Special Forces, Navy SEAL, CIA grouping

[milihfra]

Hello all,

 

Came across this rather unbelievable grouping last night. Belonging to one Michael Quentin Whitley, if this all checks out then this man happened to have one heck of a career. Would be curious what others have to say.

 

Grouping link: https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?lid=84075825

[MinorInHistory]

As someone interested in CIA and Special Forces Militaria (and where it intersects), I'll be certainly watching this auction closely. This is what the obituary says about his service, but whether everything in the grouping is correct might be another matter:

            "A graduate of Calvert Hall College High School in Baltimore, Michael received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from Loyola University in Baltimore and his PhD in psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond VA. He served in the U.S. Army from 1968-1971 in Berlin, Germany as a member of the Army’s Special Forces. In 1971, he married Julia Van Hoorebeke Whitley of Clifton, NJ. Michael returned to the military in 1978, upon completion of his PhD, and became a clinical psychologist with the Navy at Great Lakes Naval Regional Medical Center in Illinois.  He was later stationed in Virginia Beach, VA and eventually selected as the first psychologist for the newly formed Navy Seal Team 6. He served in that capacity until 1984, and then continued to serve in the Naval Reserves. Following retirement from the Navy, as Lieutenant Commander, Michael joined the Foreign Service Corps of the Federal Government and he lived in Egypt, Pakistan, Israel, and South Africa, while travelling extensively around the world, in that position. His last assignment for the Foreign Service Corps was in Tampa. Michael retired in 2006 from the Federal government but then became an independent contractor for several more years."

[316th FS 324th FG]

The Agency certs/history are all good to go. Interesting grouping.

[skir]

Had the pleasure of working with Mike during NSW days and later in the Agency and was a true teammate and friend. Yeah, he is 'Mike the Psych ' in the book. Everything in that group is 100% and really about 10% what he had. Both of us being collectors and hoarders, I helped him move that stuff up and down the easy coast until his retirement. With that all said, it is sad that all of Mike stuff was taken by an auctioneer back when he died and last I heard was ghosting his wife for the $$$$. Another fun fact that there are a couple of items in the group that is actively sought by NCIS ( Back when the USN and Marcinko were spatting over goverment funds being misused). I wonder what happened to the really cool stuff that I did not get!

[History Man]

Wonder what the group ended up selling for

[Bryant U.]

$850 with a 22.5% Buyer’s Premium. 

[manayunkman]

Being a SEAL I’m sure his wife can get help getting her money. 

[milihfra]

14 hours ago, skir said:

Had the pleasure of working with Mike during NSW days and later in the Agency and was a true teammate and friend. Yeah, he is 'Mike the Psych ' in the book. Everything in that group is 100% and really about 10% what he had. Both of us being collectors and hoarders, I helped him move that stuff up and down the easy coast until his retirement. With that all said, it is sad that all of Mike stuff was taken by an auctioneer back when he died and last I heard was ghosting his wife for the $$$$. Another fun fact that there are a couple of items in the group that is actively sought by NCIS ( Back when the USN and Marcinko were spatting over goverment funds being misused). I wonder what happened to the really cool stuff that I did not get!

That is fascinating! Thanks for sharing your experience. Do you know what it is they are looking for?

[skir]

10 hours ago, milihfra said:

That is fascinating! Thanks for sharing your experience. Do you know what it is they are looking for?

Yes, Mike was an interesting Guy, the true Quite Professional. For those who did not know him, Mike was an International known Collector whos collections were next level. Known for his collection of Combat swimmer insignia, Worldwide parachute wings, FSSF insignia, SF knives/ daggers, Special Forces berets and his true love was his Irish collection with an focus on Civil war Irish Brigade items. And the worst was his collection of National Geographic magazines , which I was the unfortunate guy who had to help him move up and down the east coast. I hated those magazines.

No dog in this fight, but how his collection was broken up was not what he wanted and will leave it at that. I am curious what happened to alot of his gear as he had a pile of float coats and some rare experimental SEAL items that were not in the lot that was sold. Have watched this train wreck from the beginning and I have seen the light as to get rid of my collection while still kicking.

As for the items,  one  is the SEAL Team 6 belt buckle. In Marcinko's Book,RW, has the story of the belt buckles and even has a pic of Marcinko's Sterling buckle. There were 3 styles, one was the SS one for Mr. Rick, the ones for the plank owners that are numbered, and unnumbered ones for non plank owners. There have been a few that surfaced at local shows, and were confiscated by NICS agents who are always at the shows looking for MAA badges and Dive watches. I would also be leary of the CIA credentials, stuff that is not for public consumption.

Anyway, glad I saw this thread and seeing Mikes stuff one last time. Glad he was My friend.

[manayunkman]

12 hours ago, skir said:

Yes, Mike was an interesting Guy, the true Quite Professional. For those who did not know him, Mike was an International known Collector whos collections were next level. Known for his collection of Combat swimmer insignia, Worldwide parachute wings, FSSF insignia, SF knives/ daggers, Special Forces berets and his true love was his Irish collection with an focus on Civil war Irish Brigade items. And the worst was his collection of National Geographic magazines , which I was the unfortunate guy who had to help him move up and down the east coast. I hated those magazines.

No dog in this fight, but how his collection was broken up was not what he wanted and will leave it at that. I am curious what happened to alot of his gear as he had a pile of float coats and some rare experimental SEAL items that were not in the lot that was sold. Have watched this train wreck from the beginning and I have seen the light as to get rid of my collection while still kicking.

As for the items,  one  is the SEAL Team 6 belt buckle. In Marcinko's Book,RW, has the story of the belt buckles and even has a pic of Marcinko's Sterling buckle. There were 3 styles, one was the SS one for Mr. Rick, the ones for the plank owners that are numbered, and unnumbered ones for non plank owners. There have been a few that surfaced at local shows, and were confiscated by NICS agents who are always at the shows looking for MAA badges and Dive watches. I would also be leary of the CIA credentials, stuff that is not for public consumption.

Anyway, glad I saw this thread and seeing Mikes stuff one last time. Glad he was My friend.

Please forgive my ignorance, what are MMA badges and why do they confiscate silver buckles and dive watches?

[skir]

After looking thru the auction results, got the idea to go through the items from Mike that I have accumulated over the years. Three trunks of memories later ( Most of which is foriegn related or common know US items of which are shown in the pictures from the auction) I did take some pics of some unusual items that might be of interest. Would love to show some of the Rhodesia/South Africa stuff but is not US related. Some of the Rhodeisan items were sold to a couple of collectors on USMF.Anyway here are some of items living in my garage.

 

First up is a LBT special order made for DEVGRU, Floatable extraction rig. This one is set up for MP5 SMG. There were also ones set up for M4/rifle. Rare stuff, I know Mike had one of each, but did not see them in auction, maybe a later one.

[skir]

 In order to confirm that combat loses were acurate, The Mujh would bring in shoulder boards to prove their claims. Remember that these wre the days before cell phone cameras in the Stan.

[skir]

Next up is a set of  VN worn Korean (?) camo with ERDL pockets sew on them. These are from a VN SEAL buddy of ours.

[skir]

And to bring up the rear, a Current  CIA SPO extraction rig. I know that Mike had one of these but also did not see it in auction.

[manayunkman]

What can you say to someone like this?

 

Thank you for your service?

 

That statement of gratitude, though applicable, just seems to come up short.

 

An amazing collection

[milihfra]

Some really fascinating items, especially the shoulder boards.