Kirby Horrells Retirement Party - End of Vietnam We were proud to sponsor Kirby Horrells Retirement Party which marked the end of the Vietnam Era for Navy SEALs. The event was attended by over 800 people, including many members of class 49 and 50. Here is a brief excerpt from the days proceeding: “WE ARE ASSEMBLED TODAY TO RETIRE ONE OF OUR OWN. A DEDICATED TEAMMATE AND FRIEND, WHOSE CAREER HAS SPANNED MORE THAN 47 YEARS. DURING HIS CAREER, MASTER CHIEF HORRELL WAS STATIONED AT VARIOUS COMMANDS, SERVING WITH HONOR ABOARD: *SEAL TEAM ONE *SEAL TEAM RESERVE UNIT *SEAL TEAM THREE *NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE UNIT TWO... STUTTGART, GERMANY *NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE UNIT TEN... ROTA SPAIN *NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE TRADET ONE *NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE SDV TEAM ONE *NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE CENTER ASDS SCHOOL HOUSE IN HAWAII * NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE COMMAND, AND *NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE GROUP ONE. WE ARE HERE TO RETIRE A TEAMMATE. NOW THE CONCEPT OF RETIREMENT FROM NAVAL SERVICE DID NOT ORIGINATE IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. HOWEVER, WE WERE THE FIRST OF ALL THE WORLD’S NAVIES TO INSTITUTIONALIZE THE RETIREMENT CEREMONY FOR OUR SAILORS. *THIS IS A TIME-HONORED CEREMONY THAT UNIQUELY SAYS: ‘WE ARE THE UNITED STATES NAVY.’ THE WORD HAS BEEN PASSED…..ALL HANDS ON DECK,’ AND WE WILL FALL IN AT QUARTERS TO PIPE A TEAMMATE ASHORE. *THE ORDER ‘BOATSWAIN, STAND BY TO PIPE A TEAMMATE ASHORE’ IS TIME HONORED. *THIS ORDER DATES BACK TO THE AGE OF TALL SHIPS WHEN ONE WOULD PASS THE WORD: *‘ALL ASHORE’ TO HIS RETIREMENT HOME. *ASHORE, NEVER AGAIN TO SAIL ON A MAN-OF-WAR ---OR--- DEPLOY TO A FOREIGN WAR ZONE.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 04:34:16 +0000