Deep-Sea Stories: Recent Episodes
Ross
Deep-Sea Stories is about U.S. Navy Divers. I interview the living historians of Navy Divers who talk about Navy Divers and dive commands we served. These are the same stories we told sitting at bars and beaches all over the world with Navy Divers. We want to communicate as many Deep-Sea Stories as possible. When someone asks about Navy Divers 200 years from now, our memories will live through our Deep-Sea Stories.
A Memorial Day Message. HMC (FMF/SW/DV) and Diving Medical Technician Pedro J. Gonzales reported to the Consolidated Divers Unit, now known as the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center Dive Locker, in December 1999. The Petty Officer's Mess knew Pedro as "Pete." In the fall of 2000, Chief Gonzales was one of the dive team members who assisted with pushing the RC 6500 recompression chamber inside the newly reconstructed chamber medical room. Pete led the oversight team that monitored contracts to install two diver compressors and all the associated piping for the recompression chamber. Ghief Gonzales applied for a temporary duty assignment with the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, Hawaii. Pete met up with his specialized medical team to recover missing prisoner of war remains in Vietnam in February 2001. Tragically, Chief Petty Officer Gonzales and his medical team were killed in action on 7 April 2002 when their helicopter crashed while in transit to a POW-MIA excavation site in Quan Binh, Vietnam. Navy Divers at Consolidated Divers Unit dedicated the RC 6500 recompression chamber to Pete shortly after the chamber obtained initial certification in August of 2001. Consolidated Divers Unit became the hub for Navy Divers, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians, Navy SEALS and other service members suffering from diving-related illnesses and other illnesses requiring recompression chamber therapy.
In August of 2007, Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two Navy Divers were ordered by President George W. Bush to recover victims from under the collapsed Interstate Highway Bridge in the Mississippi River. Recovery of victims was part of the harbor clearance mission to restore the $1.3 million-a-day commercial waterway. The conditions in the Mississippi River were challenging. During my Command Master Chier and Master Diver tour of duty, this is how I viewed this mission outcome through my Faceplate Window. These are my opinions.
Robert Leroy Cave Engineman Master Chief, Master Diver, we knew him as Bobby Cave. He was a 35-year Veteran of the United States Navy. He attained the Rank of Master Chief Petty Officer. Bobby was a Saturation Master Diver. He is the world record holder for the deepest ocean suit dive. In 1972, exposed to ambient pressure in the open ocean, the record was set at 1,025 feet of seawater by a small Navy dive team with Bobby Cave, using the MK2 diving system. The decompression schedule lasted two weeks and was completed at a hyperbaric recompression chamber at the U.S. Navy Experimental Diving Unit in Panama City, Florida. Many Navy leaders I admired as I progressed through the Navy ranks were fortunate to experience dive missions with Bobby Cave. In this episode, I describe my twenty-minute encounter with Master Diver Cave. A lesson I'll never forget.
Navy Diver Chief Petty Officer Micheal Gilbert discusses his real-life challenges and Deep-Sea Story-filled dive career in his new and soon-to-be-published book "Fouled Anchor." Chief Gilbert entered the Navy in May 1998 and retired in August 2019. Chief Gilbert talks about having to complete his first tour of duty in the fleet before attending 2nd Class Dive School. Young Sailor Michael Gilbert recalls his first ship USS Hawes (FFG-53), receiving a distress call immediately following the terrorist bomb attack on USS Cole (DDG-67). During the initial tense moments, Michael was in the emergency assistance team deployed from the USS Hawes to aid USS Cole in their recovery efforts. He witnessed the arrival of the Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two dive team and aided them in any way he could to apply battle damage repairs to the Cole. During the Deep-Sea Stories interview, Chief Gilbert credited these Navy Divers for their mentorship; Navy Diver Brad Purple, MDV Michael Sonnenberg, MDV Kenifick, MDV Billy Gilbert, MDV Scott Brodeur, Chief Warrant Office Jim Hordinski, MDV Ashley Gosset, MDV Jason Wahl, and MDV Jim Mariano.
Master Chief Master Diver Robert Carmichael served in the United States Navy from June 30, 1978, to October 30, 2000. Bob entered the Navy just after turning 17 years of age. He went to SCUBA dive school winter of 1981 through the holidays and into 1982, followed by attending Navy 2nd Class Dive School. He had to repeat the SCUBA phase all over again. Bob went to 1st Class Dive School in 1986 and qualified Master Diver in 1991.
Bob Carmichael talks about great team efforts while he served on the USS Bolster ARS-38, USS Safeguard ARS-50, USS Conserver ARS-39, USS Canopus AS-34, Trident Refit Facility Kings Bay, Georgia, Ship Repair Facility (SRF) Yokosuka, Japan, Subbase Pearl Harbor, and Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit ONE in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Bob Carmichael mentioned names were Master Diver David Julius December, Master Diver Sam Sangrey, Master Diver Jimmy John, Master Diver Mike Einhellig, Master Diver Searcy, Master Diver Richard “Rag Man” Radecki, Master Diver Leno Mattioni, Master Diver Don Curtis, Master Diver Ray Augustine, Master Diver Donnie Dennis, Master Diver Ray “Boy” Kayona, Master Diver Bob Quant, Master Diver Frank Perna, Master Diver Eric Frank, Master Diver Richard Storment, Doc James Arendale.
Master Chief Master Diver Steve Wiggins joined the U.S. Navy in November 1978 and retired from active duty in October 2005. He served in the fleet for five years as a Yeoman before he attended Navy 2nd Class Dive School in 1984 at Coronado, California. Steve attended 1st Class Dive School from 1987 over the holiday to 1988. In 1995, Steve earned his Navy Master Diver Qualification.
Master Diver Wiggins' most memorable dive commands were the USS Kittiwake (ASR-13), from 1988 to 1991, where he qualified submarine rescue chamber operator and operated SRC 8 to 850 feet of seawater for certification. He was stationed on the USS Frank Cable (AS-40) from 1985 to 1987. Steve did instructor duty at NAVSUBTRACENPAC aka NASTYPAC. Steve was a Master Diver on the USS Safeguard (ARS-50) from 1996 to 1999. Master Diver Wiggins was heavily involved in creating the Navy Diver rating when he served at the Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving in Panama City, Florida.
Steve says every Navy Master Diver influenced him toward a successful career. While telling his Deep-Sea Story, he mentions Master Chief Master Diver Jimmy John, Master Chief Master Diver Jim Carolyn, Master Chief Master Diver Jim Santo, Master Chief Master Diver Ron Ervin, Master Chief Master Diver Doug Heater, Master Chief Master Diver Frank LaQuay, Master Chief Master Diver Paul Schadow, Master Chief Master Diver Ryan Stewart, Master Chief Master Diver Davy Dryden, Captain Windhorst, Captain Wilkens, Diving Officer Doug Benett, Master Chief Master Diver Benke, Master Chief Master Diver Kyle Gaillard, Master Chief Master Diver Fred Orns, Master Diver Chris Lott, Hal Holey, Brent Bradley, Jeff Cumins.
Richard (Rick) Armstrong joined the Navy in August 1975. He qualified Navy Master Diver in 1991 and was selected and commissioned into the Navy's Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Diving Technician program. Chief Warrant Officer Grade 5 Rick Armstrong retired from the Navy in April 2009.
Rick recalled the names of his mentors that inspired his successful career. His father, Richard Armstrong Sr., Master Chief Master Diver Robert "Bobby" Cave, Master Chief Master Diver George "Gunner" Powel, Master Chief Master Diver Russ Mallet, and Captain Bob Rupel. Other Navy Divers Rick mentioned were CWO and Master Diver Roland Bissonette, Master Chief Master Diver Mark Leet, Master Diver Chris Dolan, and others Rick said there were too many to mention. One of Rick's most accomplished moments in diving was standing up the Navy's first underwater dive weld team in the Navy. His most memorable dive missions were changing out two 42-ton propellers on the USS Ronald Reagon (CVN-72) and diving in 250 feet of seawater using mixed gas HEO2 to recover Ironclad USS Monitor's steam engine and condenser. Rick's history of assignments is Naval Training Center San Diego, California, Submarine School, Groton, Connecticut, USS John Marshall (SSBN-611), USS Deliver (ARS-23), Hull Maintenance Technician "A" School Treasure Island, California, Hull Maintenance Technician Welding and Cutting School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USS Acadia (AD-43), USS Dixon (AS-37), USS McKee (AS-41), Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center, 2nd Class Dive School, Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center 1st Class Dive School, Panama City, Florida, Naval Ocean Systems Center (NOSC) Dive Locker Point Loma and San Clement, California, Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center Instructor Duty Coronado, California, Consolidated Divers Unit San Diego, California, Officer Candidate School, Pensacola, Florida, Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit TWO Little Creek, Virginia, and Southwest Regional Maintenance Center San Diego, California.
Master Chief Master Diver Mark Leet first enlisted into the U.S. Navy in September of 1978. Mark explains how he went to Navy 2nd Class Dive School twice in 1980 and again in 1984. He went to First class dive school in 1986 and then qualified as a Navy Master Diver in February 1999. The commands that MDV Leet served at were; USS Papago ATF-160, USS Petrel ASR-14, Harbor Clearance Unit Two, Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit TWO, USS Conserver ARS-39, Naval Experimental Dive Unit, USS Ortolan ASR-22, Naval Ocean Systems Center San Diego, California, USS Dixon AS-37, Consolidated Divers Unit, Instructor Duty at Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center Panama City, Florida, CG I MEF 1st Force Reconnaissance Co, USS Grapple ARS-53, Naval Submarine Escape Training Facility, 2nd Marine Division FMF Atlantic, Naval Submarine Support Facility, Naval Pressurized Submarine Escape Training Facility. Master Chief Leet served tours of duty as a Command Master Chief at USS Grapple, Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two, and the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center.
Mark discusses his involvement with the Swissair Flight 111 recovery mission and diving with the Canadian dive forces. During that time, Mark conducted recertification of the first mixed gas dive system when the Navy Dive program brought back mixed gas diving. Mark assisted the Canadians with standing up their mixed gas dive systems.
Navy Master Divers that inspired Mark to become a Navy Master Diver were Master Diver Jimmy Johnson, Master Diver Frank Bosky, Master Diver Leno Mattioni, Master Diver Richard “Ragman” Radecki, and Master Diver Ted Griggs.
Mark recalls these most notable names during his career; Master Diver Eric Frank, Master Diver Paul McMurtry, Master Diver John Coffelt, Jim Hordinski, Master Diver Neil Wolfe, Jay Rusin, Karl Froisy, Brian Fitzgerald, Bradley Howells, John Putnam, Bobbie “Tex” McClain, Troy Hunsberger, Jonnamen Jones, Dive Med Tech Scott Allison, Mike Cockrill, Tony Parker, Charito Tano, Master Diver Billy Gilbert, Navy Diver Chief Becky Jones, Master Diver Kevin Jones, Dive Medical Tech Corey St Pierre, Navy Diver William Tuckerman, Dennis Elsasser, Master Diver Todd Rood, Master Diver Rick Storment, Sarah Tres, Skippy Borden, and Master Diver Kyle Gaillard.
Ed Delanoy started his Navy career in the 1970s at the end of the Vietnam era until July 2000. He recalls the most influential people in his life and career, his father, Billie LeRoy Delanoy, his Uncle Edmond Bennett, and Engineering Officer at the Navy Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC) Dave Sullivan. Ed compares his fun with friends in his Deep-Sea Stories to movies about the Navy and the television series McHale's Navy. During his tour of duty at Commander and Chief Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC Fleet), Ed remembers driving the admiral's barge with President Gerald Ford onboard with the Admiral CINCPAC Fleet. One of Ed's most memorable dive jobs was conducting an emergent propellor replacement on the USS Enterprise in Alameda, California, and the party afterward. Ed said his best tour of duty, believe it or not, was Officer Prep School and NDSTC. Other tours of duty Ed served at were the USS Garcia FF-1040, USS Bolder LST-1190, Harbor Clearance Unit One, USS Samuel Gompers AD-37, USS Conserver ARS-39, USS Florikan ASR-9, Submarine Squadron One, Submarine Squadron Seven, and SDV Team One. Some Navy Divers and Sailors Ed remembers during his career are MDV John Reese, MDV Ron Skala, MDV Bruce Moorage, MDV Easing, CO of NEDU Easing, Master Chief Decker from the Samuel Gompers Mark Louis, and Sm Scepter.
Master Diver Steve Mulholland is currently the Man In the Sea Museum president. Steve speaks to his ongoing efforts to advance the Man In the Sea Museum into full integration with Panama City and Bay County, Florida. He counts on re-exciting the community of Navy Divers to engage with and make the Man In the Sea Museum a part of Panama City, Florida culture like the Navy Dive School is the center of Military Diving. Master Diver Mulholland talks about his time at the Navy Diving and Salvage Training Center, Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two, Deep Submergence Unit, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit One. Steve mentioned these Navy Divers that influenced him to become a Navy Master Diver and Navy Divers he knew along the way; Master Diver Leno Mattioni, Master Diver Ken Henkebien, Master Diver Tom Stock, Master Diver John Klukas, Master Diver Andy Nelson, Master Diver Alan Ramsey, Master Diver Bryon Van Horn, Master Diver Russ Mallet, Master Diver Rick Storment, Master Diver Hugh Scully, Master Diver Tim Roff, Master Diver Kent "Rock" Robarts, Master Diver Paul Wotus, Master Diver Steve Askew, Master Diver Mark Leet, Master Diver William Rubow, Navy Diver Kevin Credle
Two U.S. Navy Diving and Salvage historical missions highlight Captain Bobbie Scholley's 24-year distinguished career. In 2000, Captain Scholley was the officer in charge of the dive team that conducted the recovery and emergent battle damage repair mission following the bombing of the USS Cole DDG 67 in Yemen. Captain Scholley was Commanding Officer at Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two during the salvage of the ironclad civil war era USS Monitor's steam engine and gun turret in 2001 and 2002 off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Captain Scholley was also a commanding officer on the USS Bolster ARS-38 and Naval Weapons Station Earl, New Jersey. Captain Scholley also talks about her time on the USS Canopus AS-34, executive officer tour of duty on the USS Hoist ARS-40, Combat Logistics Group Two, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group Two, Little Creek, Virginia. Bobbie Scholley served as a board member and is an inductee to the Women Divers Hall of Fame. Navy Diver influences mentioned were Master Diver Bob Vandine, Chief Warrant Officer/Master Diver Frank Perna, Warrant Officer Rick Cavey, Master Diver Glenn Wyatt, Captain Rusty Mirick, MACS (DV) Teri Reese, LT Chip Griffinstrow, LT Doug Smith, Master Diver Gordon Westbrook, Captain Ed Edson, Chief Ruben Finger, Master Diver Russ Mallet, Phil Beierle, and Donna Tobias.
Master Chief Master Diver Kyle Gaillard talks about repairing America's ships and submarines during the height of the cold war while stationed onboard the USS Dixon AS-37, USS McKee AS-41, and Consolidated Divers Unit in San Diego, California. Kyle talks about his time at the Navy Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, Florida, filling Command Master Chief leadership roles at Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One and CENTCOM 56.1. Kyle mentioned these names that influenced him to be a Navy Master Diver and other Deep-Sea Diver Names; MDV William Romas, MDV John Searcy, MDV Kenny Snyder, MDV Chester Chatman, MDV Sam Sangrey, MDV Curtis Wylie, MDV Bobby Cave, CWO5/MDV Rick Armstrong, MDV Gorden Westbrook, MDV Danny Boyd, Navy Diver Windell Trent, HMC Pete Gonzolas, AJ the British Diver, HMC Jack Meyers, EODCM Terry Molitor, Captain Dan Coleman, Captain Thomas Murphy.
Master Diver Ralph Bowdish takes us back to the Vietnam era of diving and salvage near Saigon. He talks about tunneling in the rivers, rigging for a Bolster lift, and parbuckling using the MK5 and Jack Brown dive rigs. Master Diver Bowdish served on board the USS Florikan ASR-9, USS Tringa ASR-16, and USS Sunbird ASR-15. He also served with Master Diver Sam Adams, Master Diver Sam Sangrey, Master Diver Jerry Whitmer, Guennie Vendeto, Diving Officer/Master Diver Red Thomas, and Master Diver Bob Merriman. MDV Bowdish did a tour of duty at Harbor Clearance Unit One when the Executive Officer was Moose Cole.
Pepper Shirley talks about his Navy Dive friends Mike Cox, Ralph Bonnen, and Shawn Fannin. Pepper and his friends moved the propellers from in front of the Navy Diving and Salvage Training Center to the Navy Experimental Dive Unit commanding officers parking lot as a practical joke. Pepper also talks about conducting Battle Damage repairs to Navy Ships while stationed on the USS Jason. He supported the mini-subs Alvin and Mystic. He also talks about supporting saturation dives in the Gulf of Mexico as a commercial diver. Master Diver George Powell directs Pepper Shirley to don and conducts the first-ever MK 1 mod 0 Band Mask dive.
Master Diver Sam Sangrey tells us great Deep-Sea Stories from his time at Harbor Clearance Unit One, USS Sperry AS 12, USS Cape Code AD 43, USS McKee AS 41, and USS Coucal ASR 8. Master Sangrey talks about conducting Battle Damage Repairs on the SS Robinhood in Vietnam. Master Diver Sangrey also remembers great Deep-Sea Divers he served with; Charlie Gross, Robert "Rotten" Moore, Lee Reinhardt, MDV Bill "Blacky" Ensenor, MDV Jim Kerr, MDV Donald McKenzie, MDV R.C. Hall, MDV Ortiz, MDV Frank Bosky, Frank Mantel BM1 Brown, Corpsman David Ball, and Salvage Officer/Mustang LCDR and former CO of HCU 1 Swift.
Navy Diver Dave Guerra and I talk about Navy Divers and Sailors we served with on the USS Reclaimer ARS 42. Our Deep-Sea Stories covers 7 years of USS Reclaimer history from 1988 up to USS Reclaimer decommissioning in 1994.