A
Letter from Andres Otano
October
07, 2002
Mr.
Steve Waterman,
The
purpose of this letter is to address my appearance on your 'Hall of Shame'
website.
First
of all I profusely apologize for my lack of action in stemming the misperceptions
that have ensued from all this. Further, I remain profoundly embarrassed.
My lack of decisive action allowed previous seastories to matriculate into
the false assumption I was a qualified Navy SEAL Officer. In point of fact,
I was assigned to the SPECWAR community as an Intelligence Officer, among
other things. Please see the addendum to this letter outlining my assignments
with 'the teams'.
It
was not my intention to portray myself wrongly. Yet over time, my third person
discussions somehow evolved into the first person. With the telling &
re-telling of experiences I was un-wise in that I didn't handle the situation
properly and promptly. I should not have embellished the real, and at times,
direct support I provided during my naval career to the SPECWAR community.
What perplexes me even more grievously is my own lack of decisive action.
This has in turn tarnished my excellent reputation, not to mention my relationships,
and hopefully not, jeopardized friendships with individuals I call friends
in the SPECWAR community. Some of my SEAL friends with whom I have confided
of my situation continue supporting me. One friend in particular is LCDR Mike
Walsh, (ret.). He and others continue supporting me. Mike has even offered
to write you on my behalf. Our friendship has endured the test of time and
years. Mike and I served together in Panama and Norfolk during some intense
periods.
Errors
in judgement can occur to anyone Mr. Waterman. Now it's happened to me. I
do not wish to see the good things I've accomplished in the past be wiped
from memory. At the same time, I offer my humble apologies for my own mis-steps,
and failures, to do what every Naval Officer should, 'take care of business'.
So I'm doing that here and now. Accordingly I would like to provide you the
truth not by name-dropping but as references to my association to the SPECWAR
Community. Please see the Addendum to this letter.
In
the end, I should wish to remain proud of my experiences and accomplishments
in my naval career, and not be remembered as someone who tried to make myself
something I was not. I continue to be proud of my association with the best
fighting force in the world. In the last several years, when approached and
asked if I was a Navy SEAL I continue standing to correct the current misconception.
Unfortunately it hasn't been enough. People move around. Again, I am embarrassed
by my inaction. Despite my appearance on your web page, I ask you to please
contact LCDR Michael J. Walsh. Mike has assured me he will vouch I am an individual
with high integrity and professionalism even when I have erred. My friends
who have stood beside me realize we all make mistakes. They continue supporting
me.
Humility
is a great and sometimes painful teacher. Please believe me when I state that
the true meaning of the word is indelibly inscribed upon my very soul. Accordingly,
I ask not to appear any longer on your web page or any "Hall of Shame."
Andres
Otano ADDENDUM
-
In
1978 I was selected with 14 Naval Academy Midshipmen from over 100 other
who tested to attend a "mini- BUD/S" course in Coronado. My USNA officer
was then Lt Hamilton who mentored me at USNA and the reason I tried to pursue
a career in SPECWAR. (I was medically disqualified upon commission for aviation
and Spec Operation Service selection). Our miniBUD/S instructor was Lt Glasser.
Instructors included CPO Bailey, PO Van Skyvern (sp), and PO Lugar to name
a few. BUD/S classes while I was there were 98/99/100. 101 was in pre-training.
-
1980's:
Assigned to COMUSNAVSO Panama to provide direct support /training/ Intel/
to LATAM SPECWAR/Military Assistance to El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala,
Costa Rica, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru. POC- CDR Dave Strong (SEAL) USN (ret),
CDR Dick Flanagan (SEAL) USN ret) & LCDR Mike Walsh (SEAL), USN (ret).
-
Assigned as Flag Lieutenant to COMUSNAVSO while continuing to provide
direct Intel support and Riverine Warfare support. POC RADM Richard Ustick
USN (ret).
-
All along trying to overcome my medical NPQ with the help of career
mentor Capt Schaible USN (ret) (deceased) and Lt Hamilton.
-
Selected as the ALUSNA (American Liaison Naval Attach&) to the
US Embassy Managua, Nicaragua and A/ ALUSNA US Embassy Caracas Venezuela.
Continued in Direct support. POC: Capt Mike Shaw USN (ret) aviator and CDR
Imoff and CPO Lacaz.
-
Assigned to Fleet Intelligence Center Europe/ Atlantic (FICEURLANT).
Dept Head Soviet Naval Analysis and Direct support of HUMINT Ops. Worked
with LCDR Mike Walsh as his FICEURLANT LNO. Mike was Deputy J-2 @ SOCLANT.
- Assigned
CINCLANT office of Collection Management -Assistant Director HUMINT Collection
Management. For LATAM and Caribbean. Worked drug issues with Mike Walsh.