This section of the Sebago Sailors website is just for us...The Communicators of NRUF. It is dedicated to the memory of one particular watch supervisor, RM1 Thaddeus A. Conner, USCG. "TAC" came to us as a prior service RM from the US Navy. He was a very talented radioman, a really good fist. His patience with new SNRM's and young RM3's was limitless and we all learned a great deal from him. The most important lesson was never to lose sight of the goal, to move traffic - even if it was at a slow pace.
He Died On Duty . . .
When "TAC" retired as a Chief Radioman he chose to continue serving the community and attended the police academy in Indiana, a rookie at the ripe age of 46. Upon graduation he was hired as a Deputy Sheriff in Spencer County, Indiana. Just three weeks after his first patrol he died on duty, killed by a drunken driver as he conducted a routine traffic stop. That he died on watch is bittersweet. Those of us that served with him know he was enjoying the work, and wearing a big smile that showed everyone he was happy where he was. Even as a rookie officer, his friends on the job called him "Dad" because he was always helping out the youngers troops.
73's OM CUL AR VA
Roster of NRUF Operators
This is by no means a complete and accurate roster of Radiomen who manned the keys of NRUF. If you know of an RM who logged on watch and isn't noted here, send me a message.
It was aboard SEBAGO that I really learned how to be a good RM. That fact that NRUF was number one on my wish list from RM-A school didn't prepare me for an underway watch. I recall one particular mid-watch during which all of the ships antennas were carried away by heavy seas. As the ship heeled over, things began to fly off the bulkheads and I tightened my seatbelt - finally learning what that web strap was really for!
| Almond, David M. | RM2 | 'DA' |
| Barnes, John K. | RM2 | '???' |
| Bette, Don | RM2 | 'DB' |
| Blair, Jim | RM2 | '???' |
| Bryan, J. D. (ZUT 376) | RM2 | '???' |
| Boines Jr, William F. | RM1 | '???' |
| Bowen, Dick | RM2 | '???' |
| Clancey, Lawrence C. | RM3 | 'CC' |
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RM1 | 'TAC' |
| Crull, F. T. (ZUT 375) | RM1 | '???' |
| Cumblidge, Joseph | RM3 | 'JOE' |
| Dawson Jr, Arthur F. | RM1 | 'AD' |
| DeGeorge, David L. | RM3 | '???' |
| Gardner, R. F. (ZUT 379) | RM3 | '???' |
| Falatti, Rich | RM2 | '???' |
| Glover, R. (ZUT 1056) | RM3 | '???' |
| Gulledge, William L. (ZUT 1) | RM3 | '???' |
| Hecker, John J. | RM3 | 'JJ' |
| Horning, Robert M | RM2 | '???' |
| Hortin, W. E. (ZUT 840) | RM3 | '???' |
| Hostetter, Al (ZUT 770) | RMC | '???' |
| Kramer, Alvin A | RMC | '???' |
| Lentz, Jerry M. (ZUT 1321) | RM1 | '???' |
| Lewandowski, David R. | RM2 | '???' |
| Lytle, Frank C | RM3 | '???' |
| MacQueen, Bruce | RMC | '???' |
| McNett, L. D. (ZUT 1055) | RM3 | '???' |
| Moore, M | RMC | 'MO' |
| Murphy, Frank | RM2 | '???' |
| Nichols, Keith | RM3 | '???' |
| Perotta, John | RM2 | '???' |
| Petrocelli, Stephen | RM3 | 'SP' |
| Pinkerton, Robert S | RM1 | '???' |
| Pugh, Hinton A. | RM3 | 'HA' |
| Pursifull, T. P. (ZUT 22) | RM2 | '???' |
| Ritzman, Ernie (ZUT 31) | RM3 | 'EJR' |
| Robichaux, Wade | RM3 | '???' |
| Rupp, Gregory A | RM3 | '???' |
| Schmidt, Joeseph | RM2 | '???' |
| Schoen, John | RM2 | '???' |
| Seal, George M. | RM2 | 'GS' |
| Sherrill, Paul | RMC | '???' |
| Smith, Lynn C. | RM3 | 'LS' |
| Smith, G. T. (ZUT 377) | RM3 | '???' |
| Smith, R. L. | RM2 | '???' |
| Sturtevant, W. J. (ZUT 38) | RM3 | '???' |
| Vandernoot, S. H. (ZUT 841) | RM3 | '???' |
| Warren Sr, Frank A. | RM3 | '???' |
| Wiley, C. R. (ZUT 374) | RMC | '???' |
| Witkowitcz, Stephen | RM2 | 'SW' |
| Wonnacott, LeRoy B. | RM2 | 'LB' |
| Wood, Robert L. | RM2 | 'RW' |