Navy author wants to inspire next generation

By Pat Kumpan

Mike Cattolico of Poway has penned a book, “Take a Stand,” to capture the high points of his military career, including several years as a Navy diver.

His book gives an overview of baby boomers and what he hopes will be an inspiration to the “new generation,” possibly those young men and women contemplating a life devoted to the military.

In his words, “a proven recipe for success is tenacity, desire, a positive attitude and determination,” a message he believes will be beneficial to just about anyone, no matter what their profession.

He grew up on a small farm next to historic Bucks County, Pa., enlisted in the Navy in 1966 and served as an enlisted man until he was commissioned as an officer in 1974, ultimately reaching the rank of lieutenant commander.

In his book, Cattolico talks about the various equipment and dive suits he wore, but also his experiences in Vietnam, where he mostly salvaged river boats, or “whatever fell into the river.”

The climate, mostly the heat and humidity, took some getting use to, he said.

While he and others had C-rations (commuted rations — meals in a box), going into the jungle in search of “real” food, such as bananas, other fruit and vegetables, often also resulted in capturing monkeys and snakes for a hearty meal.

The Mark 5, which became obsolete many years ago, became his favorite diving gear. The breast plate and helmet weighed a total of 56 pounds, while each of his metal-plated shoes were 17.5 pounds each.

“You learned how the rig worked for you,” he said. “It’s basically you against the machine.”

For those wondering about those old dive suits, especially when the helmet was clamped on looking much like a fish bowl, Cattolico said he was not claustrophobic in the least.

“I liked closed spaces,” he said.

He explains that the movies have it all wrong when depicting deep sea divers using the Mark 5, or any similar heavy-duty equipment.

“We actually crawled — hands and knees — going backwards on the bottom of the river, or other waterway,” said the retired Naval officer. “We let our feet do the touching.”

During his career, the most dangerous and challenging effort was attending the explosive ordinance disposal school.

After a 23-year career in the Navy, he retired in 1991 and started constructing new homes in Poway, retiring from that second career in 2006.

During Poway Days he helped build a float to honor Vietnam veterans during the Poway Patriotic Parade, which was held Sept. 10 on Poway Road.

To purchase Cattolico’s book go to www.takeastandbook.com, or purchase it online through Barnes & Noble at www.BN.com.