STORIES FROM OUR NAVY DIVER MEMORIAL STAFF
I had the privilege of serving in the Navy for 30 years as a Navy Diving Officer with many amazing experiences, though some were not exactly in “Destination Resorts”. Many of the places we served had hazards of which we were unaware, and in recent years we’ve lost many of our shipmates, men and women alike. So, some of us got together to erect a memorial at Miramar National Cemetery in their Honor. It is being made, but it is not yet there. Perhaps you can consider helping with a tax-deductible contribution. DONATE
Thank you
Ray McKewon
It is amazing when you think about how one becomes a Military Diver. Growing up watching shows like Marine Boy, Sea Hunt, Flipper, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Jacques Cousteau’s adventures and playing Water Polo and Swimming has inspired me to pursue and attend Navy Dive School in Little Creek, VA, of course the best dive school. Since leaving dive school with that HooYah! mentality, I have met some amazing divers from all career paths, worked on awesome dive jobs, seen incredible underwater sights and just living the dream. I had the privilege of knowing divers that were close to me and have since past away, Kathy Lynch, Teri Reese, Dan Jackson and Mark Lessman. These and other divers have made great contributions to military diving, this is what keeps me working on the diver monument. Consider being a part of this legacy and donate what you can. DONATE
Thank you
Frank Purdy
I was a Midshipman at the US Naval Academy and learned of Navy Diving in 1975. Having been a swimmer and water polo player, SCUBA guy, grown up on the beaches of Southern California, and a fan of Sea Hunt, when my Academy Pistol Team coach (Senior Chief EOD) suggested I go as a Diver, well, that seemed to be just the thing to do. I did 30 years and kept my dive quals up the whole time. Diving was great: Spending time looking at the bottom side of submarines; Helping to develop classified weapons and projects out at San Clemente Island; Wrestling with sharks and blowing things up underwater; Diving in chilly Korea, the beautiful waters of the Philippines, and lovely Hong Kong; and Working with motivated, intelligent, interesting people made my whole career great. If someone is going to be in the Navy, they should do something special — something so cool that every day becomes an adventure. Navy Diving was that for me! DONATE
David Swingle
I had the honor and privilege of working for the US Navy for over 40 years in the active duty Navy, Department of Defense and Navy Reserves with 25 of those years serving as a US Navy Diver. I feel blessed to have experienced the most amazing diving locations around the world and I always look back over those years with great pride and credit my father for his wise counsel, when I was 18 he said “ Son if you’re going to choose a job, choose one that you will enjoy, because you will be doing it for a long time”. I have never forgotten his words and never regretted my decision to be a US Navy Diver, it remains one of my greatest personal achievements and I can honestly say that I truly did enjoy my job. It was during those years of diving that I had the opportunity to work with some of the finest professional people in the world who at the same time laughed and enjoy life and the comradery of being part of a family of Navy divers who understood the challenges and hazards that each of us faced on a daily bases while working in a hostel underwater world where some have paid the ultimate price.
I take great pride in being part of this group of motivated individuals who are striving to leave a memorial to the past, present and future US Navy trained diving legacy. With the help of those who feel compelled to contribute to this cause, we THANK YOU and look forward to the day the memorial is placed at Miramar National cemetery. DONATE
Rick Tate
As an eight year old boy Sea Hunt and Lloyd Bridges (I always thought his name was Mike Nelson) were my favorite. However, my desire to be a Navy Diver was motivated by the kind of sailors I knew that were already divers, and my respect and admiration for the kind of men they were; i.e. that’s what I want to aspire to be. Plus the second submarine I was attached to was having trouble getting volunteers to become scuba divers. So I raised my hand and started PT. Hoo Ya. DONATE
Marc Rasmussen
In my 25 year US Navy Career, 100% of every year, I had the privilege of being part of the Navy Diving Community requiring at least quarterly logged dives to all kinds of depths for all kinds of reasons. Although I retired as an SOC (SEAL Operator Chief), I also served as a Deep Sea hard-hat Diver and Diving Medical Technician (DMT). As the saying goes, we literally “dived the world over.” But none of us think to be more important than another. For as Navy Divers we are all “in the same body, with many members.” And not all of our members have the same diving function. “So we who are many are one body, and individually we are members one of another.” Amen and Hooyah. DONATE
Michael Meoli
