Mike Rabe (pronounced RAY-bee) was a Nav ET aboard BATES in the late 70's. An avid competition cyclist, Mike was struck and killed on the roadside by a driver under the influence while bicycling after dark on May 2, 2003. Mike was an extremely popular shipmate to all, and news of his passing has sent a shudder throughout the ranks of those who were lucky enough to serve with him.
There's a great memorial site maintained by Mike's cycling friends at:
www.bikesportmichigan.com/rabe.shtml
There is also a very personal and insightful tribute to Mike by a close friend on the one-year anniversary of his death:
www.bikesportmichigan.com/editorials/0000064.shtml
Mike was so enthusiastic and influential in the cycling world that a competition has been renamed in his honor: The Michael R. Rabe Memorial Cyclo-Cross Championship.
Hearing of Mike's passing brings back many images in my mind of seeing him in the passageway or crew's mess, and the distinct sound of his voice. He was generally quiet yet ably assertive, a little different than the "average" crew member but he fit right in with the crew. I don't feel like I ever got very close with Mike (I'm not sure if anybody did), yet looking back, I had the sense that I could trust in him if the need arose.
Mark Gray
Former Shipmate
USS WILLIAM H. BATES (SSN 680) 1978-1981
Mike was a good guy who seemed to like hanging out in Sonar while we were deployed. I once wrote a song (a ditty actually) called "I used to be a rock & roll star" and, while I only had a single verse completed back then, Mike used to sing it often when he came into Sonar. He was proud of what he did as an ET but I think he had a deep down desire to be a Sonar Tech.
Frank Allen
Former Shipmate
USS WILLIAM H. BATES (SSN 680) 1976-1981
Michael Rabe was a nav-ET. He was technically sharp and was surrounded by a group of other young petty officers (of course we were all young then, even chiefs and the captain) who shared technical excellence, pride in what they were doing and a terrific camaraderie. Mike attracted jokesters who often yanked his chain, but nonetheless shared the odd friendships so important among shipmates. He was a very smart man (actually I still think of him as a kid), something that was somewhat less noticeable because of the fact so many of his shipmates had equal smarts. We all suspected he would be successful after he left the Navy and I read that this was indeed the case. Michael died as a young man who had done his duty for his country.
William Houley
Commanding Officer
USS WILLIAM H. BATES (SSN 680) 1975-1978
Mike was one of four fellow Nav-ETs that served aboard the Bates during the mid to late 70s that consisted of Will Dobbs (for the first year of our tour), Richard Goldsmith and myself. Mike was clearly the comedian of the group who always kept us laughing with his antics, goofy jokes and frequent comments about his physical attributes (always grossly exaggerated). He was a very sharp ET always willing to help out, especially with the dreaded Multi-Speed Repeater, a piece of equipment loaded with synchros and servos that frequently broke or required realignment. Mike was a great shipmate who made those long deployments pass much faster. I was truly saddened to hear of his death.
Don Wilson
Former Shipmate
USS WILLIAM H. BATES (SSN 680) 1975-1979
Wes, Howdy pal...
Don, glad you're still here....
I remember there was a while where he liked to say that "Life was not a cher of bowlies". He would laugh...He thought it was so funny. Who else remembers that? Who remembers what the captain would tell him to stop doing? Remember that? Remember Mike.
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