Dave is a member of the Navy BeachJumpers, an organization that I had never heard of before I met him. Shows what I know: the BeachJumpers go all the way back to World War II, and old time swashbuckling movie star Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. played a large part in the group's formation. They've done some really noteworthy things; if, like me, you didn't know much about this group, I suggest that you check them out at the BeachJumpers' website: http://www.beachjumpers.com
Dave says: "We usually were the first to land before the SEAL/UDT units arrived...we left notes for them to enjoy the countryside when they arrived. We always left a loaf of bread and a bottle of wine just so they knew who landed first."
Dave is now retired and living with his wife Magda in Michigan. Below, Dave briefly relates a story about one of his experiences while serving on a River Patrol Boat in Viet Nam:
On Dec 14, 1969, in the Naval Operation Center Tra Cu Vietnam, Lancing Delta engaged a sampan. Delta I was hit by a B-40 rocket and wound up on the beach burning. During this operation, I found myself in the middle of the dark river whistling the Star Spangled Banner. That's how I got found.
I had no idea what had happened to me or of anything around me. I was blown right out of that baby in the air. The two men who found me said I was a lucky guy, because without that whistling they would have left the area because they were taking on fire, so I guess I'm one lucky person, to have survived. The PBR Navy took on a lot of serious casualties; one out of three men serving aboard PBRs were KIA or MIA. I guess it was someone's time to go, but not mine.
© D@2
