O Captains My Captains
“Heroes Living Among Us”
In one’s life it is important to have real life heroes. Heroes inspire us to be more and go further than we think we can. In my world in Citrus County I am blessed that my family, and even more importantly my son and daughter, have two such Heroes in our lives. These two men are Captain Thomas Holme, US Navy (Ret.) and Captain Richard Tangmen, US Navy (Ret.). Both men are swim coaches with the Citrus County Parks and Recreation Sun Coast Swim Team, but they are far more than “just” swim coaches.
Both Captains had inspirational collegiate careers and are highly decorated Naval Officers. Both Captains, after retiring from the Navy, became teachers at Crystal River High School and both have spent more than a decade as swim coaches in Citrus County, even after retiring from a second and third career.
Each of these men has dedicated their lives each day to being great citizens in Citrus County, not simply as coaches in the water, but in life in general. It is one of the many reasons why that from their small swim program here in Citrus county which generally has only two or three high school seniors each year over the last 17 years since it began, with the work and influence of these to men, they have had over 22 young people that have gone on to swim collegiately at NCAA Division I, II, and III, including: FSU, US Naval Academy, Norwich University, Indian River, Florida Southern, VMI and others. In addition two of their swimmers have become Navy Seals.
What makes these Captains such an inspiration and such impressive coaches may well have to do with their own life experiences. These men are teachers of the ideals of honesty, integrity, fair play and sportsmanship in addition to the life skills and values of hard work and dedication to oneself, family, community and country.
Captain Thomas Holme, US Navy (Ret.)
Captain Holme, who is known to most of us as merely “Captain”, entered the US Navy in 1963 from the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Regular Program after graduating from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Later, in 1971, Captain Holme received a Master of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Maryland. He was elected to Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society while at the University of Maryland.
Captain is a qualified submariner and a proven sub specialist in both Intelligence and Political/Military Strategic Planning. He attended Submarine School, Defense Intelligence School, and the Foreign Service Institute of the US Department of State. Captain Holme completed the nine-month Postgraduate Intelligence Program at the Defense Intelligence School in 1969 and returned in 1984 to pursue Attaché training.
Captain Holme has held a variety of assignments at sea and ashore. Captain Holme was Assistant Intelligence Officer for Commander Submarine Force, US Atlantic Fleet. He was commander of USS WATERFORD (ARD-5), from 1977 to 1979, served as Technical Advisor for the development of the first Docking Officer Curriculum ever written. Later, from 1980 to 1982, Captain Holme served first as Executive Officer of USS HOWARD W. GILMORE (AS-16), and the USS HOLLAND (AS-32). In 1982 Captain Holme returned to Commander Submarine Force, US Atlantic Fleet as Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Special Security and Special Operations
Following these assignment, Captain Holme served as Naval Attaché in Moscow in the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republic. In October 1986, Captain Holme was declared “persona non grata” (e.g. “an unwelcome person”) by the Soviet Government and was expelled with his family in an act of political reciprocity. From 1986 to 1989, Captain Holme was assigned as Assistant National Intelligence Officer for General Purpose Forces on the staff of The National Intelligence Council. For his work there, the Director, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) awarded him the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement.
Captain Holme spent his last two years on active duty as Commanding Officer, Recruit Training Command, Orlando, Florida. During this assignment he became familiar with the Naval Junior ROTC Program by hosting units on their frequent orientation visits to the Navy’s only coed boot camp.
Following retirement from the Navy, Captain Holme was not ready to simply retire and he became the Senior Naval Science Instructor at Crystal River High School for the Naval Junior ROTC Program. After over 10 years of services as the SNSI, Captain Holme became the Political Science teacher at CRHS and retired in 2007. During his time at CRHS he initiated the varsity swimming and diving programs at CRHS and served as Head Coach until the 2005 season, having coached to win more than a dozen FHSAA District Titles. In 1995 Captain Holme founded the Sun Coast Swim Team which has established itself as the source of many of Citrus County’s very best competitive athletes.
Captain Holme’s personal decorations include: the Legion of Merit with gold star; the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; the Meritorious Service Medal; the Joint Service Commendation Medal; and the Navy Commendation Medal with two gold stars.
Captain Richard G. Tangeman, USN (Ret.)
Captain Tangeman who is better known to many of us as “Coach T”, graduated from New York University in February 1964 where he competed representing NYU in many sports including Swimming and Baseball where he went on to the NCAA championships numerous times.
Captain Tangeman joined the United States Navy in 1964. His initial active duty assignment was as a Naval Aviation Officer Candidate stationed at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. After receiving his aviation wings, he trained and deployed on several cruises aboard the USS Independence and the USS Enterprise. While on combat deployment to Vietnam, his RA5C Vigilante was shot down and he was captured on May 5th, 1968. As a Prisoner of War at Hoa Lo Prison (a.k.a. “Hanoi Hilton”) for five years, he had the honor of serving with great men including then lieutenant Commander John S. McCain.
After repatriation, he was sent by the Navy to obtain an advanced degree in Mathematics at Florida Tech (now known as University of Central Florida). After earning his degree and one year as a flight instructor, he transitioned to fly the A6 Intruder. After tours in Washington and Orlando he attended the Naval War College where he simultaneously received Master’s Degrees in Strategic Planning and Foreign Relations. He subsequently served two tours of duty in the Pentagon within the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. His last tour of duty was in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
After 31 years of service Captain Tangeman retired and moved to Crystal River, Florida. After visiting a friend who was a teacher at Crystal River High School Captain Tangeman applied and was hired at CRHS. He taught High School Calculus and College Algebra and Trigonometry and also coached four sports to District Championships. He was named Crystal River High School Teacher of the Year in 1998 and retired in 2002 to continue his voluntary tutoring and coaching.
When Tangeman disembarking from the evacuation plane at Clark AFB he expressed his thoughts at this time were ones of overwhelming gratitude and respect for the unselfish acts performed on behalf of the POWs and the MIAs by the President of the United States and the American public. Although it was a time of great personal happiness, it was also a time to remember and pray for the many men missing in action and hoping for their return. “The honor was mine to be permitted to serve my country”, Tangeman said. Tangeman went on to say at his disembarking, “I thanked the President of the United States and the American people for their concern, kindness and understanding shown to my family during my long absence”. However, Tangeman had one more request which was, “Don’t let the MIAs or their families be forgotten”. “Now that we are home, please transfer the support you have shown us, the returned POWs, to the effort of aiding the MIA families in their search for knowledge concerning their heroic loved ones. These families still face the pain and problems connected with the absence of their husbands, fathers and sons. God bless your efforts in the past – and those in the future.”
During his imprisonment Tangeman’s faith in God, country and man, was confirmed and strengthened by the wonderful way in which his fellow prisoners conducted themselves in the face of extreme physical and mental deprivation and pressure.
His military awards include, but are not limited to, the Defense Superior Service Medal, three Legion of Merit Medals with Combat V, two Bronze Stars with Combat V, two Purple Hearts, a Meritorious Service Medal and numerous Air Medals
Both of these Captains were teachers to many of Citrus County’s finest individuals, including Citrus County Commissioner Joe Meek and his wife, Amy. Former students and former colleagues often share their feelings about the impact these two Captains have had on their lives.
Their work continues. Most days you will find these two Captains at the Bicentennial Pool in Crystal River, Florida on the pool deck working with the young people of our community. It doesn’t stop at the pool’s edge either. If a student needs help studying for math Tangeman is there. If a student is looking to plan for their college future, Holme is right there. If help is needed by a young person they are coaching or have coached or maybe someone who just stops by you can count on these two Captains playing a vital positive role in that person’s life
To my own children they are known as “Captain” and “Coach T”. Both names are always said with much respect and reverence. As one person said to me about them “We all should be blessed enough to have a Captain in our lives’”. Well, the great thing is that we are blessed to have TWO in our lives!
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