67 year old Kirby D. Horrell SOCM walked for the last time through the side bouys during a ceremony at the Loews Coronado Bay resort in San Diego today. Kirby served in VN era and was aboard both SEAFLOAT and Solid Anchor during 1970 with Foxtrot Platoon. This was the most impressive military retirement I have ever seen and the recognition of Kirby's assignments and accomplishments were talked about by an impressive lineup of speakers ; USN Master Chief Terry Moy (a SEAL instructor legend) ,USN SEAL Michael E Thornton (MOH recipient), USN Rear Admiral (ret) Garry Bonelli (SEAL), and USN Capt. (SEAL) John McTigue spoke, often humorously of the short in stature (5' 1/4") SEAL. (That was not a misprint guys --- again, a 5' 1/4" MONSTER of a man) The Ceremony lasted for a full 2 hours, and kept everyone both attentive and entertained. Stories of Kirby, and his wife Terri were told by many. In attendance, representing the SEAWOLVES were Bud Barnes, Rick Sadlier and his wife Diane, Bill Rutledge and daughter Lauren, Gary Ely, and myself. To be surrounded by a SEAL attendance of numbers and years spanned such as this may never have been done before, and may never be done again. The attendance was likely in the vicinity of 1000. Most impressive to the 5 Seawolves were the 2 SEAL emblems in the entry on expertly created 3' plaques ----- and the SEAWOLF patch plaque of the exact same size placed BETWEEN the SEAL patch plaques -------- Now, THAT , Gentlemen, was indeed a stop in midstep, tear in the eyes moment.
One of the SEAFLOAT SEALS reminisced that the most beautiful sound was the the beat of out rotors inbound during a fire fight. He related to us that his favorite thought, at that time, was "NOW YOU ARE GOING TO GET IT !!
Well Done SEAWOLVES, you all served us proud, they know we never broke the faith ----- and in our world, THAT IS EVERYTHING !!
Mike Dobson (ROH)
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