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Brown Water Navy in RVN (Coast Guard and Army MRF too)


Bearmon
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Here is a jungle jacket that was worn by a corpsman by the name of Fred Cox who may have been attached to or worked with a Seal Team during the war.  Supposedly he was with IUWG and was also an advisor for the SVN Navy.

 

 

Uniform Cox IUWG Not Seal (3).JPG

Uniform Cox IUWG Not Seal (4).JPG

Uniform Cox IUWG Not Seal (5).JPG

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Here’s a close up of a couple of theater made badges that belonged to a Master Chief Quartermaster who served on PCF67. He was badly injured and medivac’d when the keel of his swift boat hit a 300 pound bomb while on the Co Chien River in February 1969.

38FFD733-C67C-42C1-B00E-5DAF1FD396D6.jpeg

ABE361DE-D641-4E15-90CA-21CFC0345ECC.jpeg

8E362F79-BF1F-4459-94AF-C92410279808.jpeg

F8F06D94-47AE-4204-8CD6-F72D263DB686.jpeg

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On 9/25/2021 at 3:04 PM, Salvage Sailor said:

912573198_ARL38USSKRISHNA017.jpg.640ab2aa7c0a9f6e018a00022c10c75f.jpg

 

SEAFLOAT - USS KRISHNA (ARL-38) ex-LST-1149, Tender and Mothership to the USCG Squadrons and PCF's in the Gulf of Thailand.

 

1009509935_ARL38USSKRISHNA003.jpg.e5ce88f0101af52ca9650fb594de7764.jpg

 

Partial DANFS History:  Vietnam War


From 1 December to 22 February 1965 Krishna reactivated USS Kirwin, and on 1 June she was assigned to Service Force, Pacific Fleet.

 

1011880518_000SERVICEFORCEPACIFICFLEET001.jpg.486291438001266eebf5c2375773340f.jpg

SERVPAC Japanese made three star version

1819959771_000SERVICEFORCEPACIFICFLEET002.jpg.ec31cebae74a6066c279cc6a8e7e79e4.jpg

 

Departing Little Creek, she steamed via Pearl Harbor and Guam for duty in the Far East. Operating out of Subic Bay, Philippines, she reached the Gulf of Thailand off the coast of South Vietnam 17 September and began duty as support ship for patrol craft of U.S. Coast Guard Squadron One, Division 11 based at An Thoi Naval Base on Phu Quoc Island. While the cutters patrolled coastal waters to prevent infiltration of ammunition and supplies to the Viet Cong, Krishna served as a repair facility and fueling station as well as an operations, communications, and command center. Later in the year she also provided services for eight Patrol Craft Fast (PCF) boats that arrived to strengthen the coastal surveillance program.

 

755794370_ARL38USSKRISHNA016.jpg.8a3c9a888c543c1b974159fefb795d26.jpg

 

Krishna remained on station until 1 December when she departed for Bangkok, Thailand, arriving 3 December. She returned to her various support duties in the Gulf of Thailand 11 December. In February Krishna raised and salvaged PCF-4. On 30 April, men from Krishna helped extinguish a fire in An Thoi.

 

380555561_ARL38USSKRISHNA015.jpg.d79d4b67e21742e9265d25ec4f3f5491.jpg

 

LOSS OF THE PCF-4 First Swift Boat mined and sunk during the Vietnam War

1948109571_ARL38USSKRISHNA007PCF4.jpg.544ed3db311ba80f23efaa2953a149d3.jpg

The crew of PCF-4 on February 14, 1966
Charles D. Lloyd, LTJG, Officer in Charge - WIA
Robert R. Johnson, RM3 - WIA
Jack C. Rodriguez, EN2 - KIA
Tommy E. Hill, BM2 - KIA
Dayton L. Rudisill, GMG2 - KIA
David J. Boyle, SN - KIA

 

1262142540_ARL38USSKRISHNA014PCF4A.jpg.2689d37d813bd2cf8b95642930c06ff4.jpg

 

FULL PHOTOS AND STORY HEREThe Loss of PCF-4 February 14, 1966 The Bay of Rach Gia

642739998_ARL38USSKRISHNA013PCF4.jpg.d584bf4b1fe29dab279238e9db6ee6cc.jpg

 

KRISHNA 1966 - She had a number of distinguished visitors through 1966, including Secretary of the Navy Paul H. Nitze on 15 July. On 21 July the landing craft repair ship headed for Sasebo, Japan with a stopover at Kaoshiung, Taiwan on 29 July to provide repair facilities, arriving Sasebo 9 August. Krishna departed Sasebo for Vietnam 22 September, arriving in the Gulf of Thailand 7 October to resume her WestPac mission. Krishna continued to patrol off the coast of Vietnam through 1966 into 1967.

 

481325388_ARL38USSKRISHNA001.jpg.eb0912f2f3a7fd580102122aaaf64259.jpg

 

MINED!

 

The enemy tried repeatedly but failed to put Sea Float out of operation. In April 1970, for instance, alert guards frustrated an attempt by VC swimmer sappers equipped with Soviet-made underwater gear and explosives. The defenders’ grenades and rifle fire killed four attackers. That July, mines tore a hole in Krishna (ARL 38) anchored in the Cua Lon but failed to sink the ship. Later in the month the enemy was more successful when they mined and capsized the VNN’s LSSL-225, killing 17 South Vietnamese sailors. 

 

Mine Damage to the USS Krishna (ARL38) This picture was taken on 6 July, 1970, the day after the ship hit a mine.

ray2.jpg.08eeeae0fc2736d7c1b37a889378aa3e.jpg

 

This picture was taken at the dry docks located in Saigon.

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Krishna earned twelve battle stars for service during the Vietnam War.

CAMOGATOR

358244673_ARL38USSKRISHNA005.jpg.837c08e6859849d79adef43203092aec.jpg


Decommissioned on 15 September 1971 at Subic Bay, Krishna was struck from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. Sold to the Republic of the Philippines 30 October 1971 and renamed RPS Narra (AR-88), she was decommissioned in 1992.

 

2030694965_ARL38USSKRISHNA006.jpg.30d2e2d535651acb1c0848aa0f1a48b4.jpg

 

ARL 38 USS KRISHNA 004.jpg

 

586969954_ARL38USSKRISHNA002a.jpg.3b8ea36ef43a543b571b11c8635f1aec.jpg

 

1224971538_000SERVICEFORCEPACIFICFLEET003.jpg.3ce46947bd70899fb98b2f18f0ce06df.jpg

Two star version of SERVPAC, Japanese made

503944269_000SERVICEFORCEPACIFICFLEET004.jpg.ee56ff79f94915fd98555f778c71a974.jpg

 

That’s for joining in I was waiting for you.  

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I don’t have the reverse of these right now will post over the weekend. Here are an assortment of Tonkin Gulf yacht Club patches. 

C718A415-4F86-451A-99E2-33823ABF8AB3.jpeg

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  • 2 weeks later...
Salvage Sailor

Very nice collection of TGYC patches, (although we're straying off into the depths of the Blue Water Navy)

 

Here are a few more different styles from my collection

 

849057291_TonkinGulfYachtClub001.jpg.c16b342a4a2c5a15fe3ff328c9c631f3.jpg

 

996514794_TonkinGulfYachtClubSwissTex002.jpg.0cf1a25dae431a4400fc0bc738774af9.jpg

 

929714231_TGYC001.jpg.69f4ba831e166a216ff6e9348ce7df66.jpg

 

1695538162_TGYC002.jpg.87ea14ca5f832b14cb1f252c96b13364.jpg

 

1744932836_CVA34USSORISKANYVIETNAMCRUISETGYC002.jpg.a982dbc13ba9fbc1824aca0d2bd498ca.jpg

 

66435795_CVA34USSORISKANYVIETNAMCRUISETGYC003.jpg.88627537f05009fb5be10ba30815ee98.jpg

 

1882738362_CVS14USSTICONDEROGAVS-38RedGriffinsSet1971003.jpg.0b65ba5a34f3ea764efb51e5fd56ee7f.jpg

 

790283687_CVS14USSTICONDEROGAVS-38RedGriffinsSet1971004.jpg.afb2943b66f68f48c898c0cc9b17ecab.jpg

 

 

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Salvage Sailor

Meanwhile in the backwaters of the Delta.....

 

1831600949_RocketShips001.jpg.38bf45168d4fd90cbe37ba14856181e9.jpg

 

The Riverine Rocket Ships, including USS WHITE RIVER (LFR-536)  Caption:  Port bow view (right to left) of USS Clarion River (LSMR-409), USS White River (LSMR-536) and USS St. Francis River (LSMR-525) moored at Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan, in 1968.

 

USS White River firing a salvo of four rockets off the coast of North Vietnam at night

1380145707_LFR536USSWHITERIVERfiringrocketsatnight.jpg.c68f8f18d4c64b445e2581fd082101e9.jpg

 

Trailing a streak of flame, a 5" spin stabilized rocket leaves its Mk-102 launcher on board USS White River (LSMR-536), in July 1966 bound for Viet Cong troop concentrations in the I Corps area near Da Nang.  US National Archives, Photo # USN 1117387

65868916_RocketShips003.jpg.254418f61fed7a27165f7b45a3bfbc93.jpg

 

407662226_LFR536USSWHITERIVER003.jpg.34ef1eda3834ab64829be4c04f68d8cd.jpg

USS WHITE RIVER (LFR-536) - Japanese made patch circa 1969

Brown Water Navy website  USS WHITE RIVER

 

2054421622_LFR536USSWHITERIVER004.jpg.c4520c4792c27c76cf1a86a087a46791.jpg

 

Mobile Riverine Force Association website HISTORY OF THE USS WHITE RIVER (LSMR-536) & (LFR-536)

 

USS White River (LSM(R)-536), Clarion River (LSM(R)-409), St. Francis River (LSM(R)-525) and Carronade (IFS-1) off Danang, South Vietnam in 1967

2115022651_RocketShips002.jpg.8306e8b46905f544f81f2694f1f571e5.jpg

 

This patch came from a crewman along with his Vietnam Hunting Club patch.  Easy to date this one, she was LSMR-536 until January 1969 when she was redesignated in-country as Inshore Fire Support ship LFR-536.  With the advent of ACTOV and the folding of the Brown Water Navy colors, she was subsequently decommissioned and broken up in Japan in 1970.  The end of her three war USN career in the Pacific.

 

1806035463_LFR536USSWHITERIVER001.jpg.343a4453ccd354fef1f8f992e3de6533.jpg

 

2123188687_LFR536USSWHITERIVER002.jpg.4486dded09e1bd051509583c05f55308.jpg

 

 

The White River VC Hunting Club in Action

 

The following month (June 1969), White River saw assignment to the naval gunfire support units for only four days, but she “displayed accurate marksmanship during one day of particularly impressive shooting…” On 16 June 1969, while operating in support of the 2nd ARVN Division eight miles northeast of Quang Ngai, she bombarded a Viet Cong assembly area, flushing out a squad of VC who soon began setting up weapons to return fire. White River observed a 20-foot surface burst some 2,000 yards off the bow, and numerous rounds of light weapons fire that all missed their mark.

 

1884047316_VietnamHuntingClub001.jpg.72152fe6b27bc838d9e01d97ad03f643.jpg

 

With the coaching of an airborne spotter, the inshore fire support ship directed a ten-minute barrage of .30- and .50-caliber, 40 millimeter, and rocket fire onto the enemy, who broke and took cover leaving 11 of their number dead behind.  White River continued to pound the area until inclement weather forced the spotter to head for home. In addition to the 10 enemy corpses counted, the ship had destroyed 13 structures and 10 bunkers and damaged a further 21 structures and 11 bunkers, triggered three secondary explosions and started nine secondary fires. White River reprised her bombardment the next day (17 June) and accounted for another two VC dead.

 

1648446317_VietnamHuntingClub002.jpg.e8ce3cb1f8d234f9c7580bc0dc5da3dd.jpg


Decommissioned and Struck from the Naval Register, 22 May 1970, at Yokosuka, Japan
USS White River LSM(R)-536 earned two battle stars for Korean War service and ten campaign stars for the Vietnam War
Final Disposition, sold in November 1970 to Nissho-Iwai American Corp, New York City, N.Y. for scrapping

 

 Combat Action Ribbon (3)17FEB67, 3NOV67, 5MAY69 - Navy Unit Commendation (2) - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (2) - Vietnam Service Medal (10) - Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (8) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

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This group came out of California. I wish I had a name to go with them.  My guess is these were for an officer who was in TF117. Possibly in a HQ role.   All of these came together.  The large river assault squadron fifteen is not often seen 

99A0AEF3-A836-4157-8BDE-DA3F1880ACEA.jpeg

9C573BB2-C778-4A92-B3F2-C86694A10319.jpeg

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  • 2 weeks later...
Salvage Sailor
On 9/20/2021 at 8:23 AM, PATCHRAT said:

I was asked to post this for a friend and fellow forum member who is looking for more info on this patch, he  brought it home  from 'Nam in June 1969, found it in a little sew shop in Saigon.

 

Thank you

Nha Be Duck Team.jpg

 

RIP Tom, thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise with us over the years.  

 

PATCHRAT passes away

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  • 4 weeks later...
Salvage Sailor

The "U-Boats"  - THE SAGA OF THE YFU-79 & THE U-BOAT SAILORS OF I CORPS - "Skilaks" of the US Navy Mobile Riverine Force Association
(originally authored by Tom Lanagan, MRFA member and prior U-Boat crew member and first published in River Currents, Winter 2005, Vol. 14, No. 4)

 

Rather than write up some text, read the story on the link for the complete picture on the Alaskan "Skilaks" sent to RVN to support the BWN.

1152360557_YFU79IX514BAYLANDERHLT1001.jpg.d906920bff72c82a940e543ac4c8fed2.jpg

 

YFU-79 in a later life as HLT-1 IX-514 Helicopter Landing Trainer (the Navy's smallest aircraft carrier)

684031223_HLT1IX514HelicopterLandingTrainer001.jpg.7e721d34374ce2ed050dae5d9fc8679f.jpg

 

904358517_HLT1IX514HelicopterLandingTrainer002.jpg.1b148bd0ff8ddf922a19317270cd9edd.jpg

 

2081373420_HLT1IX514HelicopterLandingTrainer003.jpg.5068d929a9be683f770b7ed2c4a92735.jpg

 

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Salvage Sailor

SOLID ANCHOR - NAVAL ADVISORY GROUP VIETNAM - NAM CAN ANCHORMEN at the southern tip of RVN

SEAL/MST OPERATIONS FROM SEA FLOAT/SOLID ANCHOR IN 1970 BY GMCM (SW) ROBERT H. STONER (RET.) From the MRF/BWN Association website

 

1664091384_NAVADGRPVIETNAMNamCan001.jpg.10aea7cb282bc7646c92943c5a47ef65.jpg

 

479112215_NAVADGRPVIETNAMNamCan003.jpg.e6d11b50ebd197c53f032706feff1cbc.jpg

 

Don't have a rocker handy?  (UIM or Tab if you prefer...) 

 

1783796841_NAVADGRPVIETNAMNamCan004.jpg.81ba89e2fcfbf4407e9f6ca4e5eb894a.jpg

 

...then make your own from a USS MARS rocker

 

32580380_NAVADGRPVIETNAMNamCan005.jpg.5fbc3d7e74aaa07682e33774697c6bfc.jpg

 

EPILOG: SEA FLOAT/SOLID ANCHOR

SEA FLOAT was established June 25, 1969. SEA FLOAT moved ashore to SOLID ANCHOR in mid-September of 1970. The SOLID ANCHOR base was heavily rocketed and mortared in late January 1971. SOLID ANCHOR was formally turned over to Vietnamese Navy on April 1, 1971. The last Americans left SOLID ANCHOR on February 1, 1973.

 

What happened to SEA FLOAT? After the Americans moved ashore from SEA FLOAT to SOLID ANCHOR in September, the empty barges became the object of scavengers from the village called the “Annex” (Ham Rong) about five kilometers to the east. Building materials used to construct the hooches were recycled by the locals.

 

2085343364_NAVADGRPVIETNAMNamCan002.jpg.ef59c0796964045e08c88b782d2c43c6.jpg

 

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Salvage Sailor

USS SUTTER COUNTY (LST-1150) In service 1945 to 1971 The Rambling Ram - Mobile Riverine Force 

 

1499598650_LST1150USSSUTTERCOUNTYMRF001.jpg.cdaec75d4a36a10410bacd05ed53b314.jpg

 

1016115007.jpg.854c06d0c82b0096ec087fee73eb61f1.jpg

During the Vietnam War USS Sutter County (LST-1150) served continuously in country and in contiguous waters, with the exception of overhaul periods, from late 1966 to mid 1970 participating in the following campaigns. Vietnam War Campaigns:  Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II, Tet 69/Counteroffensive, Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III, Vietnam Winter Spring-1970, Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII, Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V.  navsource.com

 

105119445_LST1150USSSUTTERCOUNTYMRF002.jpg.0585bb1140cfe0075c202fe7ca32d237.jpg

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River Patrol

Any additional information on the Anchorman unit?  I've been looking for years for anything about their mission, beyond Advisory.

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Salvage Sailor
2 hours ago, River Patrol said:

Any additional information on the Anchorman unit?  I've been looking for years for anything about their mission, beyond Advisory.

 

Nam Can Anchormen links

 

SEAL/MST OPERATIONS FROM SEA FLOAT/SOLID ANCHOR IN 1970 BY GMCM (SW) ROBERT H. STONER (RET.)

 

Sea Float - Ca Mau Peninsula - Cua Lon and Bo De Rivers

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
Salvage Sailor

Two BWN support units from my collection, previously posted by Bearmon

 

768602113_NAVSUPPACTVIETNAM001.jpg.e1e8401f2088a98204527af0eb44e9e3.jpg

 

935969409_NAVSUPPACTDETDONGTAMVIETNAM001.jpg.805d19a96d76e652f29405e75616dde4.jpg

NAVSUPPACT DET DONG TAM, VIETNAM

1211740521_NAVSUPPACTDETDONGTAMVIETNAM002.jpg.6e676d8ef0d5022ee5bfde6e2b410546.jpg

 

1478523878_NSASCRFDANANG003.jpg.06569bbccfd0a18e222da8f0cd683448.jpg

NAVSUPPACT DANANG SCRF (Small Craft Repair Facility) - Proud to Serve

191469952_NSASCRFDANANG004.jpg.3f0161ea4f76d964f09e6167420bf811.jpg

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  • 3 weeks later...
Salvage Sailor

09200710.jpg.04ac78275107cb376da72967f62a4754.jpg

 

USS ELKHORN (AOG-7) Three war Patapsco class gasoline tanker in service 1944 to 1972.  ELKHORN delivered fuel up and down the coast and in the inland water ways from Da Nang south and to the north. In 1969 relieved USS Genesis also an AOG in Da Nang delivering fuel up and down the coast north to Cửa Việt Base and areas south of Da Nang. Returned to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii around November 1969. Returned to Vietnam for the winter and spring offensive in 1970.

 

09200711.jpg.0a1e531996a854f214b3d1efcaa07915.jpg

 

She received eight campaign stars for Vietnam War service all while cruising the inland waterways delivering fuel to the Brown Water Navy

Vietnam Defense
Vietnam Counteroffensive
Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase II
Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase III
Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase V
Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase VI
Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970

 

1312264798_AOG7USSELKHORN001.jpg.6cc88bed3aeb609b191b1435f3a3d0d2.jpg

 

849113073_AOG7USSELKHORN002.jpg.45c1c54b1fa4785e9f5dfbc428de48d4.jpg

 

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  • 5 months later...
Salvage Sailor
On 10/10/2021 at 10:08 AM, Salvage Sailor said:

Meanwhile in the backwaters of the Delta.....

 

1831600949_RocketShips001.jpg.38bf45168d4fd90cbe37ba14856181e9.jpg

 

The Riverine Rocket Ships, including USS WHITE RIVER (LFR-536)  Caption:  Port bow view (right to left) of USS Clarion River (LSMR-409), USS White River (LSMR-536) and USS St. Francis River (LSMR-525) moored at Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan, in 1968.

 

USS White River firing a salvo of four rockets off the coast of North Vietnam at night

1380145707_LFR536USSWHITERIVERfiringrocketsatnight.jpg.c68f8f18d4c64b445e2581fd082101e9.jpg

 

Trailing a streak of flame, a 5" spin stabilized rocket leaves its Mk-102 launcher on board USS White River (LSMR-536), in July 1966 bound for Viet Cong troop concentrations in the I Corps area near Da Nang.  US National Archives, Photo # USN 1117387

65868916_RocketShips003.jpg.254418f61fed7a27165f7b45a3bfbc93.jpg

 

407662226_LFR536USSWHITERIVER003.jpg.34ef1eda3834ab64829be4c04f68d8cd.jpg

USS WHITE RIVER (LFR-536) - Japanese made patch circa 1969

Brown Water Navy website  USS WHITE RIVER

 

2054421622_LFR536USSWHITERIVER004.jpg.c4520c4792c27c76cf1a86a087a46791.jpg

 

Mobile Riverine Force Association website HISTORY OF THE USS WHITE RIVER (LSMR-536) & (LFR-536)

 

USS White River (LSM(R)-536), Clarion River (LSM(R)-409), St. Francis River (LSM(R)-525) and Carronade (IFS-1) off Danang, South Vietnam in 1967

2115022651_RocketShips002.jpg.8306e8b46905f544f81f2694f1f571e5.jpg

 

This patch came from a crewman along with his Vietnam Hunting Club patch.  Easy to date this one, she was LSMR-536 until January 1969 when she was redesignated in-country as Inshore Fire Support ship LFR-536.  With the advent of ACTOV and the folding of the Brown Water Navy colors, she was subsequently decommissioned and broken up in Japan in 1970.  The end of her three war USN career in the Pacific.

 

1806035463_LFR536USSWHITERIVER001.jpg.343a4453ccd354fef1f8f992e3de6533.jpg

 

2123188687_LFR536USSWHITERIVER002.jpg.4486dded09e1bd051509583c05f55308.jpg

 

 

The White River VC Hunting Club in Action

 

The following month (June 1969), White River saw assignment to the naval gunfire support units for only four days, but she “displayed accurate marksmanship during one day of particularly impressive shooting…” On 16 June 1969, while operating in support of the 2nd ARVN Division eight miles northeast of Quang Ngai, she bombarded a Viet Cong assembly area, flushing out a squad of VC who soon began setting up weapons to return fire. White River observed a 20-foot surface burst some 2,000 yards off the bow, and numerous rounds of light weapons fire that all missed their mark.

 

1884047316_VietnamHuntingClub001.jpg.72152fe6b27bc838d9e01d97ad03f643.jpg

 

With the coaching of an airborne spotter, the inshore fire support ship directed a ten-minute barrage of .30- and .50-caliber, 40 millimeter, and rocket fire onto the enemy, who broke and took cover leaving 11 of their number dead behind.  White River continued to pound the area until inclement weather forced the spotter to head for home. In addition to the 10 enemy corpses counted, the ship had destroyed 13 structures and 10 bunkers and damaged a further 21 structures and 11 bunkers, triggered three secondary explosions and started nine secondary fires. White River reprised her bombardment the next day (17 June) and accounted for another two VC dead.

 

1648446317_VietnamHuntingClub002.jpg.e8ce3cb1f8d234f9c7580bc0dc5da3dd.jpg


Decommissioned and Struck from the Naval Register, 22 May 1970, at Yokosuka, Japan
USS White River LSM(R)-536 earned two battle stars for Korean War service and ten campaign stars for the Vietnam War
Final Disposition, sold in November 1970 to Nissho-Iwai American Corp, New York City, N.Y. for scrapping

 

 Combat Action Ribbon (3)17FEB67, 3NOV67, 5MAY69 - Navy Unit Commendation (2) - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (2) - Vietnam Service Medal (10) - Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (8) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

 

Sorting old patch stashes, found my USS CARRONADE (IFS-1) patch, Flagship of Inshore Fire Support Division 93 (IFDIV 93)

The Busy Beaver

1631074828_IFS1USSCARRONADE001.jpg.0fffb9fef6b39a56edd24a65b9c271dd.jpg

 

USS Carronade (IFS-1), an inshore fire support ship, was commissioned on May 25, 1955, at Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company, Seattle, Washington.   Designed to replace the LSMR (Medium Landing Ship, Rocket), she participated in tests in the Pacific Ocean to demonstrate her effectiveness with amphibious exercises and with inshore fire.   Decommissioned in February 1960, she was recommissioned in October 1965 for service in the Vietnam War.  Becoming the flagship of Inshore Fire Support Division 93 (IFDIV 93), Carronade participated in numerous Vietnamese Counteroffensives and the Tet Counteroffensive in 1968.  Redesignated LFR-1 in January 1969, she continued her Vietnam service until January 1970.   Carronade was decommissioned that July, struck from the Naval Register in May 1973, and finally sold for scrapping in September 1994. 

 

100600108.jpg.3395255f62d4c4ecb4622359d97cdbc6.jpg

USS Carronade (IFS-1) operating off shore, south of Da Nang, Vietnam, ready to provide fire support for US Marines, 11 November 1967.
US National Archives, Photo # USN 1127944 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.

 

944816727_IFS1USSCARRONADE002.jpg.141c4656eff54a00e8f7d1d8abf4f6c3.jpg

 

 

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  • 5 months later...
Salvage Sailor

Bad Guy Territory

"Snoopy's Nose"

Rach Ba Rai River

SnoopsNoseRachBaRaiRiver001.jpg.7b3fc027f11a8f0ab615544bcf87913c.jpg

USN Zippo Boat

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Assault Support Patrol Boat River Assault Squadron 11 "Light My Fire"

Large jacket patch 11" h x 8" w

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Salvage Sailor

YTB-785 WINNEMUCCA

Natick class District Harbor Tug placed in service 1966 and assigned to Task Force 117, the Mobile Riverine Force

WINNEMUCCA  earned 13 campaign stars for Vietnam War service

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YRBM-16 being towed down the Mekong River, in January 1971 by Winnemucca (YTB-785)

 

YTB-785 "WINNEMUCCA"

Built in 1965, by the Marinette Marine Corporation of Marinette, Wisconsin (hull #YTB-785) as the YTB-785 (Winnemucca) for the United States Navy.

Her keel was laid down on September 23rd of 1965. The tug was launched on of December 23rd of 1965. She was delivered to the Navy on April 5th of 1966. And placed into service in June of 1966. She was allocated to the 5th Naval District at Norfolk, Virginia.

During the Vietnam War tug was assigned Task Force 117, the Mobile Riverine Force. From June 10th, of 1967 to January 26th of 1968. The tug participated in Phase III of the Vietnamese Counteroffensive.

From January 30th to April 1st of 1968, she participated in the Tet Counteroffensive. From April 2nd to June 30th of 1968. She participated in Phase IV of the Vietnamese Counteroffensive.

From July 1st to November 1st of 1968, the tug participated in Phase V of the Vietnamese Counteroffensive. From November 2nd of 1968 to February 22nd of 1969, she was part of Phase VI of the Vietnamese Counteroffensive.

From February 23rd to June 8th of 1969, the tug participated in the Tet 69 counteroffensive. From June 9th to October 31st of 1969, she was involve in the Vietnam Summer-Fall of 1969. From November 1st 1969 to April 30th of 1970, the tug participated in the Vietnam Winter-Spring of 1970.

From May 1st to June 30th of 1970, she was part of the Sanctuary Counteroffensive. From July 1st, 1970 to November 30th 1971 Phase VII of the Vietnamese Counteroffensive. From July 1st to November 30th of 1971, she was part of the first phase of Consolidation.

 

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Winnemucca (YTB-785) and YFU-57 moored at Nha Be Vietnam, June 1971


From December 1st of 1971 to March 29th of 1972, she was part of the second phase of Consolidation. And from March 30th of 1972 to January 28th of 1973, the tug participated in the Vietnam Ceasefire Campaign.

In total, the YTB-785 (Winnemucca) earned thirteen campaign stars for Vietnam War service. She was the most decorated tug in Naval History.

 

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In 1973, she was assigned to the 17th Naval District at Adak, Alaska. And in 1975, the tug was reassigned in to the 12th Naval District at San Francisco, California. She was eventually placed out of service, and struck from the Naval Register on the 20th of December 1995.

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Salvage Sailor

USS HARNETT COUNTY (LST-821)

 

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After the Gulf of Tonkin incident and the escalation of the Vietnam War, it became clear that the LSTs would be very useful ships. All of the reserve LSTs were reactivated for service, and four—the Garrett County, Hunterdon County, Jennings County, and Harnett County—were refitted  as floating bases for the Mekong Delta Mobile Afloat Force (later the Mobile Riverine Force) in Operation Game Warden.

 

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USS HARNETT COUNTY (LST-821) Recommissioned, 20 August 1966, LT. J. P. W. Decker in command
During the Vietnam War USS Harnett County (LST-821 / AGP-821) served continuously in country and in contiguous waters, with the exception of overhaul periods, from early 1967 to mid 1970 participating in the following campaigns. (Dates listed do not include underway transit times within the contiguous waters along the Vietnam coast as defined by the US Navy and so specified by the Vietnam Service Medal.)

 

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The four LSTs were heavily modified, receiving:

 

  • A day and night landing area for UH-1B Seawolf helicopter gunships
  • Refueling and rearming facilities for those gunships
  • Four new boat booms for mooring up to 16 PBRs alongside the ship
  • A large cargo boom to lift PBRs out of the water for repairs on board ship
  • Shops for engine, pump, and hull repairs on PBRs
  • Improved fresh water distillation facilities for an increase in complement
  • Upgraded radio, navigation, and electronic equipment

 

Each LST would provide 24-hour-a-day support for a fleet of 10 PBRs and a fire-support team of 2 helicopter gunships—Army UH-1Bs transferred to the Navy as Seawolves—in addition to close fire support provided by 40-mm guns mounted on board ship.

 

Life on board the Harnett County was cramped, to say the least. With a complement of 119 and accommodations for 266, the LST had to fit a lot of men and workspaces within her 328-foot length. The second Game Warden support ship to arrive in country, she took station off Dong Tam on 17 January 1967.

 

The crew of the Harnett County served with notable distinction during their two years in Game Warden and on through to 1970. Her crew was awarded with two Presidential Unit Citations for "extraordinary heroism" and for performance that was "superb in every phase of her diverse actions." One Army captain recalled that the close fire support provided by the Harnett County "saved my life . . . and the lives of the Vietnamese troops I was advising." Additionally, the men of the Harnett County earned nine battle stars and three Navy Unit Commendations for their service in Vietnam.

 

Vietnam War Campaigns
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
12 January to 31 May 1967    Tet/69 Counteroffensive
23 February to 7 May 1969

 

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USS Harnett County (LST-821) was home to the Navy Seawolf UH-1B gunships of Navy Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron Three HA(L)-3. Two alert birds are spotted on her foredeck ready to launch.
Photos from Seawolf.org


Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
1 June to 12 July 1967
17 August 1967 to 29 January 1968    Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
4 August to 31 October 1969

 

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USS Harnett County (LST-821) at anchor in the Bassac River South Vietnam


Tet Counteroffensive
30 January to 27 February 1968    Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
1 November 1969 to 22 January 1970
17 February to 30 April 1970

 

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An Army CH-47A “Chinook” heavy-lift helicopter in the process of hooking up a damaged UH-1B Seawolf helicopter from the deck of USS Harnett County (LST-821) for transportation to NAS Binh Thuy for repairs.
Photo from Seawolf.org.

 

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Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
9 April to 30 June 1968    Sanctuary Counteroffensive
1 May to 30 June 1970

 

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A Bell UH-1E Huey helicopter of Navy light helicopter attack squadron HAL-3 Seawolves landing on the deck USS Harnett County (LST-821) between combat operations in the Mekong Delta, Co Chien river, South Vietnam, in October 1967. A US Army UH-1B is parked in the background.
A US Navy photo


Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
1 July to 1 November 1968    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII
1 to 21 July 1970

 

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USS Harnett County (LST-821) at anchor, date unknown, in the Bassac River South Vietnam while serving as a base for U.S. Navy river patrol boats and UH-1B "Seawolf" helicopters.
US Navy photo by JOSN J. W. Fletcher.


Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI
2 to 4 November 1968
8 December 1968 to 22 February 1969     
 

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An UH-1B Iroquois Helicopter from Detachment One, Navy Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron Three HA(L)-3 Seawolf -- based aboard USS Harnett County (LST-821) takes off on a strike mission against the Viet Cong in September 1969.
US US National Archives Photo # K-58279, a US Navy photo by JOSN John W. Fletcher.

 

Late in 1969, much of the Mobile Riverine Force and its ships was transferred to the Republic of South Vietnam. The LSTs would not be far behind. Redesignated as a Patrol Craft Tender (AGP), the Harnett County (AGP-821) was formally transferred to South Vietnam under provisions of the Military Assistance Program on 12 October 1970, becoming the RVNS My Tho (HQ-800). It was in this role that she would save literally thousands of lives.

 

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Seaman Lawrence W. Overton loading magazines for his M-16 rifle from 5.56x45mm ammunition stripper clips, as he assumes the watch, May 1969. Harnett County was then operating on the Vam Co Dong River, Republic of Vietnam. (U.S. Navy)

 

The My Tho served the South Vietnamese Navy in the riverine war though early 1975. Late that April, it became all too clear that Saigon and the government of South Vietnam would soon capitulate and many Vietnamese personnel and civilians were in terrible danger as a result.

 

As Saigon began to fall, the My Tho, her decks, holds, and every other space crammed with an estimated 3,000 refugees, set out downriver to the sea one last time; she would never return to Vietnam. The vessel joined an armada of 31 other South Vietnamese Navy ships that rendezvoused with the USS Kirk (DE-1087) in a desperate bid to rescue what was left of the navy and the roughly 30,000 to 40,000 people its ships were carrying.

 

So desperate was the situation on board the My Tho that a helicopter from the LST took off from the ship and landed aboard the Kirk to seek urgently needed food and medical supplies. The helicopter crew had failed to notice their fuel tank had been riddled with bullet holes, and that they had only a mere five minutes of flying time as a result. But they had made it to the Kirk and returned with the lifesaving supplies. The My Tho and her precious human cargo made the journey across the South China Sea largely in one piece.

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Salvage Sailor

'WESCO' USS WESTCHESTER COUNTY (LST-1167)

Terrebonne Parish class in service 1954 to 1973

Three Navy Unit Commendations, two Meritorious Unit Commendations, and 14 campaign stars for Vietnam War service

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Riverine Force Brown Water Navy Vung Tau tender, 9" jacket patch

 

Exercise Lone Eagle, Operation Flagpole, Exercise Bayonet Beach, Operation Double Eagle, Operation Market Time,

Operation Blue Marlin, Operation Solid Anchor, Operation Lamson III

 

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USS WESTCHESTER COUNTY (LST-1167) moored on the Bode River, South Vietnam in 1970 as Seawolf gunships land on the ship. The ship is at yoke moor, which provided a wind from port to starboard for landing helicopters and a lee on the starboard side for securing PCFs

 

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During the Vietnam War USS Westchester County (LST-1167) served continuously in country and in contiguous waters, with the exception of overhaul periods, from early 1965 to mid 1972

 

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USS WESTCHESTER COUNTY (LST-1167) LANDING SHIP SQUADRON NINE

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Westchester County was mined in the Mekong Delta, 1 November 1968. The mining was the greatest loss of life in a single action for a commissioned Navy ship during the Vietnam War. It could have also resulted in the only destruction of a Navy ship by enemy action. A post war analysis by explosive expert Captain Robert Shelby said the cargo of ordinance and fuel could have resulted in an explosion equivalent to a small nuclear weapon. For the reasons noted above Richard K. Kolb included this event in his book titled Brutal Battles of Vietnam: America’s Deadliest Days, 1965-1972.


The two mines exploded next to the operations and first-class berthing killing seventeen sailors, five army infantrymen, one sailor from River Assault Division 111, and two VN Navy sailors. Overall, 22 sailors and Army infantrymen were wounded. Therefore, the ship lost a quarter of its crew and nearly all its career first-class petty officers who would have provided on site leadership for damage control and repair parties. The explosions also ruptured enormous Diesel fuel tanks holding 200,000 gallons and caved in a berthing compartment for the 9th Infantry killing five soldiers. Electrical power was out for most areas. Fuel rushed into the broken compartments. Every exposed surface was covered with a mist of Diesel oil that was ready to ignite. The air was nearly unbreathable. The ship quickly began to list to starboard.

 

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USS Westchester County (LST-1167) showing damage shortly after being mined on 1 November 1968


The courageous, determined actions of the crew that night, and during the days following, controlled the damage sustained and prevented a catastrophe that would have horrified the nation. The commanding officer LCDR. John Branin dealt with the urgent problem of the increasing list by instructing Petty Officer 2nd Class Rick Russell to de-ballast starboard tanks forward. Junior petty officers and non-rated sailors further stabilized the situation by sealing off compartments to prevent progressive flooding. Hospital corpsman first class John Sullivan survived the blast, and though badly injured, cared for the trapped and wounded. Damage control and rescue efforts were hampered by the Diesel oil film which precluded the use of cutting torches and metal saws. Sailors quickly relocated away from the blast area large portions of the 350 tons of munitions, explosives, and pyrotechnics the ship carried.

 

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WESTCHESTER COUNTY, 04 Nov 68 Beached for repairs, Dong Tam


After temporary repairs were completed on 14 November, the ship undertook the 2,500-mile journey to its Yokosuka homeport. The ship evaded the worst of three typhoons closing in on the Philippines to arrive 25 November. However, the journey became nearly disastrous because high winds and seas from the typhoons ruptured temporary repairs to the point that for a time pumps capable of pumping 3,200 gallons per minute were overwhelmed. The crew had to restore watertight integrity to a 96 by 28 foot section of blasted hull over which tons of eight inch steel “I” beams and one inch steel plates had been applied and were now snapping. This last problem required the most gallant, professional, and determined responses by the crew to overcome an extremely difficult and hazardous condition. Through their courage and resolve, they prevented the most devastating combat loss the Navy would have incurred in the Vietnam war.  S/S Nolan Nelson, Secretary/Treasurer, U.S.S. Westchester County Association

 

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Originally designed to transport and land troops directly onto a beach, in late 1968 Westchester County was serving as a temporary home and base to 175 soldiers of the 9th Infantry Division’s 3rd Battalion, 34th Artillery, and to the crews of Navy River Assault Division 111. Assigned as support ship for Mobile Riverine Group Alpha, ‘Wesco,’ as she was known throughout the fleet, was anchored midstream on the muddy My Tho River, 40 miles upstream from the coastal seaport of Vung Tau. Clustered in a rough semicircle around the LST were the Brown Water Navy command ship USS Benewah, the repair vessel USS Askari, two large barracks barges, a small salvage vessel and scores of squat, green armored assault craft. All were fully loaded with fuel and ammunition.

 

Full Story Here -->>  USS WESTCHESTER COUNTY: ATTACKED DURING THE VIETNAM WAR

When VC frogmen struck USS Westchester County, they inflicted the Navy's greatest single-incident combat loss of the war.

By HISTORYNET STAFF6/12/2006

 

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