It's strange that he only made it to LCDR.

FTA
His widow, Susan Boehm, declined to be interviewed about her husband. In fact, she pleaded that no story be written.

Susan said she was trying to carry out her husband's last wish, that his death not be publicized.

He wanted no obituary, no funeral service and no fanfare over his death, Susan said.


I love how the media respects peoples wishes.

Thanks, man. You're one of the good guys.

America needs more men like Roy Boehm.

People make Chuck Norris facts. I think Roy Boehm facts would be even more impressive and awesome.

The_Time_Master: It's strange that he only made it to LCDR.

SOF is a death sentence to upward mobility for officers.

Man On Fire: The_Time_Master: It's strange that he only made it to LCDR.

SOF is a death sentence to upward mobility for officers.

It is getting better now. There is actually a SEAL currently commanding a carrier battle group. We he's a Admiral now running a CTF, buy he started out as a SEAL.

Read his book multiple times. It's one of my must reads at least once a year. For those that don't have it, pick it up it's well worth it.

He was a true hero.

/takes my hat off to him.

The_Time_Master: It's strange that he only made it to LCDR.

FTFA: In his book, he tells how he was disciplined several times for insubordination as he bent rules to properly equip his men.

That could have something to do with it. He's quoted as saying upon retirement (when asking if he was taking any SEAL gear with him): "All I left with were my scars, and memories. Anything else would have been another court-martial."

Has never been so proud.

\sad day

shift_DAWG 2009-01-04 11:29:53 AM
The_Time_Master: It's strange that he only made it to LCDR.

FTFA: In his book, he tells how he was disciplined several times for insubordination as he bent rules to properly equip his men.

That could have something to do with it. He's quoted as saying upon retirement (when asking if he was taking any SEAL gear with him): "All I left with were my scars, and memories. Anything else would have been another court-martial."


My brother had his gear, his Draeger rig, all in his bag and made it almost all the way to the helicopter before his Lieutenant ran up and asked him just where the hell he thought he was going with that stuff....

/sucks...always wanted to try a rebreather kit.

iketurner: Read his book multiple times. It's one of my must reads at least once a year. For those that don't have it, pick it up it's well worth it.

He was a true hero.

/takes my hat off to him.

What book is that? I would read it.

The_Time_Master: It's strange that he only made it to LCDR.

FTA:
"In his book, he tells how he was disciplined several times for insubordination as he bent rules to properly equip his men."

Nuf said.

President Kennedy commissioned him and one other commander to start the first two Sea Air and Land teams in 1960.

Which was quite an impressive feat as Kennedy didn't become President until 1961.

This guy deserved a decent writer for this story.

taoistlumberjak: People make Chuck Norris facts. I think Roy Boehm facts would be even more impressive and awesome.

Roy Boehm is to Chuck Norris as Israel is to Hamas ?

or

Chuck Norris must keep his face clean shaven. Roy Boehm does not like an itchy teabag.

Mad-n-FL: The_Time_Master: It's strange that he only made it to LCDR.

FTA:
"In his book, he tells how he was disciplined several times for insubordination as he bent rules to properly equip his men."

Nuf said.

Yup. Some of the best soldiers have had their advancement limited because what made them great went against the grain. That is a problem with too many generals/admirals who are more politician than warrior.

Mad-n-FL: The_Time_Master: It's strange that he only made it to LCDR.

FTA:
"In his book, he tells how he was disciplined several times for insubordination as he bent rules to properly equip his men."

Nuf said.

Snakeaters often do not make the rank they deserve.

ironicsky: FTA
His widow, Susan Boehm, declined to be interviewed about her husband. In fact, she pleaded that no story be written.

Susan said she was trying to carry out her husband's last wish, that his death not be publicized.

He wanted no obituary, no funeral service and no fanfare over his death, Susan said.


I love how the media respects peoples wishes.

It's almost like the writer went out of his way to go against Boehm's wishes. Why else mention that in the article? Parasites.

Mad-n-FL: The_Time_Master: It's strange that he only made it to LCDR.

FTA:
"In his book, he tells how he was disciplined several times for insubordination as he bent rules to properly equip his men."

Nuf said.

They do that on purpose to motivate the men into being as self-reliant as possible. If it's not that then the pogeys are trying to get them killed. And we don't want the SEALs to think the pogeys are out to get them. That might make the snake eaters mad. They're not men you want mad at you.

On the other hand they make damned fine Assistant Scoutmasters. Nothing beats camping on Kodiak with all the scoutmasters having been or currently are snake eaters. Mad props to the Team members up there. May you be busy and successful forever.

Rest in peace, Commander.

/salute
//sniff

I used to work for the Charlotte Sun, so I'm getting a kick ...

/Oh wait, it's not that kinda forum
/RIP, funnyman

One of the cable channels, maybe Discovery, had a whole series on folks trying to make it as a SEAL. It was called something like BUD (Basic Underwater Demolition) class 234. Talk about badass. It made my Army basic training look like a frat party. I have the highest respect for anyone willing to go this extra mile to serve their country.

Founder of the most overrated special forces unit in the world.

OZZ: Founder of the most overrated special forces unit in the world.

"Snakeaters often do not make the rank they deserve."

The thing is, leadership at the highest levels in the Navy is more about big picture stuff. When it comes to commanding fleets, they'd rather have the guy who spent his early career on board ships and subs learning bluewater Navy stuff as opposed to a guy who is an expert on small unit tactics and close quarters combat.

It's not like SEAL officers go into it thinking they're going to be admirals one day. They know that commander is probably about the best they can achieve. Anything beyond that in the SEAL community has more to do with being in the right time and place.

Speaking of, well, people who played a Navy SEALs once (even though we weren't):

Hero tag has never been so appropriate.

On the other hand, while I know this has already been mentioned in the thread:

"His widow, Susan Boehm, declined to be interviewed about her husband. In fact, she pleaded that no story be written.

Susan said she was trying to carry out her husband's last wish, that his death not be publicized."

This journalist and his newpaper deserve a huge fail tag.

VPI-NAVY: "Snakeaters often do not make the rank they deserve."

The thing is, leadership at the highest levels in the Navy is more about big picture stuff. When it comes to commanding fleets, they'd rather have the guy who spent his early career on board ships and subs learning bluewater Navy stuff as opposed to a guy who is an expert on small unit tactics and close quarters combat.

It's not like SEAL officers go into it thinking they're going to be admirals one day. They know that commander is probably about the best they can achieve. Anything beyond that in the SEAL community has more to do with being in the right time and place.

I meant the Military in general. The Army is not well known for promoting SF and Ranger types.

Good night special forces man.

He was also a mustang, guys, promoted up from the ranks. He spent the first 15 or so years as an enlisted man, having enlisted twice. (He mustered out after WWII, and came back in shortly before Korea.)

Half your career as enlisted will also shorten your time-in-grade requirements as an officer when promotion boards sit.

Everyone knows Dale Dye -- he mustered out after 20+ years as a Captain. (A Marine Corps Captain, not a Navy Captain.)

SharkTrager: Mad-n-FL: The_Time_Master: It's strange that he only made it to LCDR.

FTA:
"In his book, he tells how he was disciplined several times for insubordination as he bent rules to properly equip his men."

Nuf said.

Yup. Some of the best soldiers have had their advancement limited because what made them great went against the grain. That is a problem with too many generals/admirals who are more politician than warrior.


Sorta true of this guy too.




While he made it to Brig. General upon retirement he certainly spent plenty of time pushing the limits of Army/AF rules.

As a fellow West Virginia native and lover of aviation, he is my one true hero.

Cheers to the LCDR and his life.

globalwarmingpraiser: I meant the Military in general. The Army is not well known for promoting SF and Ranger types.

All except this guy.

Oh, and this guy and this guy.

As has been said, times are changing. The increased visibility of SOF, the creation of their own command, their control of their own budget have all contributed to SOF types moving into senior command positions.

SALUTE !

The_Time_Master: It's strange that he only made it to LCDR.

He actually made it much higher, but it was taken away from him as punishment. One of his men, who he thought was dead, turned out to alive but in need of very special medical attention. He and several former crewmen stole a ship that was scheduled for decommissioning, went to a now-secret location, and rescued the man. Since the enemy was also looking for him, it wasn't a bloodless search; they even had to set the stolen ship to self-destruct. The mission was successful, but Boehm was reduced to Lt. Cdr. as punishment.

Man On Fire: The_Time_Master: It's strange that he only made it to LCDR.

SOF is a death sentence to upward mobility for officers.

CAREER SOF is a death sentence to upward mobility. The guys who get in and love it and stay in tend not to be promoted. The guys who get in, get their SOF qualifictions, serve, then transfer to a teaching assignment or another unit tend to do quite well.

He certainly deserves something like this...



One of the most moving tributes i've seen, which is saying a lot for a military funeral!

Just to show how basass he was, from his wikipedia page:

"Boehm is a veteran of one of the largest "all surface" sea engagements of World War II, the Battle of Cape Esperance at Guadalcanal.[2][3] During the battle, Boehm was serving on the destroyer USS Duncan when the ship received fifty-eight 6" and 8" shell hits at point blank range before going down. With shrapnel embedded in his head and body, he saved one of his shipmates from burning to death by plunging into the ocean.[3] Subsequently, he had to literally fight off sharks, who killed the sailor he tried to save.[3]"

globalwarmingpraiser: VPI-NAVY: "Snakeaters often do not make the rank they deserve."
...
I meant the Military in general. The Army is not well known for promoting SF and Ranger types.

Things really are changing--there have been a number of press releases from the Pentagon recently (here's one from March '08: GlobalSecurity.org (new window)) reaffirming a much higher focus on SOCOM and special operations forces (SOF) in the "global war on terror."

This excellent book by retired SEAL Dick Couch, "Down Range (new window)", also has some interesting analysis about the future of warfighting, and how for the first time in modern history, SOF are being used as a supported command, not supporting commands as in the past. In other words, SOF are now playing the game of chess with conventional forces as the gamepieces, instead of vice-versa. Although of course operators love to get out there and play the game themselves too.

treesloth: The_Time_Master: It's strange that he only made it to LCDR.

He actually made it much higher, but it was taken away from him as punishment. One of his men, who he thought was dead, turned out to alive but in need of very special medical attention. He and several former crewmen stole a ship that was scheduled for decommissioning, went to a now-secret location, and rescued the man. Since the enemy was also looking for him, it wasn't a bloodless search; they even had to set the stolen ship to self-destruct. The mission was successful, but Boehm was reduced to Lt. Cdr. as punishment.

I see what you did there.

He told you he was hardcore

jackmalice: treesloth: The_Time_Master: It's strange that he only made it to LCDR.

He actually made it much higher, but it was taken away from him as punishment. One of his men, who he thought was dead, turned out to alive but in need of very special medical attention. He and several former crewmen stole a ship that was scheduled for decommissioning, went to a now-secret location, and rescued the man. Since the enemy was also looking for him, it wasn't a bloodless search; they even had to set the stolen ship to self-destruct. The mission was successful, but Boehm was reduced to Lt. Cdr. as punishment.

I see what you did there.

Which episode of Star Trek was that?

He became what he wanted to be.

Sleep well, sir.

The truth of the matter is that you do not want tactical commanders as your admirals and generals, because the latter are liaisons with civilian leaders--not field commanders.

You want good field commanders in the field, commanding, not attending cocktail parties and trying to wheel-deal for increased appropriations for essential spare parts. This is what the higher ranking flag officers spend much of their time doing. It is division of labor.

LCDR Boehm rocked.

When he was a petty officer, an officer with issues ordered him to clean and prepare the officer's personal Pirelli oxygen rebreather. The officer gave detailed instructions on how the task was to be accomplished, including telling Boehm "you will see there is no dust in the barrel lime."

Boehm complied fully. After using the Pirelli, the officer noted that it seemed "a little musty" and wondered why.

Boehm's response: "That's easy, sir. I pi--ed in the barrel lime after I did everything you said to do."

RIP Patriot Warrior.

Job well done...

LCDR Boehm made it possible for all of us to write in these forums, anything we wanted.

Even trolls...

Sleep well, Commander.

The_Time_Master: It's strange that he only made it to LCDR.

Like the others have said not if you have more than a passing familiarity with Military customs and procedures. But I understand your point.

Specialization tends to remove you from the general officer pool, as you focus on your specialization ignoring the other group's missions, and the other group's officers.

There is a good argument for promoting these types of positions to General Officer, if only to give more actual and perceived clout to the group..(General's Orders etc.)

The rule of thumb was if you wore a beret, you would never be a general. There are a few exceptions, those magnificent bastards.

iketurner: Read his book multiple times. It's one of my must reads at least once a year. For those that don't have it, pick it up it's well worth it.

He was a true hero.

/takes my hat off to him.

I never heard of him until Fark and now I have requested the book through the library.