Back Row - Capt. Lowery, Capt. DeGroot, unknown, Cdr? MacCall, Lt? Johnson, Ens? Lasher
Front Row - unknown, unknown, Mrs. Dobler, unknown, unknown, CWO Stroup
Cdr. Dobler,
Lt. Jeffries, Capt. Mitchell
Memorial Service, 9 April 1999
See the Dedication page of this site for
background.
See the Memorial Service Program HERE.
Photo from the Billy Mitchell Collection
Back Row - Capt. Lowery, Capt. DeGroot, unknown, Cdr? MacCall, Lt? Johnson, Ens? Lasher
Front Row - unknown, unknown, Mrs. Dobler, unknown, unknown, CWO Stroup
Email from BU3 Billy Mitchell, NMCB 133, '73-'76 I attended the memorial service for Cmdr. Dobler, Lt. Jefferies, and Capt. Mitchell, in Gulfport last Friday, and would like to report that it was a wonderful experience. The families of those slain officers were more than gracious, and the service and reception were first-class. My highest regards to those who made it possible, and those who could attend. It was certainly a tribute to the character of the members of MCB 133 whether past or present. |
Food table at the reception
Red/White flag is from the 1974 deployment to the Philippines - we were called Detail
Wallaby.
Photo from the Billy Mitchell Collection
A quick email from Phil Dobler (son of CDR Dobler), more coming later Dave, It is great to hear from you. You are correct the service was wonderful. It has taken a week to gather my thoughts and come back down to earth from such a great experience. I really appreciate all your efforts putting together the web sites. That alone is a tribute to my father and you have honored our family greatly in doing so. You and the web site you developed came up several times in conversations and many people who had not seen it should be visiting it. I will be e-mailing my comments you can put on the page and pictures soon. Sincerely, |
Navy cooks make the best cakes and
pastries
Photo from the Billy Mitchell Collection
A further description from BU3 Billy Mitchell, NMCB 133, '73-'76 I took my mom with me to Gulfport for the memorial service. I wish you could have been there. The families of Dobler and Jeffries were great! Very appreciative. There were 75-100 people there, I guess. Probably 30 family members, 30 current 133 officers, and a few others in uniform. Not very many from our time. Certainly those you would expect; our skipper Dick Lowery, XO MacCall, Chaplain Johnson and Mr. Stroup. Former Ensign Lasher, Chief Morrison and Chief Lipski, both EO's, not really anyone we knew. There were 2 or 3 other guys I didn't recognize. I was treated like a long-lost war hero, maybe because that was my attitude going in. Nearly everyone thought it wonderful that a BUCN would have the respect and pride in his military service to attend. It made me especially glad that we went, as if I were representing you and a few guys who are actually proud they were Kangroos during that time. I was thanked again and again by Dobler's wife and sons. I had a good conversation with MacCall, Lasher, and Mr. Stroup, and was invited to the Eagle and Anchor, the Officer and Chief's Club for a "friendly beverage at 1500" by Mr. Stroup. I wish I could have gone, but my mom was with me and we had promised to head back home. Could you imagine me & you at the Eagle & Anchor, having a beer with Mr. Stroup, Capt. Lowery and the rest; young officers gathered around us, straining to hear our thrilling recollections from yesteryear. "Who's got a boot we can drink out of ??!!! Pass that wine bottle over here! Gimme a sock, I'll get this thing started!" (*See Below) Anyway, I took some snapshots that might come out OK. I'll send them when I can, probably next week. And, of course, I doubt that I would have even known about it without your efforts, beginning with my discovering your website over a year ago. Thanks, Dave. |
1974
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Reunited NMCB-133's XO and CO during 1974 main body deployment to Okinawa  Photo from the Billy Mitchell Collection (left)
the XO - CDR? Bruce L. MacCall, CEC, USN (Ret.) |
A quick email from LCDR Walker E. Marsh, CHC, USN, more coming later Dave, Good to hear from you - sorry you could not make it. The ceremony went fantastic. Got a great video of the ceremony. Maybe you can use some clips from it. I will have a copy sent to you. On my thoughts - I'll have to get back with you aftrer I have a chance to think it through. Right now I'm swamped with running the shop and overdue Ph.D. work. It may take me a couple of weeks - but I will get back. Chaplain Marsh |
Mr. Lasher swapping sea stories |
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* Billy Mitch is referring to an evening of drunken revelry we spent with a few British Marines while at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, in 1975. Normally our evenings were spent at the EM club at our little base (on the outskirts of Rosey Roads; the only Navy boys further out than the 'Bees was the SEAL team about a mile and a half down the road). One night Bill and I were sitting at a table drinking beer listening to jukebox classics of David Allen Coe, Conway Twitty, etc. and in walks some Brit Marines. We went over, introduced ourselves and became fast friends. After further drinking, laughing, and lots of back slapping we took part in one of their rituals: drinking wine from a combat boot after being strained through a dirty sock... Well, I guess you had to have been there to understand the significance: we became honorary Brit Marines and showed them that the US Navy 'Bees were no slouches.
Another incident from that evening (we were outside) was when out of nowhere, one of the Brits slapped Billy across the face, quite hard actually. Taking note of our stunned expressions, he calmly explained his behavior with a single word, "Mozzie." (Mosquito) No offense given and none taken.
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