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A Who’s Who Tribute to Larry “Pops” Coleman
Larry “Pops” Coleman (ONI/NIS, 1962 - 1985) was raised in a small farming community in Hubbard, Ohio and worked his way forward to a lifelong dream of retirement in Hawaii. Along the way he spent a large part of a 4 year enlistment in the U. S. Navy as a Link Trainer Instructor at the Naval Air Training Command, Corpus Christi, TX, returned to Ohio to become an Ohio State Trooper and during that time met his wife of 55 years, Dorothy, another Ohioan, while she was a student nurse at Akron City Hospital. Their union ultimately grew into a family of three sons, Kevin, Keith and Shawn. Dorothy achieved her graduate degree in Nursing Science and became the Clinical Trials Manager at the Cancer Research Center, University of Hawaii. Ironically and tragically, Kevin succumbed to cancer at the young age of 39. Jacque, his young widow, insisted on bringing Kevin back to Hawaii from Michigan and Larry, an accomplished Bagpiper, plays his pipes at Kevin’s grave site about every weekend as he and Dorothy visit and attend to the grave. Larry has stated this is his way of “talking to his son”. Jacque and their daughter Brittney, now a college junior, make annual visits to Hawaii.
While he was with the Navy in Texas, Larry attended college part time and later took time out from the Ohio State Patrol to continue his education in Health and Physical Education. Although Larry applied for the FBI after he returned to the Ohio State Patrol, he began his career as a Special Agent with ONI in 1962 after he was recruited by two handsome, dapper and convincing ONI agents, Bob Mote and Ray Mullaly while they concurrently participated in a criminal investigation. Their cause was suspiciously aided after Bob and Ray literally invited themselves for dinner at the Coleman Household one working evening and Dorothy later exclaimed, “ Larry, you have to become one of them, their such sincere and polished gentlemen!”. Later, Bob (deceased) and Ray (still residing in Ohio) elected to stay in Cleveland, OH as DIS agents and Larry volunteered to accept a transfer in order to stay with NIS. He, has never regretted his decisions which led to exciting and stimulating careers with ONI/NIS and the opportunity to work and socialize with many, many more BOB and RAY’s.
Larry was initially assigned to the ONI Resident Office located at the Cleveland, OH Navy Finance Center after completing three month orientation at DIO-4ND, Philadelphia and attending the ONI Basic Training Course at Washington, DC. Between 1968 - 1969 he was PCS’d to Vietnam and spent 365 days in I Corps at the Danang, RVN Resident Office. Since he was the oldest Special Agent serving in Vietnam he quickly earned the nickname “Pops”. The office was responsible for Yankee Station (Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club), the 1st and 3rd Marine Divisions, First Marine Air Wing, Third Marine Amphibious Force, First Force Reconnaissance Bn and Naval Activity Danang. He first met Pete Reilly as his SAC and later, Don McCoy (previously the SAC at Cleveland) replaced Pete, Larry became Don’s ASAC (as he had been in Cleveland) and some agents jestingly commented that Larry was haunted. Larry transferred back to Cleveland in November 1969 and in 1972 he was transferred to Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii as the first Resident Special agent. Between 1976 - 1980, Larry was assigned as Resident Agent, Marine Corps Logistics Support Base, Albany, GA and by this time he began to feel like a Marine. Larry was transferred back to Hawaii in 1980 and assigned as ASAC at Barbers Point and where he retired in 1985. Larry often has stated that after completing 16 weeks of basic training as an Ohio State Patrol Cadet under the command of a former USMC CAPT from Parris Island and a 1stSGT who spent WWII behind German lines with OSS; instruction by 6 other seasoned WWII combat veterans from the USMC, as well as 82nd Airborne and 8 years service as an Ohio State Trooper (on motorcycle as well as with patrol car) he has always felt a kinship with the USMC.
After “his first retirement” Larry spent 12 years as a Special Investigator with the State of Hawaii Office of Attorney General (Hawaii Five O) and retired again to focus on conducting FBI/BICS investigations. Warren Price was appointed Attorney General at the same time Larry was appointed Special Investigator and, ironically, Warren Price, former LT USN, was a Navy Seal Officer operating in I Corp, RVN during part of Larry’s assignment at Danang. He became a 6' 7" legend there and later left the Navy and studied for his JD. Understandably, neither ever discussed this uniqueness. Larry retired from the State of Hawaii in 1999 and after serving as an NCIS Special Agent Annuitant after Sept 11, he now focuses on occasional FBI/BICS assignments.
Some of Larry’s “extra-curricular” activities which he is proud of are: Certified at Case-Western Reserve University, Criminal and Abnormal Psychology; Certified at San Jose State University, Hostage Negotiation; Certified as Firearms and Unarmed Self Defense Instructor at the first class , Camp Pendleton, CA; Sensei, Hakko Ryu Jiu Jitsu Federation, Omaya, Japan; Pipe Major (ret), Pipe Major Emeritus, Black Watch Assn., London Branch.
As we all are aware, Larry has played his bagpipes (Shamus) at several “NIS in Vietnam” Reunions in honor of our deceased Vietnam brothers. A reading of the names and the playing of the bagpipes at a table with one empty chair and a single rose is a stirring tribute to the memories of our fallen brothers. Larry honored our fallen brothers on 13 Oct 2010 in San Diego at the NIS in Vietnam Reunion in San Diego.
Larry is the Best of the Best and a “gentleman’s gentleman”.
***************************************************************************************************************************************************  Who's Who - Special Agent Warren Lynch Warren Lynch is a highly regarded and respected Special Agent of the ONI, NIS/NCIS and a very active member of the NCISA Southwest Chapter. Certainly one of the best SAC's (SRA) in the system and loved by those who worked for him and with him. Always a Gentleman's Gentleman, Warren, as a senior supervisor, was instrumental in molding many of the best Special Agents in the business, including his son Rory, A sample of Warren's accomplishment follows:
While attending Marshall College (now a University) Warren enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He reported for active duty a Muhlenbery college in the Navy's V-12 program and was later commissioned a Second Lieutenant. During World War II, he joined the First Marine Division on Okinawa as an infantry rifle platoon leader. The war was ended and the division was preparing for the invasion of Japan. Fortunately, the division was deployed to China instead. It's mission was "to carry out the provisions of the Japanese surrender and to maintain "law and order". Such provisions included to disarm the Japanese troops and prevent the Chinese Communist from gaining access to their weapons, to locate, idenify and assist in the repatriation of individual incarcerated by the Japanese, and to and patrol communications and transportation lines. Warren recalls there were sporadic "fire fights" between Communist elements against Japanese and U.S Marine Corps units. He reflects on the irony of the war. In a few months the Marines became the protectors of their former Japanese enemies!
Warren later met and married Esther, a Lieutenant in the Navy Nurse Corps. Her four years of service included assignments at Navy clinics, hospitals, and a hospital ship. She passed away after over 50 years of marriage. They were blessed with four sons including Rory, a NCIS Special Agent. Rory's wife is Gail Trecosta, also a Special Agent.
Warren was recalled to active duty for the Korean conflict from 1951 to 1952. He retired from the Marine Corps Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel with over 27 years of both active and reserve service. He is a member of the First Marine Division and the China Marines Association.
Warren learned about ONI employment opportunities while a member of the Los Angeles Police Department and pursuing a Master's Degree. Prior to his resignation, his LAPD assignments included Central Patrol, Panning and Research and Public Information Divisions.
Warren 's distinguished career began at the Los Angeles Field Office. He was reassigned to NISHQ as the Agent control Unit (person transfers and to Special Matters. This was followed by a transfer to London as the Assistant Supervising Agent/Senior Resident Agent (SRA) followed by assignments as Senior Resident Agent at New York, San Francisco, and Miramar Naval Air Station.Warren's retirement in 1981 was followed by employments as a private investigator and with the U. S. State Department as a contract employee. While at NISHQ he had the opportunity to associate with senior management including the following, among many other. They were Jack Lynch, Jack Barron, Tom Nolan, M. Sherman Bliss, George Salb, Jack Donnelly and John Allendar. They, with a dedicated, professional, loyal Special Agent and Civil Service staff, were the precursor of today's highly repected NCIS.
Of notable interest. Warren points out that both the U.S. Marine Corps and Lynch family's motto are the same - SEMPER FIDELIS!!!
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WHO'S WHO - SPECIAL AGENT ROY MOSTELLER
Roy Mosteller -Basic School Photo 1954
Our second featured member is Roy Mosteller (1953-1975), one of the founding members of NCISA Southwest and its first treasurer. Roy’s military career began in 1943 when he was drafted into the Navy and assigned to the Chief Cable Censor, a wartime ONI organization, in Washington DC. Upon discharge he earned an accounting degree and by 1950 was self employed as a California licensed Public Accountant. Disliking this work as a career and with the advent of the Korean War, Roy wrote to the Director of Naval Intelligence offering to return to active duty if his WWII experience could be utilized. Roy was quickly recalled as Yeoman 1st Class and assigned to DIO-11ND (San Diego) where he assisted in formulating censorship plans for the US/Mexico border to be used in the event the war escalated into WWIII. This fortunately did not happen.
While assigned as the senior enlisted man at DIO-11ND he became familiar with the work of the “Research Analysts.” Liking their work Roy approached his CO with a proposition – let him put on civilian clothes to become a Research Analyst and Roy would extend on active duty for one year. The CO agreed and thus began Roy’s career on the street. He recalls with amusement his first day as an agent when reporting to the senior agent, and expecting a period of instruction, he was merely shown a file cabinet and told, “There they are – go to it.” With that Roy commenced doing background investigations. He says that he must have impressed his CO, as at the end of the year, he asked his CO to be hired as a civilian and his CO agreed. Thus Roy became a civilian agent at DIO-11ND without the formality of a screening board. A clear recollection of those days was his starting salary - $4050/year.
In 1954 the Agent Basic Training Course was established and Roy was privileged to be a member of the first class. By the beginning of the 1960s agents were expected to transfer to other offices. Roy’s request for Hawaii was honored in 1962 and he was told it would be a two-year assignment. However, he liked Hawaii, was promoted to Assistant Supervising Agent, NISO Hawaii, and managed to talk his way out of several transfers as he held on tenaciously.
Roy recalls a couple of memorable occasions in Hawaii. One was working with Secret Service guarding President Nixon on Midway Island following which he was privileged to fly back to Honolulu aboard Air Force One. The other incident occurred when Roy was again dispatched to Midway Island aboard a Navy flight with CINCPACFLT. The admiral was the senior officer present upon return of the USS Pueblo crew from captivity in North Korea. Upon arrival at Midway the admiral planned to change to a dress uniform but his aide could not remember where he put the admiral’s pants. Thus, the admiral was running up and down the plane’s aisle in his skive shorts frantically calling out for someone to find his pants. Roy was particularly proud of his time in Hawaii when CNO awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation to NISO Hawaii in recognition of its contributions during 1966-69 in support of the Pacific Fleet during the Vietnam build-up.
After eight years in Hawaii, Roy found himself transferred to Camp Pendleton where in the late 1950s he had been the only agent servicing the base. When Roy returned in 1970 a NIS Resident Agency had been established, there were almost a dozen agents and he became its third Senior Resident Agent. He described his two years at Camp Pendleton as particularly difficult as the heavy case load was primarily assaults and homicides as the Marines brought the Vietnam War home and fought among themselves. He was next transferred as the Senior Resident Agent to NISRA San Diego where he served until his retirement in 1975.
Roy is also proud of his twenty-two years of military service, both active and reserve, which culminated in his retirement in 1969 as CDR, USNR. He said a highlight of his USNR service occurred in 1966 when he was awarded the Stephenson Memorial Trophy upon being chosen as the outstanding Naval Reservist serving in Hawaii. Although Roy is now a NCISA Life Member and is not required to pay dues, Roy is always one of the first to send his yearly dues to Diana Frantz. What a gentleman!
Roy says he treasures his career with ONI/NIS and would do it all again in a heartbeat.  Roy Mosteller and Mark Harmon -- 2009 ************************************************************************************************************************************** Who's Who - George Reis  The above painting of George, entitled The Stakeout, was done by George's friend and San Diego painter Mr. David Darrow, ((http://www.darrowart.com/photos/index.html))
A few weeks ago, we contacted Retired Special Agent George Reis and explained our plan to do a "Who's Who" in the NCiSA Southwest and asked him if he would be the first, and requested some information regarding his life and career. George was quick to remind us that during his eighty odd years, his life had taken many twists and turns with many wonderful experiences. George subsequently provided some short, and modest details about himself. He is a multi-talented, intelligent and gentlemanly person, held in high regard by everyone who has had the pleasure of knowing him.
Some of these diverse experiences, during his teens, was being a professional entertainer as a Ventriloquist, appearing in shows in the mid west, some with the well known Andy Williams, and Cloris Leachman. He had a hobby of photography, which prepared him for later forensic and crime scene photography. Enjoying hunting, he became proficient with rifle, shotgun and handgun, and became a qualified NRA Instructor, which was to later be utilized in federal employment.
During World War II, he enlisted in the U.S.Navy, while a freshman in college, and saw duty in battles in the South Pacific, on a small Destroyer Escort. Returning to civilian life as a College Junior, his courses were for law enforcement employment. He worked part time as a San Diego Zoo Keeper of the large birds, and birds of prey, and learned quickly how to scale fences when being attacked by these formidable birds, like Condors, Eagles, and Ostriches. It was during college he met a Chicago Fashion Model, who became his wife shortly, as he pursued his bachelor education, then Law School degrees of B.A. and LL.B. In addition, he became a Police Officer and Deputy Marshal, then went to Chicago for lie detection training at the oldest U.S. School of Polygraphy, Keeler Institute. He said it was the most difficult instruction he had ever encountered, and that out of a class of twenty two only six survived, and went on to interning for a year period, conducting exams utilizing the polygraph instrument. He was then a private consultant-private investigator and supervisory investigator at a San Diego Security Firm, which became defunct after employees of a large music company, who had lost thousands of dollars through embezzlement, demonstrated on television, and walked out on strike. This caused cancellation and non renewal of yearly contracts for his firm. Then George received a call by the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) to become a Polygraph Examiner-Special Agent, which he accepted, running Polygraph exams from his first day. A later case he thought would be interesting, involved a group of sailors that were interrogated and polygraphed returned during the night and molotov cocktail fire bombed his office. The ensuing arson investigation, disclosed gasoline fumes on the breath of these sailors, due to siphoning the gas with a mouth tube and their arrest, and confessions resulting in their imprisonment. The Fire Department arrived early enough so his office was not destroyed. Due to his ability with a camera, including a home darkroom, he became the crime scene photographer, and forensic photographer for court martials. Another interesting sideline, was a request by a Federal Judge, for him to give a polygraph exam to those convicted by a jury in his court, to determine, before he sentenced them, if they really were guilty. The NRA Firearms Instructor rating was utilized, when he became the Rangemaster-Instructor for qualifying annually, all Special Agents in his district, with the .357 Smith & Wesson ONI Model Revolver.
George's wife Pearl, after college, became a University Registrar at a world wide University, United States International University, with campuses in London, Paris, Africa and Mexico, and due to her position put their three children, two sons and a daughter through college on complete scholarships. During this time he resisted transfer overseas several times, which caused some career setbacks, giving him the name of "homesteader". It was a tragedy to George when his love of a lifetime died from Cancer, and his grief therapy was his art of oil painting. He had his first training in art at age thirteen, in an Art College in Des Moines, IA, sketching live, nude female models.....something he later continued while a Federal Agent. This led to portrait painting, and he presently does many commissioned portraits. During the year 2009, he painted most of the tv show "NCIS" cast, including Mark Harmon and Cote de Pablo. This month, Jan. 2010, Cloris Leachman, the Academy Award Actress, had George's portrait of her delivered by her son and Manager.
After retirement, George returned to Interrogation and Polygraph as a founding corporate officer of an Investigative Firm, with four other former Agents, and considers his career basically being FINDING THE TRUTH.
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Who's Who - NCISA Southwest |
