FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Chester M "Whitey" Mack ~ April 1, 2013

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Chester M. "Whitey" Mack

Some info from this website.

           

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.

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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 wasn't 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.  

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!

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[ConorMacNessa]

It was very tasty, thanks! We had baked praties and buttered corn with it. Korbel Brut as the potable. A most satisfying repas!



Where are the survivors of the massacre at Benghazi? The silence of the Obama Regime on this question is deafening!

Fiat Justitia, Ruat Coelum!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Kathy in Alaska]

6’6” on the USS Lapon SSN 661.....

On a submarine....how many things could he crack his head on, my?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Nana Hope, for today's Pledge…((HUGS)). Thanks, AfghanMan and Penguin Girl, for your service to America.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...did you and Linda enjoy Easter?

Of course, no chocolate bunnies for her.

Did you have any music playing today?

[CMS]

Leslie and Ashleigh are visiting family for Easter. But yes she got her first bunny. I’ll try and get pics posted from the Easter Service soon.

[left that other site]

Today was a very busy day!

I spent the morning praying and posting appropriate Easter music and pics here and through my email.

Walked LiLynn-dah.

Then we went out together, washed the car, and went to the doggie park.

Then we came home, and i repaired two electric guitars (inside...the electronics part...eek!)

Then I vacuumed, Had lunch, read a little, and walked Lynn-dah again.

Read some more and listened to more inspirational music,

Then I went for a ride on my Harley and had some Chinese Food.

I did practice the guitar, after I fixed the input jack.

All in all a rather LOVELY day!

No chocolate for EITHER of us!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

Hope you had a wonderful Easter.

[Kathy in Alaska]

And in first....Mac grabs the gold!!

[luvie]

Thanks, galz, for a great adventure story of a real American hero!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And in second....CMS snags the silver!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And rounding out the top three....Nana Hope bags the bronze!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

G’day, Janey....((HUGS))....interesting theory about rocket launches. LOL!

Great pictures and roos, too. Thanks!

[SkyDancer]

Hi and (((HUGS))) back. As pappy sez “Ah get’s ‘em and I sends ‘em” ... lots of friends back home send me pictures to post here but there’s so many I do have to be selective.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Sand...((HUGS))

Did you go to sunrise services? This morning here was so foggy you couldn’t see the house across the street.

Did Maddi get an easter basket?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks to the Irish Tenors for the Star Spangled Banner....singing along.

[ConorMacNessa]

It has been many years since I have attended a Sunrise Service. For several years I was participating in the Easter Vigil Service at my Church as a member of the Choir, cantor and soloist, but I have not been able to do so the last couple of years due to my physical condition. I could not commit to the rehearsal schedule, which is arduous, or to the demands of the Triduum.

I have many fond memories of those Liturgies. My daughter Mary Frances was with me in the choir from the time she was twelve until she left for university at eighteen. This Easter, she sang in the Triduum at her parish in Spokane.

I hope to be able to raise my voice with our choir again soon.



Where are the survivors of the massacre at Benghazi? The silence of the Obama Regime on this question is deafening!

Fiat Justitia, Ruat Coelum!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[SandRat]

[The Mayor]

And to you my FRiend! He is Risen.
God Bless, may He be with you and give you strength.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good memories, Mac....hope you are able to sing again in the near future.

[mylife]

Ahh! I love Capt Chester “Whitey” Mack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCA2kFnYTwg