The Capo News & Views Distribution System.

This photo is from 1965 showing the Editor of the Capo News & Views, yours truly, David R. Wellette installing what was back then our “ high tech newspaper distribution system” otherwise known as ten plywood boxes hand crafted and provided by the NAF Public Works Department strategically placed around our base. Believe it or not,it worked. We got the news out to the crew.

NAF SICK BAY

The crew of Sick Bay having what I believe they called an “eat out back”. That day they had a watermelon. It looks like they were enjoying it. Did you work at the NAF Sick Bay? Photo from the early 1960’s.

NAF Naples, Italy Fleet Mail Center crew.

This photo from the achieves of the “Capo News & Views “ shows a crew of sailors loading mail from the Fleet Mail Center on to a  C130 aircraft. The crew could be from the Mail Center or from the MATS terminal at NAF. Did you work in either department? Are you in the photo? Photo is from the early to mid “60’s”.

This photo is of our new barracks for single enlisted men. I believe it was completed in 1966. It was deluxe accommodations compared to the old barracks. It housed four men to a room with real furniture and a wardrobe instead of a locker. A desk and lounge chairs were also provided.

Promotions at NAF Naples,Italy

This photo was taken on May 17, 1965. Were you among the Sailors that were promoted that day? I was in the back row, just after the first five Sailors in the front row L to R. Just “ by a nose.” Captain Clifford Curtis, Commanding Officer of NAF Naples is at the podium.

NAF Ward room entrance.

I found this photo in the archives of the base newspaper, “The Capo News & Views”. This is the entrance to the officer’s ward room. Pictured in the photo (L to R) Capt. Clifford Curtis, the Commanding Officer of  NAF, an unknown Italian Air Force officer, I believe from the contingent that was stationed on the other side of the airfield and LCDR James Yeatroupolus. He was the officer in charge of the “ Capo News &Views” of which I was the editor. I flew with him many times on helicopter flights over to AFSouth, the NATO base to pick up dignitaries.

LCDR Rocky Rowell

Great post by Brian Voge about LCDR Rocky Rowell. He was a great officer to be around although I never worked directly for him during my tour of duty at NAF Naples. I can still remember him vividly, his smile, his laugh and Military bearing. When we stood the watch it was always good to know LCDR Rowell was the OOD.

LCDR George W. "Rocky" Rowell - served as a pilot and Special Services Officer at NAF Naples in 1965-66. I had the pleasure of working for him when I spent a year as a clerk in the Special Services Recreation Department. After leaving Capo, he was sent to Vietnam where he commanded DET 4 – deployed to Vietnam in November 1966. This unit operated from the USS Garrett County (LST-786), under the command of Officer in Charge, LCDR George (Rocky) Rowell. This Detachment flew with Army gunship companies and entered combat early 1967 when it was re-designated HC-1 DET 4. Just prior to commissioning of HELATKLRON-3 SEAWOLVES (HAL-3) in April, DET moved to Dong Tam in early 1969 and later to Ben Luc. They supported the River Patrol Boats and other River Warfare Units. Operation "Giant Slingshot," their primary mission to interdict Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops infiltrating into South Vietnam from the "Parrot’s Beak" and "Angel’s Wing" area of Cambodia, also placing strikes on "Dufflebag" activations. DET-4 was known as "Rowell's Rats" ... Sadly, Rocky passed away on January 9th, 1978 and is buried in Pine River, Minnesota. His last duty station was the Navy Operations Support Center in Minneapolis, MN in 1969. Anyone who knew Rocky would know his laugh and smile. He was a great officer and friend.

During his service, LCDR Rowell earned the Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Navy Unit Citation Unit Commendation (NUC), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation, 

This Blog is dedicated to Sailors assigned to the US Naval Air Facility in Naples, Italy. At some point, the NAF went away and it became the Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy. From looking at Google Earth, I can see that the base that has grown tremendously large. When I was there, about 300 sailors were assigned, including a Flight Squadron and a Coast Guard group. I have no idea how many are stationed there today, but I'd guess it would be in the thousands.

The idea for a blog belongs to my long-time good friend and former editor of the "Capo News and Views," David R. Wellette. He wanted to find a way to connect any of the Sailors and Marines who were stationed there in the 1960s mostly. We both were stationed at Capodichino between 1964 to 1967. It was a fantastic tour of duty.

We have found one other Capo survivor, Edwin Ratcliffe who lives in North Carolina. Dave and I live in Central Florida. Anyone who served at Capo in the 1960s, please leave a message and a way to contact you in some way. Lets see how many of us are still around.

Brian Voge