Early West Coast UDT Muster at Branson

by Robert "Bob" Berry

Members of UDT-1 from the 50's and their gals met in Branson, MO. May 20-22, 1999 for a Muster on the Quarterdeck of the Lodge of the Ozarks. The three day event was filled with lots of memories of old, and catching up with the new in each others lives. There were 36 present and accounted for, including the wives and girlfriends, to enjoy the local entertainment and each other.

Back row, l-to-r, Tom Eyler, Bob Berry, Clarence "Slim Lueb, Ferman Sims, J. P. Cooper, Bob "Frogfoot" Weller, Bob Rawls, Grady Allen, Lee "Punchy" Hughs, Harold "Admiral" Dunnigan, Tom Swedensky, Don "Red" Marler

Front row, l-to-r, Steve "Ski" Bourecksky, Clarence Dishman, Wesley Keith, Lloyd Crosby, Melvin "Burley" Byers, Bobby Dalrymple, Leo "Patch" Bowers, Phillip "Joe" Joseph, Eugene "Gene" Poole

The wives and girlfriends all enjoyed meeting one another and split up in small groups for shopping the Factory Outlet stores during the day, and in the evening there was dining and showtime events all around the town to enjoy. Many brought memorabilia of UDT equipment, i.e., face masks, fins, web belts, knives, lead line, slate, swimmer's vest, etc. It was quite a display, and all enjoyed reliving its usage, especially the wives who were amazed and fascinated with how "primitive" the basic tools of our trade were. There were a dozen or more very complete photo albums of pictures that many of us have never seen, taken 48/49 years ago.

Lou Bowers gave us all quite a scare when he needed to be rushed to the ER at the local hospital with a breathing problem....he was back the next morning in good shape giving all of us a chance to breathe easy again, too.

Steve Bourecksky, the original "Pilot" of the prototype submersible of the UDU group, provided us all with interesting stories about the origin of that part of the UDTs.

(click here or on above picture to go to John Cooper page)

Bob "Frogfoot" Weller, former XO of UDT-1 and platoon leader of most of the guys present, provided a fascinating account of his life after UDT, searching for the sunken Spanish Galleons and their holds of gold and silver. Bob has written many books on the subject of treasures found and yet to be found. For more than 25 years Bob and his wife, Margaret, have been (and still are) active SCUBA divers operating a small treasure diving company out of Florida, and have been extremely successful in recovering many thousands of dollars worth of gold and silver. He brought with him several pieces of his recovered treasures for a session of "show and tell".

The Muster officially ended following a great banquet on the evening of Saturday the 22nd. Phillip Joseph opened the banquet with a prayer and a memorial in remembrance of all of our departed frog friends.

Another Muster is on the drawing board for the year 2000, the location yet to be announced. San Antonio, TX or Albuquerque, NM have been suggested and are under consideration. No matter where we meet, we will always be thankful to see one another again.

Many thanks to Lloyd Crosby and his wife, Norma, for their special efforts in making our Muster a great success.

Bob Berry and Eugene Poole.

Robert "Frogfoot" Weller with his arms up in background.

Robert "Bob" Berry, UDT 1 e-mail Bob at Ahoyxfrog1@aol.com

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