John Spence, Pioneer of Underwater Warfare, Dies at 95

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, John Spence was recruited to initiate underwater warfare training with the Office of Strategic Services, the precursor to the CIA. Spence learned that Italian swimmers had been sinking British ships, and so the Navy had decided to form its own group of underwater warfare swimmers.

The term “frogman” came to be during the group’s initial training, when Spence tried out a new waterproof suit made from green rubber.

“Someone saw me surfacing one day and yelled out, ‘Hey, Frogman!’ The name stuck for all of us … but once again, I was the first,” Spence told his biographers.

John Spence passed away at the age of 95.

Read more at http://www.bendbulletin.com/article/20131030/NEWS01/310300351/#. Keep Reading