SEABEE FROGMEN CALLED 'UDT's'.... - The Firearms Forum

rooter · 06-06-2012, 11:24 AM

Early in my Seabee career (1951) there were still many of the old WWII Seabees on board...Many packed the nickname of 'BOOM-BOOM' because of their experiences with explosives and the water work...I worked blowing mahogony tree stumps in the Philippines with Chief BOOM BOOM SCHLUSSER...He didn't warn me about getting the nitro on a sweaty forehead...causes a Mutha-Sized headache!!!! Chief

JUNE 6, 1944
June 6, 2012 at 07:00:45 AM

During D-Day of the Normandy invasion, (June 6, 1944), the Seabees were among the first to go ashore as members of naval combat demolition units. After the invasion fleet had arrived off the coast, approximately 10,000 Seabees serving under the 25th Naval Construction Regiment began moving in the pontoon causeways in order to get supplies onto the beach.

Brass Tacks · 06-06-2012, 12:29 PM

anyone remember the movie The Frogmen? With Richard Widmark, Dana Andrews, and Gary Merrill.

"The new commander of a Navy Underwater Demolition Team--nicknamed "Frogmen"--must earn the respect of the men in his unit, who are still grieving over the death of their former commander and resentful of the new one." from IMDB.com

whymememe · 06-06-2012, 10:54 PM

Weren't the frogmen men before the SEALS? I was in diapers watching Big Picture reels that showed these guys deploying off the motor boats, mining harbors and disarming mines. Those were the most awesome men. I wonder if any of them are still around?

rooter · 06-07-2012, 05:08 AM

Current NAVAL MOBILE CONSTRUCTION BATTALIONS deployed around the world have qualified divers trained and ready for tasks involving construction work underwater...These young, designated BUILDERS (BU) and STEELWORKERS (SW) are sent to diving schools and training facilities at Coronado, California or Little Creek, Virginia (Amphib. Bases). Back a number of years ago a young navyman was killed on board a passenger plane by terriorists and thrown onto the tramack...The news identified that young troop as a Navy Diver when in fact he was a Steelworker 2/c petty officer..a Seabee..just happened to be one of the 'frogmen'. Chief

NOTE: Robert Dean Stethem SW-2 (Diver), United States Navy
This young Navy diver was returning from an assignment in the Middle East when the commercial jet on which he was a passenger was hijacked by terrorists. He was shot to death, after being tortured, by the terrorists on June 15, 1985.
He is buried in Section 59 of Arlington National Cemtery, near a number of other Americans who were victims of worldwide terrorism.

whymememe · 06-07-2012, 04:59 PM

I remember the incident. They killed him just because he had a U.S. military I.D. Those coward bastards, they should not be allowed one ounce of mercy.

When I worked at the Navy Coastal Systems Station in Panama City, FL, I had the previlage to be in the company of some of these brave divers. There, they trained Navy Seal Divers and Underwater salvage divers. They also did dive research, testing the rebreather equipment and different gas mixtures. I have never seen a finer group of men.

bobski · 06-07-2012, 07:29 PM

aka: MDSU.
ahh yes...know it well. they were right across from our compound.
one berth up the minesweeper USS CHIEF was commissioned. honorary plank owner right here....

06-06-2012, 11:24 AM	#1
rooter VMBB Senior Chief Of Staff Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Marty Robbins old hometown, Glendale Arizona--a suburb of Phoenix. Contributor Posts: 9,271	SEABEE FROGMEN CALLED 'UDT's'.... Early in my Seabee career (1951) there were still many of the old WWII Seabees on board...Many packed the nickname of 'BOOM-BOOM' because of their experiences with explosives and the water work...I worked blowing mahogony tree stumps in the Philippines with Chief BOOM BOOM SCHLUSSER...He didn't warn me about getting the nitro on a sweaty forehead...causes a Mutha-Sized headache!!!! Chief JUNE 6, 1944 June 6, 2012 at 07:00:45 AM During D-Day of the Normandy invasion, (June 6, 1944), the Seabees were among the first to go ashore as members of naval combat demolition units. After the invasion fleet had arrived off the coast, approximately 10,000 Seabees serving under the 25th Naval Construction Regiment began moving in the pontoon causeways in order to get supplies onto the beach. __________________ -->

06-06-2012, 12:29 PM	#2
Brass Tacks Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 553	Re: SEABEE FROGMEN CALLED 'UDT's'.... anyone remember the movie The Frogmen? With Richard Widmark, Dana Andrews, and Gary Merrill. "The new commander of a Navy Underwater Demolition Team--nicknamed "Frogmen"--must earn the respect of the men in his unit, who are still grieving over the death of their former commander and resentful of the new one." from IMDB.com __________________ The Second Amendment, America's Original Homeland Security I don't know how I got over the hill without ever getting to the top.

06-06-2012, 10:54 PM	#3
whymememe Former Guest Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: FEMA Region IV Contributor Posts: 1,445	Re: SEABEE FROGMEN CALLED 'UDT's'.... Weren't the frogmen men before the SEALS? I was in diapers watching Big Picture reels that showed these guys deploying off the motor boats, mining harbors and disarming mines. Those were the most awesome men. I wonder if any of them are still around?

06-07-2012, 05:08 AM	#4
rooter VMBB Senior Chief Of Staff Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Marty Robbins old hometown, Glendale Arizona--a suburb of Phoenix. Contributor Posts: 9,271	Re: SEABEE FROGMEN CALLED 'UDT's'.... Current NAVAL MOBILE CONSTRUCTION BATTALIONS deployed around the world have qualified divers trained and ready for tasks involving construction work underwater...These young, designated BUILDERS (BU) and STEELWORKERS (SW) are sent to diving schools and training facilities at Coronado, California or Little Creek, Virginia (Amphib. Bases). Back a number of years ago a young navyman was killed on board a passenger plane by terriorists and thrown onto the tramack...The news identified that young troop as a Navy Diver when in fact he was a Steelworker 2/c petty officer..a Seabee..just happened to be one of the 'frogmen'. Chief NOTE: Robert Dean Stethem SW-2 (Diver), United States Navy This young Navy diver was returning from an assignment in the Middle East when the commercial jet on which he was a passenger was hijacked by terrorists. He was shot to death, after being tortured, by the terrorists on June 15, 1985. He is buried in Section 59 of Arlington National Cemtery, near a number of other Americans who were victims of worldwide terrorism. __________________

06-07-2012, 04:59 PM	#5
whymememe Former Guest Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: FEMA Region IV Contributor Posts: 1,445	Re: SEABEE FROGMEN CALLED 'UDT's'.... I remember the incident. They killed him just because he had a U.S. military I.D. Those coward bastards, they should not be allowed one ounce of mercy. When I worked at the Navy Coastal Systems Station in Panama City, FL, I had the previlage to be in the company of some of these brave divers. There, they trained Navy Seal Divers and Underwater salvage divers. They also did dive research, testing the rebreather equipment and different gas mixtures. I have never seen a finer group of men.

06-07-2012, 07:29 PM	#6
bobski Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: va., conn., & mo. Posts: 948	Re: SEABEE FROGMEN CALLED 'UDT's'.... aka: MDSU. ahh yes...know it well. they were right across from our compound. one berth up the minesweeper USS CHIEF was commissioned. honorary plank owner right here....