Radio Check - Legends and Legacy

From Ralph Deyo

Okay, have I got a True Legend for the readers. This man not only made me look forward to a new assignment and a really sucky one at that, but he made me look forward to a total change in my career. But let’s start from the beginning of this tale of a True Legend.

In June 1971, I left wonderful Oahu, Hawaii and the greatest Patrol squadron in the Pacific Fleet, VP-17, and headed for FASOTRAGRUPAC at beautiful NAS North Island

I was assigned to VS Acoustic Analysis Training and performed well during the first six months, and was even awarded an Instructor of the Quarter Letter in 1972. So, I am feeling pretty good about myself and how I am doing as a new instructor. By the way, I finished the five week instructor training course in five days.

About a week after I received the recognition letter, I was summoned to the CO’s Office. I arrived at the appointed time and was invited to sit down alongside another Captain. This Captain asked me how things were going, my job, my new wife, and how I liked the San Diego area. Somehow I knew that there was something up his sleeve and he pulled out a good one. The Legend at the time was on staff at COMASWWINGPAC.

“Petty Officer Deyo, have I got a deal for you. How would you like to assist in setting up a new training program?” My response, “Oh sure Captain, what is it and when does it have to be online?”

Now comes that career changing part.

It is going to be at Ream Field, and it will be the Aircrew Training Facility for LAMPS MK I. LT Jerry Bunch will be your OIC (a great OIC who did get me a lot of SH-2F flight time and many emergencies).

So, here I am in a dilapidated WWII building with AW1 Neal Brown and AW1 Smith, rehabbing the building with a couple walls, new tiled floors, and several gallons of paint. We begged and borrowed enough equipment to set up a Lab for the ASA20, MAD Recorder, and even had a live radiating LN-66 Radar on a 40 ft pole. All in a six-month time frame.

I instructed Aircrews in the operation of this equipment for three years and then the most horrific event in my naval career happened.

I was instructing an officer class in ASW tactics and one gentleman, Commander Douglas Huff, was so impressed that he offered me a slot in his soon to be commissioned HSL-37. Of course, being a VP type, I informed him that I was already spoken for and had orders to the Tactical Support Center in Misawa Japan.

About 4 weeks later, I was informed that my orders had been changed and I would be reporting to HSL-37 at the completion of SAR School and complete a special four week SH-2F Fam Course. As for all of the other training, I had been teaching for three years and was considered qualified.

So, there I was in HSL-37, the last LAMPS MK I squadron and then seven years later in HSL-41, the first LAMPS MK III squadron all because a Legend convinced me this was a good deal.

Who was this Legend, well anyone who is a member of this organization should know his name, you see it in every magazine and there is an award named after him. Most of all, I am proud to say, I personally was in the presence of the greatness who was CAPT Mark Starr.