An oral history from an original Frogman

[Ex3]

Ken Garrett, BUDs class 0 was a Korean era frogman. Really interesting stuff.

Ken passed away on July 4th. He was truly a warrior and a gentleman. He will be missed.

Kenneth (Blackie) Garrett was born to Rosa Barnes and Samuel Garrett in Fresno, CA. on March 19, 1929. Mr. Garrett moved to Visalia, CA. in 1936. Mr. Garrett graduated from VUHS in June 1946. He immediately joined the Navy. His service included, among other naval assignments, the Navy Frogmen, forerunners to the Navy SEALs. Mr. Garrett performed 3 combat tours in Korea earning 6 combat engagement stars. Following a brief break from the Frogmen at the end of the Korean War Mr. Garrett was assigned to a series of Special Assignments and ultimately to the CIA while still on military roles. Mr. Garrett performed for 9 years with the CIA as a Military Detailee and upon accruing his 20-years of Military Service he retired from the military and immediately joined the CIA in a Civilian capacity advancing to Chief of Station.

Upon Mr. Garrett's Retirement from the military in 1968 he soon married Mary Jane (Leonardo) Renzi in 1969. At that time the Garrett's resided in San Bernardino, CA. Upon retirement from the CIA the Garrett's returned in 1978 to Visalia, CA., where they resided until Mr. Garrett's death. A graveside service will be held at San Joaquin National Cemetery in Santa Nella, CA on August 11, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.​

 

[Gunz]

RIP Warrior and Hand Salute.

 

[104TN]

Ken Garrett, BUDs class 0 was a Korean era frogman. Really interesting stuff.

Ken passed away on July 4th. He was truly a warrior and a gentleman. He will be missed.

Kenneth (Blackie) Garrett was born to Rosa Barnes and Samuel Garrett in Fresno, CA. on March 19, 1929. Mr. Garrett moved to Visalia, CA. in 1936. Mr. Garrett graduated from VUHS in June 1946. He immediately joined the Navy. His service included, among other naval assignments, the Navy Frogmen, forerunners to the Navy SEALs. Mr. Garrett performed 3 combat tours in Korea earning 6 combat engagement stars. Following a brief break from the Frogmen at the end of the Korean War Mr. Garrett was assigned to a series of Special Assignments and ultimately to the CIA while still on military roles. Mr. Garrett performed for 9 years with the CIA as a Military Detailee and upon accruing his 20-years of Military Service he retired from the military and immediately joined the CIA in a Civilian capacity advancing to Chief of Station.

Upon Mr. Garrett's Retirement from the military in 1968 he soon married Mary Jane (Leonardo) Renzi in 1969. At that time the Garrett's resided in San Bernardino, CA. Upon retirement from the CIA the Garrett's returned in 1978 to Visalia, CA., where they resided until Mr. Garrett's death. A graveside service will be held at San Joaquin National Cemetery in Santa Nella, CA on August 11, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.​

My condolences to Ken's friends, family and the frogman community for their loss of an exceptional man.
While our country has lost one of its heroes, Heaven just got a little more interesting.
Ex, thank you for finding/sharing this video. This is my first time seeing it/I'm watching it now.

 

[Devildoc]

He was...special. I had a few conversations with him, a couple of which were 'heated,' but he was always classy and often very funny. RIP, Shipmate.

 

[AWP]

Ken Garrett, BUDs class 0

Ken passed away on July 4th.

Class 0 (you kids reading this, think about that one for a second) and passed away on July 4th. Cass was a patriot to the end. A good man, he will be missed.

Blue skies.