FReeper Canteen~Hall Of Heroes:Chester M. "Whitey" Mack~29 Sept 08

Linked In Thread | StarCMC & Droopy

[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.

           

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!

[AZamericonnie]

Please thank StarCMC for this evenings thread. She ran away with the circus but should return shortly!:)

[AZamericonnie]

Supporting our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen
at more than 1,000 places across the U. S. and around the world.

~Tribute to Our Troops~

[Tanniker Smith]

IN!

[Tanniker Smith]

She ran away with the circus but should return shortly!:)

Shortly? Did she run off with midget clowns that made her one of them?

[HopeandGlory]

Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Our Flag Flying Proudly One Nation Under God

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Lord, Please Bless Our Troops they're fighting for our Freedom.

Prayers going up.

[AZamericonnie]

Good evening Tann......naw....no clowns.

I think it was something like lion tamer or juggler. Perhaps she’s juggling lions?

Our Star is lady of many talents!:)

[ConorMacNessa]

Thanks for this evenings thread - a great addition to the Hall of Heroes!

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[SevenofNine]

Okay Connie it is 5pm here in Cali and in Godzilla land Tokyo Japan it is 9am latest report from Bloomberg Central Asian banks are try cut interest rate

And Yahoo AP wire claim that Wacoviara bank is in talk get bought out by Well Fargo or CITICORPS

Godzilla is tick off

[AZamericonnie]

Good evening Miss Hope....wishing you a good week.

Hand over heart & prayers up! *Hugs*

[ConorMacNessa]

Greetings To All Who Enter This Canteen, To Our Serving Military, Our Veterans, Their Families, FRiends and To Our Allies!

Missing Man Setting

Never Forget Those Who Sacrificed All That We Could Live In Freedom!!

[AZamericonnie]

Good evening Conor....love the Hall Of Heroes!

And there is no shortage of them either!

Hope you are well this evening. *Hugs*

[mylife]

Well, Well....Capt “Whitey Mack”

There’s a true maverick submariner.

God Bless

[ConorMacNessa]

Love it, too - so many heroes to honor - both those in the past and those defending us now!

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[WWTraveler]

I did some work for Whitey Mack when he was working for Newport News. That was about 20 years ago. I remember him as someone who you admired and liked. As a customer he was tough but fair. He will be missed.

[AZamericonnie]

It outta be an interesting Monday Diva!

[SevenofNine]

I think Tokyo Japan would be destory without help of FR fav mascot YOU KNOW WHO

Damnnn US Dollar is getting kill on Japanese Yen market

[ConorMacNessa]

Good evening, My - how's it going this evening?

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Please note: The author of the Hall of Heroes is StarCMC.
Please thank her for today’s thread.

Hall of Heroes: Chester M. "Whitey" Mack!!

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[AZamericonnie]

Good evening My......glad he was on our side!:)

[mylife]

USS Lapon SSN 661