Need some naval help

[healeydays]

Ok guys, I'm ex Army so my Navy speak ain't so good and I was a tailender of Vietnam so my time was more mop-up, evacuation and the refugee camps.

My son, who is a student at UNM came home and saw a couple pens I put together as gifts, and has asked me to do a special pen for a good friend who has had a tough time reconnecting after a couple tours. He was with the Special Boat Team 20 based out of Virginia, but from what I have figured from short conversations, he may of been based there, but was elsewhere all the time.

My son wants me to do a pen with the Navy seal on it, but I was thinking of trying something else dealing with SBT20 but I don't want to dredge bad experiences back on this kid as I guess his unit had quite a few losses.

Any ideas? I have a couple weeks as my son isn't heading back to school till Jan 7th.

Mike B

 

[walshjp17]

SBT20 is based out of Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Little Creek, VA (in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area). The unit supports special warfare units providing mobility options using small craft such as RHIBs (Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boats) and other special operations craft (SOC). They deploy wherever needed, but mostly Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, the Middle East and Africa. Check here for additional info and badges ==> Special Boat Team - 20

 

[healeydays]

SBT20 is based out of Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Little Creek, VA (in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area). The unit supports special warfare units providing mobility options using small craft such as RHIBs (Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boats) and other special operations craft (SOC). They deploy wherever needed, but mostly Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, the Middle East and Africa. Check here for additional info and badges ==> Special Boat Team - 20

Thanks John, I had found that site.

I guess I'm looking for something a little extra as to the psyche of someone coming back and what would make them feel good to have vs dredge up memories they might want to bury.

I had a number of friends that were in country in Vietnam and some can't make the adjustment to this day when it comes to memories.

Mike B

 

[walshjp17]

SpecOPs folks are a different breed although some may have similar problems as your comrades from VN. I know a few former Seals and almost to a man they talk about their friends and fellow Seals but not about the missions - at least to non-Seals/SpecOps types.

IMO, combat issues are universal, it doesn't matter if you are Army, Navy or Marine Corps. For the most part they are all affected pretty much the same.

If there are any SpecOPs folks here who could weigh in, I suspect that would be your best bet.

If it were me, I would make a pen and use the official logo (the one with the blue background on the left - not the red one that says 'offical patch' since that is a patch for a single detachment of SBT20). Most Navy folks save their unit patches and logo items (I have a coffee mug from every one of the fourteen + commands and schools I was assigned to as well as a plaque from each) so a pen with the SBT20 logo would likely be appreciated.

 

[PTownSubbie]

Mike,

Military guys are buying up engraved casings at my show in Virginia Beach! If you want something special let me know. I will work a deal for you given the situation.

Let me know.

Fred

 

[Mike Powell]

IMHO, being a military guys at the moment, and having a very good friend 100% disabled from PTSD (Seal Team in Vietnam). There are things you want to forget, and things you cant forget. Make your idea, type up a message on what your thoughts and ideas were for the gift. From personal experience, sometimes its the things that bring back the memories that you want to forget that helps the healing the most.

 

[Jim Burr]

IMHO, being a military guys at the moment, and having a very good friend 100% disabled from PTSD (Seal Team in Vietnam). There are things you want to forget, and things you cant forget. Make your idea, type up a message on what your thoughts and ideas were for the gift. From personal experience, sometimes its the things that bring back the memories that you want to forget that helps the healing the most.

Good thought Mike. I had two bouts with PTSD, Kuwait and from a very bad surgery a few years ago. I can look back and see my behavior in both cases and then remember the day(s) I woke up and said "oh...I'm cured!" Not everyone has that experience, but a pen reminding me of the good times...and there were in Kuwait, but not surgery!, would not offend me a bit. The military is what we choose to do, some is good & some isn't...just like most of life!!

 

[Mike Powell]

Yea Jim, I was diagnosed with PTSD after my last trip to Kandahar Afghanistan. My former wife said I changed after my first deployment to Bagram. This is my third deployment to afghanistan in six years, all for 6 months plus. My wife now, makes me talk about the things going on, the deaths here in afghanistan, the rockets that explode close to me. To see me you would think Im very cool about it all, but inside I get pretty shook up. I cant let my young troops see that, if they see me shook imagine what someone that has only been in a few months would feel. So bottled up emotions and anger seem to be the fuel to my existance. My wife helps me alot, and makes me talk about the bad, which usually brings out the good times and the fun that we had while joking, jacking with each other and building bombs.

 

[healeydays]

For awhile I was stationed at Ft Lewis with the 9th infantry with an inspector general team. I remember that our offices were over in the maintenance area of the base and the unit was made up of older NCOs that had been around. I remember one day a newly assigned NCO was in the office with us and all of a sudden the test range in the building next to us someone opened up with an automatic weapon. That NCO dove so quick under the desk and it took 3 guys and well over an hour to talk him from under. I never saw him again as he transferred out to where I don't know...

 

[healeydays]

Ok guys here's what I'm thinking and hope that more folks talk here be it to get ideas to me, or because you need to talk.

I think I am going to do a simple RB, like a Artisan Executive Rollerball in rock maple with the SBT20 logo on either the top or bottom and nothing else. That would make it simple and clean. I will also build a 2nd top or bottom that is without logo so if it's too much, he can swap it out.



Mike B

 

[healeydays]

Hi Fred,

Thanks for the offer, but for some reason, I feel I need to give back on this one.

It's funny that when I got out of the service in the late 70s, we were looked at in disgust. I was on vacation a couple years ago down at the Delaware shores and the wife and I took a drive to Annapolis and stopped at a crab shack for lunch. We were sitting at a communal table and were next to a Marine Captain and his family. Him and I started talking and he said he had just gotten back from a tour that week and this was a bit of a celebration with his wife and 2 sons. I looked at him and thanked him for his service, and he looked back at me and said I know no one probably thanked you back then so let me be the first to thank you for your service. Just thinking about it today, it's making me a bit emotional. So when I say that it will be a pleasure to make this young man a pen, you can know that I mean it...

 

[PTownSubbie]

Hi Fred, Thanks for the offer, but for some reason, I feel I need to give back on this one. It's funny that when I got out of the service in the late 70s, we were looked at in disgust. I was on vacation a couple years ago down at the Delaware shores and the wife and I took a drive to Annapolis and stopped at a crab shack for lunch. We were sitting at a communal table and were next to a Marine Captain and his family. Him and I started talking and he said he had just gotten back from a tour that week and this was a bit of a celebration with his wife and 2 sons. I looked at him and thanked him for his service, and he looked back at me and said I know no one probably thanked you back then so let me be the first to thank you for your service. Just thinking about it today, it's making me a bit emotional. So when I say that it will be a pleasure to make this young man a pen, you can know that I mean it...

No worries Mike! I understand the feelings. If you change your mind or want some collaborative help, let me know. I always want to help out if I can.