Solid Anchor DET 1

[Ken Ribble]

   Hi, my name is Ken Ribble I was stationed on Sea Float and when we moved to Solid Anchor I was assigned to the Seawolves in charge of rearming and refueling. I never met a better bunch of guys!
   Altho I did 2 tours with multable ATSB's my thoughts always go to you guys and what you did on a day to day bases to help protect our troops and kick some ass.
   I wish I could remember names better but I do remember the guy I bunked with was Dave and I also remember Dennis (i think).
   I was the one that drew a target on the roof of the officers hooch.
   Anyway, I just thought I would give a shout out.

[Rick Hodge (ROH)]

 Hey Ken....welcome aboard the city w welcome aboard.  I was a gunner on Det-1  and 1971-72.  What years were you there?  

[Ken Ribble]

Hey Rick,

We moved to Solid anchor Sept 70, I was only with the Seawolves to  Dec. Dave was the one that was shot down in VC lake, what a day! Dennis was also a gunner and I remember Eric as well, I remember him shooting rats in the hooch. I went by Rib

[David Smale]

OMG every once and awhile you have a day where you have a very pleasant surprise. Rib this is one of those days. I have thought of you often with great enthusiasm and recollection. I did not remember we were roomies for such a short period. We sure had a good time so it seemed longer. I was so sorry we did not have a good way to reconnect. Life intervenes. Not being attached to the Sewolves directly made that more difficult. I am so delighted you have resurfaced. I hope you have had a great life since The Nam. My defination of a great life is one where the triumphs squeak out ahead of the challenges. Do you remember the time when you were asleep in the top bunk when I decided to spray and kill the cockroaches in the rafters? We had no idea how many there were and they came tumbling in droves on top of you in your bunk and you flew out howling. It was our grim concession that the cockroaches owned the rafters in the night. I have told that story a million times. I think Dennis was the other ammo guy assigned to the Seawolves. His dad was an Admiral. The guy prone to shotgunning the rats in the hooch was my still today great good friend Mike Dobson. You would hear "fire in the hole" and then one dead rat--maybe-- and we were grateful it was not us. The rats were the other rodents who ruled the night.

Dan Arnes is one  of our rulers of the roost here. He will see this and reach out to you with my contact information. I do not publish it here. If you give him yours I will give you a shout soon. I am glad to see you are still on the right side of the dirt. I would love to have a conversation.
David Smale

[Mke Dobson "Ten Bears"]

Ken, Dave is right, I'm the one that shot the rat in the hootch with a shotgun ---- blew a hole through the plywood right over the front door --- one KIA rat , and some officers not inclined to run into our hootch anymore just because there was a little noise.  Bob Christenson, Tom Olby, Miguel Melendez (he liked shooting rats and knifing them outside the hootch), Fred Stark  (in November) , John Hosford, were all gunners in that time period and still with us, Vern Rende was a loader/rearmer at the same time as you and is still with us ---- Mike Eltman passed away this fall .  We have a reunion coming in August in Savannah --- where are you now ? Great to hear from you !!  I believe all of the officers that were with us at the time of the Seafloat/Solid Anchor transfer are still with us.

[Mke Dobson "Ten Bears"]

Tom Klavon was there at that time too !!  ----  Bill White is gone (he left det right after VC Lake)

[Ken Ribble]

WOW GUYS It was so nice to hear from you. I was surfing the forum and seen Dave's ugly mug and couldn't make myself believe it was him.
You don't know how much it means to me to hear from you, I've got to say I got a little emotional when I read your posts. I heard memories are made from strong emotions, well emotions are also made from strong memories. Enough of that.
Over the years I have looked at different sites for some of the units I was with and seen the Seawolves site but never saw the forum I did see my mug in the det-1 pictures, the group pic at the bottom of the pictures I'm the second form the left on the bottom. I remember you guys so well but names don't come so easy. I do remember Vern working with me stringing amo, is he here?

Dave, I'm looking forward talking with you and  catching up with our lives, I live in Northen California and can't complain about my life, like you said I'm still sunny side up.
I'm going to be off the grid for a couple days but will be talking with you all soon.

With much admiration  Rib

[Mke Dobson "Ten Bears"]

Vern is in Minnesota, about 90 miles from OB ! Alive and well !!

[Dan Arnes]

Check your in-boxes!

Dan

[Vern Rende]

Hello Rib! I have been trying for so long to locate you! I have pictures of you,Jim Hensley and myself and every time I see them it brings back a ton of memories! Where are you living now? Would like to stay in touch with you! Maybe send you a couple of pics! Please let me know!! Make it a hot turn around!

[Dan Arnes]

Vern,
I sent you an email with contact info (unless your email address has changed). It's best not to put contact info on the Forum.

Dan

[Vern Rende]

Thanks Dan!

[Ken Ribble]

Vern, been trying to email with no response. I think Dan sent you mine maybe we have a bad address.