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Fantastic story and write up
I enjoyed reading about your journey and has definitely helped me get an inside view into how your watches become a part of you, writing history together. Not something that dramatic that is common people will go through....the toughest places my watches go to are in data centres.
Enjoy your retirement and the continued building of a solid watch collection.
Would like to know how you made decisions on when to wear the Sub and when to wear the Daytona on the field though....or did you go double wristed? ;-)
Military Watches: A Soldier’s Tale
Over the years, I have read countless articles about so-called, “military watches.” Some refer to watches that were issued to or produced especially for the military, while some brands use military trademarks to imply some loose affiliation or perhaps eve...
Great.
At first, I thought shiny watches are a no-no in the military due to operational reasons. But I read somewhere that a Rolex can be used as bargaining tool when you get captured. Is that true?
That's EXACTLY why Rolex became so popular in Special Forces.
Legend has it that if "operators" in Viet Nam had to E&E (Evade and Escape), they had something to barter that was globally recognized. This of course was before the proliferation of counterfeits.
It's so weird to think of it as a "story."
It's a big part of my life and watches are an interesting chapter that continue beyond my service. And yes, each watch has an interesting (to me) story.
Thank-You for your service! I became American a little less than two years ago, exactly 38 years to the day after I "became" Italian...
...but I am already immensely proud of this Country, precisely because of the character --- and the professional achievements --- of people like you. Please enjoy every single day of your retirement now --- and, of course, I hope you'll keep building a bi...
Thank you and welcome to the melting pot we call America!
You seem to have an appreciation that is missed on the younger generations. I'm proud to serve people such as yourself who indeed respect and appreciate our nation.
Super post Todd. Thanks for sharing.
It's amazing to me that in the midst of whatever may have been going on while you were on tour you still, just like the rest of do while sitting at our desks or in traffic, took that same level of enjoyment from a sneaky peek at your wrist. I'm curious as...
You are so right! It's no different then appreciating your watch during a morning commute.
It provides an almost therapeutic escape from the moment.
Wonderful history of your service and the watches that accompanied you on your way :) I don't like saying thanks for the service, as even Veterans still serve :) your history serves to
inspire the next generation, you still haven't retired yet hehehe Cheers from a huge Military Archives nerd
Thank you for the kind words.
As I still work for the military in a civilian capacity, I am in awe of the generations coming up. It's in good hands! As soon as I finish with my civilian position, I hope to fully retire, which means dedicating my time to watches and family.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful post.
My dad was in the special forces all his life too and the story makes me think of times past. Enjoy your heirlooms in the best of health! Alex
De Oppresso Liber, Alex!
Respect to your Dad, his service and the family that supported him. Being a family member is the toughest job in the military. Thank you for YOUR service an sacrifice!
It so shows you know both sides of it :)
It is indeed so. I will always be in awe of my mother for her role in this. My respects and warm regards, Alex
Wonderful story, Todd!
I thought that the guys of the special army are only legends, but now I see they are living together with us! Your kids and family can be proud of you! May I ask you, what kind of watches are in your interest in these days? Yours, Adam
Hi Adam. No legend here, just a tired and retired (ex) SF guy.
As for watches, the aforementioned Seiko has a special place in my heart, though Rolex is what moved me into watches as a tradition. Still, it wasn't until I purchased my first Hublot that I "really" started learning about watches. So Hublot is very impor...
Great story
great career, and most certanly, great taste in watches!Now i would say, enjoy the retirement, Todd!And maybe we wil see eachother next Basel! Grtz,Dom
Many thanks Todd for sharing with us your amazing story
Congratulations on your very well deserved retirement. Now is time to enjoy watches differently! 😉
Thanks for sharing this great story, Todd. A very interesting article. Have a great retirement, and please find the time to write more articles like this one!
Just for you... Blancpain Tornek RAYVILLE, for the US NAVY SEALs in 1964 and 1966. This one is from 1964: Best, Nicolas ...
Thank you for the encouragement!
I wrote this article over a month ago and was reluctant to post it because I didn't think people would want to read about an old ex-Green Beret and his watches. My wife actually talked me into doing it. I am shocked (and honored) at the responses such as ...
Firstly, thank you for your service to our country
Secondly, great story and history that you can be proud of. I love the evolution from the Casio to Seiko to Rolex to Hublot as your military career progressed as well. I love those Arnies! Finally, in the last photo do you know what kind of watch your fel...
Thank you !
While I don't recall what watch he was wearing, I went back to the hi-res image though I still can't tell. If you notice the guys to the right are wearing tan uniforms, different from mine. This was a mission with the "Bone Frogs," members of SEAL Team #2...
Thanks for the close-up shot Todd
Now I'm even more convinced it's a Resco Patriot. The company's founder is an active SEAL team member based out of San Diego. rescoinstruments.com This is what I think is the watch in the photo. Notice the large luminous dot on the bezel and the aqua ...
I think you're right.
You can also see pretty clearly the huge detents around the edge of the bezel. Good catch!
Superior post ,really really informative
many thanks for sharing it ,it was really a good read in Saturday i always thought that only black watches are allowed in the army since those shiny SS pieces may grab the attention of the enemies marksman. Thank you Btw here s a piece from french navy (...
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed!
As for the shine, in a desert'ish environment, a brushed stainless watch is not a big deal. If I was crawling through the jungle in a ghillie suit, it might be a different story. Besides, the Chinooks and Black Hawk helicopters we came in on "probably" ru...
Fantastic post, Todd!
Thanks for sharing the experience of your military horological journey - fantastic article! And I cannot but agree that the era of the classic military watch drew to a close some time ago.
I'm so glad you "got it."
My point wasn't so much about "my" watches per se, but to show how the role of watches in today's military is more personal than practical.
It s very similar like everywhere else i think
divers,pilots,captains all relied on their mechanical timepieces during dive,mission or navigation but today gps tells the time .
Thanks for a great story
Nurturing a desire to acquire a watch for some time makes it so much easier to get attached to it when it can finally to be enjoyed, particularly when it is then so much integrated in your life as you did it with yours. I love to read such well written st...
Indeed, the connection with my Submariner is unique.
People ask what my favorite watch is and I tell them it's like trying to choose between children. That said, I clearly admit that the Submariner is the last watch I would ever get rid of. There is no money, no threat nor, force of God or nature that would...
Fantastic story and write up
I enjoyed reading about your journey and has definitely helped me get an inside view into how your watches become a part of you, writing history together. Not something that dramatic that is common people will go through....the toughest places my watches ...
Thanks for the comments.
While I took the Daytona and Hublot, as a matter of tradition, it was ALWAYS my Submariner that accompanied me on every mission. It's hard to explain my connection with this watch. It's not for luck or superstition...anything like that. When I "leave the ...
Thanks for the wonderful story Todd!
Loved the story. The stories are what makes the watches even more interesting
Truly inspirational!
This is definitely the best piece I have ever read about military watches, and the experience from a 35-year veteran of the Special Forces is what made this special. The Arnies are inspiring, while having wore the Sub into multiple deployments is perhaps ...
Todd, sincerest gratitude for your Service!
Every time I see a service member I tell them the same. The fact is, we are here talking about watches and everything else because of you, and the other men and women around the world who commit their lives to keeping us safe. THANK YOU. As for this post,...
Inspiring words coming from you, Michael!
And I agree that today, brands producing "military watches," are often "silly," and rarely doing anything that supports the military mission.
Fantastic post Todd
Congratulations on your service and happy retirement. Your pictures and story add real experience to this site. Thanks for sharing something so personal. Kindest regards,
While I wasn't sure how this would resonate in a public forum...
...I failed to appreciate the WIS appeal! I am surprised and humbled by the responses!
You are welcome!
Oh what the Casio started! Why couldn't I have been into baseball cards or stamps like the other kids?
Superb post, Todd!
Amazing stories, great write up, incredible pics. Thank you so much for letting us enter in your wonderful world and for sharing your life path with us, Enjoy your retirement and your watches, we'll be waiting for your next posts! Best, Max
An absolutely marvellous post...
Thank you (and thank Mrs JToddH) for deciding to favour us with it. Presumably you are the chap on the left in photo #11(r): going double-wristed on assignment. Chapeau! Perhaps on another occasion you might walk us through the ribbons? Cheers, pplater......
This photo?
Actually, I'm the guy on the right. Look closely and you'll see the Submariner on my wrist. Guy on the left is a Navy SEAL. I wasn't firing in this pic, I had noticed movement in the wood line below and was using my scope when I called him over with the b...
I've never been as humbled by a post on this forum . . .
. . . as I am now. When we met a few years ago, Todd, my recollection is that you were in public relations - a talking head, so to speak. I'd no idea you'd walked the walk. My respects, sir. A couple of special forces stories I can share. One of our infre...
You make a good point that I failed to mention.
Aside from the regular military, an operator (Special Operations) guy would never wear a watch that identifies him as SoF. That's just dumb. So yeah, whether it's a Seamaster, Submariner, Fifty Fathoms, Zodiac, etc. A SoF guy will display taste and apprec...
Late to the party...
Few months late here, but as they say better late then never. First and foremost, thank you for your service JtoddH, from one operator to the other. This article is about as real as get's looking into an operator and watches. Myself I wore a Casio during ...
Awesome story Todd!
With its many chapters/ eras of the Seiko and Rolex and Hublot watches. Thank you for sharing ! Warmest regards
Hi Todd, thanks for the story!
As you know I have lots of SEAL acquaintances in San Diego, and like you, they all have stories, but generally don’t shout them from the rooftops. Thanks for the time and energy you spent on putting this together for us. Mike
what an incredible and interesting post
thank you for sharing telling your story - it was really interesting reading. I also think this is a candidate for post of the year. A US military watch from the past, now living its retirement in a quiet garden in Denmark. ...
Late to muster
Todd, Apologies for my tardiness but I'm indisposed in faraway places. Thanks for the vignettes of each era in your service and the watches. I'm even more amazed that you have scans from 1983 and the lanky youth portrayed. 😉 I have nothing from that time....
Beautiful account of acquisitions. Posts like these make me think if I deserve a luxury watch. I dont think my attachement to any of my watches is imbued with those higher sentiments...
... - courage, devotion, sacrifice and service. Just baseless consumption :/ You have the higher ground adv so to say
Great post, great story too ^^
Not only an article but a whole part of your life you shared with us ... I had a great time reading both your horological and military journey, very much appreciated. Thanks for sharing. Anyway, who said mechanical watches are not meant for service ?!? Wi...
How did I miss this post ???
Fantastic story of a brave man ! This makes me want to buy an Arnie ...