Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

FReeper Canteen~Hall Of Heroes:Chester M. "Whitey" Mack~29 Sept 08
Linked In Thread | StarCMC & Droopy

Posted on 09/28/2008 5:00:19 PM PDT by AZamericonnie


Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!
 
For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.
 
Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!
 
 
~ Hall of Heroes ~

Chester M. "Whitey" Mack

Some info from this website.

ArmyPatch small   NavySeal small   Air Force Seal   Marines Seal small   Coast Guard Seal small (better)

Chester M. "Whitey" Mack, 77, of Englewood, Fla., passed away Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008.

He was born July 20, 1931, in Glen Lyon, Pa.

Whitey and his beloved wife, Joan, moved to Englewood in 1995 from North, Va. He was a highly decorated U.S. Navy captain with 20 years of service. He had a chemical engineering degree from Penn State, and master's degree in international law from Georgetown University. He was a member of the American Legion, Military Officers Association of America of Sarasota, Fla., and the USS Lapon Association; and a life member of U.S. Submarine Veterans.

Arrangements were made in Port Charlotte, Fla.


So what did he do for those Navy decorations?  From a NOVA transcript:

NARATOR:  Sub commanders like Whitey Mack, knew the risks of getting in close; they also knew the rewards. In 1969, Mack slipped in behind the newest Soviet missile sub, and followed its every move for 47 straight days.

MACK: Every 90 minutes, he changed course. It was 89 minutes or 91 minutes; it was exactly 90 minutes. And that's the longest I slept for the whole time. He'd go up, well we'd go up, he'd come down, we'd go down. And sometimes, we'd go pretty deep. We just did the merry old dance, you know, two 6,000 ton ships circling each other.

I think that probably the most important thing is that we came back like we had an idea of where he was operating, the method of his operations. We thought we had a better handle at the range of his tactical missiles. We could actually separate the different officers of the deck. We knew which guy had the deck just by the way he handled the ship, the way things ran. When you learn next door to somebody, you learn a lot about him, and we did. And we brought all that information back.

__: This business of surveillance against the Russians and finding out what they were doing, it was just like cowboys and Indians. And naturally, as it got more sophisticated, it was a bit more like three-dimensional chess. But with the added spur to it, knowing that somebody might be nudging up your backside any minute, and really being quite nasty about it.

NARRATOR: Sometimes spying against the other side led submarines into spaces they weren't supposed to be, a fact both sides, to this day, officially deny.

__: Our submarine never, never entered the American territorial waters. We had a strict order not to come closer than 50 miles.

__: The orders were quite clear, "Thou shalt not trespass."

__: And were those orders ever trespassed, themselves?

__: I can't answer that question. You might get someone from the United States Navy to answer that. I can't. I'll just leave it, "Thou shalt not trespass." And somebody wants to give a nudge and a wink, well that's up to them.

__: Look, in the '60s, I was training with the SEALs. I was in the Navy, training with the SEALs, and some of my colleagues had been in the sewers of Hanoi....(inaudible) that's one of the sewers. So can you get real close? Well you can get real close. ...(laughter)

The story of Whitey Mack is detailed in a book called "Blind Man's Bluff."

One of Whitey's favorite hangouts was the Horse And Cow.  And there's even a song called the "Ballad of Whitey Mack."  Click the link - you'll love it!

Thank you Whitey - you were a true hero.  Fair seas and following seas to you, sir.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; military; troopsupport
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 221-240241-260261-280 ... 321-326 next last
To: TASMANIANRED; MS.BEHAVIN; BIGLOOK; SandRat; HiJinx; Kathy in Alaska; All

Nite, Sissy! Have a good week.

Nite everyone! ((((hugs)))) to all. I need rest for work
tomorrow! Ugh!

See all of you tomorrow!


241 posted on 09/28/2008 10:01:52 PM PDT by luvie (McCain/PALIN!!!!--'nuff said! :D)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 239 | View Replies]

To: LUV W

LOL
Of course!


242 posted on 09/28/2008 10:02:35 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Women who behave rarely make history)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 236 | View Replies]

To: LUV W

*HUG*
Nighty nite!


243 posted on 09/28/2008 10:03:43 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Women who behave rarely make history)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 241 | View Replies]

To: TASMANIANRED

*HUG*
G’night!
Safe trip home!


244 posted on 09/28/2008 10:05:03 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Women who behave rarely make history)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 239 | View Replies]

To: BIGLOOK

We both wore dolphins.


245 posted on 09/28/2008 10:11:20 PM PDT by SmithL (Drill Dammit!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 171 | View Replies]

To: LUV W


Aloha po, Luv

246 posted on 09/28/2008 10:13:18 PM PDT by BIGLOOK (Keelhaul Congress! It's the sensible solution to restore Command to the People.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 241 | View Replies]

To: AZamericonnie

Hi AZ, Star.

And to Kathy — Shana Tova! Gut gebentscht yahr.


247 posted on 09/28/2008 10:17:14 PM PDT by MoochPooch (I'm a compassionate cynic.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SmithL
I wore Wings

I know the faith and keep it close.

Godspeed Captain Mack.


248 posted on 09/28/2008 10:23:11 PM PDT by BIGLOOK (Keelhaul Congress! It's the sensible solution to restore Command to the People.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 245 | View Replies]

To: BIGLOOK

Aloha Sweetness!
LITTLE DEVIL HUG
*HUG*
About ready to sign off here, but wanted to say “Hi”!


249 posted on 09/28/2008 10:39:51 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Women who behave rarely make history)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 248 | View Replies]

To: MS.BEHAVIN

250?


250 posted on 09/28/2008 10:42:34 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Women who behave rarely make history)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 249 | View Replies]

That was too easy!


251 posted on 09/28/2008 10:44:20 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Women who behave rarely make history)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 250 | View Replies]

To: MS.BEHAVIN
Aloha Little Devil! Steely eyed Down easter!

We've got to stop meeting like this....

Heard you've got a tropical storm headed your way and up to the Maritimes. Batton down the hatches and pass the gin.
252 posted on 09/28/2008 10:57:11 PM PDT by BIGLOOK (Keelhaul Congress! It's the sensible solution to restore Command to the People.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 249 | View Replies]

To: BIGLOOK

(((((((Sweetness)))))
The storm has roared in and is now heading Downeast.
Lots of water here, and flooding.
My sump pump is about to give up the ghost!
LOL
Yes, we have to stop meeting like this!
No gin here..
Care for a vodka Martini?


253 posted on 09/28/2008 11:07:12 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Women who behave rarely make history)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 252 | View Replies]

To: MS.BEHAVIN
Vodka's not a favorite but anytime!



Wishing you one of these when the storm passes.

Aloha po, Little Devil

254 posted on 09/28/2008 11:23:07 PM PDT by BIGLOOK (Keelhaul Congress! It's the sensible solution to restore Command to the People.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 253 | View Replies]

To: BIGLOOK

Aloha Po, Sweetness!
*HUG*
Thank you for your service and sacrifice!
Good night!


255 posted on 09/28/2008 11:32:05 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Women who behave rarely make history)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 254 | View Replies]

To: AZamericonnie

BTTT


256 posted on 09/29/2008 2:54:26 AM PDT by E.G.C. (To read a freeper's FR postings, click on his or her screen name and then "In Forum".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 114 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska; StarCMC
((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. Thanks for the thread, Star. How's it going?

A very pleasant good morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

257 posted on 09/29/2008 2:55:34 AM PDT by E.G.C. (To read a freeper's FR postings, click on his or her screen name and then "In Forum".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Tanniker Smith
Oops....TS is 1st....grabbing the gold!


258 posted on 09/29/2008 2:57:55 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: blackie; Jet Jaguar; Jack Deth; txradioguy; tongue-tied; E.G.C.; Laurita; SoldierDad; Allegra; ...



259 posted on 09/29/2008 3:33:22 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: All
Good morning/afternoon/evening/night Troops, wherever you are.

Thank you for doing your part to help keep all of us free and safe.

How about a donut?

Coffee is always on........

Or a sandwich?


260 posted on 09/29/2008 3:35:32 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 100 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 221-240241-260261-280 ... 321-326 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson