NAF Naples Sailors

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,