Roy Boehm passed into the clearing at the end of the path Tuesday night. He was 84 years old.
Boehm had served his country in three wars, including service in the largest surface-only engagement of World War II, the Battle of Cape Esperance. His ship – the USS Duncan – took multiple hits from 6″ and 8″ guns before going under the waves. Although wounded by shrapnel in his head and body, he managed to save another shipmate before the ship went down. While in the ocean he was forced to fight sharks off for his own life. For 13 hours.
Re-enlisting for the Korean War, his ship provided fires ashore in support of the Marine Corps’ amphibious assault on Inchon, and also covered the withdrawal from the Chosin Reservoir. After his commissioning, he developed and implemented an unconventional warfare naval commando force known, respected and feared throughout the world: The US Navy SEALs. He was the first Officer-in-Charge of SEAL Team 2. He drove his team hard, and drove himself harder.
Boehm fought more than our country’s enemies, he fought an entrenched naval bureaucracy that had no notion of unconventional warfare, facing five separate Boards of Inquiries for his tendency to circumvent formal processes to get better gear to his warriors expeditiously. It took presidential intervention to get the brass to back off. He was “mission first, people always” before it became a platitude. When he retired as a Mustang lieutenant, his sailors gave him a plaque engraved “Man-O-Warsman” – he accepted no higher honor. In retirement he learned to fly.
He wanted no fanfare at his passing. Fair enough. Still the bugles. Muffle the drums. We can still give an old warrior a silent salute.
Damn,
That’s tough to hear. I’ll remember the good LT in my prayers tonight, and in a glass of old Kain-Tuck before retiring.
Thanks LT Boehm. Ya done good.
Many prayers for his family.
Sounded like my kind of guy…..
Sah Wah Dee, Lt. Sah Wah Dee….
Lex you do the best obits of great warriors. Thank you.
Fair winds and following seas, Mr. Boehm…
Well Done, Sir. With heartfelt gratitude…
Godspeed, sir – godspeed.
A true warrior and a man who always led from the front.
Another example of the greatest generation.
Thank ya L.T.
Libation just now spilled, with prayers. It is good that the deeds of such people be widely reported, as examples, to show what can be done.
And the 21 silenced Guns still fired into the moonless night, but no one really knew where the shots came from.
He slipped out, just as he infiltrated in. The only trace of the passing was our tears washing down the beach.
Concur with ELP @#4. None better at tributes than yourself, Cap’n.
Godspeed to LT Boehm.
I’ve read a bit about the history of the UDT/SEAL’s, and those early guys like LCdr. Boehm and the combat swimmers of WWII were iron men even by the high standards that SEAL’s hold themselves to. We’re a lucky nation indeed to have such men available when the call comes.
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the – Web Reconnaissance for 01/05/2009 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day…so check back often.
HOO-YAH!
I was with Roy the night he died. He was my best friend. The last words he ever said to me were: “Happy Fucking New Year”. This was perfectly in character for anyone who knew Roy. He truely was “one of a kind”, a true war hero and GREAT AMERICAN. Even in his late years, he was VERY informed on what was going on in the SEAL teams and the world in general. He was mentally as sharp as a razor right up till the end. I am honored to have spent ANY time with this GREAT WARRIOR. How fitting that the first airplane he owned was a Piper WARRIOR. He still held a valid pilot’s license and FAA medical and just sold his plane a couple of months ago. He was a great man. Susan is doing OK. I visited with her for a couple of hours tonight and she is holding up well. Yes, Roy requested no service or recognition, but we can all hoist a glass privately to this honorable man. Here’s to you, you Crazy Old Bastard………We Love You
Mike, we’ll hoist a glass to Roy, and to you as well. We’ve lost a great American who made us collectively something better than we are without him, but you’ve lost a great friend. Thank you for stopping by.