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Retired
SEAL drives coast to coast for military families
By Derek Shaw
The Alpine Sun
ALPINE — Former U.S. Navy SEAL Don Zub, who retired from the service over 25 years ago, was on a family vacation in Maui when he received an email from the Underwater Demolition Team-Sea, Air and Land (UDT-SEAL) Association. It announced a memorial service being held in Honolulu to commemorate the young lives lost in Afghanistan.
He looked up at his wife and said, “I’m leaving the island for the day.”
She stood, puzzled, in the middle room and asked why. All Zub replied was “UDT” and abruptly left the hotel.
He felt compelled to board a plane bound for Oahu to pay his respects.
Moved by what he witnessed at the ceremony, Zub returned home to Alpine knowing he had a new duty: to aid his SEAL teammates. Thus, Mission Roadfrog was born.
“I just had to do something for the families of these fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives for our freedom,” Zub said. “This is a tribute to elite sailors and their relatives…we, as a nation, will not only remember their courage and strength, but we will also continue the fight.”
On Independence Day, quite fittingly, Zub will kick off a three-week road trip to Virginia Beach. His mint-condition 1990 Mazda Miata convertible will be raffled at the East Coast UDT-SEAL reunion on July 23. He will be the event’s guest of honor.
Zub aims to personally raise $100,000 for the Naval Special Warfare Foundation with help from the private and corporate sectors. All the raffle proceeds will go to the families of SEALS. He hopes the contribution will prove useful during this trying wartime.
Mission Roadfrog will depart from the NAVY SEAL base on Coronado Island following the Fourth of July parade.
Zub said he will stop when going through Phoenix, Houston, Panama City, Tampa, Miami and Atlanta along the way.
He will meet many new people and reach out to his fellow Americans, particularly the families of the fallen. Zub hopes to raise awareness of the Navy SEAL program and inspire others to join the ranks.
“My experience in the Navy was inspiring and sobering, and it even pissed me off,” Zub admitted. “But most all, it made me proud to be standing tall among the bravest of Americans.”
The Naval Special Warfare Foundation is a non-profit organization established to honor SEALS, including active team members and those who served. The mission of the NSW is to provide education and motivational support, promote health and welfare programs, and perpetuate the history and heritage of U.S. Naval Commandos.
The NSW provides youth scholarships, computers, special educational tools and software and tuition assistance to Navy SEALS. Health and welfare programs include financial planning and support, family events and various sponsorships, commendations and awards such as Sailor of the Year.
To learn more, one may visit The
Naval Special Warfare Foundation.
To track Don Zub’s progress and watch the live drawing for his Miata, visit
Mission: Roadfrog
or check The Alpine Sun for periodic updates.
Photo:
Former SEAL Don Zub with the 1990 Mazda Miata he plans to raffle
off at the end of his trip across the U.S.
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