REST IN PEACE

Dear Rob,
Thanks for all of the memories. You were always positive, upbeat, full of energy and fun to be around. You were an inspiration and source of strength to those around you. Thank you for your courage and service to our country. I know you are having fun, being loud and smiling up there in heaven. We'll miss you here on earth. Rest in peace.

Love,
Tommy

You will never be Forgotten

You will not be forgotten!!!!

I have sat here for the past days not really knowing what to think about all of this. What can you say about Rob that everyone doesn’t already know? I’m really thinking that there isn’t much about Rob that all of us really don’t know. I consider myself one of the few lucky ones that was fortunate enough to have Rob as a brother, and got to see directly how he affected everything around him. I can remember days when someone would be down or upset with something and Rob would always find a way to make them laugh.

My first memories of Rob were of him as a drill instructor at my freshmen indoc for the ROTC unit. I can remember him being a hard ass in front of everyone, giving us all his best Gunnery SGT. Hartman impression. Then when no one was around he would talk to us like he knew us forever. Then after indoc was over he took myself, Dan, and Rick aside and introduced himself to us, and that is when we all became friends. But that is what Rob did; he always had a way of bringing people together and always having a good time.

I later decided to join Phi Delt, also in my junior year, and again Rob was there to lend a hand. Those few short years we all had together in the greatest of fraternities where the most memorable times of my life. Road Trips with the boys to FSU to watch a soccer game, Gainesville to get hammered and figure out how the hell we were going to get home. And who could forget the trips to St. Augustine and the Conch House, Gumbi Smashes for all till sundown, then in the car to find another place to drink. All to find out that I had to drive home, in Rob’s car, only to park it in about 3 different parking spaces, and getting Rob a parking ticket at JU. These are the things that I will take away from all this. Or how about a party that Rob had for a buddy who just finished BUDS and I managed to get arrested for Minor in Possession of Alcohol, and after I got out of jail the next morning we go back to Rob’s house and as I walk in the door he throws me a beer and says “Fuck It, just drink you will feel better!” And you know what he was right. HAHA!!!!!

He was there for us all in times of need, when I graduated and got stationed in Pensacola, my house was not ready to move into. And like Nate, Rob opened his door and gave me a floor to pass out on for about a week. No questions asked just there for someone in need. I love you Rob and I will never forget you and all the wonderful things that you have done for us all.

The Navy told me when I got to flight school that I will know someone or I will be a part of an accident, and I always thought that it was bullshit. I always thought, “that will never happen to me,” and now here I am facing it. It doesn’t make it easy but it is true that he did leave this earth doing something that he loved. We are all put here for a purpose and a reason, and our brother Rob fulfilled that purpose and was called home. We should all try to celebrate his life as best we can and not morn his death. Because in death there is a beautiful Beginning.

I wish to leave you all with something that I was given when I checked into flight school. Some of you may know what it is, others it maybe the first time you are seeing it. But I think that it is appropriate for these times.

Again Rob you will be missed but you will never be forgotten!!!!!!!

See you when I see you Brother
BEAU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alvie


A Navy Flyer's Creed
I am a United States Navy Flyer.

My countrymen built the best airplane in the world and entrusted it to me. They trained me to fly it. I will use it to the absolute limit of my power.

With my fellow pilots, air crews, and deck crews, my plane and I will do anything necessary to carry out our tremendous responsibilities. I will always remember we are part of an unbeatable combat team--the United States Navy.

When the going is fast and rough, I will not falter. I will be uncompromising in every blow I strike. I will be humble in victory.

I am a United States Navy flyer. I have dedicated myself to my country, with its many millions of all races, colors, and creeds. They and their way of life are worthy of my greatest protective effort.

I ask the help of God in making that effort great enough.

Pictures of the click

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

Rob, Nate & Paul in New Orleans

Lohse, Nate , Rob and Rick in Jamaica

How Low Can You Go?

How Low Can You Go?
by Ltjg. Rob Elortegui/SH-60B

As a brand-new Helicopter Second Pilot (H2P) at my first squadron, I soon encountered the ready-room banter warning me of my upcoming "first time to the boat." Their collective wisdom counseled, "Wait until you do your first landing at the boat at night. It's intense!" As most junior pilots do, however, I personally ignored those "urban aviator myths" and told myself that a professional like myself would have absolutely no problems. No, sir, not me! Not after making it all the way through primary, intermediate, and advanced. I knew I wasn't a test pilot (Yet!), but by no means was this going to be difficult. After all, these small-deck ships don't move that fast...15-20 knots at the most, right? From my half-glass full perspective, my first time at the boat was nothing but an opportunity for a brand new Helicopter Second Pilot like myself to show off my sharply honed flight skills to my Helicopter Aircraft Commander (HAC) and Detachment Officer-in-Charge (OIC).

Finally, the time came for my detachment to go to sea. We embarked a frigate to commence work-ups with our Expeditionary Strike Group. I was as excited as I could be. In the HSL community we have a process called Week One Work Ups (WOWU), which is designed to build initial ship-aviation teamwork and integration. It starts with deck landing qualifications and progresses to tactical integration. In our case, the squadron XO even came along as our official WOWU Observer. Bonus! Yet another opportunity to demonstrate my skills!

We started our WOWU with day Deck Landing Qualifications (DLQs). A frigate has an average deck height of 17 feet above the water, which I soon discovered is even lower than it sounds. During my initial day "bounces," I was pleasantly surprised with my performance. Practice Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) and Helicopter In-Flight Refueling (HIFR) soon followed. The only thing I had left now were night DLQs. I had observed my OIC and other Aircraft Commander doing their night landings two nights before and they made it look easy. With a full, bright moon and calm seas, what more could you ask for during winter in the Atlantic?

Bolstered by my growing confidence, it was finally my turn to show my stuff and put to rest the overblown "urban aviator myths" of night DLQ's at the boat. We took off about an hour after sunset, and as time passed, it kept getting darker and darker. . . ". Hey, where is that moon?" I thought to myself. My luck, the seas had picked up as well. "No big deal," I continued to convince myself, this is normal and nothing like the exaggerated stories I heard about. My HAC/DLQ instructor let me fly around for a few minutes to adjust to the night environment and get a good feel for the aircraft. Eventually, the Landing Safety Officer called with "the numbers" and announced, "Green Deck." "Let the games begin!!!" I thought aloud.

I started my first approach high and fast, and repeated to myself the proper altitude and airspeed checkpoints. My HAC backed me up and called out the necessary corrections to get back on the proper profile. As we got closer to the ship my HAC reminded me not to get slow and low, to avoid the "black hole," one of the many "urban myths" I heard so much about and that we had discussed in the pre-flight brief. I nodded, "rogered" up, and told myself, "I've got this." We were now within half a mile from the ship and I started to make out the ship outside the cockpit. I remembered my HAC advising me not to go to an outside scan until inside a quarter mile of the ship. Once I realized that the ship was "right there," however, I convinced myself that I could handle it visually from that point. I stared at the ship and began making my way to it slowly without referencing my instruments.

What followed next happened really fast... I heard my HAC and my Sensor Operator (SO) in the back calling "Power." Again, I thought, "No big deal." I slowly started to pull in collective to arrest my descent, only to hear "Power, Power, Power," repeatedly and aggressively from both the SO and my HAC. The ship was still right there dangling in front of me. Next thing I remember is that my HAC came on the controls, pulled in an armpit full of collective, and drove us over the deck of the ship and landed the helicopter. We all sat there nervously for what I'm sure was just a few minutes, but for me felt like a lifetime. We finally discussed what had just happened and decided to call it a night. We shut down the aircraft. We had all had enough excitement for one night.

Once we shut down and were inside the hanger to debrief, my Sensor Operator started joking about how he had seen 17 feet on his navigation parameters screen at a quarter mile, and how he had his Helicopter Air Breathing Device (HABD) bottle in his mouth. I laughed and told him to stop; surely it wasn't THAT bad. Turns out I was wrong; it was THAT bad. We actually had dropped below the height of the flight deck, less than a quarter mile from the ship.

As time has passed, I have reflected many times on my initial night at the boat. I now have my first real "sea story," which I have added to the ready room collection of not-so-mythical stories and misadventures. As a crew we briefed the flight properly and discussed ORM issues that were applicable to the flight. We did everything right, up to the point where I allowed my over-confidence to take over. I dismissed advice given to me by fellow pilots as "myths," and I failed to listen to the advice given to me by my HAC before the flight. Having been sufficiently humbled, I now have a healthy dose of respect for shipboard operations and avoid the pitfall of over-confidence in my skills. I realize the importance of paying very close attention to all aspects of every flight, and I am much more willing to actively solicit advice from others in order to learn from their experience and their mistakes. As for the new check-ins, I tell them, "Hey, wait until you do your first landing at the boat at night. It's intense! Just don't see how low you can go..."

Ltjg. Elortegui flies with HSL-44 Det. 1.

My brother

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:13

Friends, Family & Brothers,

Two nights ago I lost one of the closest friends I'd ever had. I don't exaggerate at all when I say he was my brother. Rob & I met a little over 9 years ago on our first day of a mini-boot camp/indoctrination for beginning college as midshipmen at Jacksonville University. Our racks were side by side, and my first assessment of him was "I am going to hate this cocky guy." From that point on, our friendship bloomed into a very tight brotherhood. We lived together on a couple of occasions. Even when faced with the prospects of not being granted a scholarship from the Navy to continue schooling, Rob wouldn't let me go home in defeat. That wasn't his style. He knew that his futon and garage in the little shack of a house he was renting would suffice until I could get back on my feet.

Rob was the kind of guy everybody wanted a piece of...everybody wanted to be around him. Those people who were not his friends wished that they were. And the people who were his friends wanted to be closer to him. His inside circle had silly hand shakes and stupid enthusiastic greetings like "BEAU" or growling & barking dog sounds. He was so enthusiastic about everything. He was the focal point of the group. He was the kind of guy that knew he could do anything if he put his mind to it...and that was just the kind of guy I wanted to be around. Whatever Rob decided to do, I wanted to be there doing it to. He decided to pledge Phi Delta Theta in his Junior year of college...not without me he wasn't. We really were attached at the hip. On May 5, 2001 Rob and I were commissioned together...the two of us standing side by side holding up our right hands and swearing to defend our country together. We didn't want to do it any other way. In my deepest depressions Rob was my encouragement. In my highest times, he was with me celebrating.

Rob called me on Friday night just before he was getting underway to congratulate me for a job I had just been selected for. It was a very unexpected phone call because at the time, only one other person even knew about it. Looking back on it now, I know that Rob's call was no accident...God was giving me one last chance to say goodbye to him. The last time we were together, face-to-face, was in a hotel room in Tampa, the morning after our friend's bachelor party. Looking back, that was no accident either. Rob and I had a deep conversation about our spiritual lives, God, eternity and the likes. He spoke about the love he had for Sara...his soon-to-be fiancé. He told me of his plans to marry her and start a life together. This conversation was no ordinary conversation. God ordained it to happen.

For the season of his life that I was able to share in, I am truly blessed. I am a better man for knowing & loving my brother Rob Elortegui. It is my strongest belief that in all things God will be glorified. And even in the midst of this tragedy, God will be glorified. I've already received a great outpouring of emails and phone calls from friends that I haven't from in years. They all have questions of their own purpose & mortality weighing heavy on their hearts. Many want to know that there is some meaning to all of this. Any man or woman who searches their hearts has to know that there is more to this life that what meets the eye. I want you all to know that THERE IS...The God that you all speak of in times like this really does exist. And he loved you so much that he sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for you. He paid a price for you that you could not pay. Rob is with him now. And I intend to see him again some day when God calls me home. I want all of you to be there too. For any of you who have never asked God to be the Lord of your life, this event should remind you that we are not guaranteed tomorrow, so don't haste. Give your lives to Christ and live with a purpose today. The quote "there are no atheists in fox holes" is true. There is a battle going on around you whether you know it or not. I don't want to overkill this too much, so I'll end it at that. I love all of you. You can all call on me to talk about this if you'd like. 904-742-4533

The scripture above is the scripture that I had engraved on a keepsake for my groomsmen before any of this happened. Once again, I don't think it was an accident that God put that verse on my heart to describe the love I have for my brothers and that they have for me. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Rob exemplified this love for his friends. If presented with an opportunity to give his life to save one of his brothers, Rob still would have boarded that flight & laid his life down in our place. That is the kind of guy he was. I love you my brother. I'll see you again some day.

-YITB-, "BEAU!!!", Love,

Nate Hemphill
-453-

Thanks for your sacrifice

Tegui,
There hasn't been a moment that's gone by since I met you, when I didn't feel grateful and safe knowing you had my back! I always had a hard time hearing that you and Nate, and Doc, and Jordan, and Paul, and Bobby and everyone of you when you ever went off to sea. I prayed for you guys, but I never lost sleep.....because I knew I could sleep tight, and Stacey and Julia would sleep tight, because you guys had our back.

It is our responsibility to sleep tight and enjoy the life that you guys provided for us. You were willing to give your life so that I could sit safely on my home soil and enjoy a life more free than many in this world, and your sacrifice keeps that alive. I treasure, every day, the free life that you have ensured for me and my family and they will always know that.

Rob, I love you Brother and I will feel safe becaue I know you are still protecting me, and I will raise my family and tell them that they are safe because of you.

I love you, Yours in the Bond
Monkey

p.s. Stacey will miss your and Nate's horrible off-key singing!

Rob Elortegui, We will never forget you.

Its sad to say that we lost one of our friends and brothers today. As I sat and talked to him last Sunday, he spoke of the great plans and goals he had for his future. Proudly, he brought his fiancee to introduce her to all of us, and all of us to her. The blending of some of the parts of his life. I think about how happy and how proud he was of his brotherhood, and the passion and love he had for his country and his soon to be bride. I know that I am a better person for having known him. Please, say a prayer for his family and fiancee. Although, we are separated by a great distance we remain one in the bond.
Rob Elortegui, Lohse said it best "my friend, my brother, I love you"
"Adversity causes some men to break, and others to break records" Thanks Rob
Yours in the Bond, Bart W. Laird -440-

My big brother...Big Rob

After a long time staring at this screen i am finally able to write about my big brother Rob Elortegui. I have known Rob for what seems like a lifetime, it is hard for me to remember life before Rob, and equally hard to imagine life without Rob.
My first meeting with Rob was while we were both attending BOOST in Rhode Island. We were competing against eachother in flag football for our respective company's. As i looked across the field i saw this guy with his shirt off (those of you who knew rob it shouldnt be a surprise he had his shirt off) yelling and screaming obsenities to my team like a crazed ray lewis clone. He was larger than life and demanded to be seen, at the time i did not know but this was "Big Rob." The next time i saw Rob it was under much different circumstances we both found out that we would be attending Jacksonville University together. He was not Ray lewis, he was a teddy bear with a unique sense of humor. We found that we had a few things in common such as being the same age, robs birthday is dec 16th 1973 and mine is dec 29th 1973 both of latin background both married although i was seperated, and both business majors. The 1st semester at JU found Rob and i being in all the same classes and becoming good friends, although my new love interest Ali kept us from being too close for fear of him being a bad influence...not Rob!!! Well by the time 2nd semester rolled around Rob was also seperated and my new college roommate, my new brother...we never looked back. We lived together, went to school together, worked together and partied together...Brothers ever since. Every good experience with the exception of my son being born i have shared with Rob, and alot of bad ones too. I say we were brothers because that is truly how we thought of eachother...family. And as family there were some times when we fought, unfortunately for a few months prior to Robs passing there wasnt a lot of communication between the two of us, until i got an email from rob threatening me if i did not respond and talk to my big brother, which i did. A short time later i was at work at cheesecake factory and i saw Rob and Sara out to dinner with some friends and stopped by said hi and bought them a slice of banana creme cheesecake. While i was at the table i noticed that Rob seemed so happy, happier than i have seen him in years, for that we can thank Sara. Before Rob left that day we spoke briefly at the lobby about getting moes for lunch some day and catching up, we hugged told eachother "i love you brother" and that was the last time i saw my big brother Rob Elortegui.
Myself and some of Rob's friends from college stopped by to see Sara today, i couldnt really say anything at first for fear of crying like a little girl and upsetting more people so i waited till everyone left, Sara and i sat down and cried together for a few moments, i wanted to be strong and be there for her but Sara ended up comforting me, she told me how Rob always though of me as his best friend and brother and how he had planned to ask me to be in his wedding, i cried again.
I will never completely recover from losing Rob, nor do i want to. I know we all must feel that way, he had such a huge impact on everyone he met that you dont ever want to let that go. I was priviledged to know Rob better than most, he used to tell my i knew him better than he knew himself, and for that i am forever thankful.
Rob was raised in catholic school and if you can believe it, he was even an altar boy!!! Now Rob has returned to god, they say that god has a plan for everyone...i can only assume that if god has called Rob upto heaven he must be throwing a party and he wants rob to bring the chicks...I cant seem to say it enough I love you Rob, I will see you again soon my brother...but not yet

GET SOME!!!!

Rick Gonzalez

"Adversity causes some men to break...others to break records"

I thought it appropriate to start off talking about Rob with a quote he used to sign off every email with. And look at it, and think about it. Read it once, especially the first part...Adversity causes some men to break. Some men. Not Rob, not us.

We face adversity like we have not known...and we will not break.

I wrote this today at school...for myself, as a release, as a chance to clear my own head. I wish to share it with you all, my brothers, my friends, my family.

Last night, I turned where I usually turn in a time of crisis...to my mother. I figured she was probably the closest thing I know to a saint, so hey...she's got some answers...she can help.

She said to write down some words about Rob, and send it to his fiance Sara. "It will help...both of you." So, I listened to her, and she kept asking me why I wasn't saying anything. I think, for the first time in my life, I was without anything to say.

So I continued to listen.

"God's calling him home."

As my eyes filled with tears, I listened.

"This isn't an end. It's a new beginning for Rob."

Sick to my stomach, and almost ill, I listened.

"Brian, you have to believe that God has a plan for every one of us. Your friend has fulfilled his purpose in life. What that purpose was, only God knows...but it was time for him to go. It was time for God to call him home."

Way too early I thought....way too early. But, I listened.

"When I die, don't cry for me. Cry for yourself, but not for me. I'll be in a far better place."

Then, she said something that I don't think I'll ever forget. "When my mother, your grandmother passed away, someone came up to me and told me that 'God likes nice things too.'"

I do find some comfort in what she said, but not closure. I don't know what brings closure in a time like this. Is there anything that truly can? We can find comfort in each other...but how can we give someone closure, until they are ready to accept it?

You know what I find comfort in? I find comfort in the fact that Rob died doing what he truly loved to do. First of all, lets think of Rob as a man, and what he was doing. He was a proud servant of his country, one who bled red, white, and blue. He was our nations protector, and he loved it. At the time of his passing, he was training to hunt submarines. TO HUNT SUBMARINES! What a bad ass...yeah, I can say it. I'm writing it. What a BAD ASS! And you know what's great, Rob knew it. He knew he was a bad ass...and he loved it.

Comfort? Quote Ross Jones: "It's not tragic to die doing something you love."

It's like if I had a heart attack watching fantasy football...just put the final score on my tombstone.

Comfort? Eleas Wilson. "I never open the Bible. I didn't know anything happened to Rob until Monday morning. I read the Bible Sunday night." Rob is in heaven.

Comfort? Sara, this past Friday night. She tells me how much Rob loved JaxPFF, the message board, the trash talking. I find comfort in the fact that his last weeks on our beloved planet were good ones for him. He was happy.

Comfort? Rob. The last time I was out drinking with Rob was a week before he left for sea. He was out, boozin' it up. Shots. "Tupper, you pussy." I don't think anyone has ever called me a pussy more in my life...and it makes me smile every time I hear his deep booming voice in my head. "What a bunch of pussies," "Tupper, don't be such a pussy." "I love pussy." I regress, but it's funny...and so was Rob. He was one funny SOB...and we loved him for that. I think the last thing I'm going to take with me is Rob running after Bateh at McCools with his camera phone, trying to snap a picture of Bateh and the girl whose number Ronnie just scored. He was literally disappointed when he missed it, and gave up the hunt for the picture only to buy another round of shots.

What a great memory, one I'll always treasure.

Comfort? My own thoughts and dreams. I share with you my dream from last night. During the 40 minutes of rest I did get, I dreamed about Rob. It was a news broadcast, and it was about Rob's passing. They had video of his mother, and of Sara. They had footage of Rob, talking about his love of his country. Then, the reporter came back on and informed the audience that Rob Elortegui's life savings were found in a fish, which was recovered. A fish! It was reported that Rob would not leave his comrades behind, knew he wouldn't make it to safety, caught the fish, stuffed it with his life savings and a note, inflated it, and sent it to the surface. The note read "Adversity causes some men to break...other men to break records." After I woke up, I checked the news. It was all a dream, but it seemed so real. And, as I lay awake, I smiled for the first time since I heard he was missing. Was this dream so far fetched...I mean, if anyone could have caught a fish, stuffed it with his belongings, inflated it, and send it to the surface because he wouldn't leave his comrades behind...It's be Rob. As I said before, he was a bad ass.

As I reflect on Rob's life, I examined my own. It made me realized how lucky I am. I have a great family, I have great friends. I can find comfort in them, and I hope that you can find comfort in me as well.

I leave you all with this one thought. To me, sadness is a temporary solution to a long term problem. Our problem is...we lost a great friend, a member of our family. But, what a great problem to have. It's better to be sad, and have known Rob, then to be happy and have not.

Thank you Rob, for your sacrafice, for your service, for your sense of humor, for your smile. Thank you for being my friend. Thank you for being a member of my family.

Good win over Knibb High

- The biggest pussy you ever knew

Always in my heart brother

I do not have the ability to put into words how shocking and terrifying it was to hear that my brother Rob was gone, at this time all i can say is that i love you more than most can possibly understand and i will miss you deeply.

Ricky G

Rob Elortegui

Rob,

There have been some incredible things written about you, my man. This blog is dedicated to your life and will allow you to see all of the great stories, thoughts, pictures and memories people have of you.

Y.I.T.B

Panfili