SOCNET

Go Back   SOCNET - The Special Operations Community Network > Legacy > Members Who Gave All

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #91  
Old 15 May 2016, 21:03
MacDuff's Avatar
MacDuff MacDuff is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Frankfort, KY
Posts: 844
I've enjoyed reading SOTB's posts for the better part of a decade now. I'm incredibly sorry to hear that he's gone.

It's amazing to see how many lives he has touched, even just on this site. Most people associate internet forums with anonymous personalities but it's obvious that he transcended that.
__________________
Drinking from a firehose...
Reply With Quote
  #92  
Old 15 May 2016, 21:11
Atrax's Avatar
Atrax Atrax is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: CONUS
Posts: 389
Damn. RIP Sir.
Reply With Quote
  #93  
Old 15 May 2016, 21:13
Andy0331's Avatar
Andy0331 Andy0331 is offline
Mod
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: FL / Indonesia
Posts: 1,599
I think the last time I saw Andy was when he was in FL... sadly too long ago. It sucks to hear he's gone, it really sucks, but I'm glad to have known him and my life is better for it.

RIP brother.
Reply With Quote
  #94  
Old 15 May 2016, 21:15
KidA KidA is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: WbyGV
Posts: 17,407
Quote:
Originally Posted by Silverbullet View Post
your post
Fucking allergies. Thanks a lot. I thought I had the water turned off at the source for the day.

And nice try. They weren't leather damnit.

I am humbled to be able to call you both friend. I am sure there were bets taken as to whether I'd show up or not. I want to know who lost and how much.
__________________
[SIZE="1"]Hey homo, its me -- Andy/SOTB[/size]

Last edited by KidA; 15 May 2016 at 21:22.
Reply With Quote
  #95  
Old 15 May 2016, 21:48
CTA's Avatar
CTA CTA is offline
Authorized
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: FL
Posts: 2,280
Nice posts KidA and Sb. Kid, I especially like the last part with the stove glass cracking. Must be Andy heading to Valhalla. Fair winds and following seas and RIP brother. Fuck cancer!
__________________
NSA/CSS National Cryptologic Memorial - They Served In Silence
http://m.nsa.gov/about/cryptologic-h...ial-list.shtml

Been around the world and found
That only stupid people are breeding
The cretins cloning and feeding
And I don't even own a tv

RULE 12: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.
Reply With Quote
  #96  
Old 15 May 2016, 22:00
WS-G WS-G is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Same universe
Posts: 3,215
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stopp700 View Post
Has anyone started a fund for Andy's daughter/final expenses? Please let us know....
That's a damned good idea! Whoever sets this up, I will make a contribution!

It's been a very long time indeed (months!) since last I checked in here, and only popped in just today... to find... this.


First off, before I go any further, I acknowledge that SOTB was a personal friend (in-person) to many of you. He and I did not have the opportunity to ever meet in person, and I think it's fair to say that a lot of you were aware that he and I were not exactly on the best of terms. Gentlemen, I must ask that you please accept this state of affairs, and understand that this post is not made with the intent of either casting aspersions upon Mr. Potts' memory, nor with any intent of offending any of you.

In all honesty, over the years he and I had rubbed each other the wrong way more than once. Looking back, I know that because he had read me wrong in a number of areas, it's only fair to say that I must surely have been every bit as wrong about him. I could certainly think back on some posts he made which left me thinking "so he's not such a bad guy after all, despite the persona he projects". So.... I probably should have cut him more moral slack than I did.

That said, I will state that I consider his forthrightness in standing up for his point of view and his beliefs to have been commendable. Whether we agreed with one another or not, I never once knew him to waffle or equivocate about anything. This demonstated consistent moral courage -- a hallmark of United States Marine Corps ethics -- and is deserving of respect. For example, he made no bones whatsoever about the fact that he was a professed and much-confirmed atheist, and often came across as if he openly ridiculed those of us with definite religious beliefs. However much I (and doubtlessly others) may have taken exception to any such remarks, the fact remains that it took a certain amount of spine for him to say that and to have been consistent about maintaining his position. Mr. Potts: I say "good on you!" for having consistently displayed that degree of moral courage.

If we had enjoyed the opportunity to have met in person (his popping in to a SOCNETDrink in PDX, Seattle or Spokane wouldn't have been much of a stretch, I reckon), I'd have at least greeted him as a proper gentleman, shaken his hand, and offered to buy him the libation of his choice. I'd like to think that he'd have accorded me the same consideration. Hell, we might even have ended up becoming friends!

An area where he and I clearly did have a lot of common ground was our clear mutual epicurean streak. I could definitely see a mutual appreciation for good food and drink. With that in mind, I'm going to sit an extra New York strip steak on the parilla this afternoon -- with my own homemade chimmichurri -- and have an extra glass of genuine Argentine Malbec with it on your behalf, Don Andy!

See you on the other side, Marine!
Reply With Quote
  #97  
Old 15 May 2016, 22:05
Sado_1's Avatar
Sado_1 Sado_1 is offline
Cynical and Grumpy
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Anywhere, USA
Posts: 210
RIP, see you on the other side. Maybe there ... I can show you some skills on the range lol. Prayers for the family. Very sad.
__________________
[SIZE="3"]"The space between life and death, that is where we are most alive"- Floki[/SIZE]
Reply With Quote
  #98  
Old 15 May 2016, 22:07
Doc P's Avatar
Doc P Doc P is offline
Fan ar an gcosán
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,279
I hadn't seen these tickets before, but browsing a little bit ago I saw one and the first thing I thought of was this thread. I hope SOTB's maidens in Valhalla pass the pinky test.

__________________
Inspect what you expect
Reply With Quote
  #99  
Old 15 May 2016, 22:17
MountainBum's Avatar
MountainBum MountainBum is offline
Vivat Fraternitatis
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: West
Posts: 1,475
Reading Andy's posts on SOCNET as a young E-2 inspired me to pursue a career in SOF. After I got out - we exchanged a few PMs and he helped me through some difficulties transitioning to the civilian world. I never met him in person, but he directly contributed to my success today and for that I'll always be grateful.

Rest in peace brother - you touched the lives of more people than you'll ever know.

Last edited by MountainBum; 15 May 2016 at 22:41.
Reply With Quote
  #100  
Old 15 May 2016, 22:30
bm2bob's Avatar
bm2bob bm2bob is offline
Been There Done That
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: the Road to Happy Destiny
Posts: 1,452
Damn

RIP SOTB you were a great contributor to what this board is, and I will miss dicussions with you.

I never met you but I wish I had.

fuck cancer.

Fair Winds and Following Seas...
__________________
...the sea's in my veins...my tradition remains..."
Mother Mother Ocean, I have heard your call..."

Fair Winds and Following Seas SOTB & Cass
Reply With Quote
  #101  
Old 15 May 2016, 23:14
Chesie Chesie is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Hope Mills, NC
Posts: 472
Rest in peace, Marine.
Reply With Quote
  #102  
Old 15 May 2016, 23:18
The Corporate Guy's Avatar
The Corporate Guy The Corporate Guy is offline
All Labs Matter
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Virtual Panopticon
Posts: 3,652
Wow.

As freely as Andy was to share his opinions on this board, he was similarly free in stepping up to help others. We had been in contact not too many weeks ago as he offered his expertise on Mexico. I had not a clue what he was going through.

RIP Marine.
__________________
[SIZE="2"]“I find it rather easy to portray a businessman. Being bland, rather cruel and incompetent comes naturally to me.” John Cleese
[/SIZE]
Reply With Quote
  #103  
Old 15 May 2016, 23:21
octavio.a.otero octavio.a.otero is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Delaware
Posts: 4
Big loss for our community, I met Andy via Tripod and had the privilege of working with Andy in some of the craziest places!

All of us that had the pleasure of spending time with Andy know that he was a true professional and could argue like no one!

I know that his clients loved him and will miss him a great deal!

Valla con Dios Andrew!
Reply With Quote
  #104  
Old 15 May 2016, 23:47
GotSig? GotSig? is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 220
I will be in the DF tomorrow and hoist one in his honor. Blue Sky's Mr Potts and may gods peace grace your family.
Reply With Quote
  #105  
Old 16 May 2016, 00:13
Rockville Rockville is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: VA
Posts: 1,312
RIP SOTB

You often chewed me out. I respect that.
Reply With Quote
  #106  
Old 16 May 2016, 01:32
loui_ludwig loui_ludwig is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: los angeles, ca
Posts: 157
RIP.
Reply With Quote
  #107  
Old 16 May 2016, 01:33
ronix's Avatar
ronix ronix is offline
Militant Hippy
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Great White North
Posts: 193
RIP SOTB.
Reply With Quote
  #108  
Old 16 May 2016, 02:04
Remington Raider's Avatar
Remington Raider Remington Raider is offline
True Origin Not Known
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: peanut gallery
Posts: 2,045
I saw the thread title . . .

and said no effing way.

RIP SOTB.
__________________
Wolves and alligators should be cross-bred to make wolfagators that will be silent and fast, and we'll never have to hear from those people, they will just be wolfagator shit.
-Eltrane

Are you fucking serious? That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard all week...and I'm at a senior staff planning conference, so, the bar has been set pretty high. You should be proud. - Gavin

“I was recently on a boat to Alcatraz. ‘Why can’t we reopen it for all the bad guys in San Francisco now?’ Out-of-towners all laughed.”
“The residents on the boat didn’t.”
Reply With Quote
  #109  
Old 16 May 2016, 02:20
Hoepoe's Avatar
Hoepoe Hoepoe is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Israel
Posts: 2,256
Blue skies Marine!

Hoepoe
Reply With Quote
  #110  
Old 16 May 2016, 02:44
usmc_3m's Avatar
usmc_3m usmc_3m is offline
Abnormal User
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Here
Posts: 4,155
RIP Andy/SOTB.
I will miss your posts. I wish I could have met you in person.
Fair Winds and Following Seas. Semper Fi.
__________________
"He who does not punish evil commands that it be done." -- Leonardo Da Vinci

That's when you find out that you're better off makin' sure your soul's alright” -- Prince
Reply With Quote
  #111  
Old 16 May 2016, 04:25
EchoFiveMike's Avatar
EchoFiveMike EchoFiveMike is offline
What is the cost of lies?
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: back home, IVO chicago
Posts: 9,637
Quote:
Originally Posted by Silverbullet View Post
Turns out you were GTG and once we got you to stop speaking Latin the night picked up. I considered smashing a chair over your head to uphold the stereotype people have from here, but let it go. Andy being Andy nursed one beer all evening and then tried to give away the remaining half.
I always found it amusing that the stone cold sober one, was the guy who came closest to starting WWIII in the Appalachians. That was an interesting night.

Vaya con Dios, Andy. You will be dearly missed. S/F....Ken M
__________________
If you remember nothing else about what I’m about to consider here, remember this: the one and only reason politicians, bureaucrats, and policemen want to take your weapons away from you is so that they can do things to you that they couldn’t do if you still had your weapons."— L. Neil Smith
Reply With Quote
  #112  
Old 16 May 2016, 04:40
agonyea's Avatar
agonyea agonyea is offline
Been There Done That
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Bama Country
Posts: 2,944
Lest we forget .........
__________________
Fear IT is a LIAR.......
Reply With Quote
  #113  
Old 16 May 2016, 05:37
bikewrench8541's Avatar
bikewrench8541 bikewrench8541 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: En Zed
Posts: 552
Stunned, he was an institution here...

RIP Marine
Semper Fi
__________________
Rain? We call that GOOD Infantry weather..

-Gunstore Commando-
Reply With Quote
  #114  
Old 16 May 2016, 06:20
8654maine 8654maine is offline
Rage against the machine
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Maine
Posts: 6,314
Woke up this morning and expected to see his avatar and some smart ass comment.

Guess I'm just hung over.

Sigh.
Reply With Quote
  #115  
Old 16 May 2016, 06:26
37F5V's Avatar
37F5V 37F5V is offline
One jump chump
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Galt's Gulch, MI
Posts: 1,365
Rest easy, SOTB.
__________________
Hearts and minds? -- that's two to the chest and one in the head, right?

“An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.”
Reply With Quote
  #116  
Old 16 May 2016, 06:40
RedDawg_03's Avatar
RedDawg_03 RedDawg_03 is offline
Pirate and Rogue
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Low Country, South Carolina
Posts: 1,045
Quote:
Originally Posted by Silverbullet View Post
Andy passed into Vahalla today.

His service included 3D Recon Bn, 2d Force Recon Co, JFKSWC. His efforts helped get the fledgling Force Recon MEUSOC program off ground and at one time he was the only MMF qualified sniper in the Marine Corps. He was hard as the proverbial woodpecker lips and smart.

He has worked all over the world and was currently running a highly successful intelligence and security company in Mexico. I know first hand the high level value his efforts brought to people.

I've had the privilege of knowing Andy since 1986. We shared similar traits and have agreed, argued and told each other to F off in cycles for years. I valued his friendship, advice and ability to tell me I was an asshole.

He was a father, husband and a Brother to many.

This site was better because of him and he never hesitated to reach out a helping hand to anyone regardless of the circumstances.

Please take a moment to remember and celebrate Andy's life. He'll be missed, but not forgotten by all of us who knew him.

Semper Fi

This is terrible news. I never met him but I always read his insightful and thought provoking statements and comments on here.

This is a loss for us all. RIP SOTB. We will miss you on here
__________________
My suggestion to you is to start drinking heavily - Bluto Blutarsky

Stupid should be a medical diagnosis - Texan

Being smart does not guarantee success, but being stupid practically guarantees failure - GSniper
Reply With Quote
  #117  
Old 16 May 2016, 06:59
MakoZeroSix's Avatar
MakoZeroSix MakoZeroSix is offline
Been There Done That
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sector King Zulu King
Posts: 8,211
This came as a shock to me coming back from a trip last night. I'm very upset. I had the pleasure of doing business with Andy, he hosted me in Mexico on two occasions. The guy rode several busses for hours to get from Gudalajara to Mexico City just to have dinner with me.

He was an incredibly nice, gracious and above all intelligent person. His prickly nature online might lead some people to believe he was that way in person, but he couldn't have been a nicer guy, and he taught me a great deal about the personal security business during our conversations. He had a truly unique perspective on that stuff.

Farewell friend. This place won't be the same without you. I know you didn't believe in God, but I hope that you were pleasantly surprised to realize that it didn't end with physical death, and that your conciousness continues on in some way in someplace, however it all actually works.
__________________
Quote:
The history of the world is the history of war between secret societies"
- Robert Anton Wilson, "The Illuminatus Trilogy"
Reply With Quote
  #118  
Old 16 May 2016, 07:18
DSSRonin's Avatar
DSSRonin DSSRonin is offline
Authorized
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: A Land of Wonder
Posts: 1,775
RIP Marine. You, among others, made this place what it is. Sounds like your positive influence went way beyond the realm of SOCNET. May your family find some solace in that.
Reply With Quote
  #119  
Old 16 May 2016, 07:31
Hoof Hoof is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Overseas/Orlando
Posts: 100
I knew Andy back at 3rd Recon Bn. RIP Brother!
Reply With Quote
  #120  
Old 16 May 2016, 07:32
just11b's Avatar
just11b just11b is offline
Authorized
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Fl
Posts: 2,966
Rest In Peace, Marine.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Our new posting rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 15:17.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
All Rights Reserved SOCNET
© SOCNET 1996-2023

Top