View Full Version : Thank you Will Brink
Some time ago Will posted that he was working at the Navy SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce Florida. Growing up outside NYC, museums were always my thing. I spent countless hours in the Met, Natural History Museum and MoMa. This was right up my alley. This past week I took my wife to Orlando (Disney/Universal Studios) as graduation gift and she was nice enough to agree to take the 1:45 drive to Fort Pierce, so it was the first thing we did in Florida.
You pull up to an architecturally uninspiring building surrounded by a multitude of watercraft used by the SEALs, but it's humble exterior hides a wealth of information and exhibits inside. I saw Will when we first entered but did not want to interrupt the conversation he was having. When I saw him walking past the 9/11 - UBL exhibit area I introduced myself and my wife and Will gave us an awesome explanation of the early history of the SEALs and why the museum was located where it was. I din't know any of it and found it fascinating. There are exhibits showing the more well known missions that were undertake by the SEALs all over the world including the actual boat that Captain Fillips was in, a Blackhawk used in the rescue of a kidnapped aid worker and many many more. They have a damn Hilux! What the hell Toyota, I wand Hilux too! A wall of firearms and accessories, as well as countless displays of gear and equipment. Unfortunately the WW2 area was closed for renovation but there was enough to see without it, almost to the point of being overwhelmed.
After we walked the inside of the museum we went outside to see the stuff on the grounds. There are a number of different boats used by SEALS, most of which you can go onto and explore. There is also an obstacle course which looks like fun but in 89F Florida heat it was a bit too much for this Eastern European Siberian Husky to attempt.
If you are in the area I highly recommend it. Its only $10! Worth every penny.
Thanks Will for letting us know about the museum, I had no idea this place existed. Than you, also, for the thorough history lesson. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. The drive over was kinda boring tho. ;)
48163
Glad you guys had a good time and nice to meet a fellow M4c-er and his SO. The Helux was a donation of the unit who face shot OBL, as is most of the kit in that room. There are no reproductions in the museum and anything that looks suspiciously like bullet holes are bullet holes... :neo:
Been trying to get an M4C crew to do a museum day like forever. As you can attest, it's gun guy, SOF, mil, history buff nirvana and no leaves not being blown away (no pun intended) by what they see.
That's very cool. Sounds like a great time, I definitely plan on stopping by next time that I make it to Florida.
Great picture. :)
P.S. Will, does the museum have a website?
Ned Christiansen
10-23-17, 10:22
Will, how is the museum funded?
That's very cool. Sounds like a great time, I definitely plan on stopping by next time that I make it to Florida.
Great picture. :)
P.S. Will, does the museum have a website?
Of course:
https://www.navysealmuseum.org/
Will, how is the museum funded?
Privately funded/donations, one of various reasons it's such a damn cool place. No federal funding, so the guns - and there's a lot of em - are not painted pink. etc.
Diamondback
10-23-17, 11:09
Very cool place--think I've seen it on "Mysteries at the Museum," and wish I could've gotten there while Chief Watson was still On Watch.
So close and yet so far... was two hours away in Orlando in '99, and despite the trip being supposedly *my* high-school graduation present couldn't get the rels to do the drive. :(
Someday, if travel ever becomes a tolerable experience again...
WickedWillis
10-23-17, 13:03
Awesome share. If I ever get over to that side of the Country, I will have to pay that other Will a visit.
Awesome share. If I ever get over to that side of the Country, I will have to pay that other Will a visit.
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/068/108/HM446UQ6GA5GROAJXNHREYMR2VO7PKRA.jpeg
You have Kennedy Space center just north, and all the stuff in Orlando (which may be the bargain you strike to keep SO happy) all within a few hours of each other, so tough to go wrong there. Blatant plug alert, the museum is also featured in the latest installment of well reviewed fiction series.
hotrodder636
10-23-17, 15:26
Great post. We go to Florida a few times a year. Looks like we will need to make this trip!
You have Kennedy Space center just north, and all the stuff in Orlando (which may be the bargain you strike to keep SO happy) all within a few hours of each other, so tough to go wrong there. Blatant plug alert, the museum is also featured in the latest installment of well reviewed fiction series.
That's how I did it lol.
Though she was interested as well. She got me an awesome book on the SEALs a few years ago. It's wasn't hard to convince her to take the drive with me. Plus, it's right on the beach!
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f2/96/ef/f296ef627567d6fee31cac2948e35ecf.jpg
That's how I did it lol.
Though she was interested as well. She got me an awesome book on the SEALs a few years ago. It's wasn't hard to convince her to take the drive with me. Plus, it's right on the beach!
To date, not one person "dragged" to the museum by their SO, friend, etc has left not totally amazed by what they saw and learned there. Forgotten how many times I have been pulled aside by someone who told me they were "talked into" seeing the museum only to have been blown away by the experience. One of the reasons I wanted to be part of that once I was in the area. No sure if I can do the gig indefinitely as I'm starting to get busier, but it's my way of giving back where/when I can. Sitting on that beach and trying to picture the training there knowing what they were off to face once training done, well, that gets me right in the feels every time.
Spoke to a number of gents who trained at that location as UDT, Scouts and Raider, etc and were on the beaches come D Day, and it's an experience that never gets old I tell you. My uncle, father, grandfather, etc did their part in WWII also.
At some point in the not so distant future I will be in for a visit. My mother just got a place down in the Ft Pierce area and has already spoken very highly of the museum, Im really looking foward to seeing it.
I may need to go again some time. I was there around 95 I think. They had stuff that Marcinko had. Had a S&W model 66 that team 6 used in their earlier days. Mostly stuff from the Vietnam era and before.
I may need to go again some time. I was there around 95 I think. They had stuff that Marcinko had. Had a S&W model 66 that team 6 used in their earlier days. Mostly stuff from the Vietnam era and before.
You wouldn't even recognize it today.
It's going on two years ago that my brothers, my dad and I went there. We went down to run the Central Florida Tough Mudder and needed something to do the Friday before. Very uncharacteristic to my typical luck, we unknowingly showed up for the kickoff of the annual muster. Talk about taking something already amazing and turning it up to 11.
We got to see the parachute demonstration team and canine demonstration, plus there was live music, beer tents, and enough current and former BTDT personnel to overthrow a small nation. Walking around thinking about all the stories that could be told but never will was very humbling.
As far as the museum itself, I think my favorite parts were the things you didn't expect to see. Of course there were weapons for days, which was certainly excellent, but to me the memorabilia was even better. Like, the least publicized team in the SEALs - not Team 2 or 6 etc.. but the SEALs bobsled team. Who knew.
Liked the gadgets as well. There was what I would call a ship ascender(sure there is some acronym for the official name), which looks like something out of Robot Wars. Uses magnetic force to cling to the side of a ship and then drives itself up to the top. Maersk Alabama lifeboat was captivating - looking inside and seeing the bullet holes and knowing the three bad guys died right there - just not something you see that often. So many displays like that where you see gear that was actually used in some seriously hairy shit.
Was glad to have taken the time to get to experience it, good on you Will for contributing to what they do there.
RobertTheTexan
10-26-17, 02:34
So why is the museum established there? I’m guessing there was a training facility there at one time? Was that the pre-Coronado?
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Diamondback
10-26-17, 04:42
So why is the museum established there? I’m guessing there was a training facility there at one time? Was that the pre-Coronado?
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Fort Pierce was the original WWII NCDU/UDT training facility--the birthplace of it all.
Moose-Knuckle
10-26-17, 05:12
Some time ago Will posted that he was working at the Navy SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce Florida. Growing up outside NYC, museums were always my thing. I spent countless hours in the Met, Natural History Museum and MoMa. This was right up my alley. This past week I took my wife to Orlando (Disney/Universal Studios) as graduation gift and she was nice enough to agree to take the 1:45 drive to Fort Pierce, so it was the first thing we did in Florida.
You pull up to an architecturally uninspiring building surrounded by a multitude of watercraft used by the SEALs, but it's humble exterior hides a wealth of information and exhibits inside. I saw Will when we first entered but did not want to interrupt the conversation he was having. When I saw him walking past the 9/11 - UBL exhibit area I introduced myself and my wife and Will gave us an awesome explanation of the early history of the SEALs and why the museum was located where it was. I din't know any of it and found it fascinating. There are exhibits showing the more well known missions that were undertake by the SEALs all over the world including the actual boat that Captain Fillips was in, a Blackhawk used in the rescue of a kidnapped aid worker and many many more. They have a damn Hilux! What the hell Toyota, I wand Hilux too! A wall of firearms and accessories, as well as countless displays of gear and equipment. Unfortunately the WW2 area was closed for renovation but there was enough to see without it, almost to the point of being overwhelmed.
After we walked the inside of the museum we went outside to see the stuff on the grounds. There are a number of different boats used by SEALS, most of which you can go onto and explore. There is also an obstacle course which looks like fun but in 89F Florida heat it was a bit too much for this Eastern European Siberian Husky to attempt.
If you are in the area I highly recommend it. Its only $10! Worth every penny.
Thanks Will for letting us know about the museum, I had no idea this place existed. Than you, also, for the thorough history lesson. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. The drive over was kinda boring tho. ;)
48163
You better have served in NSW or you can't have an interest in SEAL/UDT history . . . :jester:
I'm Ranger green with envy, it's on my bucket list.
Diamondback
10-26-17, 05:29
You better have served in NSW or you can't have an interest in SEAL/UDT history . . . :jester:
Similarly, if he wasn't Jack Horner or another bone-digger what was he doing at AMNH? Should admission to the Jurassic Park movies have been restricted to professional paleontologists only? :p
You better have served in NSW or you can't have an interest in SEAL/UDT history . . . :jester:
I'm Ranger green with envy, it's on my bucket list.
Cultural Appropriation? lol
Similarly, if he wasn't Jack Horner or another bone-digger what was he doing at AMNH? Should admission to the Jurassic Park movies have been restricted to professional paleontologists only? :p
Now I understand why they asked me if I was an anthropologist and when I said I wasn't they kicked me off the King Kong ride in Universal. Hmmm
So why is the museum established there? I’m guessing there was a training facility there at one time? Was that the pre-Coronado?
It's the birthplace of NSW: NCDU's, UDT, OSS (which went onto be the CIA) were all originated there. Coronado came later. Bunch of great info at the link to the museum I posted first page. Without the NCDUs at D Day, we wouldn't have ever made to the those beaches, much less gotten off them. Here's something I wrote on the NCDU:
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?192793-Unsung-heroes-of-WWII-Naval-Combat-Demolition-Units-(NCDUs)&highlight=NCDU
RobertTheTexan
10-26-17, 08:52
It's the birthplace of NSW: NCDU's, UDT, OSS (which went onto be the CIA) were all originated there. Coronado came later. Bunch of great info at the link to the museum I posted first page. Without the NCDUs at D Day, we wouldn't have ever made to the those beaches.
Museum added to bucket list. Hopefully my job or vacation will get me close and I’ll take it from there. Thanks for the info and link.
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Museum added to bucket list. Hopefully my job or vacation will get me close and I’ll take it from there. Thanks for the info and link.
It was on my bucket list, and I ended up workin' there.
I'll be back in a couple of years for sure. We plan on going back when Disney opens the whole Star Wars land thing. Going to try and schedule it in a way to be able to hit Food & Wine Festival in Disney as well as the Annual Muster. Both take place in November so it should work out!
I'll be back in a couple of years for sure. We plan on going back when Disney opens the whole Star Wars land thing. Going to try and schedule it in a way to be able to hit Food & Wine Festival in Disney as well as the Annual Muster. Both take place in November so it should work out!
Add in Kennedy Space Center/NASA, and it's a trifecta of win. Here's a recap of last Muster:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_Ap_pmGvx4&feature=youtu.be
Add in Kennedy Space Center/NASA, and it's a trifecta of win. Here's a recap of last Muster:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_Ap_pmGvx4&feature=youtu.be
Nice touch with the CCR at the end. Can't wait to go back!
Nice touch with the CCR at the end. Can't wait to go back!
Next time, give some notice so libations, etc can be had
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