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SBC Zacharias “Zach” Edward Buob, SWCC
Instructor at the Naval Special Warfare Advanced Training Command
Chief Special Warfare Boat Operator (SBC) Zacharias Edward Buob was born November 29, 1975, in Santa Clara, CA and raised in San Jose, CA. Zach enlisted in the United States Navy on March 8, 1995.
Zach reported to Recruit Training at Naval Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, and upon graduation in December 1995, he attended Gunner’s Mate "A" School. After completion of “A” School, Zach’s first duty station was aboard the USS Antietam (CG 54), stationed in San Diego, CA. During this tour, he completed three deployments between 1996 and 2000.
Zach then attended Naval Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewman (SWCC) training in Coronado, CA, from Fall 2001 – 2002. Upon completion of this rigorous and demanding course, he reported to Special Boat Team TWELVE (SBT-12) in Coronado and quickly qualified on both the MKV and RHIB Combatant Crafts. Zach completed five deployments between 2002 and 2010. In 2011, Zach was transferred to a forward-deployed Special Warfare Unit for one year. He returned in 2012 to SBT 12, where he later completed another deployment in 2014. Zach served with distinction at SBT 12 both in the continental United States and overseas in the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia in support of the Naval Warfare mission.
Zach's Legacy and Awards
In January 2015, Zach reported to his new duty at the Naval Special Warfare Advanced Training Command in Coronado, CA. Zach served as the Detachment Coronado’s Operations Chief until his death on May 28, 2015. His first class of Chiefs graduated in September 2015. He was remembered as a passionate instructor who cared about what he believed in and instructed his men and women well.
Zach’s Naval awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal (3 total), Navy Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 total, 1 with Valor), Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Good Combat Medal (4 total), Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War of Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and various other individual and unit awards.
USS Antietam Deployments
USS Antietam Timeline
Zach was Gunner's Mate from 1995 after boot camp to 2000
The Antietam (CG 54) is the U.S. Navy's 8th Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser and was named for the site of the 1862 Battle of Antietam, Maryland, between Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee and Union forces under Major General George McClellan, during the American Civil War. The keel was laid down by the Litton-Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation at Pascagoula, Mississippi, on November 15, 1984; launched on February 14, 1986, and christened on April 19, 1986.
January 8, 1988
The Antietam commenced a two-month Post Shakedown Availability (PSA) at Todd Shipyard in San Pedro, Calif. Returned to its homeport of Naval Station Long Beach on March 8, 1988
November 8, 1995
USS Antietam arrived in its new homeport of Naval Station San Diego, Calif.
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November 30, 1995
Capt. William E. Doud, Jr., relieved Capt. Joe L. Frank, III as the 6th CO of Antietam.
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From December 11-15, 1995
The Antietam was underway for a Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA) II; Underway again for TSTA II from Jan. 8-12 and 16-19th, 1996; Underway for Type Training from Feb. 5-9, 1996; Underway for Operational Propulsion Plant Examination (OPPE) from Feb. 13-15; Underway for TSTA III from March 4-9, 1996.
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March 31, 1996
The Antietam moored at Pier 35 in San Francisco, Calif., for a four-day port visit.
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May 13, 1996
USS Antietam departed San Diego to participate in exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) '96; In port Pearl Harbor from May 20-22 and June 17-20; Returned home on June 27; Underway for Type Training from July 22-25; Underway for JTFEX 96-2 on Aug. 8, 1996. August 23, CG 54 anchored off the coast of Mazatlán, Mexico, for a four-day port visit; Ammo onload at NWS Seal Beach from Sept. 4-6, 1996.
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October 11, 1996
USS Antietam departed Naval Base San Diego for a scheduled deployment with the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Battle Group; Ammo onload at Naval Magazine Lualualei, Hawaii, from Oct. 16-17, 1996 before participation in ASWEX 97-1.
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November 4, 1996
The Antietam pulled into Hong Kong for a four-day port visit; Port call to Singapore from Nov. 13-17, 1996.
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December 5, 1996
USS Antietam pulled into Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates, for a threeday port visit to Dubai.
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December 30, 1996
The guided-missile cruiser arrived in Manama, Bahrain, for a scheduled port call after participating in a three-week exercise Vigilent Sentinel.
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April 11, 1997
USS Antietam returned to San Diego after a six-month deployment in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet Areas of Responsibility (AoR). She also visited ports of Muscat, Oman; Albany and Melbourne, Australia; and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
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From May 20-23, 1997
The Albany was underway for "Leaders to Sea" program; Ammo offload at NWS Seal Beach from June 20-22, 1997.
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July 11, 1997
Capt. Christopher M. Moe relieved Capt. William E. Doud, Jr., as commanding officer of USS Antietam.
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July 14, 1997
CG 54 entered the Southwest Marine shipyard in San Diego for a Selected Restricted Availability (SRA); Underway for sea trials from Oct. 1-3, 1997.
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From October 8-17,1997
The Antietam was underway for exercise Teamwork North Phase II and a port visit to San Francisco for Fleet Week; Underway for "Leaders to Sea" from Oct. 20-24; Underway for TSTA I from Nov. 24-28, Dec. 1-5, 8-12 and 15-19th.
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In 1998
USS Antietam was underway for local operations from Jan. 28-30, Feb. 3-6, 10-13, March 2-6, 11-12, 17-20, 23-27, March 31- April 3, April 8-10, 14-16 and May 18-22, 1998.
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June 29, 1998
The guided-missile cruiser departed Naval Base San Diego to participate in exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 1998; In port Pearl Harbor from July 7-9 and Aug. 2-5; Returned home on Aug. 13; Ammo onload at NWS Seal Beach from Sept. 22-25; Underway for sea trials from Nov. 2-4, 1998.
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November 10, 1998
USS Antietam departed San Diego for a scheduled deployment as part of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) BG.
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December 2, 1998
The Antietam pulled into Changi Naval Base in Singapore for a five-day port call.
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December 8, 1998
CG 54 anchored off the coast of Phuket, Thailand, for a six-day port visit.
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May ?, 1999
USS Antietam returned to San Diego a six-month deployment. She also visited ports of Manama, Bahrain; Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates; Indonesia; and Australia.
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July 8, 1999
Capt. Leo J. Quilici, II relieved Capt. Christopher M. Moe as CO of the Antietam.
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From January 24-28, 2000
USS Antietam was underway for TSTA A in the SOCAL Op. Area; Underway for TSTA B and FEP from Feb. 28- March 6; Underway for Engineering Qualifications from March 15-17; Underway for MISSILEX from March 20-24; Underway for Weapons Systems Acceptance Testing (WSAT) from April 4-7; Underway for Final Evaluation Period (FEP) from April 10-14; Underway for Type Training from May 31- June 2, 2000.
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June 5, 2000
USS Antietam departed San Diego for a Counter-Narcotics deployment in the eastern Pacific. In port Portland, Ore., (June 9-12) for annual Rose Festival; Ammo onload at NWS Seal Beach from June 15-16, 2000.
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June 29, 2000
The Antietam anchored off the coast of Acapulco, Mexico, for a two-day port visit; In port Mazatlán, Mexico, from July 29-31; Brief stop to refuel in Manzanillo, Mexico, (Aug. 2-3) and Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, on Aug. 23, 2000.
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August 30, 2000
The guided-missile cruiser arrived in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for a twoday port call; Refuel at Puerto Quetzal from Sept. 16 18, 2000.
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September 19, 2000
CG 54 anchored off the coast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for a twoday port visit.
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September 23, 2000
USS Antietam returned to homeport after three-and-a-half month underway period. The ship seized over 10 metric tons of cocaine and captured ten drug traffickers.
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October 14, 2000
The Antietam arrived in Sitka, Alaska, for a five-day port visit in conjunction with Alaska Days.
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November 3, 2000
USS Antietam entered the dry-dock at NASSCO shipyard in San Diego for emergent repairs to ruptured sonar dome rubber window; Underway on Dec. 15, 2000.
Zach gets out of the Navy in December 2000 just before the USS Antietam deployed again.
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In September 2001
After 9/11, Zach reenlisted to go to Special Warfare Command training.
Zach graduated from Special Warfare Command training in March 2002. He joined Special Boat Team 12 as a Special Warfare Combatant Crew member (SWCC). His last deployment with Special Boat Team 12 was December 2014. Zach’s next duty with Special Warfare Command was with the Navy Advanced Training Command as an instructor to train sailors to become Chief Petty Officers.
History of Assignments: US Navy
Gunner's Mate on USS Antietam
Special Warfare Command Combatant-Craft Crewman
Special Boat Team 12
SWCC Logo
Flight School Jump Bars
Passion for Dirt Biking
Zach’s other passion to unwind was dirt biking. When not enjoying his passion for his Navy boats, Zach would be out with his Navy friends and other dirt bike enthusiasts, enjoying the speed of his KTM 150 or 250 dirt bikes. He met many other dirt bike riders and became fast friends with his knowledge about bike maintenance. He was willing to help another rider with advice or suggestions about dirt bikes. We do a benefit fundraising event in memory of Zach with his Navy friends, dirt bike friends, and families, as well as supporters we have met over the years. The Fundraiser in Memory of SBC Zach E. Buob, SWCC goes to the Navy SEAL Foundation and Operation Freedom Paws, a veteran’s non-profit organization that provides service dogs to veterans in Zach’s memory. Zach was killed in road rage as he headed home on his street bike after leaving the Navy base. He was thirty-nine and a half years old. He is still missed by many and loved for the kind and thoughtful man he was to his family and friends. Zach will never be forgotten by those he loves.
