Commander Rod Briece U.S. Navy Retired was a Believer, a Father, a Husband, a Leader, an Educator, and a Friend. Plus hunting and fishing was a passion for him in his off time. In the later years Rod, found his grandson to be his new partner in the field. That will surely be missed forever, but not forgotten for his grandson!
My name is Frank Biggs aka Frank Trumble when I first met Mr. Briece in 1969 at the Naval Security Group Activity in Imperial Beach, California. He was a young Lt. Jg. Line Officer attached to Admin at the Naval Security Group Activity in Imperial Beach, California. I was a young enlisted Petty Officer attached to a different Division in COMSEC. I had heard that we had someone from Portland, Oregon at the site and I just had to meet him. I was able to see Mr. Briece one day and found out that he love to duck hunt. Well I knew all of the places to hunt ducks outside of San Diego, plus along the Mexican border. I quickly invited him to duck hunt on my 80 hours off. The hunt as an outing was great but no ducks, yet the day before I had jumped more than 500 ducks and geese in the marsh land between the Mexican and U.S. border.
I did not have much time left at that base, as I was going overseas. I met Rod & Cheryl one day near Ream Field, Imperial Beach. They had their two twin daughters Janel and Anne with them. For some reason, that I can’t remember, I was able to hold both of the girls, one in each arm. In reference to the above sentence, some years later like about 10 years I took my daughter Rebecca to the reserve center and Rod held her, she was about the same age in reference to the time I head Janel and Anne. Ironic the circle of life and happenings.
It was some time later in 1972 that I was able to reconnect with Rod at the Naval Security Group Activity in Portland, OR. It was a Reserve U.S. Naval Security Communications site at the reserve center doing active military work. Rod later became my Commanding Officer for the unit I was attached to. Great Leader of men and women! I would have to say Commander Briece was hands on Officer. At this point, I always refer him when on duty as Commander Briece!
Over the years I feel that Rod and I became great friends, nice thing about the reserves you can fraternize in civilian life. While Rod was teaching Political Science at Mt Hood Community College, Rod helped me with projects with career at Burns Bros., Inc.
There is a great deal that I can tell you about Rod & my relationship over 40 years! I do have to mention that whenever I called Rod, Cheryl normally answer the phone with a great voice and always say I will get Rod for you and “how are you doing”!
During the summer months when Rod wasn’t having to do an Reserve Active Duty Training and the college was close you could find him working at Norm Thompson Outfitters, where he would be working fly fishing or gun section. In those days Norm Thompson was the place for the best in hunting and fishing. It is during that time frame that Rod met Jack O’ Connor, the legendary hunter who traveled the world was known as that man that shot the Winchester 270 for everything. Rod acquired a Winchester Model 70 in the 338 Win. Mag caliber from Jack. I was fortunate enough to see the rifle on an elk hunt with Rod. That was Rod’s elk hunting rifle!
He guided me on my first Antelope hunt in Oregon, which was hunt of a lifetime and the meeting of new people. Later Rod introduced me to Wild Bill Campbell on a deer hunt outside of Pilot Rock, Oregon. Wild Bill Campbell and I would become great friends over the passing years.
Rod was always working on us Navy boys to come closer to God and he introduced me to Good Shepherd Church and the men’s group for early Morning Prayer on Tuesdays.
Then there was the summer that I was invited to the Good Shepherd Camp out at the Fairgrounds (Hunt Park) in Tgyh Valley, Oregon, bringing along my son and his buddy. The boys camped outside in a tent and I had the luxury of Rod’s Camper. The boys were able to fish and later we all went on an Exotic Sheep hunt with success. That was the talk around the campfire that evening after the hunt!
I would have to put the biggest deal in my life when I was invited to the Sportsman’s Dinner at Good Shepherd. It happen to be the time when Dennis Agajanian came and gave testimonial to all us that were there. I was very enlightened and when Dennis Agajanian asks of those in the audience who was ready to come to the Lord. Stand and be known, touching Rod on the shoulder and doing so was of great feeling and the great feel of the chill when you touch the Lord.
I thank Rod for everything that he gave out to everyone he touched. I am sure that Rod will continue on this new adventurer with Jesus! Rod you will be remembered by all of us in our Hearts my friend! God Bless!
Frank, thank you so much for this wonderful tribute. My Dad loved his hunting adventures with such great friends like you. He really heard God speaking the most when he was hunting or fishing, just being in God’s creation and I love that. Miss him every day but reading this today has blessed me and my family more than I can say.
Thank you.
Anne Briece Dewing
Frank Biggs,
Thank you so much. I love you because my dad loved you! I’m just seeing this 6 years later. Thank you all for the wonderful words about my dad. I miss him every day. He was a Navy hero and my hero. An amazing outdoorsman who appreciates God’s creation. Thank you all. Janel Briece Rieder
Bwana! Great reading on both articles. Funny that you put Commander Rodney Briece in the article. I knew of him through the office and the work he did with the United States a Naval Security Group. Quite the operations of the secret Navy or let’s say the Top Secret Navy. Using line officers to command! Thanks! G.W.
Hi Frank:
Thanks so much for the e-mail. I am proud of you not being bashful but BOLD in your statement of faith and how your friend had been a influence in your life. We are called to be in the world but not of the world. We all have a sphere of influence more than we may know, I simply want to be a vessel that God can work through. When I see people through God’s eyes as He sees them I can be effective for Him. The key is to get me and my attitudes out of the way first thing in the day.
Frank I am proud to call you my friend, Andy
Very Nice Frank. Well written. I am sure Rod is aware of this letter and appreciates your remembrances.
Sorry to hear about your friend Frank. Hope he new the Lord as you do. Seems life as we know it here is to short but we still have that promise that God gives us all as we accept him.
Your friends
George and Donna Abraham
Well Rod,
I am sorry that you have left the planet so soon! Your were a great man and a leader of many. One thing that is welcome that you no longer will help hunters to kill big Pronghorn in the South Wagontire Unit. If I remember right in spirit that you guided for fun, staying at the XL Ranch Spring more than 10 hunters, which took about 3 Booneand Crocket Antelope. You yourself must have taken 4 Pronghorn from the unit. I hope you got to take your 280 Remington upstairs! Desert Ghost
Dear Frank,
I am also grieved to hear about Rod. He is still a very youngman, and of all the Commanding Officers
that I had, I respected him the most. He was excellent at what he did, and I learned a great deal from his leadership.
LCDR Al Murray U.S. Navy Retired
Its all about the Journey not the destination. Its fantastic that Rod was able to share his passion with his grandson and I only hope that I can do the same with my grandkids as they get older. These are memories that will never grow old and with stay with his family all the rest of their lives. Thank you for sharing this part of Rod that I never knew.
CTIC Gordy Kribs USNR
Sorry to hear about the loss of a fine outdoorsman.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
As we get older you would think it we would get easier to say good-bye to old friends. It only gets harder in later years. We have spent a lot of time with grand kids camping fishing and hunting. My wife has always told them to make a memory of sunsets camp fires and all kinds of things that just made them feel good. You made a memory of your friend and now is the time to enjoy the memory. Take care Tom
Cobra,
Sorry to Hear About Rod, just met him at Brittany’s & Courtney’s Church during a Christmas Play last Winter. Talk to him for awhile and of Course Old Stories of Hunting Trips. I will Pray for Rod and If you see him tell him God & Friends are amongst him and memories of him. He was a customer of mine at B & B as well. Frank he’s a tough Navy Man he’ll be alright–Pray Hard! Rod also was on the Antelope Hunt with Craig & I; he was always knowledgeable and was a Great Help and always very nice to me, Rod is always in my thoughts of Old Buddy’s ; You right he’s quite a Religious Man & Family Man—-A Good Man and USN Commanding Officer; He deserves the Respect!
Sincerely Steve Biggs SH2 USN Combat Viet-Nam 1968 USNR. 1969 -1973 Vietnam, USNR-1977; P.S. Let’s ALL Pray for Rod’s Life with Jesus!
Sorry for your loss Frank. I enjoyed Elk Hunting with Rod, the one time I put him right on the Elk Herd in the Clarno District(wink…wink). Boom, Boom…………they missed 3 Branch Bulls at about 75 yards. Oh well, I saw it all from on top of the famous peak where the broken down fence is at. Yes, it was on the Muddy Ranch at that point, but I had a 6 Pt Bull to retreave from the day before and the 7 hour sneek that I put on him, plus the night I spent in the woods after I shot him. Not the Biggest 6 Pt. that I have ever taken, but sleeping on the cliff side of the John Day River looking at Chiko’s House All night was REALLY FUN!!!
Rod was a good man. He tried to help Holly at church, but that didn’t work either…..He will be missed.
Yours Truly,
Michael T. James