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WINTER 2009 from the St A PUBLICATION OF VOLUME 18, NUMBER 4 THE MOBILE RIVERINE FORCE ASSOCIATION WINTER 2009 From the St. Maries Gazette Record St. Maries, Idaho, May 13, 1992 “Benewah County” Reunion of ship named for county draws 120 to N.C. Where We Got Our Start From the St. Maries Gazette Record St. Maries, Idaho, December 4, 1991 “Benewah County” About 120 persons attended the Apr. 2-5 reunion in ver the years, a number of you have asked Conover, N.C., of those who served aboard the U.S.S. how the MRFA was started. Below are the Reunion for USS Benewah set for May, 92 Benewah. Ofirst clippings from a newspaper article A North Carolina resident is organizing a reunion Albert Moore, the coordinator for the reunion, said on our first reunion. for the U.S.S. Benewah, a ship that served with dis- no one from the county the ship was named after at- A lot of people should be recognized for tinction from 1946 tended the reunion. It was the most decorated ship in having a hand in starting the Association. to 1973. the VietNam War, earning 11 battle ribbons and nu- Charlie Ardinger, John Iannucci, Rich Corrick, Albert B. Moore merous other awards. and many more were instrumental in get- of Conover, N.C. Captain Gerald Saucier (pictured here with Al ting us up and running. At the first reunion, will have the re- Moore) of Virginia Beach, VA, attended the reunion. we elected officers and a Board of Directors. union for the ship, He was the first captain, Although the first reunion was listed in a dif- named after Benewah County, in May of 1992. commanding it from 66- ferent magazine as a reunion for the USS Be- The U.S.S. Benewah was used as a troop ship and 68. newah APB-35, we started hearing from Navy served in VietNam longer than any other ship in that Launched in 1945, the and Army folks who had lived onboard her war. It earned 11 battle stars in VietNam plus a num- U.S.S. Benewah was ini- as Army Infantry and Navy boat crews and ber of other awards during its service, Mr. Moore said tially used as a barracks ships company, so we invited anyone Army in a recent letter. ship for troops at the end or Navy who had contacted us to the reunion. Veterans of World War II, Korea and VietNam are of World War II. It provided logistic support during At the reunion, it was decided we would be- expected to attend the reunion next May. Mr. Moore the Korean War and in VietNam was the flagship for a come a Navy and Army association made up served on its crew from 1966 to 1968. Riverine force operating in the Mekong River delta. of TF-117 and the 2nd/Bde 9th ID. Never in For more information, write him at 106 Bellview Dr., It was transferred to Subic Bay, Philippines in 1973 our wildest dreams did we ever believe we Conover, NC, 28613 or email [email protected]. and transferred to the Republic of Philippines the fol- would become one of the better Vietnam Vet- – Al Vogel lowing year. – Al Vogel erans associations out there. Shortly after our first reunion, we started hearing from other Navy and Army units although not riverine Hi Albert the combat medic ! These men without a sec- that served in the 9th ID and other Navy units My wife and I had a great time at the reunion, we enjoyed ond thought for their own lives bust through in-country asking to come onboard. They ourselves very much, met some old friends and made some new ones. I came down with a case of gout in my right foot a wall of hellfire knock the devil aside to get needed a home so we opened our umbrella to on Friday but the hotel supplied me a wheelchair at no cost to an injured soldier. When the firing seemed these units too. We became the home for a lot for the weekend, and we had lots of smiles and laughs. the worst and all us grunts would be hitting of different units that served in-country. Some, Albert in July of 1967 the Viet Cong bush wacked our the ground, there would be our medic ignor- if not most, of these units have left the MRFA company and bloodied our noses pretty bad, and ever since ing all danger to aid a fellow soldier. and gone on their own (Army and Navy alike) then every July 11th I can’t help but think of this. And this Most of them have been in situations where but we were and are proud to have been able July like always, only this year I got a pen and paper and survival seemed slim, and there would be to assist these units and have always wished wrote down my thoughts of our platoon medic. This article “Doc” not only treating the wounded but giv- them well. Some are still MRFA members. So if you feel is worthy I would be please to see it published ing hope. with a small reunion, for a small but outstand- in River Currents. But do feel any grunt can relate to my Surely many medics were lost in combat in feelings. ing ship, we became the MRFA. I receive a lot Vietnam. But I always felt God put some kind of credit for starting the association but I could of shield around them to do their job. not have done anything without the help and I cannot put in enough words, or give support of many great people. Some are still Dave Nelson A CO 4th/39th 9th ID enough praise to all you courageous medics with us and some have passed away or moved was very fortunate in 1967 to have been as- that done so much for your fellow man in a on. But it took more than one person to get us signed to A Company 4/47th, a unit in my gloomy era of our history to where we are today. I want to thank each Iopinion, full of heroes! From the deepest part of my heart, a sincere and every one of you; those from our humble The Vietnam I recall was hot, very hot, al- thanks to all of you. Kudos to Ron Tabor our beginning to those of you with us today. And ways humid, muddy, sticky, and infected with 1st platoon medic, a better man never wore to those units and folks that said we would every kind of creature that would bite, poke, a pair of jungle boots… Dave Nelson, 108 never make it as an Association ... well we’re scratch, or leave a rash. Springer Ave., Elmwood, WI 54740. still here BABY. Army and Navy ROCKS. Out of the rice paddies and swamps stands Albert Moore out in my mind some very very special people 2 River Currents, Volume 18, Number 4 • Winter 2009 A great time once again. And as always, our thanks to Bob Pries for all the hard work it takes to make this event a success! SS Askari (ARL-30) operating in South Vietnam on 27 September 1967 as part of Veterans Day 2010, Washington, DC Wreath Layings at the Vietnam URiver Assault Flotilla ONE. She has used Veterans Memorial and the U.S. Navy Memorial her “A” frame hoist to lift a 56-foot Armored Troop Carrier onto he MRFA and 9th Infantry Division will be a pontoon for placing wreaths at the Vietnam Veterans maintenance. Oth- Memorial in Washington, DC, on Veterans T er riverine craft, Day, Thursday, November 11, 2010. We will be gathering at the steps of the Lincoln Memo- rial at 8:30 a.m. on the 11th and proceed to the Wall at 9:00 a.m. We will also have a ceremony at the U.S. including a monitor, Navy Memorial at 3 p.m.until 4 p.m. honor- await their turn. The ing the MRF and 9th Inf Div. Complete with located at 7th Street between Pennsylvania full load displacement Avenue and Indiana Avenue in Washington, of an ATC was 69.2 DC (701 Pennsylvania Ave, NW). tons and its hoisting weight was 55.8 tons, We are in the process of confirming rooms suggesting that Askari and its sisters had the and rates at the Hilton Garden Inn Arlington/ improved 60-ton capacity “A” frame hoist. Courthouse Plaza in Arlington, Virginia, for U.S. National Archives Photo # 19-N-6515, November 8 to 11. We will have more details in a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the upcoming issues of River Currents along with collections of the U.S. all the contact information for the hotel and National Archives. online reservation system. The Hilton Garden USS Satyr (ARL-23) an- Inn Arlington/Courthouse chored in South Vietnam- ese waters, c. 1971 speakers also with placing of wreaths Plaza is located at 1333 North at the Lone Sailor Statue in honor of Courthouse Road, Arlington, all our fallen brothers Navy and Army VA 22201. The MRFA and 9th USS Sphinx Veterans of the MRF and 9th Inf Div. Infantry Division will have a (ARL-24) in A first for the Navy Memorial they hospitality room available on Vietnamese waters. have okayed our doing the Missing November 9 and 10. Come Man Table Ceremony same as we do join us as we honor our fall- at our reunions. We will furnish our en Brothers on Veterans Day USS Indra ARL-37 own speakers, Chaplains, Bugler, and 2010.
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