CDR John J. "Bug" Roach III

Discussion in 'Military Aviation in General' started by Kow-aka "Spanky, Jun 21, 2012.

  1. Kow-aka "Spanky Well-Known Member

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    Lots of you probably known about this man, (I just stumbled upon the other day) but for those that do not....Sounds like another fascinating individual in the vein Lex~



    http://www.tailhook.org/bug.htm
    Kow-aka "Spanky, Jun 21, 2012
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  2. Renegade One Well-Known Member

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    Words will never adequately describe him...truly unique.
    Renegade One, Jun 21, 2012
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    Catmando Keep your knots up.

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    Catmando, Jun 21, 2012
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    Old R.O. Professional No-Load

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    Every year at the Tailhook awards luncheon, the following prayer by Bug Roach is read by a representative of the Navy League, who sponsors the Bug Roach LSO of the Year Award. I'm not sure of the real history behind it, but I think Bug first did it at a Tomcat Ball in the late '80s or early '90s. Anyway... if you want to see a roomfull of Warriors tear up, you need to make it to Tailhook sometime.

    Bug's Prayer
    Old R.O., Jun 21, 2012
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  5. Renegade One Well-Known Member

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    Not to mention that the Friday Evening cocktail reception at Tailhook will ALWAYS be known as "The Bug Roach Memorial Flight Deck Mixer". He was one of a kind...
    Renegade One, Jun 21, 2012
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  6. Grimace E-2C NFO

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    I met "Bug" when I was on CORTRAMID as a midshipman at NAS Miramar. I believe it was the summer of 91. Bug was the midshipman trianing coordinator for all of us dudes spending a week at Miramar learning about aviation. He started off his brief by passing around a case of cold beer. Best intro to Naval Aviation ever!
    Grimace, Jun 25, 2012
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  7. Renegade One Well-Known Member

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    And sadly died in his A-4 mishap in September of that year...I'm glad you had a "just in time" opportunity to bask in his glow...
    Renegade One, Jun 25, 2012
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  8. MIDNJAC is clara ship

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    That's awesome!
    MIDNJAC, Jun 25, 2012
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    Catmando Keep your knots up.

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    Hand Salute.......
    Two!

    bug.jpg
    Catmando, Jun 25, 2012
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    BusyBee604 Skyhawkaholic!

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    By God, the stonecarver got Bug's pisscutter dip & 'stache just right!:cool:
    BzB
    BusyBee604, Jun 26, 2012
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  11. Renegade One Well-Known Member

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    I stand corrected on the mishap date...obviously "October of that year". Thanks for the pic. Still seems like only yesterday. Memories of "the unique stuff": A Cubi-tailored "white piss cutter" in an awards formation at Miramar (yes...with the "dip")..."Farmer John" coveralls and hand-tooled cowboy boots on the LSO platform...the motorized skateboard he used for "commuting in style" between the BOQ in Key West to downtown during our FFARP det in 1990..."Bug's Prayer"...lots more...
    Renegade One, Jun 26, 2012
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  12. huggyu2 Active Member

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    I've met some real interesting folks in aviation during my time in the military.
    I've also missed out on opportunities to meet some legends.

    After reading about Bug, I'm truly disappointed I never had the chance to meet this bigger-than-life legend.
    His "persona" should be some sort of case study at War College,... a requirement,... something to help "leadership" today understand that we are becoming a pussified military,... one that is less capable because "they" look at many of these attributes as an anathema.

    Folks like Bug are a rare breed these days.
    huggyu2, Jul 11, 2012
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