Y H I S T O R UDT-SEAL MUSEUM ASSOCIATION, INC. | WINTER 2020 H I S WINTER 2020

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UDT-SEAL Museum Association, Inc. National Executive Committee Willard B. Snyder, President, Florida Board of Directors CAPT SEAL Rick Woolard, Vice President, Florida Board of Directors Don McClure, Board Chairman, California Board of Directors ADM Kerry Metz, Board Vice Chairman, California Board of Directors Florida Board of Directors CAPT (SEAL) Kag Cagnoni LCDR (SEAL) Hector Delgado (SEAL) Michael Donnelly Elliot Hershberg Dan Kurek – Treasurer John Lee Don McClure (SEAL) Sean Rosario Jim Shafer, MD - Secretary COL Willard B. Snyder – President Phil Taub (SEAL) David Watts CAPT (SEAL) Frank Winget RADM (SEAL) Edward Winters CAPT (SEAL) Rick Woolard – Vice President CAPT (SEAL) Norman Olson – Emeritus California Board of Directors Joseph Balla (SEAL) Lance Cummings Ben Haddad Kipland Howard Don McClure – Chairman RADM Mac McLaughlin (SEAL) John McTighe RADM (SEAL) Kerry Metz – Vice Chairman Darren Morgan Christopher Neils - Secretary CAPT (SEAL) Bob Schoultz Tom Sudberry (SEAL) Andy Tafelski (SEAL) David Watts – Treasurer For a complete list of all of our Directors, please visit our website: www.NavySEALMuseum.org Sta Master Chief (SEAL) Rick Kaiser – Chief Operating Of cer CDR (SEAL) Grant Mann – Florida Executive Director Master Chief Ken Corona – Florida Assistant Executive Director Lisa Fulton – Of ce Manager Elaine Ryan – Media and Marketing Manager Ruth McSween – Curator Phil Ryan – K9 Handler/Facility & Equipment Manager Andy Brady – Events/Volunteer Coordinator Margaret Chase – Retail Manager Tara Latrimore – Membership Manager K9s Raven & Bullet – Museum Security Mike Shockley - Chaplain Fire in The Hole Contributors Editor in Chief: Elaine Ryan Copy Editor: Ruth McSween Photography: Elaine Ryan, Amir Pishdad, Russell Gibson Policy Statement Publication of writers’ views and advertising herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement by the UDT-SEAL Museum Association, Inc. or Museum staff and volunteers. The Association’s Board of Directors reserves the right to reject or edit any editorial or advertising submitted for publication in Fire in the Hole.

Features Insider’s Guide Departments 10 A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT COL Willard B. Snyder 12 A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Grant Mann 14 A MESSAGE FROM THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Ken Corona 16 A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Rick Kaiser 18 ABOUT THIS ISSUE History Happening Now 20 CURATOR’S CORNER Unexpected Arrival 22 SHOP TALK Gifts Novelties and Knives 24 TRIDENT HOUSE TIDINGS A Fort Pierce Refuge 26 SEAL Spotlight Lance Cummings 32 RAVE REVIEWS FOR RAVEN AND BULLET Dogs of Distinction 70 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Tom Percoskie 76 IN MEMORIAM 77 FINAL CALL 34 SWIM WITH A MISSION SUPPORTS THE NAVY SEAL MUSEUM VIRTUALLY SWAM20 a Success 36 A DIMINUTIVE MAN LARGER THAN LIFE The Passing of Dante Stephensen 38 LOSING A BELOVED FROGMAN The Passing of Harold Hall 40 CHALLENGING LIMITS The Epic Charity Challenge 42 CREATING A COMBAT DOG Lena Toritch Constructs the Canine’s True Spirit 44 US NAVY UDT/SEAL MONUMENT A Miramar National Cemetery Memorial Walkway, San Diego 48 THE HEROES BEHIND THE HEROES ON THE BLUFF EVENT With Gratitude to Our Palmetto Bluff Host Committee 58 THE NAVY SEAL MUSEUM FRIENDLY FIRE PODCAST The podcast where two old friends with differing opinions get together to discuss current events and topics and still part as friends. 59 SPECIAL ACCESS PROGRAM TOURS Closer Still Without Enlistment 62 SPECIAL GUESTS Museum Honored to Hosts VIPs 66 Battle for The Aleutian Island of Attuin May 1943 Historic Painting Donated By Alexander Liccione UDT-SEAL MUSEUM ASSOCIATION, INC. | WINTER 2020 | 6

UDT-SEAL MUSEUM ASSOCIATION, INC. | Winter 2020 Mission Statement The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum is the only museum dedicated solely to preserving the history and heritage of the Navy SEALs and their predecessors. Located in Fort Pierce, Florida, the birthplace of the Navy Frogman, the Museum promotes public education by providing the opportunity to explore the history of Naval Special Warfare. We honor our fallen on the black granite walls of the Navy SEAL Memorial housed on Museum grounds, while caring for our families through the Trident House Charities Program, which includes the Trident House, the Scholarship Program, the K9 Project, and Family Support initiatives. 72 CONTINUING TO HONOR AND SUPPORT MINH, WHO WAS ONE OF US The Navy SEAL Museum Awards a College Scholarship to Hao Nguyen 73 PLEASE TAKE A SEAT Serving the Naval Special Warfare Community

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A Message From The President COL Willard Snyder, USA (Ret) Greetings to all of our Members, Colleagues, Friends, Associates, and Admirers. “May you live in interesting times” is, unfortunately, becoming all too much of our daily reality. The most recent situation to befall your organization is the passing of our very long time Board member, ST2 Plank owner, Restaurateur extraordinaire, friend and colleague, Dante Stephensen. Dante had two real passions in his life (in addition to his numerous interests): his Spec Ops career in UDTs and ST 2 (as a Plank Owner), coupled with his love of history and the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum and his restaurant in Atlanta. Anyone who met Dante can never forget him. His restaurant “Dante’s Down the Hatch” in Atlanta had a national reputation and literally attracted a world-wide assortment of customers for very good reasons. The loss of Dante is a loss to the Spec War community, the restaurant world, and particularly to those of us who served with him on the Museum Board. He is and will be missed. As if Dante’s passing is not enough, your Museum has also had to contend with the Corona Virus situation and the restrictions it has placed on our operations. Fortunately, we are not fl oundering – not at all. Our outdoor exhibits are still being used and the younger generation–wanting to get out and see and do things–have found our Museum to be an ideal escape from the daily tedium’s. Between the interactive exhibits, the outdoor things to see and do (for example, the obstacle course), there is plenty to occupy both the youth and their parents. However, your Museum is taking all of the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of infection. Yes, our attendance is reduced (out of necessity for distance) but still is substantial. Our gift shop is, as to be expected, doing even more business online. Your Museum is doing well even though public events and gatherings have been postponed. This has had an unfortunate effect on our fundraising as you can well imagine. However, we are not fi nancially supported by government, so we are not in the position of some other museums who are government supported and have never really had to compete for funding. SEALs never quit and your Museum is looking bright ahead. We have never had a full-time fundraiser prior to Rick Kaiser’s transition, and the present situation will only be a temporary impediment to our fi nancial operations. We are still receiving new additions to the history of Naval Special Warfare and if you know of someone or if you personally have something which might add to our collection or >[email protected] For tips on managing a monument project, contact me: 619-980-7362 [email protected] These monuments will represent to the public the best of us and will stand for many decades and maybe centuries, long after we are gone and forgotten. They will honor those NSW pioneers that went before us, those that made the ultimate sacrifice and the gold star families awaiting reunions in eternity. Hooyah. Here are just some of the honorable monument plaque designs from Laser Imaging & Design. 47 | UDT-SEAL MUSEUM ASSOCIATION, INC. | WINTER 2020

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49 | UDT-SEAL MUSEUM ASSOCIATION, INC. | WINTER 2020 The Heroes Behind the Heroes on The Bluff Event With Gratitude to Our Palmetto Bluff Host Committee COVID-19 came like a thief in the night, stealing from many of us our most cherished possession of health, the contented normalcy of our regular routines, and the security of our livelihoods. With so much at stake still in the wake of the loss of so much, the Museum is very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with our Host Committee in South Carolina and experience an event so positive. What had long been on the books as a greatly anticipated elegant and extravagant affair with newfound friends at Palmetto Bluff was diminished to yet another event cancellation in the era of COVID. To say the Museum Team was disappointed is a gross understatement, so imagine our delight when the head of the Heroes on The Bluff Host Committee, John Hopper, decided to press onward with an online event. The Heroes on The Bluff Online Auction culminated October 10th as a resounding success. The online auction opened October 1st with several unique and exquisite items. With the help of auction company Lowcountry Giving, and a very focused effort by Mr. Hopper and his team in The Lowcountry, the event raised more than $80,000 in proceeds and donations for the Museum’s Trident House Charities Program. The Museum is very grateful for all of the donors, sponsors, participants, and our Host Committee for their generous support of our Special Operations Forces Families, impacting the Navy SEAL Museum’s Trident House Charities Program in countless ways. The Trident House Charities Program is the heart of the Museum’s mission, serving the families of Naval Special Warfare. Comprised of four pillars–a respite house in Fort Pierce, Florida; the Scholarship Program for the support of private Pre-K, K-12, and higher education for children of Special Operations individuals; the K9 Project for the donation of working dogs; and Direct Family Support to fill in gaps beyond Federal support– the Trident House Charities Program is funded by the generous contributions of donors who care for those who have served, those who continue to protect our country, and for the families who have lost loved ones to combat or related training. “We are beside ourselves with the outpouring of support John Hopper and his Palmetto Bluff Team have extended to the Museum, especially in these particularly trying times,” said Rick Kaiser, Navy SEAL Museum Chief Operating Officer. “Our team relies on the dedication of support teams like these, who truly become our extended family.” Without these selfless donations and generations contributions, the Museum would not be able to touch the lives of these warriors and their families in the meaningful ways we have through this event. We look forward to another successful Heroes on The Bluff event next year. Thank you, Host Committee: John and Diane Hopper Peter and Mary Cawley Steve and Shelby Richards Jeff Begola and fiancée Shannon Claflin Anthony and Carrie LaCascia

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