The last moments of Fire Controlman 1st Class Gary Leo Rehm Jr.
I’ve been holding off posting this story for a few days now because I’m not sure how family members know how this all came to pass, but I trust our buddy Susan Katz Keating who writes for People Magazine, so here we go;
It’s been reported that Fire Controlman 1st Class Gary Leo Rehm Jr., one of the sailors aboard USS FITZGERALD last week when it was struck amidships by the container ship ACX CRYSTAL near Japan, went below decks several times to rescue his “kids” who were trapped below;
Rehm saved up to 20 lives by going into dangerous parts of the ship that had been breached in the collision and helping his fellow sailors get to safety, his uncle said.
“He went back to get the other ones and I guess from what I understand they had to close the hatch, because the ship was taking on water,” [His uncle] Stanley Rehm told WKYC. “He died a hero trying to save the people on his ship.”
The Navy has been silent on the issue of the circumstances of Rehm’s heroism, but, apparently the story has been told by folks who were there.
Category: Navy
BZ Petty Officer Rehm, may your heroism be forever remembered by all that serve. You exemplified the meaning of leader; and you set the example for all that follow.
I hope he at the very least is posthumously awarded the Navy/Marine Corps Medal.
FW&FS Shipmate!
Something else got him…not the hatch! The hatch can be opened from either side of the bulkhead….not to take away from his heroism! “Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for a friend”! He now rests in the arms of the Lord!
RIP
Let me not then die ingloriously and without a struggle, but let me first do some great thing that shall be told among men hereafter. – The Iliad
Maybe they can right a major wrong and replace Carl Levin’s name with USS Rehm.
Yeah about that, I think there’s another that I’d choose first.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USNS_Harvey_Milk_%28T-AO-206%29
” USNS Harvey Milk will be the second of the John Lewis class of underway replenishment oilers…”
?not that there’s anything *wrong* with that.
There’s plenty wrong with pederasty.
As well as with supporting the charlatan and
radical leftistCommunist “Rev” Jim Jones and his People’s Temple.But of course, we all must remember: “Don’t Fear the Commie”.
The 900+ dead in Jonestown certainly didn’t.
Lars has been more butthurt and shitty than usual lately…
Yeah, but, it is an “underway oiler”
Something about the Milk being an oiler is poetic.
That’s kind of what I was going for without sounding overly homophobic.
/not that I am.
Or this one named after EX-Marine, the (dis)Honorable Jack P. Murtha – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_John_P._Murtha
I really, really did hate Ray Mabus. Unfortunately his pansy ass SJW legacy will be sailing around the world for years to come.
Rest in peace Sailor. You gave all.
Not being a Navy guy, but you know, apparently, during your training, that historically it’s a possibility that this kind of thing may happen, when there’s serious damage and they will do whatever is necessary to keep the ship afloat.
That’s some major kind of balls I don’t know that I have and thankfully, I’ve never been in the position to find out.
Just as a secondary note, over on the Guardians of Valor FB page, someone posted a link to change.org to petition ” The next unnamed guided missile destroyer, DDG 127 should be named U.S.S. Gary L. Rehm Jr, after Fire Controlman 1st Class Gary L. Rehm Jr, who gave his own life to save 20 other sailors while serving aboard the U.S.S. Fitzgerald. He epitomized the guiding principle of Ship, Shipmate, Self by making the ultimate sacrifice in order to save 20 shipmates and attempting to save 6 more.”
I’m not big on these kind of petitions because I’m not certain how much influence they carry, if any, but I mention it only because I saw it and each of you can make your own judgements.
Personally it’s the least they can do.
He needs to be remembered in a *significant* manner, IMHO
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https://www.change.org/p/secretary-of-the-navy-please-name-ddg-127-after-fire-controlman-1st-class-gary-leo-rehm-jr?recruiter=77701254&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=GST_USER_GEOT2_SCHT1_petition_gen_exact
Buttercup can be a MFer. At least it used to be. You better be trained in DC. No calling 911 or running to Tru-Value for the part when out at Sea.
RIP
FW&FS Petty Officer FIRST CLASS
That is fascinating.
“Suck it up Buttercup” now takes on a much different meaning for me.
Ship, shipmate, self.
If the story holds, a plot in Arlington and posthumous promotion to Chief is quite appropriate.
+1
BZ Sailor! I agree, he deserves all that has been suggested and then some. St Peter knew he was coming, just from the loud clanging of those big brass ones he has!
RIP, and job well done!
” . . . we should thank God that such men lived.”
Rest easy, FC1 Rehm. You earned it.
May he forever rest easy in Arlington, his grave a solemn reminder to all who pass by that not all brave sailors die in combat.
Kinda dusty here all the sudden.
Hopefully, the Navy will nave a destroyer after Fire Controlman 1st Class Gary Leo Rehm Jr.
“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few… or the one.”
Fair winds and following seas, FC1 Rehm.
Rest in peace, Sailor. Fair winds and following seas. Prayers for his family and friends, as well as those of his lost and injured shipmates.
How many nights I slept at sea, I have honestly forgot. In moments like these I think of those who stood their watch at night.
It might seem odd to those who never get to know the sea, but there is a peace aboard a ship of a kind familiar to me.
I will sleep tonight, with the knowledge that, there are brave men at sea.
Not much for me, 9 months, 27 Days – according to my LES. But enough to get a taste.
I absolutely concur, there is peace at sea. Being on an LHD meant I couldn’t go topside when flight hours was called, but even then you could still make it to vulture’s row and watch everything going on.
There was stuff I never thought I’d see like a pod of dolphins off Korea with hundreds of dolphins, flying fish trying to out run the ship, the Southern Cross, Hong Kong coming out of the fog, foreign AGIs off to port. . .
I was never on a night crew, being in the MEU staff, but I spent many late nights wandering the ship. Best time of the day really – not many people around and red lights gave the ship a different feel. When it really got rocking, it had almost a cool horror movie feel. I enjoyed it.
But I am off ships now and will not likely be returning. I also appreciate those who now stand watch both day and night to keep me and my family safe.
One last thing, the smell. Isn’t it interesting that all Navy ships have the same smell? I’ve been on the following commissioned ships:
►Bonhomme Richard
►Germantown
►Denver
and the following museum ships:
►North Carolina
►Missouri
►New Jersey
►Lexington
►Bowfin
►Torsk
AND THEY ALL SMELL THE SAME! The only one that hasn’t had the same smell is the USS Constellation and that’s probably because it hasn’t been properly lubed in Navy fashion recently!
With all the oxygen thieves running around….
For guys like this it seems that the Navy and Marine Corps Medal that he will certainly receive posthumously doesn’t have a high enough precedence.
Burial in Arlington is a must…
What a shipmate – selfless just totally selfless – I hope the Navy substantiates the story and acknowledges FC1 Rehm with a posthumous promotion to Chief Petty Officer.
Spoke to some of my guys still on active duty – I don’t know what they are hearing about the incident but they feel it was no accident.
I like to think that I’d have the set that FC1 Rehm had when the time comes.
Then I PRAY that the time never comes.
WAIT! The investigation ain’t been submitted, read, and approved. Get the facts (or as many as possible) before recommendations for awards/punishment are made.
I respectfully disagree.
For something this noteworthy, you decorate as high as you can, as fast as you can.
The deceased man deserves no less. -He- did not hesitate. Do the best for -him- you can.
His shipmates and ship deserve no less.
His family and friends deserve no less.
Do for them what can be done, what -must- be done. Plenty of time to think about it later, if there is more to reconsider.
There is -plenty- of time to reconsider the award after the fact, and for competent authority to issue the necessary revised orders later, if circumstances are found to warrant it.
Thank you, Sergeant Lilyea, for making us aware of the heroic sacrifice of Fireman First Class Gary Leo Rehm, Junior, United States Navy.
I’ve relayed the news to everyone on my e-mail list.
Your Army is showing, JRM. *grin*
But your sentiments are heartfelt, and much appreciated. And I couldn’t agree more.
Fire Controlman.
When his sacrifice is documented in the final investigation, I would recommend the Navy/Marine Corps Medal and meritorious promotion to CPO.
He is highly deserving of both.
Rest in peace, FC1.
Another Warrior takes his place in Valhalla.
If it was not an accident but a deliberate attempt to sink her, wouldn’t make this a combat situation and as far as I’m concerned make him eligible for the MOH.
I don’t know how many others would have performed the task knowing the chances of success and survival were nil. He had to know that, he obviously was a good Sailor and no doubt understood the chances before he began or continued his task at hand…
I’m sure that many would perform the same, but this still makes him worthy of the highest form of honor as far as I am concerned.
RIP, fair winds and following seas, Sir…
@ THUNDERSTIXX:
Interesting point, and I agree!
I hope he gets EVERYTHING, i.e., medals, promotion, and a destroyer named in his honor.
Drowning is a terrible way to go, as it happened to me when I was nineteen years old, and working at the Travel Lodge Motel in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Fortunately, the boss’ daughter saw me lying on the bottom of the pool, screamed, and her father dove in and pulled me out, where they pumped the water out of me.
So, I can imagine the panic going through his mind as he tried desperately to keep from inhaling, until forced to open his mouth, wherein the water rushed in, causing him to lose consciousness.
Drowning victims don’t usually die from breathing water, unless they’re unconscious before entering the water.
If they are conscious when they enter the water, then they die from suffocation due to swallowing water and being unable to breathe.
That little fact has occasionally helped medical examiners to determine homicides.
I know that a long investigation process has to happen. Hopefully FC1 Rehm’s actions can be verified with haste. This is the EXACT scenario and actions that the Navy trains for and desires it’s Sailord be able to accomplish. Proper damage control, save the ship, save the crew, and personal heroism in the face of adversity. As told so far, FC1 Rehm could have returned safely, but did his job as a Shipmate and PO1 leader and put their needs in front if his own. He knew the possible consequences and put his crew before himself. He had less than 90 days until retirement. If his actions do not display selflessness and heroism, it doesn’t exist. The Navy and American People need to do everything possible to bring his actions to light and to honor them at the highest levels possible. His Shipmates need it. The Sailors that came before him need it. The military needs it. The future military needs it. Americans need. Our enemies need it. And, especially, his family needs it. Everyone needs to recognize FC1 Rehm’s action so they can see the sacrifice he made, how much it means to all if us, and how much the American people love their country and each other. It is absolutely necessary and an incredible opportunity.
Stories like this, and the opportunity and honor to serve next to heroes like this, are a big part of why I spent a career in the Corps.
Fair winds and following seas, FC1. God bless you.
Whoever closed the hatch also did their duty and will have to live with it the rest of their lives
I believe they were running engineering drills and that would explain a lot of things about the collision.