Hell's Bell

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the shipboard bell was on the British ship Grace Dieu about 1485.¹ The bell is used to signal the presence of important persons. When the ship's captain, a flag officer, or other important person arrives or departs, watch standers make an announcement to the ship and ring the bell. This tradition extends to major naval command transitions, often held aboard vessels associated with the command.² In addition to its shipboard roles, the bell serves a ceremonial and memorial function. Bells are also used at naval commands with an historical mission or functional connection with specific historical themes and displays of naval history.

Class 58 was the first class to graduate from the new BUD/S compound located on the beach across the Strand Highway from the U.S. Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Coronado. Class 58 began training in May1970 in the old compound that consisted of a Butler Building used as BUD/S headquarters and several World War Two vintage quonset huts where trainees were billeted.

The original idea for the Bell was conceived by Class 58’s LT Stan Antrim, who at the time along with his classmates was still in the Third Phase of training, Diving. Discussing the idea of a class gift with his father, a retired Boatswains Mate Senior Chief (BMCS) Frogman from Class 15 who had spent considerable time in the Fleet, they came up with the idea of a bell for the new BUD/S facility quarterdeck. LT Antrim ran his idea past his classmates. The class was unanimous in its support. Conferring with Third Phase instructors about how best to procure a bell, Chief Manley, a Third Phase instructor, informed LT Antrim that a First Phase instructor, Boatswains Mate First Class (BM1) Terry Moy, had an old bell that had been salvaged from a tugboat. Instructor Moy, liked the idea of a quarterdeck bell and gave the old tugboat bell to LT Antrim.

The old bell was big, brass and battered, and ideally suited for the BUD/S quarterdeck. The class agreed, and after considerable brainstorming, they settled on an inscription for the bell: “ He who enters covered here, drop down for 20”. Decisions made, LT Antrim took the bell to an engraver in San Diego and had it polished and engraved. The Bell was gifted to BUD/S leadership by Class 58 on the occasion of their graduation on November 6, 1970. In the intervening years since the Bell was gifted, its repeated polishing by would-be frogmen had removed the original inscription from the Bell several times. And each time, LT Antrim had the Bell re-engraved. On the 50th anniversary of Class 58’s graduation, class members participated in a Bell re-dedication ceremony at the BUD/S compound on November 6, 2020. In lieu of having the Bell re-engraved and exposed, yet again, to the relentless polishing by BUD/S trainees, the class presented BUD/S leadership with a commemorative plaque.

1. Naval History and Heritage Command. “Ships’ Bells”, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/b/bells-on-ships.html. Accessed on May 5, 2025.
2. Ibid.