A PUBLICATION OF VOLUME 23, NUMBER 1 THE MOBILE RIVERINE FORCE ASSOCIATION SPRING 2014 War Widow Waited 35 Years for Phone Call From the Galley by Harold Payne (payne.h@sbcglobal will return in the next issue. Last spring, Harold Payne was in the chair at Fred Fromm’s barbershop at 15th Street He and his wife, Cherie, married in 1972. They raised two children, Chad and Rachel. Before the war, Harold had worked at Unconventional Warfare spent most of his life andof those Cornell who Avenue saw inaction Springfield. over Harold is Fiat Allis in Springfield. That job was gone a Vietnam veteran. Like many when he returned. He on Unconventional Boats to move on with life and never by M. B. Connolly Captain USN (Ret.) also owned a Phillips there, he came back determined working at the John Hobbs66 gas station factory. at 11th He - But that day in Fred’s barber- again think about what he had But somewhere in There is nothing pretty about a Tango boat. In fact, most shop,just experienced. Harold revisited some- thing that happened to him in and Ash streets. of the River Assault Craft (RAC) lacked the lines and ap were the words he pearancethe boats ofand a classictheir crews boat. toEarly dispel on, thethe preformedunaware tagged opin- Vietnam, something that rever- theheard back that of day his on mind the our group as McHale’s Navy. It took a good while for- ine operations were done with professionalism, courage ions of the rest of the Navy in Vietnam. The early river beratedIt was throughoutAugust 17, 1969,his life. Wood This- is the story he told. beach in Tay Ninh: Harold Payne was on a beach in Harold Payne served on the APL- “TellWhat my if wife the I loveguy and with virtually no fanfare. Hence, only we knew what 30 as part of the MRF in 1969 her.” weIn did early and we1969, took great pride and satisfaction in our stockSouth weekendVietnam, ina longthe States, way from but accomplishments.when troop lifts Harold was in the Navy, as- didn’t make it? Harold and major opera- What if somewhere there was a woman who 3signed days ofto peace a Mobile and Riverinemusic. Force along the didn’t know his fate, tions were waning much less his name. in anticipation of the - withdrawal of the Vam Co Dong River in Tay Ninh Province, bor never saw her husband again and never knew 9th Infantry, river what his final wish in this life was? What if? assault craft began dering Cambodia. An American patrol boat Tango 92-10 MRF TF-117 was docked at the river. On one of the boats The questions gained a louder voice as he to be deployed to got older. The wounds of those Vietnam years other Navy op-areas, was a South Vietnamese soldier. - ese soldier, either deliberately or by accident, had healed. He enjoyed attending reunions namely Giant Sling- The boat was armed with a 20-mm cannon - with an electric fire key. The South Vietnam of his outfit, where they could talk about the shot and other inter- war. Maybe it was time to take another step He told the story of the wounded soldier to engaged the trigger. The gun fired randomly toward “whole.” And so, Harold did some thing he had never done before. - dictionmanned operations.primar- onto the shore. Harold watched as the bullets riage, Harold had never said anything about churned up the beach. Theseily with op-areas PBRs wereand his wife, Cherie. In more than 30 years of mar commanded by PBR “You could see the rounds tracking right- toward a truck in which a couple of soldiers were sitting,” Harold recalls. “It was utter con it until 2003. Cherie knows what it would be like if the woman had lost her husband in war. officers.the public The relations “big ATC-Tango Medvac Boat MRF fusion and astonishment.” He knew what was Cherie told Harold that when he attended going to happen, but was helpless to stop it. Her reaction to Harold’s story was emphatic: ugly RACs” didn’t fit TF-117 “You have to find that woman.” and speedy PBR and The truck was hit and caught fire. One of imagein some of cases, the sleekwe were not really welcomed with open the soldiers inside was badly hurt. Harold wasHarold, one but of Harold the first held to reachhim as the they wounded waited the 2004 reunion of his Riverine outfit, he man as he crawled out. He was a stranger to should tell his story and ask for suggestions “I grabbed him and pulled him over,” he on how to find the man’s name and eventual arms. Likewise, with standing military procedure that the for a helicopter to take the man for treatment. fate. senior officer in the op-area was in command, care was The reunion that year was in Fort Mitchell, taken at first to ensure that the River Assault Division Before the helicopter arrived, the man said KY. Cherie and Harold talked about his story says. “It wasn’t the bullets; it was the shrapnel His buddies were amazed at what Harold officer was not senior to the commander of the op-area. from the truck that injured him.” on the way. Harold arrived in Fort Mitchell Heaven forbid that a RAC officer would have command committed to taking the next step. over a group of PBRs! That was one of the reasons that something“I told the to guy, Harold. “Hey, He buddy, clearly you said, can “Tell tell hermy our boats were moved around so frequently on our early wife I love her.” told them. They agreed that he owed it to that deploymentsinterdiction and out surveillance of Dong Tam. effort in III and IV Corps was wounded soldier to at least try to find him and made it home to tell his wife himself, then successfulThe integration because of of all the of amazing our boats capabilities into the general of the boatsNavy yourself when you get home,” says Harold. or, if he died, to find his widow, whoever and and the ingenuity and extraordinary efforts of the boat You know, like you do. But the other guy who wherever she was. If the guy had survived was with me, he looked at me and shook his helo and medcap platforms, river patrols, VN troop lifts, head like, “He’s not going to make it.” no harm done, but if he hadn’t? crewsand ambush and support operations personnel. became Gunfirecommon support, for river psyops,assault They suggested Harold contact Ralph A helicopter tookWhat the if? wounded soldier sent an email to Christopher telling the story away and the war went on just as before. Christopher. Someone had his e-mail address, Harold came home determined to put so when Harold returned to Springfield, he CONTINUED NEXT PAGE… craft after mid-1969. Try hiding a Tango in a rice paddy CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 some distance between himself and Vietnam. 2 • River Currents, Volume 23, Number 1 • Spring 2014 UNCONVENTIONAL Continued from previous page - looked like and did not fire on that for night ambush! Add the use of boat.lot of We noise had and some having success the in Zippofloat ing a Tango downstream making a (water cannon), the Monitors, Al- - the Zippo (flamethrower), Douche hang back and wait for the enemy just about any imaginable opera- to fire at the Tango. When Char tion and it can be argued that they phas and the ubiquitous Tango for Douche Boat ley ducked into his spider hole to- avoid the Tango’s response, the Zippo Boat MRF TF-117 Zippo moved in and filled the spi becameWaterborne the backboneGuard Post of (WBGP) the Navy or der hole with napalm. The enemy inshore effortsAmbush in 1969 and 1970. inand the we Delta all became was NOT bored a slow with learner. just They figured that out pretty quickly interdiction operations was ham- - The use of RAC in some of the floating down the river every night defensive capabilities of the boats knowing that they were cross peredmade them by a perfect lack of for speed, ambush but op the- ing despite our efforts. Finally, we devised(appropriately a technique named that Irma) nobody out available made it feasible to station Monitors MRF TF-117 Alpha (ASPB) TF-117 believed. We sent the Douche Boat erations. The large number of boats- infrared spotter, it was an effective ways that were crossed by enemy grenades hanging on the reinforc- device in stopping many crossings at night floating and hosing down craftpersonnel every entering click on the many Republic water of ing rods around the superstructure the bank closest to the Cambodian of the boats where they were read- Unconventional Underway Border. When the enemy got a blast out of Cambodia.Operations of water that could knock a hooch Vietnam from Cambodia. While it is down,right behind he often Irma! responded by firing ilyutilized accessible Beehive to allrounds hands with topside. no hardand its to hidedefensive a Tango capabilities boat, the flightwere in static operations, their utility hisWe weapon got information. . . and the Zippofrom wasthe The 105 Monitor perimeter defense - deck provided a high vantage point wasJust exercised as the RAC with proved success versatile in un- Consider that the plain old - tion of supplies out of the Parrot’s delaytion Devices setting. at each Water Borne - such that it could stand and fight. - - Army intel folks that the interrup GuardIn ambush, Post (WBGP) two Night were Observa essen- using a heavy duty rope across the tial to cover upstream and down- derwaytion services operations were amongst as well. Interthose Tango boat had two 20-mm can diction, “float ops,” and transporta Beak had caused the enemy to try nons,six machine one Mk-19 guns, grenade and an launcher, array of - - der scanning the rice paddies was began to troll the river with our an improvised bank of as many as operations. river to “high-line” supplies. It was ception of artillery, this was more stream. Near the Cambodian bor lowered when boats passed. We hand-held weapons. With the ex Canal, we placed a large combina- chain with angle iron welded to it at alsotion infrared/search necessary. On thelight Vinh on the Te minesweeping gear. It was a simple fire power than that of the average- the trolling boat caught a rope and VN outpost on the border. Add a apulled 45 degree somebody angle. Onwho the wasfirst night,hand 105-Howitzer monitor and air sup flight deck of one of the Tangos. - port, and the lone Tango in ambush Thewere power courtesy source of the was Army a jeepand even that became a fortress. wecame backed with ainto Sergeant the well to servicedeck. Both the tendingbeen secured it into to the a tree,water. pulling Next suc the in Theambush “stand have andperimeter fight” security modus - cess was hooking a rope that had operandiagainst both required waterborne that theand boatsland- red search function located targets lightthat wereand drivethen illuminatedthe jeep. The with infra the tree into the river. psychologicalOne Tango warfare boat had group the largegave borne sapper squads. RAC crews could bring guns to bear and air Psyopsus some speakerscassette tapes onboard. of Chinese The search light. All of the boats that usedmines, some PSID very sensors, unique and measures concus to- Lt Mike Connolly and Admiral funeral music and Vietnamese text effectsion grenades perimeter were security. used Claymoreto advan- - about horrible things that had be- supportful in thwarting could fire numerous down the attempts beam Zumwalt of light. It was incredibly success recorded with electronic distortion tage. Early in the deployment of Dong Rivers, sitting in ambush was fallenand contained the enemies graphic of Saigon. details It was of the use of Claymore mines for base topretty cross obvious into Vietnam. and the The enemy platform often dismemberment and a poor soul RACs to Operation Giant Slingshot, a diceyOn the proposition Vam Co Teso the and RAC Vam usu Co- the Navy in Tra Cu was trained in light sitting on the flight deck was boat when it was moving into am- ally stayed underway and joined demonstrated how to set them up the interdiction efforts of the PBRs for his missing body parts to enter defense.for maximum An Army effectiveness major “expert” in pro- concentrated their attacks on that doomed to roam the earth looking- namese sailors assigned for training bush position for the night. On one heaven.would hide Some below of thewhen young we played Viet occasion, a B-40 round got into the- in attempting to stop infiltration- tecting the perimeter. His first test outvantage of the of Parrot’sbeing able Beak to intostand South and firinglearned injured respect two forsailors the andClaymore scared well deck and showered the jeep perturbed by country music that with shrapnel. Our CASREP re Vietnam. The slow RAC had the ad the hell out of all the rest of us. We that could be used without spray- it. Apparently, the enemy was more ported “four flat tires” but the next at more when it was playing Willy fighting the if firedwhole upon countryside and had weaponswith am- mine. Later, on the Vinh Te Canal,- echelon of command did not find was also played. The boat was fired any humor in our levity. The enemy Tangosing two incommand-detonated WBGP protected Clay their- could be addressed with the Zippo CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 perimeter from attack by mount continued to punish that Tango and or PSID alert from sensors placed late in October of ‘69, the sergeant munition. Enemy fire from a hooch was killed in action and the Army (set with no delay) without wiping moresashore onnear the the ramp. boat Visual could sighting be re- out a whole village or spraying the sponded to by detonating the Clay- retrieved their light and jeep. or possibly a beehive 105 round A technique that was perfected- and if improperly secured can be on the Vinh Te Canal was the use of neighboringwere loud and province made their with presence 50 cal. mores. They are a wicked weapon the Mk-19 grenade launcher for in - directlimited fire distance spotted vision by another because boat of rounds. When underway, the RAC in ambush. Often, ambush sites had- units attempting to cross the river dangerous. The 3-ton ramp of the known at some distance. Enemy TangoClaymores was aon solid the base bow for and the ended Clay evating the grenade launcher, a boat tree lines or low brush lines. By el on the shoreline and waited for the more.up blowing One PBR the triedwhole mounting bow off twothe boat to pass and then slipped across - - often squatted down in the brush Tango on the River headed with thatgy as could “up a seelittle, the down target a little, could come talk - Riverine Infantry up a small the fire in by such exact terminolo canal boat. The best defense for swim in a sampan. They had learned ear mer attack was having concussion left a little,” etc. Combined with the ly-on what the profile of the Zippo River Currents, Volume 23, Number 1 • Spring 2014 • 3 WAR WIDOW Continued from page 1 important. He never thought about what he had to say to eachLost other. Contact The cards and letters would say if he ever got this far. But there was no ceased, and life, once again, moved on its way. - going back now. He plunged on. and asking if there was any way Christopher could “I say, ‘My name is Harold Payne. In 1969, I was After I heard the story, I knew that I had to talk- identify the soldier wounded in the truck on Au- in Vietnam...’ And I tell the story and that I was toter, June. but thereI spent was this no summer reply, although searching the for letter her. Herdid gust 17, 1969. looking for someone who was in the family of phone was disconnected. Harold sent her a let He hit “send,” then waited. Christopher’s re Ronald D. Tillery of Kansas City and did she know I contacted an amateur genealogist who found sponse arrived inFate Harold’s Stepped inbox In on February 4, anybody by that name.” come back to Springfield marked “undeliverable.”- 2005. The next few seconds he will never forget. There was this big, long pause. I hear her take some distant Tillery relatives, including Shir a big, deep breath. She said, ‘I’ve been waiting for Christopher found the name. He was Ronald ley Banner, a second cousin to Ron. Shirley, who “Sorry to have to bring you this sad message,” this phone call for 35 years.” lives in California, agreed to contact June and Jeff Dean Tillery from Kansas City, MO. His wounds Fate, indeed. The first phone number was the had been fatal. - Message Delivered through social media and e-mail. She received no right one. reply. Christopher wrote to Harold in 2005, “and I un never been given the details on how or why her “God also allowed you derstand you wanting to know...” Delore June Tillery told Harold that she had to bless me with Ronnie’s From the record: Ronald Dean Tillery. U.S. Navy. Builder 3rd Class. ID No. 487545384. Two young husband had been killed. She knew only last words. I cannot years’ service. Age at loss: 20. Casualty Type: Non- thatwhich it wasis the some name kind she of went accident. by, “what he told me thank you enough.” hostile, died of other causes. Casualty Reason: “I’m going to tell you now,” Harold said to June, Ground casualty. - Ron’s name is on The Wall. Panel W19. Line 56. just before he died.” And I told her that Ron’s last By late summer, Harold and I became convinced After 36 years, Harold finally knew the wound words were of her and she cried. She said she was- ed man didn’t make it. But at least now Harold had grateful for me to fill in what had happened. a name and a city. IAfter didn’t that ask toinitial meet phone her. I told conversation, her I had some Harold pic that June knew we were looking for her, but did “I still wasn’t done,” says Harold. “This wasn’t tures and would send them to her if she wanted.” not want to be found. We reluctantly dropped goingRoad, toHarold be the told end the of thestory story.” to the guys and won- the project and chalked it up as just one of those One night at VFW Post 755 on Old Jacksonville- and June exchanged letters, photographs, and things that happen. Not everyone wants to be in Christmastheir marriage cards. and June’s the hardfirst lifeletter she to had Harold since was he the newspaper, but without June’s permission dered how he would ever find the widow of Ron six pages long. In it, she described “Ronnie” and and her side of things, I couldn’t go forward. ald Tillery of Kansas City. Was she still there? Had Then, a month ago, we learned the reason why she remarried? Taken another last name? Was she had died. weHer never husband heard died from in June Vietnam Tillery on this August summer. 17, even alive? It seemed impossible so many years “He liked his ’57 Chevy,” she wrote. “He liked She was dying. later. ‘50s and ‘60s music. He liked to dance, but he “ThisHarold is isn’tthe Internet all that Internetage, Harold,” savvy, they but told he him.was loved to water ski. And he was very, very good at 1969. Cancer took June’s life in Kansas City on “You can find anybody.” it. He played the sax in high school, he was only September 17 this year, 43 years and 1 month fair at that, but enjoyed it. He liked to kid around. later. determined. When he got home that night, he put He was good with people and had a lot of friends. Shirley Banner got the news from June’s son, the Tillery name into a search engine. He came up He was just one of those tremendous guys.” Jeff.had never He agreed heard tothe talk story with of his me, father and and we Harold spoke with telephone numbers and addresses for quite She sent pictures of herself and Ron. She wrote briefly by telephone a couple of weeks ago. He a few Tillerys in Kansas City. thatIn 1969, he had he worked was on in hisconstruction second tour with of his duty father in “I had a call years ago from somebody with a “This is the in Kansas City, which led him to join the Seabees. Payne. Vietnam. connection, but the understanding wasn’t quite Internet age, Harold… “I was so angry at God when He took him,” June there,” Jeff says. “He said he knew something You can find anybody.” wrote. “But I’m past that, and I know God had his about my dad or something.” - reasons. He’s buried at a local cemetery. I still go Jeff says his mother had a cedar chest in her there“God alsoquite allowed often.” you to bless me with Ronnie’s apartment that held the U.S. flag from Ron’s cas She sent her thanks to Harold for finding her. ket, along with letters he and June had exchanged. - “I’m not certain what happened with that,” Jeff last words. I cannot thank you enough.” says. - “Now what?” He asked Cherie. “Start dialing,” The most poignant part of her letter comes to June’s memorial service was held at Free Will she said. “Start at the top and work your way ward the end. “Jeff, our son, doesn’t talk about him Baptist Church in Kansas City. Her body was cre down the list.” much.After But a couplehe was ofonly years 1 when of letters Ronnie and died. holiday So he mated. Her ashes were spread in Arkansas, where “And this,” says Harold, “is where fate steps in.” never knew him.” she was born. ★ A woman answered at the first number he Harold and June never met. called. When she did, Harold realized something cards, Harold and June had said everything they June Tillery never remarried. Typical Sailor Liberty by D. D. Hoffman GMG 3 DragonFly Alpha 8 AKA “Nun Honey”
Sometime late in 1968, our Boat A-91-8 was in Vung Tau for repairs. Steve “Pineapple” Lewis and I went into Vung Tau to the barbershop for a steam bath and massage and ended Sleeping Outside Cat Lo (Ditch) up staying late in town to have a few drinks. To make a long story short, it was about 2:00 a.m. when we got one of those Lambretta taxis to get us back to the base. As I remember, the gates were secure when we got back and the guards said they would not open them until 6:00 a.m. Being a little under the weather, we didn’t know what to do? Steve said, “We cannot go back to town.” So we went across the road from the gate and slept in Youra ditch boat . . . hadwith to no be weapons. at Cat Lo. At That daylight, was a the bad guards trip at woke night us going up, andto Cat we Lo were from let Vung back Tau on base.about Thank a 12-mile God, run it wasn’tthrough Monsoon VC country. season. If you had been sober about 20 feet back from the ditch alongside the road were houses of joy. All you had to do is knock on the door and they would have let you in for the rest of the night which would have been a lot better than sleeping in a ditch. Cat Lo Today Albert speaking from experience. ★ 4 • River Currents, Volume 23, Number 1 • Spring 2014
The River sides by the river. It was here that the theand guns.last minute On the planning battalion and radio co- a message from Cmdr. Rhodes: “Fire- enemy had been reported. net, routine communications traffic all weapons.” Those boats that had of Death North of the bend, Col. David- Among the decision was to hit Beach refrained from firing their far-rico Here’s the story upon which planned to emplace the 3/60 as a- ordination passed between stations. cheting 0.50 caliber machine guns the Men in the Boats poem was ineblocking Force force,boats, but would to get have to to its sail as artillery preparation, followed by brought the guns to bear. With their signed positions the 3/60, in River Whiteanother Two 5 minutes’ at 0730 shelling with a 5-minute of Beach peculiar measured roar, the fifties- - joined in battle. bybased. John (Rerun Albright by request Albert) past the suspected enemy positions. As the fighting continued, auto South of the bend, Col. David planned- Whitecould not One. be Withlaid on only both three beaches batter at matic fire beat against the hulls, some “In a matter of seconds, the muddy totalion, deploy also another in Riverine blocking Force force, boats, the ies of artillery available, effective fire of it coming from bunkers no more waters of the Rach Bai River trans- 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry. This bat than 2 feet from the waterline. For formed from a poetic tropical set- theriver same and time.headed north, up the nar- all the counter fire from the boats,- wasclose to in follow on the the enemy lead fromunit, the north3/60. At 0700 the convoy entered the anti-tank rockets and recoilless rifle Together the two battalions would- unzipped, some of the men lay on roundscame from kept thepouring east, fromfrom mud the bunarea unsuspecting troops of the riverine ting into a blazing inferno of rocket, talions had gone ashore, the Navy row channel. Helmets off, flak jackets kerswhere on the either intel bank. reports The heaviesthad placed fire machine gun, and rifle fire for the andcrews south. were Once to theemploy two infantry the empty bat - - the troop compartment deck asleep; - scrape of weapons against the sides armada.” othersthat the rested men againstshould thebe bulkheads,alert, one the Viet Cong. Firing a string of ex of the steel ship penetrated the The murmur of voices and the boats as a blocking force. The moni smoking and talking low. On a hunch- plosivea Navy 40-mmgunner roundsblew the into top the off aper the damp night as the men of the 3rd tors, gunboats with 20- and 40-mm ture of one bunker on the east bank, gunsWhile and these81-mm forces direct to fire the mortars, north, leader in Company B woke his weap most enemy positions were within 5 wouldsouth, andreinforce west theformed troop an carriers. anvil, the ons squad just as the convoy entered- fortificationmeters of the and water silenced and it. formedAlthough a into waiting armored troop carriers of the 60th Infantry, climbed from a theing about little river.8 miles Fifty an feet hour apart, through the barracks ship, the USS Colleton, and advancing overland from the east in boats proceeded in a single file, mov- of the Army troops saw much more Within minutes after boarding 5tharmored Battalion, personnel 60th carriers, Infantry would were ing a hairpin bend in the river ap- killing zone of 1,500 meters long, few alongside, 15 September, 1967. thepropriately mist of thecalled new “Snoopy’s morning. Nose” Pass As the line of boats moved deeper be airlifted into the combat area if without incident, they reached the ofinto the the enemy ambush, than the his intensity gun flashes. of the from a 3-day operation which, in one the boats, most men slept. Late the act as a hammer. Other forces could point where the river turns west and previoussharp, day day long they battle, had 9 of come their com back- - began to pass the Red Beaches that others speeded up, but all poured needed. Once the enemy troops were were to be assaulted by the southern fight grew. Some boats slowed while trapped, Col. David planned to de - the night to clean weapons, shower, rades had fallen, along with 60 of the stroy them with air strikes and the fire from every operable gun. As fast eat a hot meal, and receive the new enemy. There had been time during brigade’smechanized three battalion batteries could of artillery. then blockingmight be force. amiss came just before asfew they minutes could, of the letting gunners the fired,Navy redo operations order, but not much time The two infantry battalions and the The first morning that something loaded and fired again. After only a to sleep off the now familiar weari- escaping across the river, through - movethe patrolling in and finishNavy forces the job, might any VCbe 0730.the water A few as roundsthe leading of enemy boats smallwere the fighting, the troops joined in with Viet Cong and the mud of the Me- intercepted by the South Vietnamese armsnearing fire the kicked salient up land little that geysers was the in M-79 grenade launchers, M60 ma- ness after days of fighting both the - chine guns, and M16 rifles. The men - climbed,machine crawled,gunners orand ran M-79 to firing grena po- kong Delta. 44th Rangers, operating on an inde objective.split the morning Then precisely calm, followedat 0730, theal- sitions, while officers saw to it that Brigade of the 9th Infantry Division, Three days before, Col. Bert Da pendent mission west of the river. sound of an exploding anti-tank rock - vid’s Mobile Riverine Force, the 2nd of Thehis three commander companies of theashore 3/60, at the LT. diersment, got many the betterof the locations. Navy weapons 117, had set out to search for and Col.start, Mercer Company Doty, Bplanned on Beach to put White two most instantly was a second blast.- momentarilyIn the first flushfell silent, of enemy their engage crews and its Navy counterpart, Task Force Minesweeper tango 91-4 reeled - from the shock of both rockets ex destroy the 514th Local Force and One and Company A 1,000 meters to plodingwith the againstminesweepers its starboard report, bow.“we wounded or killed. Acting sometimes found, the ensuing battle had only 263rd Main Force Viet Cong Battal the west on Beach White Two. Both The radios’ in the boats crackled- underover Navy company guns soofficers, that few but weapons in most ions. When the enemy was finally units were to land at 0800. Company caseswent long on unused, their own, even soldiers though casu took- C of the 5th/60th was to stay on the have been mined”. Another boat re weakened, not destroyed, the Viet boats as a brigade reserve. Traveling ported recoilless rifle fire. Through Commanding the 3rd platoon of Cong Battalions, which broke off the ina welcome three ATCs, addition each companysince all compa was to- the din came the unmistakable alties constantly mounted. that reached the Riverine Brigade’s fight and slipped away. be reinforced by an engineer squad, soundRadios of AK47in the and boats assault came rifle alive and Thus, when intelligence reports - of machine guns. Bravo Company, 3rd of the 60th, 1st nies were under strength. Lt.the Peter Navy M. crewmen Rogers saw of sixRogers’ of his boatmen in the Can Son Secret Zone along headquarters on the afternoon of the At 0415 the naval convoy trans with reports. A monitor called, I’m hit in the first few seconds, many of - 14 September place the Viet Cong porting the 3/60, moved out into hit, I hit a mine!” Then came another - theA monitor Mekong gunboat River precededleads each by of twothe voice—“Somebody’s fired a rocket!” were hit and riflemen took their the Rach Ba Rai River, Col. David re emptythree groups ATCs acting of armored as minesweepers. troop carri- Recoillessslammed riflesinto minesweeper,and rockets, both moni the- places. When the company com their bases to prepare for a jump-off solved to attack. Quickly he pulled RPG-2 and the newer, deadlier RPG7, mander,one of his Capt. platoon Wilbert sergeants Davis moved took his units back from the field and into hold of a Navy machine gun to fire, ers.and Intersperseda command in and the columncommunica were- tors, and troop laden tango boats. the next morning. For the 3/60, that a helicopter deck medical aid boat Theboat roarafter ofboat dozens entered of the Navy ambush guns in to relieve him, only to take an near the Mobile Riverine Force’s meant a return to the USS Colleton - joinedand brought the roar more of enemy weapons fire, into and the as enemy bullet in the chest. As he fell anchored in the wide Mekong River tions boat. The latter, itself a monitor to the deck, another soldier quickly lackingDoty, onlyhimself the 81-mmcircled overheadmortar, car in tookthe gun the turretgun. in search of a better in their reported positions along the base camp at Dong Tam. ried Col. Doty’s staff. fray, 20- and 40-mm automatic guns Running from the main deck to Col. David planned to trap the VC andwith 81-mmthe morning mortars mist firing until point-it be- his command and control chopper.- blank added to the din. Smoke mixed view of enemy position, Capt. Gregg river, a narrow river that flows from Beside him rode Capt. Wayne Jordan, Orth, commander, Company A 3/60,- the north into the Mekong. About 10 an artillery liaison officer and ob- cametango thick,that likewas heavyserving fog. as a mine- took over an unmanned machine and kilometers north of its confluence server. Lt. Cmdr. F.E. “Dusty” Rhodes Within the first minute, the other opened fire. When the gun malfunc then turns abruptly east for two with the Mekong, the river bends Jr. USN, commanded the boats. Be tioned, he ran below decks, found a more before returning to a north- sharply to the west for 2 kilometers, hindAs the boats 3/60, churned moved thethrough 3/47, the in sweeper, T-91-1, took a hit from an machine gunner and sent him to fix basically the same convoy formation. RPG2. In the next 7 minutes, T-91-1 it.Surmising Just then, that he notedthey thathad twomalfunc Navy- river produces a salient of land that tookthe rear, four morethe boat rockets remained and wounded in the machinetioned, he at sent the two bow machine had quit gunners firing. juts out to the west, washed on two south direction. This bend in the Mekongslept while River the toward Navy crewsthe entrance manned of eight of its crew. Although ordered to to remove the Navy weapons and the Rach Ba Rai, most of the riflemen CONTINUED NEXT PAGE… battle. From the Navy radios came River Currents, Volume 23, Number 1 • Spring 2014 • 5 RIVER OF DEATH - - Continued from previous page tions as to where there were any - fectively with spider holes and other forfriendlies the medical on ashore, aid boat fragmentary and ques oftion the was 3/60 a wryalso listenedsatisfaction to the that first at metersopen enemy long. Thepositions, 105s could but adeal direct ef replace them with two of the com- reportsleast the of enemy the fighting. was where His first they reac had hit from a piece as heavy as 155 was to command and communications reports on the battle flashed back more important now, Doty believed, pany’s M60s. expectedto proceed them with to the be. Itoperation was all theas needed to knock out a bunker. to Sgt.a nearby John machine White of gunner Company telling B, boathad reachedand from the there brigades back tooperation brigade planned, to run the gauntlet and get At 0735, Monitor 111-3 was hit by 3/60, spotted a man in a tree, turned headquarters. Word of the ambush two RPG2s. The first knocked out the was monitoring the progress of the main gun, the 40-mm encased in a him there was a sniper in the tree. officerconvoy, Majorabout Johnnie3 minutes Corns, after whothe theoverhead men ashore in spotter on Beach aircraft White called One in turret, killing the Navy gunman and Thethe two gunner men fired scanned a long the burst area from for and Two. Artillery observers flying wounding two others. The second hisanother M60 target, and set the the blast tree from ablaze. an ex As- woundedsmashed intothree the more 81-mm crewmen. mortar Two pit, fightWith the began. concurrence The first of report the brigade had it fire on the VC positions minutes after minuteswounding later two a thirdmarines anti-tank and a rocketsailor, down, but seconds later were on that two of the boats were on fire. the first enemy round crashed into ploding rocket knocked both of them - the lead minesweeper. Two batteries commander, Col. David, Major Corns offrom 105-mm support howitzers, positions B southBattery of andthe but the monitor stayed in the battle. theirfrom feetthe andAmerican firing. weapons that directedDoty’s battalion—landing the 3/47 that they on be Beach pre Cbattle Battery site whileof the Battery 34th Artillery A, 1st Battal fired- Elsewhere many of the direct hits by- So fast and sustained was the fire- pared to assume the mission of Col. RPG2s did little damage. Each of the boats carrying Capt. Richard Botel at least two M60 machine gun bar Whiteland south One of and the Two. bend, If close that turnedto the ion,Although 27 Artillery, they cut reinforced down the their volume fires ho’s Company C, e.g., took at least relsthe bow, burned ripping out. open To help cases the of M-79 am- outbeaches to be previously necessary, giventhe 3/60 the wouldname from a support base to the northeast. onegrateful rocket for hit,the butfact no that Army the VCor Navywere gunners, other soldiers knelt by personnel were injured. He was gunners disposed of three cases of above the action, the commander of enemy fire, three batteries could CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 munition. On one boat alone, three of Beach Red One and Two. Flying not cope with all the enemy fire lousy shots. Few of the thousands - coming from an ambush over 1,500 ammunition in 20 minutes. With only sporadic breaks the battle con The Men In Shaking the boat from forward to aft. tinued. Round after round struck An antitank rocket had exploded top side both troop carriers and monitors. The Boats But in spite of hot shrapnel, the platoon has survived. Thefor position, boats veered some temporarily right and leftout inof There’s a monitor turning to a stream up ahead the narrow channel, some jockeying No one at the wheel, the helmsman is dead. The assault craft turns wildly, rams into the bank control as coxswains were wounded. (rerun by request of membership) A split-second decision before the craft sank. The blast from a rocket explosion- Written by LtGeneral Johnnie Corns, U.S. Army (Ret.) The infantry platoon along with the crew knocked one boat commander off his Operations Officer, 2nd Brigade 1967-68 Scramble ashore where the artillery blew. feetthe wheeland under a minute a 50 cal.later, Gun but tub. in theAl The mist of the morning cools and softens the air Their foe is retreating, crawling over a dike thoughmeantime stunned, the boat he made had itcareened back to As the last of the soldiers heads down the steel stair. That’s getting chewed up by a boat’s forty mike. He crossed the barge tied alongside the ship There’s plenty of action, new troops have their fill And boarded the craft, making sure not to slip. The artillery’s pounding, the jets screaming shrill. dangerously. The assault craft and boats are now well underway The time is at hand, it’s good against evil Three minutes after the fight Executing the plan which was briefed yesterday Death goes ashore through cordite and diesel. But the noise of the battle slowly passes away started a monitor, M-112-2, took two The boats flow out smoothly, moving into the line There are men to be cared for, there’s time now to pray. RPG2 rounds, one in the cockpit that From the air their formation looks dark, serpentine. The enemy is pursued by chopper and boat. shot away the steering mechanism. Up the brown, muddy river they move with the tide Some enjoying the scenery on this their first ride. Medics work wonders with lumps in their throats. The boat captain managed to beach It seems like forever, but they’re back on the ship the monitor while crewman worked Others seem not to care, unaware of the beauty Their thoughts are focused on performing their duty. Some slightly wounded—broken finger, bruised hip. frantically to repair the damage. The But thoughts are of Willy who made them all laugh time the monitor was hit, the com- These are the veterans who have been here before job done quickly, M-112-1 lunged And of Jose and Bob who did not make it back. againmand intoand midstream.communications At the sameboat Who’ve lived through the fire fights, not anxious for more. But should one occur, these brave men are good They laugh at Frank’s letter that he got from back home Their valor and skill is well understood. The candy from his wife has been missent to Nome. The likes of this force is seldom seen. The box will be forwarded, though mangled and tattered tookthe rounds two anti-tank did no rocketsdamage, on they the They fight from the water and are called riverine. But Frank didn’t care; it’s the letter that mattered. port 40-mm gun mount. Although Grant used them at Vicksburg in the great Civil War They laughed and they joked and played lots of pranks And made a few jokes about those with some rank. few minutes later, the command boat And the French proved the concept on the Red River served to acquaint the battalion staff shore. And every face beamed as the brass just announced fully the nature of the situation. A When the power was combined of Army and Navy It was a main force enemy that they had just trounced. Commander Rhodes unconscious, The first thoughts generated were just short of cagey. That kind of news would be in their letters took another hit. This round knocked But these didn’t prevail when it came to a fight But what mattered most was they had fought even better. Both soldiers and sailors knew what was right. There was a deep sense of pride when facing great but a few seconds later he was back Soldiers saw water like moats ‘round a castle danger onit appeared his feet. that the VC were trying An unwelcome obstacle when it came to a battle. Of meeting a test, risking life for a stranger. to Tohit thethe menframes in holding the troop the carriers canvas But sailors saw water like the Daytona track Most pictured the stranger as a small Asian child sun cover over the troop compart- A way to get in and a way to get back. Who’d suffered so much in such a short while. ment and rain down fragments on Attacks from the water were new to their foe And the main thing, of course, that most of them feared Who aimed at the highways where troops usually go. Was continuing to live being homeless and scared. of the rounds seemed to be aimed But for riverine troopers, this was the way Many years have passed since the days of these battles. thethat closely way sailed bunched harmlessly men below. over Most the To attack with surprise at the first light of day. For each old Raider and Rat the memories still rattle. boats, for such shooting demanded And this was the plan they would follow today A few of these warriors have even gone back - To spring their attack, the riverine way. In search of something they feel that they lack. Some early doubts for the plan soon arose Not to recall the carnage or view the rubble the bestmetal marksmanship frames wounded or incredscores When they learned they’d be running right by Snoopy’s But to see once again, those they helped when in trouble. ible luck. The few rockets that struck Nose. They’re warmed by the smiles of kids three or four wounding every other man in a pla- An elaborate plan that would probably work well But in the old USA they have even more. of men, in one case killing one and But for boat crews and platoons it was difficult to tell. And the main experience that gives them a chill Artillery was firing, of this they’d been told Is to fly over the land, lush, green and now still. toonthe Army of Company and Navy B. radios went on A battalion in choppers found the first LZ cold. To feel tears sting their eyes looking down at the moats However fierce the enemy fires But what was that pounding on the side of the craft And feel their chests swell for the Men in the Boats. operating. Amid messages asking 6 • River Currents, Volume 23, Number 1 • Spring 2014 Colonel Edwin W. Chamberlain and Bandido Charlie Company Hi Albert, dress and actions of Bandido Charlie, saying been so mauled that it was no longer a viable I have noticed that, while a number of articles have been written about various commanders, I didn’t write much about Ap Bac at the time, none have been written about Colonel Chamber- thatmorning it was when good returning for the morale to my tentof the from battalion. duty, I fighting force. lain, who was 3/60 CO from its formation at Fort Thewas brigadestopped commander by the column finally of Bandidoacquiesced. Charlie One Riley, Kansas, until the middle of 1967. Attached is but in a letter dated 25 September ‘67, I wrote the an article I wrote and sent to the Bandido Char- following about a recent action: “The VC sneaked lie Association, but think it is appropriate for our tracks pulling out of base on a routine patrol. out at night and took their dead and wounded broader history as well. I hope this meets with Some of the local ladies had made a large flag for withto surround them. That them seems at a safeto be distance, the outcome and call of allin your approval. each track. It was indeed a stirring sight to see our battles. We will run into a bunch of VC, try I know that sometimes memory can be tricky, theBandido tracks surging Charlie earnedby with their the flags,reputation attached at the to evening the companies go into a defensive pe- but I believe that the facts are true to the best of the whip antennas, snapping in the breeze. artilleryrimeter, hoping and air that strikes they onhave them. the VC Then penned in the in my recollection and research. Local Force Battalion was dug into heavily forti- Sincerely, Lucien Hinkle battle of Ap Bac 2 on May 2, 1967. The VC 514 sweep the area where the VC are supposed to be, by Lucien Hinkle leg of the L ran north to south to a juncture with well enough. In the morning, the companies will - the battle of Ap Bac in May when Colonel Cham- - fied positions in the shape of a large L. The main ond leg then ran from that point west along the berlain was still our commander, the companies ed training in the spring of 1966 at Fort Riley, but they have usually gone during the night. At a watercourse running east and west. The sec- The 9th Infantry Division formed up and start - north side of the watercourse. In the early after assaulted a bunker complex of VC and a total of- Kansas. I joined HQ Co. of the 3rd Battalion 60th- noon, A Co. 3/47, advancing up from the south, 186nel had VC wereto argue killed, with and the we Brigade had very commander few casual to Infantry in the beginning of June. The battalion came under heavy fire from the VC forces on the ties. And I mean very few. But even then the Colo commander was Lt. Colonel Edwin W. Chamber northpositions side along of that the stream.south shore, After but taking in so serious doing lain. He had been a young officer in the Korean casualties, they were forced to take up defensive letdefensive him assault position the bunkers.for the night If he hoping hadn’t theyou same have War, so had valuable combat experience. He was old story would have occurred: Withdraw to a- a stickler for discipline and protocol, and we Colonel Chamberlain trained hard that summer and into the fall. This- the VC surrounded, only to find out in the morn training stood us in good stead in Vietnam. Our was a fine officer, and ingthrough they arehis gone.”efforts helped Bandido Charlie to battalion was one of the first in the division to ar Colonel Chamberlain was a fine officer, and rive in Vietnam in December 1966, and the first through his efforts helped to Colonelgo to our Chamberlain new base at was Dong tough Tam, and then demand under- Follow Up on Bandido Charlie excel. construction. Bandido Charlie to excel. Hi Albert, paid great attention to detail, expecting the best - ing, no less so of himself than others. He always Lt Larry Garner was, as I said, the CO of Ban fromtransgression, his soldiers. once However, he had hechewed was neveryou out mean he dido Charlie during the first half of 1967. He was or petty, but always fair. If one committed some unfortunately killed in July 1967. He was the one when all the troops were coming in from the became a de facto blocking force. B and C Cos. whoagainst wore the the VC, red and bandana so feared around by them his thatneck they and 3/47 advanced to blocking positions further to was done with it. At the end of one operation,- was known as the Red Baron. He was relentless per before all the rest of his men had arrived the east and northeast of A Co. 3/47. For some unknowneven though reason, they were B Co. way 3/60 off to was the attached northwest to field, the Recon Platoon leader came in by chop put a price on his head. about this, he called the platoon leader up and 3/47 for operational control as a blocking force, someI worked casualties in the and battalion called TOCin a anddust was off onchop the- safelychewed back him atout base. right Whenover the the battalion Colonel net, heard ad- radiosper, which the nightwas shot he wasat and killed. crash He landed had sustained upon its monishing him that, as unit commander, he was and formed the left flank of 3/60 advancing from the west. This left Colonel Chamberlain with only- tillery,two companies: aircraft, and Bandido helicopter Charlie gunships and A Co. all after- departure.party to the Since chopper the to mud secure was it so and bad, have Larry another had noon,In spite the VCof takingcould anot terrible be dislodged pounding from from their ar always to be the last one to leave the field. to leave the tracks behind and hike with a small he had sporadic contact with the VC and would On another occasion, our ARVN counterpart to launch a classic frontal assault, and ordered had captured a VC and had taken him up in a one come in for the casualties. During the night, positions.Bandido Charlie Colonel to Chamberlain maneuver wasdown determined from the chopper. They were threatening to throw him northwest and form a north/south line to the outchopper, if he didand not when talk Colonel and give Chamberlain them intelligence heard callat midnight in sit-reps, and and only at learned one point the called next morningthe TOC information. One of our officers was along in the on the radio for an artillery strike. I went off duty him in no uncertain terms that he was not to west of, and opposite, the main VC leg of defense.- aboutallow theall of ARVN this he soldiers called upto throwour officer their and captive told that he had been killed by a sniper around 0200 Thereneuvering were across many them waterways and arrived that late crisscrossed in the af- (1LTstuffed Larry that Arthur down Gardner,in my memory Mulkeytown, and thought IL, C Co. “I the area, and Bandido Charlie had difficulty ma 5thjust Bnhave 60th to goInf on Dinh with Tuong my job Providence). and I can’t I dealjust out the door. ternoon at their position, I believe around 1630 Early in the spring, C Company, 5th Battalion - hours. A Co. was already in position on the right 60th Infantry was assigned to our battalion, and- with that now.” - flankBecause of Bandido, of further but delays, on the the north brigade side ofcom the- our Charlie Company was detached to 5/60th. C After the 9/11 attack, I began to have flash watercourse.mander, Colonel Fulton, was having doubts Co. 5/60 was a mechanized company with heav backsI eventually about gotall ofin this,contact which and were received very adiscon letter certing.from a fellow Through who the had Bandido been at Charliethe chopper web that site, ily armed APCs. It was led by Lt. Larry Garner. Colonel Chamberlain had to forcefully argue his Earlya student on Lt. of Garner General showed George particular Armstrong originality Custer night with Larry, and thus I learned the truth of about undertaking the assault so late in the day. and individualism in his use of the tracks. He was- were correct, and what little conscious memory I caseyards for of opencontinuing, rice paddy and right Colonel into Fulton the enemy agreed. po- and preferred to refer to his tracks as A-CAVs, ar what happened. It turned out that my flashbacks Bandido Charlie charged across the final 1,000 mored cavalry. His tactics showed his penchant for the cavalry. He somehow managed to arm- had was wrong. It is interesting what tricks one’s sitions, with A Co. 3/60 assaulting on their right each track with at least one 50 cal. machine gun, mindscanned can into play, my sometimes computer for so self-protection.I can send it to the flank east through the tree line along the north and one track had a 106 recoilless rifle, and I be I keep thinking that I need to get that letter side of the stream. Fierce hand-to-hand combat lieve another had a flame thrower. Lt. Garners’ ensued, and the VC broke and tried to escape to ownBecause attire wasof all at oftimes this, flamboyant at one point and Colonel“out of BandidoIn 1968, Charlie Bandido Association Charlie andwas you, detached if you thinkfrom the east. Many were killed by the blocking forces. uniform” with accepted army standards. you might be interested in publishing that. - Ourreceived casualties the Congressional from the assault Medal were of surprisingly Honor for try Division that operated on terrain more suit- few. Two soldiers from A Co. 3/60 subsequently Chamberlain exclaimed that they all looked like the 3/60 and sent northwest to the 1st Infan “aone bunch occasion, of Bandidos.” the colonel Bandido had to Charlieargue with became the their courage. The commander of the 7th ARVN theirbrigade name commander and call sign to acceptfrom that the pointunorthodox on. On able for tracks. The 1st DivisionCONTINUED had ON a reunionPAGE 11 Division later estimated that the VC 514 had in St. Louis, MO, about 2004 or ‘05 which I was River Currents, Volume 23, Number 1 • Spring 2014 • 7 Mortars by Tom Lively 3rd/34th Arty Albert, Nothing works real fast around here, especially me!! I do have some stories if you’re really hard up for something for the newsletter, but I’m always reluctant to put anything about my experiences out in front of the guys who really did the job for us in RVN. We saw duty like ev- eryone who was there and we did what was necessary to Unknown Artilleryman finally come home. With that said, one disclaimer only... my memory is failing and sometimes I’m not always sure what happened and what didn’t. This is the way I remember it with all the experience, so I’m watching him pretty tho. closer and coming straight at us. Now, he’s the one and we watched them come in one at a time and used to it and we even learned what to do and what not to Tom Lively 3rd/34th Arty close, and he just stays there. So I did the same- Seems like we got mortared so often we actually got each one closer than the last. The sixth and thank do. Charlie liked to harass us and keep us on our toes and fully last impacts 15-20 yards away and behind our awake at night and this was the way to do just that. Same way with sniper- messgetting area our (lots guns of up holes and in swung lots of aroundpots and and pans). calling The battalion 1st. Sgt. jumps for clearance into the fire, you just never knew when to expect it so you expected it all the time crater, looks at me and hollers “Fire Mission”! I get on the mic immediately- and you were not disappointed—live and learn. I can remember ‘incom - ing’ mortars at every location I was at in Vietnam. Charlie would normally to fire. We just did what we were trained to do and battalion denied clear- only have time to send six mortars our way at the Fire Base (KLAW). So if ance because we couldn’t see the little buggers. The guy with all the experi the first round didn’t get you, you’d look for the second one to see how far ence could look at the impact crater and actually come pretty close estimat apartSo one they afternoon were and I’m which standing direction outside they FDC were (where walking everything them. That good would and ing range and FDC could do the rest. But it didn’t work out that time! tell you where to go or what options you had—if the first one didn’t get you! When it was all over, I went back out and climbed into the crater and dug out the mortar fin-Chinese made with a shotgun shell for a blasting cap. It’s bad starts) talking to our 1st. Sgt. when the first mortar comes in maybe 60 registered with the Army and★ one of two war souvenirs I brought home. It’s yards to our south and inside our wire perimeter. And the call went down, in my box in the closet with the rest of Vietnam. Ask and I’ll show it to you. the guns immediately . . . incoming! incoming’!! The 1st Sgt. and I both went My call sign was Charlie 2-9. down and watched for the second one and sure enough it was 20 yards BANDIDO UNCONVENTIONAL Continued from Continued from page 2 single problem in the small canals right through the YRBM and de- previous page thatwas that was while surprisingly showering, warm. it was The andposit join desirable the working food partyitems andon theirwalk Nelson than when they used the sure that large pieces of contamina- and dried Lyonnais potatoes were met Larry’s wife Harriet, (since prudent to watch the intake to make boat. Even Navy canned hot dogs Unconventional Life Style Gia, our “base” was just downstream privileged to attend. There I tapesLiving provided. on the boats in remote tion were not entering it. In Vinh a break from C-rats and LRPs. This- who had been a marine, and areas did give rise to some inven- remarried),his son Michael, his brotherand daugh Jon,- showering with soap in my eyes and uniquetined for supply the ship’s source store ended that when con- for the town privy. I can remember one of our groups filched a box des around with us and somehow liber- Boats in the far reaches of the boat didn’t get halfway home before tive thinking. We towed a fuel barge neverDelta werelosing at sight the very of the tag-end intake. of the tainedit was closelyrecalled controlled and the hospitalityitems. The terthem Alexandra a copy of (I thinkthat letter that isI that we placed on the fuel barge and hermentioned, name). which I was ablethey togreatly give ated a stainless steel PBR fuel tank to establish just exactly who was re- Navy supply system. It was difficult of the YRBM was severely curtailed.- - were no shower facilities at most of filled with fresh water when we got The ceramic installed toilets in the appreciated.onel Chamberlain Unfortunately, except that I the sites so we were able to rig the alongside a ship or YRBM. There sponsiblediscount” foron ourcertain support. military We wereand boats rarely worked and “portapo know nothing more about Col 671 engine water-cooling system eligible at times for a “five finger tties”often blown (buckets over with the side a toilet or lost seat) so to discharge into a shower head on heI was died able sometime to get in in touch the 1990s. with werevisits to devised. our support On deck, ships they served were as repairPeter and items. beehive We ammunition traded with that the an opportunity to replace the toilet At one point in the early 2000s, a reasonable facsimile of a shower Army for uniforms and 105 Willie - deck. Revving the engine produced andtired talk with) with who Captain had been Bledsoe rec- were able to order often that they stationed guards in (I’m not sure what rank he re the Navy never seemed to have. We seats. One ship had been raided so Chamberlain, and who ended shoes (Keds) and got ommended to OCS by Colonel submarine deck theassignments heads to preventand the pilferage. courage and order in triplicate inventivenessThe difficulties of the and boat dangers crews of and the upin touchback under with him his commandfrom seeing as them.giving Theyus a wonder filled an- their support personnel were the ourhis nameS-4 supply in an CO! email I think address I got - among all the email addresses Probably one of the fulmost tradingshameful cache.prac- fibers that produced a stellar com tices that occurred batIn Lynchburg, record and Virginia, knitted there the proud is a you send info too. Maybe he was when a boat was brotherhoodmonument stairway that we that have honors today. the is still alive but I am not sure.- at the YRBM when a Thesualties battle and of ApI don’t Bac wasremember May 2, supply ship showed 1967. We didn’t have many ca- up, the crew would veterans“I stood of up, all I showedwars. An up. inscription paper had a short article about dress in dungarees there I stepped reads: forward, anyit at names. the time, The but Division without news the I raised my right hand. I stood in the gap, the names of the two A Co sol- I walked in the fire. detailsdiers who I have were recounted. awarded I think the I did not dodge, Congressional Medal of Honor I did not evade. are somewhere on the 9th Di- Consequently, I have nothing to prove, Hope all of this is helpful. Best No one to convince. visionWishes, web Lucien site. Those who matter already know. ★ Those who don’t, never will.” Riverine Infantry working off Tango Boats Author unknown ★ 8 • River Currents, Volume 23, Number 1 • Spring 2014 RIVER OF DEATH zone and headed toward the White - Continued from page 5 - through, he ordered his S-3 to send in theForce boats A-37s, continued earlier their scheduled fire as long to safely back to the Red Beach assem of enemy bullets pierced the armor Beaches. Encouraged by this break as they remained in range. Four Air blywith area. the command At Red Beach, group, Capt. was Jamesorga- - original plan, roared in to put bombs Bledsoe,nizing re-supply the battalions and medical S-4, who evacu rode- of the American rounds were able the troops. As B Company 3/60 made strike the White Beaches under the of the boats. On the other hand, few its dash for the beach, Col. Doty de sniper round whizzed through the cidedhit on tothe make Boston the Whaler run with lashed him. to its and napalm on the VC positions. The ationarea, althoughfor the wounded. without Aneffect, occasional as boat to penetrate the enemy’s bunkers. At this point the boat took a rocket enemy also continued to fire; in one after boat made its way to transfer The Navy’s 81-mm mortar shells and outboard motor soared high in the caseand twocommunications rockets came boatso close that to the the few dead and many wounded 40-mm high explosive rounds would deck.air, and, The as little Doty skiff followed shattered, its course, but its RC-292 antennas on the command knock out enemy bunkers only when plummeted into the river, where it they passed through firing slits. Yet rocket fins severed the lead-in wires. to the aid boat. There the battalion howeverfor one side ineffective to lessen in the killing volume the wasfoe, One by one, the boats broke out of chaplain, Capt. James Johnson, and eachto give side the maintainedother side an a opportunity steady fire, landedrelayed withthe ordera mighty to thesplash. lead By com the- thea magnet killing zoneas all and boat headed commanders for Beach the surgeon, Capt. Charles Hughes, to aim more precisely and bring all time S-3 acknowledged the call and Redconcentrated Two. There on thegetting aid helpboat forbecame their ministered to the wounded. Minor- fires burned on two boats, one in a of the enemy’s positions to the wa- panyelement commander, ashore now, B Co. waiting commander for the - box of equipment, the other in a Bos weaponsterline that to somebear. So of closethe Navy’s were someguns Capt. Davis could reply “Roger, I have wounded.mander ordered the withdrawal, ton Whaler. As the crews fought the were unable to depress low enough Until the Navy task group com fires, other boats came alongside to rest.” For all the intensity of enemy to urge the remainder of Company B assist. Thanks to Bledsoe’s efforts, by the boats were able to catch the VC fire B Co. 3/60 command group and Col.to pass Doty through and his the S-3 ambush had continued and join 0844 medical evacuation helicopters topopping hit them. up from Only their when spider the holes men onor one platoon had broken through. began to land on the deck of the aid from behind mounds of earth could The rest of the boats, nevertheless, boat to take the seriously wounded remainedround on its embroiled port side in that the burned fight. At a Capt.Doty heard Davis of and the hiswithdrawal single platoon order, back to the base hospital at Dong 0745,hole completely Monitor 111-3 through took the an armor RPG2 at Beach White One. At 0802, when Tam.Boats Of thecarrying scores wounded,platoons onlyof the 24 theyambush deal waswith themsprung, effectively. the forward ordered Davis and his little band on requiredsame company evacuation. began to gather to- motionWithin of 5the to convoy 10 minutes ceased, after but thein- he had no choice but to comply. He and wounded one man. At about the continually passing each other, some samebut no time, one Tango was hurt 111-6 and reeled the underboat’s theenemy beach on tothe re-embark beach, Captain and run Davis the gether.to brief their Platoon commanders, leaders scrambled while the dividual boats darted back and forth, the impact of two anti-tank rounds gauntletand the platoon in reverse. began Engaged to withdraw by the a into the company headquarters boats- - tion, replace damaged machine gun keepinging off, their to midstream, machine guns others and making heavy fire continued unabated. A third- men worked to redistribute ammuni passes toward the bank before veer round hit the 0.50 caliber mount a few yards at a time. Putting up heavy Riverine base for re-supply by he- boat sped past the momentarily crip- minute later, killing a Navy crew firewere to safely the front, on board, they ranDavis in calledtwos and the barrels, and radio back to the Mobile- weaponspled Monitor in action 113-3, all possiblythe while. trying One man and wounding five more. At this threesbattalion back S-3 to and Tango reported 111-6. laconically, When all - pointmines Cmdr. (now Rhodesthat the decided minesweepers that the licopter.two minesweepers Calling back and to Navya monitor head tor, the boat shuddered under the firewere was partially too heavy disabled) and the was danger just too of quarters, Cmdr. Rhodes requested to protect it. Just beyond the moni great to justify continuing to run the “We’rethe stream, coming brought back now.”the bow Raising around the (now halted a few thousand meters - ramp,slowly, theand, boat gunning captain the backed engines into to fromdownstream) the force transportingto replace his the three3/47 blowstemporarily of four out or offive control, rockets, brushed but its fire never stopped. Another monitor, gauntlet.that troop In carriers, fact, Navy be Riverine preceded stan by one of his and minesweepers, Rhodes dard operating procedure required- fullthe current,speed, called the craft out began to Davis. to run “I will the most badly damaged boats. Every the east bank but moments later get you through Captain.” Riding with His troops out of the ambush and swung back into midstream and back minesweepers. Moreover, he ur men, proceeding again through the reportedreorganized had smoothly, been hit. Doty directed into the fight. gentlybegan, Rhodes needed therefore replacement ordered crews. all gauntlet, a lone boat with about 30- Col. Doty was still convinced that At 0750, 20 minutes after the battle- lets rained on the boat, but only one his troops could break through the semble downstream in the vicinity fire of the Viet Cong. Rockets and bul his helicopter to a nearby fire support ambushwith twisting, and land weaving according boats, to plan.was boatson the to Red turn Beaches back. Theyon the were south to side as baseFulton, to onerefuel. of Whilethe assistant on the ground,9th in- He saw that the channel was filled struck a telling blow. The craft was he conferred with Brig. Gen. William halfway through when a rocket hit ashore on the White Beaches, Fulton laced with fire and was far too narrow of the bend. the port 0.50 cal. mount. One sailor fantrysaid, was division the mostcommanders. critical element Getting to pass the 3/47 through while the artilleryThe withdrawal,rained on the under enemy intense and fell,that killedpoint the instantly, troop andcarrier four made of his it fight was on. Then as Doty watched, fire, began immediately. All the while comrades were wounded. But from that the boats with his men aboard a single boat broke out of the killing of the plan. Col. Doty was confident Returning to the air, Doty radioed Backtracking In Brown Water couldthe brigade get past thecommander, VC and go ashore.recom- Book Review by M. B. Connolly Captain USN (Ret.) mended that the battalion try again Rolly Kidder, a PBR sailor, has recreates the frustrations, the fear, Vietnam and began to track down the pride, and the lighter moments the families of three men who had ordered Doty to try it as soon as the in which he revisits Vietnam and been killed, and evaluate the im- to get through. Col. David agreed and justthen publishedinterviews a marvelousthe families book of pact of the loss on those families. Re-supply of boats and men mean- three friends who were lost in ofPBR SERE division training, was the assigned rivers and with the . . Kidder’s recounting of his visits Navy group was ready. - wholethe River Vietnam Assault boats experience. at Vinh HisGia with the families of the three ser- two replacement minesweepers and and in conversations with me has vicemen is a poignant reminder whilea replacement proceeded monitor swiftly. had At arrived 0900, Vietnam in 1969. The three in nothing but compliments about of the continuing grief, as well as among the boats transporting the clude a Chief Petty Officer from pride, extant amongst many and is River Division 535, Eldon Tozer, - a fitting memorial to the Army and replacements for many of the Navy an Army Captain, Robert Olson the “rag boats.” Riverine heroes and an honor to 3/47wounded, infantry. so Thethat boats the alsoNavy brought crews and a Lieutenant (j.g.) from River- The following is part of my re those who mourn them. Assaultbody who Division was on the 132, rivers Jim in Rost. any viewRolly of theKidder book has which delivered is on the a Backtracking in This book is a must read for any backbrilliant cover: chronicle of the Vietnam Brown Water by Rolland Kidder were close to full strength. conflict in the Mekong Delta with RIVER OF DEATH The book is WILL BE CONTINUED IN THE capacityRolly draws or who from wants his tojournal know which many may not be famil- more about what we really did. iar. Forty years later, he revisited and is available at Amazon.com in NEXT EDITION OF hardcover, paperback and ebook RIVER CURRENTS that he kept while in-country and editions. Your membership expiration date is printed on your River Currents just above your name and address. River Currents, Volume 23, Number 1 • Spring 2014 • 9 From the Membership How Many Vietnam Veterans Are Still Alive? Aloha Albert, I did not know hardly any of the men on the ship as I was- Week of April 01, 2013 - only with you from June 1968 through January 1969 as the Bde. Commo. proximate percentage of Vietnam-era Chf. I don’t know if anyone remembers the goodies for the Chiefs and Of - The ap ficers Mess. I received from the 9th Div. S&T. I got two of the Tango Boats- to haul it back to the ship. Our Commo. Shack was the small building on veterans who are still alive in 2013 is 75; the stern of the Barge that was attached to the Benewah. There was an in
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Item No./Description Size Qty. Amount Name______$ Street______City______State_____ Zip______Phone______Cell______E-mail______Ordering is as easy as 1-2-3. 1. Indicate your choice of item number (be sure to include color and size, if NOTES: applicable), with quantity, and total amount. Add amounts for grand total to enclose. 2. Make your check or money order payable to the MRFA. The MRFA does not take credit cards. Total items ordered ______3. Mail Gear Order Form and check to Products Chairman, Chet Stanley Jr., 205 Caro- lina Ave., Easley, SC 29640-1409; 864-306-8400; [email protected]. Grand Total $ Visit www.mrfa.org to download our product catalog! River Currents, Volume 23, Number 1 • Spring 2014 • 11 In Memory Of This section is for members who wish to sponsor the MRFA by placing a notice in memory of one of their fallen comrades. Member Frank T. contact his widow Syl- Member and In some instances, the name of the sponsor will precede the Griffin passed away via, 1 Valleyview Cir, David name of the person who was KIA, or has passed on since L. Anderson passed November 2, 2013. Vietnam. It’s $25 for four issues. Plankowner Frank served in the- Tom Bogner for Jim Stone Echo Co 2nd/39th (02/68-02/69) October 24, 2012. BentonvilleMember AR 72712-Keith 5th/60thtact his widow Inf (05/66- Chris- MajGeneral Lucien Bolduc, Jr. USA (Ret) for Guy Tutwiler Frank served on the 7517,Harshfield 479-464-8188 Jr. passed away September 26, 05/68). You may con Bravo Charlie A 10 (04/69-04/70) for Terry Mason and Gil Reyna (Class USSYou may Tutuila contact ARG-4 his away February 1, 2013. David served in NIOTC 2-69) (06/66-03/67). HQmay 4th/47thcontact his Infantry widow tine Voll, 58 Skyline Brothers of the 2nd/47th Inf for all Army and Navy KIAs Cheyenne St, Clinton (06/67-02/68). You Dr, Akron NY 14001- Orville Daley for Merrill Davis USS Askari ARL-30 (1952-1953) Ted Fetting for Eloy “Stevie” LeBlanc, Roy Phillips, and Fred Jansonius B Co. widow Sherry, 19129 2014. Keith was a 1526, 716-542-4130. 2nd/60th and KIA 02/02/68 gunnerYou may oncontact T-151- his Sandra Anderson, PO Bob Flaige in memory of SP4 Robert “Bob” Jenks E Co. 3rd/60th died of Township,Member MISSgt 48036- Luis 10 (06/68-06/69). Box 253, Becker MN wounds 03/02/68 2129,Almodovar 586-468-2467. passed Stevens Chapel Rd, 55308-0253. Nan Fulton for LtGen Bill Fulton Cdr 2nd Bde Asst Div Cdr 9th Inf Div (1966- away November 15, widow Susan, 4408 68) - Tony Garvey for Wes Sade, Billy Olsen, and Staff Sgt James Williams C Co. cations due to Agent Smithfield,Richard NC Eugene27577- 4th/47th 9th Inf 2013, from compli 8407,Pettit 919-209-5241.passed away John W. Gerbing for Noel T. West A Co. 4th/47th KIA 06/19/67 Luis served with the Regina Gooden for Sgt Lloyd Earl Valentine B Co. 3rd/47th KIA 09/05/68 Orange exposure. Richard was stationed Perrault Mrs. Elizabeth M. Hayes for LTC Daniel P. Hayes HQ 3rd/34th Artillery (06/67- Div Mobile Riverine January 23, 2014. 01/68) Lois Elaine E. Per- HHC 4th/47th 9th Inf rault passed away James Henke, Tony Spradling, Dave Nelson, James Callan, and the Band You may contact his You may contact his Spears of Brothers for Sgt Gerald Thurman and Spec James B. Johnson, and all on the USS Satyr - Force (11/67-11/68). widow Kathi Pettit, Member Gerald our Brothers lost on June 19, 1967, from A Co. 4th/47th 9th in AP BAC, ARL-23 (1969-70). ing a very courageous - - Dwain Spears passed Long An Province afterbattle 11 with years cancer of fight on Joe Hilliard for Joe Benack from Florida and Donald Hartzell from widow Sue, 4232 - - Pennsylvania Jones Mill Rd, Carroll 6241 Helena St, Den Dwain served on the her home in Saline, ton, GA 30116-8026, J. R. Johnson 3rd/47th 9th “Recon” (05/66-01/68) in memory of Walker, ver, CO 80239, kapet away January16, 2014. FebruaryMichigan, 19, with 2014, her at Gotch, Paradez, Nelson, and Hayes 770-832-1266, almod [email protected]. loving family by her Dave Justin for Tim Doty A Co 3rd/60th [email protected] rest in peace . USS Colleton (APB-36)- Willie B. Lloyd for Capt Walter J. Riedemann USN (Ret.) net. May our Brother MRFtact his TF-117 widow (04/67- Ruth and courageous Navy Richard MacCullagh for John (Doc) Phillips, HMC, USN (Ret) RivRon 15 Bruce Anthony 07/68). You may con Richard MacCullagh for Chaplain Rene L. Petit, LT, CC, RC, RivRon 13 and 15 side. As a dedicated and“Fred” in God’s Brechlin Hands. of Lois held the tough- Men of C Co. 4th/47th 1967 for our Brothers KIA 03/19/67 Benito Alaniz; Manhattan Beach, Spears, PO Box 1240, wifeest job of in over the 20world years, “A MIA 04/09/67 Ronald P. Schworer; KIA 04/13/67 Charles “Duffy” Black; California, recently Sallisaw, OK 74955-- KIA 05/15/67 Donald M. Peterson; KIA 06/19/67 Robert J. Cara, Robert of Norway, Michigan, 1240, 918-776-7117, married to member J. Jindra, Timothy A. Johnson, Forrest L. Ramos, Cameron A. Rice, David passed away Decem- dwainspears@sbcBrother rest in peace A. Robin, Sheldon B. Schulman, Hubert J. Fink, Kenneth D. Frakes, William NavyGeorge Wife.” Perrault Lois wasSKC M. Geier, John L. Winters; KIA 07/11/67 Marion “Butch” Eakins, Elmer F. global.net. May our Kenney, Harold W. King, Philip A. Ferro, George E. Smith; KIA 07/29/67 a battle with colon Irvine cancer at his sister’s Cecil B. Bridges; KIA 09/29/67 James M. Sunday; KIA 10/06/67 Gale A. ber 7, 2013, after David Dale Irvine and in God’s hands. USN (Ret.). George Alldridge, Danny D. Burkhead, Charles W. Davis; KIA 11/10/67 Charles W. of Science Hill, Ken- served on the USS Grizzle; and KIA 05/06/68 John T. Hoskins Tiogamay contact County George LST- at Adam Metts for Donald L. Bruckart T-111-2 KIA 03/31/69 home. He served in 1158 (1966-67). You A R “Monti” Montillo for William “Bulldog” McLaughlin B Co 3rd/60th KIA RivRonFred was 15 onmy TangoBoat tucky,David served passed in away B May our sister rest 10/03/68 and Barry “Butch” Copp B Co 3rd/60th KIA 10/28/68 Captain on Tango 43. 43 (12/69). January 12, 2014. [email protected] peace and in God’s Albert Moore for Ralph Tresser CS3 USS Benewah APB-35 (1966-67) We were deployed July Albert Moore for Tom Bityk CS3 IUWG-1 VC-Hill/Ha Tien (1969-70) of 1969. I was on the Cocontact 4th/47th his 9thwidow Inf Albert and Sarah Moore for Capt Gerald Saucier CO USS Benewah APB-35 boat for 6 months and (1968-69). You may hands. Albert (09/66-02/68) Fred remained on for Hayes VP Roy Moseman for Oscar Santiago C-2 4th/47th (10/67-10/68) a few months later at Jasper Northcutt for SSGT Henry T. Aragon B-2 2nd/47th KIA 08/23/67, SGT Debbie Irvine, 2579 Daniel least. He was a very Rock Lick Creek Rd, James E. Boorman B-2 2nd/47th KIA 08/27/67, SP4 James D. Bronakoski good boat captain P. Hayes B-2 2nd/47th KIA 04/27/67, SP4 Michael G. Hartnett B-2 2nd/47th KIA Science Hill, KY 42553. and I enjoyed working passedMember away LTC Novem - 04/27/67, SGT William D. Mize B-2 2nd/47th and 5th/60th KIA 10/28/67, USA (Ret.) CPL Harold K. Southwick B-2 2nd/47th Inf KIA 03/02/67 (first KIA in B Co. under him. He joined me in San Diego 2 2nd/47th in Vietnam), and PFC Robert C. Voltz B-1 2nd/47th Inf (Mech) KIA ber 22, 2013. Daniel 03/11/67 (first KIA1st Platoon B Co. 2nd/47th in Vietnam) years ago for the MRFA reunion. I was in India- served in HQ 3rd/34th Chet “Gunner” Stanley for all the USN and USA KIAs of the MRF (1967-70) Meyer Ken Sundberg for Michael David Sheahan 5th/60th KIA 02/25/68, Robert napolis in August and Artillery (06/67- 01/68). He was a Donald “Cal” L. Conley 5th/60th KIA 02/01/68, and Glenn Dean Taylor 5th/60th KIA introduced myself and Meyer Jr. passed away 02/01/68 thanked you (Albert) proudcontact his Plankowner widow Robert Sutton for LT James F. Rost Jr. Vin Te Canal Chau Duc KIA 11/69 since 1993. You may for all you have done Broom Robert Thacker for SFC Earl T. Pelhan, Jr., 15th Eng, 9th Inf Div, KIA in Delta for the MRFA. I visited Member Jerry February 18, 2014. Cal- Lo Fred 2½ weeks before Mrs. Elizabeth M. “Buffalo” Broom wasated ina Cwebsite, Co. 2nd/39th with Steven Totcoff for my brother CPL Dennis S. Totcoff B Co 3rd/47th 9th Inf his death. Although Hayes, 6540 SW 51st Div KIA 5/2/68 CT, Ocala, FL 34474. Infthe (1966-67).faithful help Cal of cre his Fred’s given name was cousin Margy Davis, USS Benewah shipmates: John Long EN2, Craig Bronish MR3, and George Bruce, I only knew him Schnieder MR2 to honor his fellow as Fred. passed away July 16, USS Guide MSO-447 for Shipmate and Brother Harold Foster 2013. Jerry served on 39th Infantry Regi- Henry Velez for my fallen brothers, B Co. 2nd/39th Inf John Hooper, BM3, ment “Fighting Fal- Cold Spring, Minnesota the USS White River Ron and Judy Wallace for all those lost from 3rd/47th Inf (LSMR-536) and USS Gary Williams for Dale Winkel C Co. 3rd/60th 9th Inf (01/68-01/69) Member George You may contact his Carlstrom Jr. passed Tom Green County CPT Steve Williams and MAJ Bob Bischoff in memory of 2LT David George (LST-1159)daughter Carrie (1965-67). Cole, cons” soldiers (http:// Williams, Co A, 4/47th, KIA 9/21/67 www.39thinfantry David Wilson 2nd/60th KIA 08/05/69, Timothy Shelton 4th/39th KIA Dr, Huntersville, NC regiment.org/Home_contact his sister, Holly 06/25/69, Steven Murrary 4th/39th KIA 05/26/69, Harvey Crabtree 2nd/4th away January 22, Voll 106 Three Greens Member Frank J. Page.html). You may Arty KIA 06/19/69, and Dennis Mattox 1st/501st 101st Abn KIA 08/23/69 2014. George served Voll Jr. passed away with A Btry 3rd/34th 28078, 704-491-6382, Meyer Velez, 1710 N. Arty BN (01/67- [email protected]. Wayne St., Arlington 02/68). You may VA 22201. Mobile Riverine Force Association 1857 County Road A14 Decorah, IA 52101-7448 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
MRFA Sponsors Our expressed thanks to those who have become MRFA sponsors! It’s never too late to get onboardRiver as a sponsor, so we continue to seek and welcome those who wish to sponsor the MRFA! Sponsorship in the MRFA helps to defray the cost of producing Currents. Sponsorship lasts for a period of one year, with your name and information appearing in four is- sues. Send your $25 (payable to the MRFA) to Charlie Ardinger, 1857 County Road A14, Decorah IA 52101- 7448
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Dennis Frank D Co. CMDR 3rd/60th Inf (07/68-07/69) Steven Loomis Naval Advisory Group (VNNSY) (06/70-06/71) Robert Roth USS Benewah APB-35 (08/68-09/69) William B. Fullerton USS Benewah APB-35 (1970) Richard Lorman T-152-6 (06/68-06/69) Matthew F. Rovner USS Colleton (09/66-12/67) Nan Fulton Associate Member Corrado Lutz PCF-23 (03/68-03/69) James Saboe C Co. 3rd/47th Inf (02/69-07/69) Richard Gallagher USS Mercer APB-39 (1968-69) Michael Marquez A Co. 3rd Plt 3rd/60th Inf (07/68-07/69) Billy Sanders RivRon 11 RAD 112 T-112- Gamewardens of Vietnam Mid-Atlantic Chapter Frank O. Martinolich D. Co 3rd/47th 9th Inf Div (09/68-07/69) 1 & CCB-112-1 (Vietnam 1967) LT H. M. “Murk” Alexander ComRivDiv 132 (6/68 6/69) Ron Garcia USS Windham County LST-1170 (1966-68) Terry Mason RM3 RivDiv 132 Norman Saunders B Co. 3rd/39th Inf (01/69-08/69) Jimmie J. Apel A Co. 4th/47th Inf and 6th/31st (1969-70) Tony Garvey C Co. 4th/47th 9th Infantry Div (1968) Cratis McLaughlin D. Co 3rd/47th 9th Inf Div (09/68-07/69) Dave Schell RivRon 15 Tango 49 (07/69-07/70 Charlie and Georginia Ardinger T-151-11 CSM Homer Garza First Sgt of C Btry 3rd/34 Arty (01/68-01/69) Sgt E-5 Ken McLean B Co. 4th/47th Inf 2nd Joe Schladweiler HHC 2nd/47th Inf (Super Scouts)( 01/68-09/68) Ed Arledge USS Indra ARL-37 (1967-70) John N. Gavin USS Satyr ARL-23 (1971) Bde USS Colleton (11/68-01/69) F. George Schuster LTJG USS Indra ARL-37 (1968-69) Dennis W. Armstrong GMGC (Ret) C-112-1 (02/68-02/69) John W. Gerbing A&E Co 4th/47th Inf (1966-68) Thomas L. “Mac” McLemore T-112-7 (12/66-12/67) Col Sam L. Schutte USA (Ret.) B Co. 4th/47th Inf (VN) John Armstrong HHC 3rd/47th Inf (04/66-01/68) Ronald Gillspie TF 115 USS Krishna (1965/66) Adam Metts T-111-2 (08/68-10/69) Bob Shawen Friend of the Ardingers Dale Ashley USS Monmouth County LST-1032 (11/66-11/67) Regina Gooden Associate Member MilSpec Tours Inc Jerry Shearer C Co. 3rd/60th 9th Inf (04/67-04/68) Christian Bachofer Jr. ComRivDiv 92 (07/68-06/69) Gary Grahn A-111-7 (05/68-05/69) Nicholas P. Miller COS RAD 152 (7/68-6/69) Richard Simpson C Co. 3rd/47th Inf 9th Div (05/67-06/68) “Doc” Barber USS Harnett County LST-821 (1968) Roger “Grossie” Grossinger D Co. 3rd/47th 9th Inf (1968-69) Capt Lawrence K. Monahan USNR (Ret.) YRBM-20 (1970-71) Thomas Slater USS Hampshire County LST- 819 (1967-69) William Befort B Co. 1st Plt 4th/47th (02/66-09/67) Frank Gubala A Co. 3rd/47th Inf (02/68-07/68) A R “Monti” Montillo B Co. 3rd/60th Inf (04/68-09/68) Terry Sloat River Assault Squadron 11 (12/68-04/69) Bob and Sara Bischoff Tom Hagel B Co. 2nd/47th Mech Inf (01/68-02/69) Albert and Sarah Moore USS Benewah (APB-35) BrGen Douglas Smith USA (Ret.) Cdr 2nd/47th (Mech) Inf Richard Bittle USS Nueces APB-40 (06/68-04/69) Daniel B. Hall, Jr. Staff ComRivFlot One (12/68-07/69) J. Russell and Alice Moore A-91-5 (11/68-06/69) Jim Solar USS Mercer ABP-39 (1968) Tom Bityk IUWG-1-Vung Tau/Ha Tein (05/69-05/70) Robert Halloran USS Harnett County LST-821 (12/67-12/68) Roy and Lynn Moseman 4th/47th Inf Chet “Gunner” Stanley C-111-1 and M-111-3 (1966-68) Robert B. Blair USS Clarion River LSMR-409 (1966-68) Roger Hamilton, Jr. USS Mark AKL-12 (08/68-08/69) Tom Muench Korea Era Vet SAC Robert Sutton RivRon 9 M-92-2, Z-92-11, MajGen Blackie Bolduc USA (Ret.) Cdr 3rd/47th Inf Joseph Harper USS White River LSMR-536 (12/66-12/68) Co Van My TF-115.3.7 Cat Lo and R-92-1 (11/68-05/69) William Brennan USS White River LSMR-536 (02/66-10/67) Leo Haynes RivDiv 594 PBR-8120 (04/69-02/70) CWO James T. Natividad HHC 3rd/60th (1966-67) Bryan Swisher B Co. 3rd/47th Inf (12/68-06/69) Brothers of the 2nd/47th (Mech) Inf Charles Heindel C-91-1 (11/67-12/68) CSM Joseph M. Natividad B Co 3rd/60th (1967) John Tatich Jr. A Co. 2nd/47th Inf (08/69-08/70) C. Vic Brumley USS White River LSMR-536 (05/66-07/67) RMC Jerry Howard USN (Ret) USS Askari ARL-30 (11/68-10/69) Naval Advisory Group Jack Terry USS Colleton APB-36 (1966-68) MGen Walter Bryde, Jr. HQ 3rd/34th Arty (1968-69) GMGSN Bernard Howlett USS Carronade IFS-1 (12/65-08/67) Nha Trang (1967-68 and 1970-71) Thanks to 155 mm (Mech) Arty Ralph Burnette 1st Plt A Co. 4th/47th (05/67-07/68) James Hoyer 1097th TC (MB) (08/68-07/69) MAJ Joseph D. Nichols III, CO Co. 3rd/60th Charles Thompson 9th Admin Co. (02/66-11/67) Gerald Busic USS Garrett County LST-786 (06/68-05/69) MajGen Ira A. Hunt Jr. HHQ 9th Inf Div 9th Inf Div (12/66-11/67) Harley Timmerman T-132-10 (06/68-06/69) John and Pamela Carlin in honor of Erol Tuzcu Alan G. Hyde 9th Signal (1966-68) Jasper Northcutt B Co. 2nd/47th Mech Inf (11/66-05/67) Milton Turnage M-151-1 (07/68-06/69) RADM William Carlson CO USS White River RM2 Bill Isetts USS Askari (07/66-08/67) James Noyes C Btry 3rd/34th Arty (06/67-06/68) LCDR Lewis Turner CO USS Nueces (06/68-06/69) LSMR-536 (10/65-03/68) David Jarczewski C Co. 4th/47th Inf 9th Div (05/66-05/68) George R. O’Connell USS Terrell Cty LST-1157 Erol Tuzco A Co. 3rd/60th Inf (1968-69) Jim Carter RivRon 15 T-52 (12/69-12/70) Bradley Jenkins HHSB 3rd/34th Arty & Charles Ostrov HHC 2nd/47th Mech Inf (01/68-12/68) USS Terrell Cty LST-1157 LTg Robert Conaty XO RivDiv 131 (05/68-04/69) 2nd/47th Mech (09/68-10/69) John C. Oxley Recon E Co 3rd/47th Inf (11/65-11/67) Bob and Nancy VanDruff T-91-5 and T-92-4 LTC Richard Crotty HHC 3rd Bde, 9th Inf (07/67-07/68) Bruce Jensen T-111-3 (1967-68) Capt Jerry Pape USN (Ret) Staff COMRIVFLOT Ron Wallace B Co. 3rd Plat 3rd/47th Inf (05/66-08/67) William Currier HSB 3rd/34th Arty (11/68-08/69) Gerald Johnston USS Nye County LST-1067 (01/66-01/67) ONE (01/68-12/68) Hank and Becky Washburn USS Colleton APB-36 (01/67-09/68) William Dabel C-1 3rd/39th (01/69-10/69) David Jones Z-111-7 (10/68-10/69) Dwayne Parsons M-111-1 (Zippo 1) (11/67-11/68) Gary Weisz A-91-4 (10/67-07/68) Orville Daley USS Askari ARL-30 (1967-68) Everett Jones CCB-151-4 and CCB-152-5 (04/69-04/70) Robert Pawlicki T-111-11 (03/67-12/67) David H. White USN (Ret) USS Satyr ARL-23 (08/69-08/70) Robert Dockendorff NSA Dong Tam/YRBM-17 (03/67-04/68) Frank B. Jones RivRon 15 T-48 Luis F. Peraza D Co. 3rd/60th Inf (11/68-08/69) Edward Whitmarsh A Co. 2nd/60th Inf (03/68-03/69) William Duggan RAS 13 M-131-2 (08/68-08/69) John L. Jones 1st Plt, A Batt 84th Arty (10/66-11/67) John “Ron” Perry T-132-11 (06/68-09/69) Norm Wilkinson B Co. 4th/47th Inf (03/67-03/68) Paul Eastham T-132-11 (05/69-07/69) Mackey Joyner USS Krishna ARL-38 (1946-49) Col Pete Petersen USA (Ret.) Cdr 3rd/60th Inf (11/68-08/69) Robert P. Williams 1097th TC (MB) (01/68-01/69) Virgie Eblen Associate Member Jerry “Hollywood” Kawecki B Co. 3rd/47th 9th Inf (07/68-12/68) Michael Howard Phillips D Co. 15th Combat Jeffrey L. Withers RivRon 11 A-112-8 and Leon Edmiston B Co. 3rd/60th 9th Inf (06/68-05/69) Harry & Judy Kawamura Engineers (08/68-06/69) M-112-12 (06/68-06/69) Dennis Erlandson D Co. 3rd/47th Inf (1968-69) Dane Keller RivDiv 532 PBR 121 (05/69-05/70) BM1W. R. Posey Craft Master YTB -785 (1967-68 1970-71) William H. Ziebarth 9th Signal, 34 Arty (1966-68) Edith Ethridge Associate Member LTC Nick Laiacona USA (Ret.) C Co. 3rd/60th Inf (1968-69) LCDR Leonard Previto CTF-117 (08/67-08/68) Richard Ziemba CS3 USS Whitfield County Larry Gunner Ethridge USS Askari ARL-30 Bob Lennon USS White River LSMR-536 (1966-68) Kevin Rafferty Honorary Member LST-1169 (02/65-12/66) Terrance Fetters HHQ 3rd/47th Inf (04/69-07/69) Roger Lewis IUWG-1 Unit 2 (06/68-06/69) Paul Ray M-151-5 (06/69-07/70) James Zieminski EN2 Boat Captain RivDiv Ted Fetting B Co. 2nd/60th Inf (10/67-02/68) Walter F. Lineberger III XO RivDiv 91 (1968-69) Capt William Renton USS Askari ARL-30 (10/68-09/69) 153 ASPB 6854 (04/69-04/70) Bob Flaige E Co 3rd/60th Inf (05/67-05/68) Tom Lively C Battery 3rd/34th Arty (10/68-09/69) Donald and Marijo Robbins USS Benewah (APB-35) Admiral Elmo Zumwalt ComNavForV