RIP Admiral Sandy Woodward

[Elen Sentier]

Admiral Sir John Forster "Sandy" Woodward GBE, KCB who commanded the British Naval Force in the South Atlantic during the Falklands War died after a long illness. I met him very briefly after the Falklands - impressive man.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23575534

 

[rik_uk3]

R.I.P. Sir.

 

[woodstock]

A true Officer and Gentleman.

 

[santaman2000]

RIP Admiral. It's always sad to lose any from this generation.

This past week we lost Colonel George "Bud" Day. Colonel Day fought in WWII as an enlisted Marine and later in Korea and Vietnam as an Air Force fighter pilot before he was shot down ad spent almost six years as a POW (and the future Senator, John McCain's cell mate) in Vietnam. When He retired from the Air Force he went on to a career as an attorney and took up many cases involving GI benefits.

 

[ex-member BareThrills]

Very Sad loss

I read his account of the war years ago, really enjoyed it and a great insight into the man and how he thought. They dont make em like that anymore.

 

[SCOMAN]

He seemed a very nice guy, met him once in Gibraltar whilst we were in for repairs in 2000. He was there on holiday with his wife, the first time he'd been there when his visit was cut short in '82. We were in the same restaurant and our CO popped across to say hello and introduce himself, he bought us a round of port and we toasted him. The rest of the people in the restaurant seemed slightly confused. The thing I found interesting was the split on his popularity, unfair criticism on his positioning and use of the carriers and his "there will be deaths and we will lose ships" speech. Let's face it for a scratch team (at least at the start) they didn't do bad. Fair winds and following seas.

 

[Goatboy]

Read his memoirs and he was quite a man and a good mind. Raised a tot of rum to him last night.

 

[Elen Sentier]

Read his memoirs and he was quite a man and a good mind. Raised a tot of rum to him last night.

'fraid it was a tot of sloe brandy here ... all out of rum! Spect he understood

 

[Goatboy]

'fraid it was a tot of sloe brandy here ... all out of rum! Spect he understood

Well mine wasn't exactly a full Navy sized tot, just what I had in a hip flask, but it's the thought that counts.

 

[MertzMan]

Sad times indeed. I've read much about the Falklands and it's a reminder to live ones life to the full.

 

[Elen Sentier]

Well mine wasn't exactly a full Navy sized tot, just what I had in a hip flask, but it's the thought that counts.

+1 to that