread should be drop, and get back to remembering those who died in service to our country instead? I am sorry I took the thread a bit off topic - I was just remembering some better times while in the USCG and the people I served with.

Please continue on.
 

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