Vintage scuba gear donated to Stratford VFW
The late John A. Southworth of Stratford, retired U.S. Army, always wanted fellow Stratford Memorial VFW Post 6352 member Frederick Heil, retired U.S. Navy, to have the scuba diving tanks that he used in the military.
Southworth passed away on Aug. 16, 2021, at 84 years old. His wife, Betty Southworth, decided a year ago to give her husband’s scuba tanks to Heil because he is a recreational scuba diver. Heil had his friend, Randy Koch of Marshfield, place the scuba tanks, along with John Southworth’s belt and a photo of him in Vietnam, on a handcrafted wooden plaque to be hung inside the Stratford VFW clubhouse.
“John would be so proud to see this done and happening here,” Betty Southworth said.
John Southworth enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1956 and served 10 years as an enlisted man before attending Artillery Officer Candidate School, graduating in 1966. He served in Special Forces for over 15 years until retiring as a major in 1976 with more than 20 years of military service. He received three Bronze Stars with one for valor during combat actions during the two years he served in Vietnam with Special Forces.
He used the scuba tanks in Bad Tolz, Germany with the U.S. Army 10th Special Forces Group. He was a staff sergeant who trained on the Underwater Demolition Team, the precursor to the U.S. Navy Seals. Southworth’s Special Forces Team also trained Greek soldiers in 1963.
“He trained in Tegernsee, which is the deepest cold lake of 119 feet in Bavaria, Germany,” Betty Southworth said.
Following his military service, John Southworth attended UWStevens Point where he graduated in 1979 with a degree in elementary education. He taught sixth grade for 20 years at Stratford Elementary School before retiring in 1999.
“Kids would come up to him and tell him that he was the best teacher that they ever had, and that was a tribute to him,” Betty Southworth said.
John Southworth was a member of the Stratford Board of Education from 2001-2007. He held numerous offices during his membership in the Stratford VFW including post commander, post adjutant, district judge advocate, district chaplain and youth activities chairman. His favorite activity was encouraging Stratford public school and St. Joseph’s Catholic School students to partake in the Patriot’s Pen and Youth of Democracy contests.
