At the end of the Santa Barbara Marina's breakwater walkway, you will find a memorial dedicated to all those lost at sea...to include the 7 men who set out at 7 AM on June 7, 1960 on the Marie from the Santa Barbara Harbor, California.  

(Depicted above is the Bud Bottom's creation inspired by the loss of his friends; Albert Terres, sits remembering...) 

 The Story Began in 1960:

Seven men set out,...destination Smugglers Cove on Santa Cruz Island.  The men had set out to conduct top-secret research on the Marie, a 42' WWII converted landing craft, in the clear blue waters off Santa Barbara's Santa Cruz Island. They were never heard from again.  Said to be one of the strangest disappearances, because so many questions were un-answered.  The Marie Shipwreck project launched as a result of many persisting questions of why the incident occurred and what happened to its men, the ship, and its research.   

Commemoration Event - June 2010

The successful end state of this effort is a June 2010 Commemoration as a tribute to honor those lost, to celebrate those who carry on, and to rejoice because we have lessons worth passing on through the generations.  If you are a family member, friend, or colleague of any lost aboard, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to you for your loss…

As the Marie Shipwreck project takes flight in preparation for the June 2010 Commemoration and Celebration of the 50 year anniversary...Please, help me locate the family and friends of those lost on the Marie.  This initiative is important because some folks need to unravel the myths from facts surrounding the incident, others need to tell their story, while others need to hold a memorial, and all need to pile up the transcendent lessons gained from a 50 year perspective. 

“I consider these men as being as worthy of hero stature as the pilot of the U2 planes, because even though they did not know that their lives were in danger,

they did die while undertaking a project to help insure the safety of the free world.” Markham Field MacLin, SB News Press 17 June 1960

 

"One of the strangest boating accidents of the 1960s was the disappearance of the Marie, a converted 42 foot World War II landing craft (LCVP).  The Raytheon Company had chartered the boat to conduct secret scientific studies.  Seven men were on board when the Marie headed for Santa Cruz Island on June 7, 1960.  The ship vanished without a call of distress or a signal for help.  When notified the ship was missing, the Coast Guard searched the Channel for about 39 hours, but to no avail." 

Shipwrecks, Smugglers and Maritime Mysteries, by Eugene D. Wheeler and Robert E. Kallman, 1984.

As this project gains momentum, I am working to piece together, as Paul Harvey say's, "The Rest of the Story" by asking the persisting questions: What happened that fatal day?  What research was being conducted that news reports said was, "Top Secret"? How did the seven men's disappearance impact folks - at home, at work, in the community?  What are the lessons learned?  Why do men face life threatening situations with such exuberance? And one persisting question that's close to my heart, why was the life and legacy of one man, Diego S. Terres Jr., my father, never pieced together and celebrated...until now?

“Man in his search for knowledge always has had to confront nature, in the air, on land or at sea.  Since the beginning of time this has been so. Only among the brave, the pioneers, will you find men who willingly meet nature in the quest for knowledge alone.  The men aboard the Marie were dedicated to this purpose.”  Gordon Humphrey, Raytheon Communicator, Raytheon Santa Barbara Operations, July 1960

This is a grass roots effort, and the initial steps in this project include locating information on those who have a piece of the story...  Many folks have added their threads of information to the story-tapestry.  Connecting with renown sculptor James "Bud" Bottom and discovering the inspiration behind his dolphin family of bronze sculptures is one such story as well as discovering that my father and Dale Howell were childhood friends another gold thread.  And my heart was recently filled with tenderness when my eyes read an email sent to me Valentine Day 2009 and I began to learn of Harold and Betty Lou Mackie and their playful spirit and love.  Former Mrs. Mackie, now Betty Lou Moffitt, and I are connected which leaves only four more families of the men of the Marie to locate.

The Men of the Marie include:  "Dr. Niel F. Beardsley, Raytheon Staff Scientist; Loren Dale Howell, Crew Member; Paul T. Lovette, Crew Member; Harold H. Mackie, Raytheon Electronics Engineer; H. James (Jim) McCaffrey, Crew Member; James C. Russell, Raytheon Engineering Section Manager; Diego S. (Jim) Terres, Jr., Raytheon Mechanical Engineer." Raytheon Communicator, Raytheon Santa Barbara Operations, July 1960.                           

 "I will sail my vessel, 'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try, So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry." --Garth Brooks Lyrics "I will Sail My Vessel"

Want details of the story?  Here's a database of the articles in the Terres Family Scrapbook.  Use this as a short-cut to request documents from:  Santa Barbara News Press, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Examinor, Goleta Gazette,..or ask your local library.  Please let me know if you are aware of other articles of the incident. 

What can you add?

Check back as this website will be updated as the 50 year Commemoration nears --  Days in June 2010 to Honor Days in 1960:  www.MarieShipwreck.com

Please contact me with information or questions:

Teresa Newton-Terres

Email:  tnt@project-tnt.com

Call:  501-413-9092

Mail: 5 Par Drive, Maumelle, AR 72113

My compass, for those who are churched people:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

 "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever." Matt 6:9-13