A PUBLICATION OF VOLUME 19, NUMBER 1 THE MOBILE RIVERINE FORCE ASSOCIATION SPRING 2010 for the love for their country and the to disgrace the village chief and undermine his people of South Vietnam. On the other authority over the village and to obtain infor- hand, I also saw the actions of the VC mation about the location of U.S. soldiers. he children of South Vietnam were precious on the same children and people. Children did not escape the savage ways of to the soldiers of the 2/60th and the Mobile Boys, girls, and women were used by the VC the VC. Children were killed and schools were TRiverine Force, attached to the 9th Infantry to set booby traps for the American soldiers. A Division. soldier might feel sorry for a child dressed in witnessed these actions in Tan Tru and as I trav- rags and buy a soda from that child on a dusty targeted by the VC rifles and mortar rounds. -I out the delta area and up into the central high glass or acid. A shoeshine from a kid could cost eledlands. on conveys and helicopter flightsRon Rutowski through road.you your Inside leg the from soda, a booby you might trapped find box broken that your foot rested on. The VC were a ruthless people who wanted to win the war by demoralizing the will of the people of South Vietnam. his article is dedicated to the seven men who The VC would come - I saw many acts of kindness by the soldiers into villages and T of the 2/60th as they built a swing set at a local capture young men died on YRBM 16 from a bomb that exploded and take them to the againstmiddle theof a hullriver of at the Ben YRBM Tre, Vietnam. 16 on Thanks school near Tan Tru. I remember going on pa- MEMORIAL North Vietnam and giving night, 1:15 a.m. November 24, 1967, in trols to villages where the soldiers would give YRBM 16 CREWMEN the children candy and food while the medics for the communist. Refusal to do so resulted in ETN3 Robert Lyndon Gray would care for the sick. I remember on one EN2 Wilson Nathaniel Flowers special occasion where a U.S. Army band was traindeath themfor them to and fight for family members. The VC would invade villages in Vietnam and kill the (both flown to hospitals in Japan) airlifted into the Tan Tru area, and they played PBR CREWMAN music for the people in the village in hopes to village chief after they had raped and tortured the chief’s wife and daughters in front of him SN George R. Ycoco raise their spirits and morale. BM1 Joseph J. Simon I am proud of the soldiers I served with and and the people that lived in the village. This act was used by the VC to terrorize the people and GMG3 Lonnie B. Evans SN Dale E. Egbert GMG3 Ronald E Crose their actions that reflected the highest regard We still have the good name of one of the better May they rest in Peace Vietnam Veterans Associations out there. Due to YRBM-16 1969-70 Time Frame a few dedicated members who are very knowl- ellow members here we are and another year has gone by and as we look around to help a number of you, the members. Our web This is the starboard side of the YRBM-16. Fus and ask where did it go and why so fast. edgeablesite received in Veteran’s rave reviews. affairs, Our wenewsletter have been River able When I was on the YRBM-20 in 1969 and 1970, Currents is probably one of, if not the best out I traveled past this YRBM many times. faster. Some of the year has been good some not there… but most of all we have you the mem- nearThe the YRBM-16 town of wasChou located Doc and on the a wide Cambodian spot in Folks,so good. it seemsWe had as a wegreat get 2009 older reunion, that time picked flies upby - the Bassac River upriver from the YRBM-20 and some new members, and lost some as well. We always enjoy picking up new members but hate bersboard who members, make the can association only do so flourish much. It’s by givyou to see Taps. We have lost a number of members ingthe usmembers your full who support. make, We, and the have officers made, and the over the last few years and some spouses. Some association the association it is today. Although served with us in Vietnam on the Boats, Ships, we’re all getting a little older, a little grayer, and Infantry, Mech Infantry, Artillery, Aviation, on a little slower in our walk, don’t sleep as well as the Army and Navy bases, etc. Some had been we once did, or see or hear as well, we’re still with us since our beginning and some only a looking after our fellow brothers of Vietnam. I few years but no matter how long they were can remember years back when we were the Border.The Bassac It was River there is the from major October west tributary 1969 until of with us it’s always the hardest thing we have to younger veterans’ generation; now we are the spring 1970. I do not know where it was towed.- do is post Taps in the newsletter. older generation as the WW II and Korean War pair, Berthing, and Messing.” It was not self-pro- - Veterans pass on at a rapid pace. We need to thepelled. Mekong A pusher River. barge YRBM tied stands to the sternfor “Yard, had dieRe- ing our brothers and sisters we have lost since give thanks to all who have gone on before us VietnamLet’s start and off especially the New those Year we2010 lost remember in Viet- and those still with us today. In closing, Army nam. and Navy rocks! sel outboards to move the YRBM when needed. Albert Moore National President (MRFA) The YRBMs were vulnerableCONTINUED to mines. ON PAGE A6 swimmer could float down the river in the 1- to As for the association, we’re doing just fine. 2 River Currents, Volume 19, Number 1 • Spring 2010

’m sure that most of us have heard the expres- he MRFA and 9th Infantry Division will be between Pennsylvania Avenue and Indiana Av- I placing wreaths at the Vietnam Veterans thesion change “Time that is Money.”is about Well,to be thatimplemented is especially by TMemorial in NW). thetrue VA, forto itssome list folksof diseases who may possibly be affected resulting by Washington, DC, enue in Washington, DC (701 PennsylvaniaWe haveAve, from exposure to Agent Orange. on Veterans Day, blocked 80 rooms Thursday, No- at the Hilton Gar- den Inn Arling- willOn add October three 13,new 2009, diseases Secretary to this of list. Veteran’s These We will be gath- ton/Courthouse Affairsdiseases Ericare K. Shinseki announced that the VA vemberering at 11,the 2010.steps Plaza in Arling- of the Lincoln ton, Virginia, for artery disease) 1.2. Parkinson’s Ischemic heart disease disease (including coronary Room rates are Memorialand proceed at 8:30 to November 8-12. This announcement means that veterans suf- a.m. on the 11th per night. For 3.fering B cell from leukemias one of (such these as diseases hairy cell are leukemia) entitled a.m. We will also $119reservations, (plus tax) call to service-connected disability compensation thehave Wall a ceremony at 9:00 at the U.S. Navy Memorial at - anyone who stepped foot on land in Vietnam complete with speakers and placing of wreaths 1-703-528-4444be made on-line atand www.arlingtoncourthouse. refer to our group res from the VA. This has been clarified to mean 3at tothe 4 Lonep.m. honoringSailor Statue the MRFin honor and 9th Inf Div; ervation codegardeninn.com. “MRF.” Reservations Be sure may to enter also of all our fallen brothers, Navy and duringfrom one active of these duty, diseases between will January become 9, entitled 1962, Army Veterans of the MRF and 9th in the booking box labeled Group/ and May 7, 1975. Other veterans who suffer Inf Div. theConvention on-line reservation code. Reservations code “MRF” were exposed to Agent Orange. In some cases, - under these group codes must be tothat these may benefits mean having if they served can show on one that of they the al—they have okayed our doing - bases that was defoliated with Agent Orange in theA Missing first for Man the Table Navy Ceremony Memori - this country. An up-to-date list of those bases same as we do at our reunions. madeervations before soon. the The cutoff Hilton date Garden of Oc should be available through the VA. We will furnish our own speak- toberInn Arlington/Courthouse 29, 2010, so make your Plaza res is ers, chaplains, bugler, and wreath layers. More information on our oneQualification of these diseases is not basedmany onyears when later, the they disease are speakers and other events at the locatedCome at join 1333 us North as we Courthouse honor our first appeared. So, if a veteran is diagnosed with Navy Memorial will be in upcom- Road,fallen Arlington, Brothers VA on 22201. Veterans Day ing issues of River Currents. If you have never entitled to VA disability compensation benefits been to one of our ceremonies at the Navy Me- For more information, contact Board Member if they fit the Agent Orange criteria. morial, it’s something you do not want to miss. 2010. We look forward to seeing you in DC. haveThis died change or will will die also in the impact future death from benefits one of forthese qualified diseases. family They members are or will of beveterans entitled who to Bob Pries at 5832 NW Windy Pines Lane, Port - The U.S. Navy Memorial is located at 7th Street Saint Lucie, FL 34986-4637, (513) 659-4974. pendency and Indemnity Compensation, burial, service-connectedand others. death benefits, including De This is where the time factor kicks in. Once the The piece to the left of the bow of the VA amends its Agent Orange regulations, which YFU-78 is the bow of the LCU-1500, which was also blown up at Bridge Ramp in Da- should be in the next few months, it will begin Nang. The stern of the 1500 is back by the stern of the 78 under the water. Richard Sherley BM2/DV S.C.R.F Diving payingyour claim benefits is successful dating back (see to end when of this a claim article). was Barge, DaNang, RVN, [email protected]. filedSo, it forbehooves any of these anyone newly who approved has any of diseases, these dis if- - eases to file a claim with the VA IMMEDIATELY, asveterans, the sooner who you were file, exposed the more to retroactive Agent Orange ben nd of an era not seen since the Civil War or e want to hear from you! River Currents is efitsand who you have will receive.died from This any includes of these widows three dis of- all about the members. Stories from our eases. What this means is that for every month Eshows the last American-crewed monitor in Wmembers make up a major portion of our - since we left the rivers in 1971. This picture newsletter. titled to compensation for that month. same fate as Monitor 6, the next to last moni- We can’t guarantee we’ll print all of them, that you delay filing a claim, you will not be en Vietnam,tor to turnover Mike-1. to Itthe too South would Vietnamese soon share Navy. the there just isn’t enough room for that, but we’ll any of these three diseases and been rejected post all the stories and comments we can. or Ifnot you yet have been previously approved filedor rejected, a claim then based your on Stories and articles should be kept to a maxi- Mike-1 turned over - in Dong Tam with what - date. But, you should request a review under wasing left the of historic RivRon use15 in late November or early ger than this would take up too much space. benefitsthe new rules. should be retroactive to your filing December 1971, end mum of 1,500 words. Unfortunately stories lon- Be aware, however, that approval is not au- U.S. Navy, not seen tomatic. The VA may reject some claims, indi- ofsince “Monitors” the Civil byWar. the It mayYou contact can email Al for your mailing photos address and story, if necessary. or com vidually, based on other circumstances such as also included a black ments to Al Moore at [email protected]. You who was in my boat class and came from the someone suffering from Ischemic heart disease, sailor, RM-3 Higgens, “whogoing hasto have smoked to prevail.” for 40 years and is morbidly - obese.” The VA has said “thatPaula common Wright sense (Scott) is USStory Alamo-LSD-3there, if anyone with keeps me trackand picked of it? up duty [email protected] on Mike-1. Two connections with DaveCivil WarMcCann his River Currents, Volume 19, Number 1 • Spring 2010 3 to put his mind at ease and told him I was an excellent shot and would have no trouble us-

ingout thebut sittingM16 if shotgunI had too. and Whether driving mythrough bravado the Authorized by Joe Criscione, MRFA member was get back up that stairway. When I turned streets of DaNang at night was really strange. and former LCU-1499 crew member; January around to look at the plane, I saw some of the made him feel any better or not, I never did find 2006, as told to Tom Lanagan, MRFA member stewardesses standing in the doorway waving States looked better than downtown DaNang. and former YFU-79 crew member. and crying. This job must have been hard for don’t know how it happened but there I was Even our worst neighborhoods back in the sitting on a jet going to Vietnam. The date was of the stewardesses talking to another sailor Also,the hills in theand distance, occasionally you seecould incoming see tracer rockets fire I them. While I was on the flight, I overheard one andfrom thethe NVA. outgoing Great marine place! artillery firing into and had been recently married. The airplane - Finally, I learned that the Navy intended to August 25 1968 and I just turned 21 years old about the flights when they bring men back to “TheWhen World.” we leftShe thesaid plane, those theyflights herded are even us quiinto the hell were they? I didn’t know they had sub- was filled with sailors, soldiers, and marines a building they called a terminal. It was a large eter than flights to Vietnam. assign me to the “U boats.” Well “U boats,” what withMost most of the of guysus going were to probably‘Nam for our thinking first tour. the hanger type building where they separated us same thing that had crossed my mind. What lies The plane was very quiet for most of the flight. by branches of service and destination. The ma- crews on them that delivered supplies up and ahead, what’s it going to be like, are they going marines here in ‘Nam. I came to find out there rines went one way, the soldiers went another down the coast and up the rivers throughout all to be shooting at us as we land at DaNang air- were 60 or so flat-bottomed riverboats with way, and all of us sailors went to Camp Tien Sha of I Corps. port? We had already heard that DaNang had by bus with wire over the windows. This was When I received orders for a boat, it was mountains on most sides and that landing could the Navy’s largest Naval Support Activity Com- be tricky especially if there was any incoming mand with Headquarters NSA DaNang located in an old French Colonial building along the riv- baby” was one of the older boats that would my mind was racing and playing tricks on my LCU-1499. I was told it was a “tar baby.” What be sent in a few months to Subic for overhaul common sense. the hell was a “tar baby?” It turned out a “tar fire from the NVA. Through much of the flight, but in the meantime it was used for The plane was like a big tube and you could er known affectionately as the White Elephant. hauling all of the nasty cargo including see from one end to the other because there everything from asphalt to napalm can- isters to barrels of Agent Orange. I had no idea what to expect when I got the were no partitions and no first-class section. - Gee, I guess there is no first class on the way how they could keep the boat clean with to hell? The flight was to take about 20 hours all that tar onboard. All I knew was that think of nicer circumstances or an easier way orders. The first thing I thought of was with our first stop in Hawaii. I thought to my I was going on a boat that traveled the self, Wow I’m finally getting to Hawaii. I could rivers of Vietnam and that has got to be and we were scheduled to be refueled and be on something dangerous. Let’s see now, I to get there. We landed in Hawaii about 1 a.m. joined the Navy so if I went to Vietnam because the plane needed something repaired. I would be on some nice big ship sitting ourWe wereway in glad about to get 1 hour. out and They stretch told us our to legsdeplane and The gray military bus approached the main see Hawaii (the airport anyway). It was August gate of Camp Tien Sha and came to a stop. One that cooks are in the galley and it’s very hard and there was a very moist warm breeze. Most of the marine guards got on the bus and looked to get shot there, while on duty. No one told me of the guys headed for the nearest bar for a off the coast. Then I became a cook, thinking around. He gave the driver a kind of salute the Navy had cooks on riverboats in Vietnam. quick brew or drink. I wasn’t much of a drinker Oops—oh well! As I unpacked my gear, I had no so I just walked around the airport and took in through the gate, I thought to myself that was way of knowing what was ahead. I had a feeling the sights. Most of the people we found were andnot asaid, real “OKclose you inspection can go ahead.” for a base As wein adrove War I wasn’t going to be bored! It could have been servicemen also going to you-know-where. Zone. It was the middle of the afternoon and a worse; I could have been drafted. The luckier ones were on their way home. That sunny day and oppressively hot. As I was get- After catching a ride over to the Tien Sha An- nex and the Sand Ramp where the boats stayed we were on our unmerry way. Next stop Guam. noticing how dingy the base looked. This was seemed like a lifetime away. About 3 hours later, ting my duffel bag off the bus, I could not help The boat was in the process of being loaded in DaNang, I walked up the bow ramp of 1499.- When we landed at Guam, the airfield was athe first United impression, States. It and wasn’t you many have days to remember later that design of the plane made it appear as though the surrounded with B52 bombers. I had never seen I hadbegan just to leftrealize a modern, that Tien shiny, Sha Boeing was one 707 of andthe forklifts ran up and down the bow ramp with tips of the wings were touching the ground. They with barrels of asphalt. Yes, the 1499 was defi a B52 before, and it was an awesome sight. The nicer spots in DaNang with many of the build- the pallets of barrels, the boat would go up and looked like giant vultures sitting on the side of nitely living up to its name as a “tar baby.” As the ings having been built by the French. After down in the water from the weight of the load. the road waiting for their next unsuspecting awhile, it would not look so bad. As it was, I was Some of the barrels were leaking from either meal. These were the bombers that were called assigned to a temporary barracks and I thought heat expansion or punctures in the sides. The for air strikes throughout North and South Viet- whole well deck was sticky and black with tar. be here permanently. As I approached the hatch to the living quar- sitting there, waiting! We were not allowed to that was just fine because I would not want to ters, the crew had built a makeshift wall of large nam. There had to be at least 50 of them just They told me I was going to ride shotgun on an railroad ties about a foot high. This was done to had to do was to refuel. Next stop, that place we That night I was given my first assignment. try to hold the tar back from the living quarters. getheard off so the much plane about in Guam in the because news--Vietnam! all our aircraft local areas throughout DaNang. The best part of 18-wheelerthis assignment flatbed was deliveringwe were going ammunition to do it toat - airport in a few minutes. The temperature is a night with almost no lights. I remember think- Theshift operativebarrier. All word I could here think was of “try” was since how therewas I “Gentleman, we will be landing at DaNang ing, oh great; I’m going to buy the farm on my going to keep the galley clean? After a while, I Good luck to all our servicemen and we wish was plenty of tar that had flown past the make realized I would have to live with the problem. - balmy 115 degrees and it’s sunny and humid. but needless to say I was scared. I did that for The boat was painted battleship gray since tinental.” Like we had a choice what airline we firstthree night nights in in Vietnam. a row and Well by I the lasted third the night night, it it didn’t make much sense to even attempt to you all a safe return. Thank you for flying Con- didn’t seem too bad, but I was a cook, what the ranged the whole thing. Have you ever gotten hell was I doing here riding shotgun? The driver haul a couple hundred tons of ammo or tar. were flying, the Transportation Officer had ar of the truck was a little uneasy, too when they hideThe PBRs a 180-ton and some 118-ft-long other small boat boatsthat would were assigned him a cook for his shotgun. I decided continued on page 4 off an air-conditioned plane into 115-degree heat with 100% humidity? All I wanted to do 4 River Currents, Volume 19, Number 1 • Spring 2010 A Cook’s Berth pretty rough and some of the newer crew mem- continued from page 3 all over the place. The head was a real bad place you had previously been assigned to a real ship Itwhere was dangerousthree guys downwere sick there as with dogs. things flying so easily at night. However, our hull numbers — bersand had were gotten getting use green to the about seasickness, the gills. it Even didn’t if In order to keep the compass straight, I had to painted a flat black so they could not be seen ride like these U-boats. Some of the guys were spin the wheel back and forth as fast as I could. I sides of the bow as well as on the stern. I guess in bad shape, and I could sympathize with them had to anticipate the movement of the boat just 1499that this — werewas done painted so thatin 6-ft Hanoi numbers Hanna on would both because I’d been there not too long before. As as a big wave was about to hit us. If I remem- know who to blame, and she would periodically it turned out, we heard on the radio that there ber correctly, it was quite a workout, but I was threaten various boats and their crews over was a bad storm bearing down and that all boats young then with the energy of our youth. What- the radio. I don’t recall any of those call-outs should head for the nearest bay or river as soon ever I was doing, it seemed to be working, and by Hanoi Hanna actually resulting in a boat loss as possible. Well, the trouble was the storm was we were getting closer to the river. After about 2 not coming; it was already on top of us as we hours of spinning the wheel back and forth, we was sunk at Cua Viet just down river from Dong steamed north to the DMZ. We were almost to reached the mouth of the river. Now it was just a duringHa some my months tour but after I do I rotatedknow that stateside the YOG-76 after the mouth of the Cua Viet River, but we couldn’t matter of how good our aim was as we became Hanoi Hanna called her out by hull number. In put into the river. Sounds ridiculous don’t it? The problem was we didn’t have enough power wave all the way into the mouth of the river. It several of the guys greeted me and they were thewas world’sthe fastest largest that boat surfboard. had ever We traveled. rode oneWe anydamn event, glad toas haveI walked a new up stewburner with my duffel since they bag, bottomed boat was not good in this situation had been without a cook and had been living on tobecause fight the we stormdid not and cut thethrough current. the Beingwater. aIf flat-you hit the river. There were some Marines on the sandwiches and beer. looked aft, our wake was zigzagging back and mustshore have watching been usdoing surf aboutin and 30 probably knots when couldn’t we Now, one of the wrinkles about being as- forth like a snake. This meant we were getting believe what was happening. signed to a U-boat was that we were never out I learned later that another boat—the LCU- to sea for very long before we would head back spray, we could see about where the mouth of nowherethe river was,fast or but “slow.” it was Through hopeless. the The rain ocean and sea by year earlier. In that case when they reached 1622—hadthe mouth of been the in Cua a Viet similar River, predicament they missed a waves breaking over us as we rode about a mile the channel as they surfed in and instead the this time was running pretty ugly with 10-meter boat wound up breached and battered by the over the bow of the boat, but also over the liv- ingoff quartersthe coast. and The conning waves tower.were not We just found breaking leaks we never knew we had. The water was leaking rough surf for 2 days. Eventually, a salvage crew up a river. So what’s the problem with that for a in the port holes and hatch covers. The engines pulled her off the beach and refloated her for a cook you say? Well, this means that getting your were straining one second and running free the sea legs takes awhile. Typically, after picking up next with boat’s screws chewing air. Our cargo a load of ammo, we would go up or down the was not that heavy and that did not help either. coast to a river or another small bay and drop If we had more weight in the bow, we would be cutting the water better. The storm could load. Then do it all over again. Since we were not sink us but we could capsize if the waves off the load and return to DaNang for another got any bigger. The bow was coming out of the we were up a river to calm waters, it means that water and slamming back into the ocean like a only out on the ocean for 12 to 15 hours before belly slam in a pool. When we slammed back all the rocking and pitching of the boat. Well, into the water, the whole boat would shake and it’sit took difficult me aboutto get a a good month sense to get of balance my sea from legs. everything that was not tied down would be- tow back to DaNang where the machinists and Somehow, I managed to cook meals during all come airborne. It seemed that we were under electricians got her back on duty in 2 weeks. this rocking and going up and down. Between the water more than on top so maybe the name In our case, we considered ourselves lucky for the seasickness and looking at the food, the U-boats made sense. As we went up and down aiming the boat correctly at the mouth of the smell of the cargo, the heat, and let’s not forget in the ocean, we could see the USS New Jersey the diesel fumes, I lost a little weight. Not that up river far enough to avoid the coastal storm through this storm. I guess size does make a dif- river.surge, When we tied we finally up alongside slowed threedown otherand moved LCUs little chunky anyway. Most sailors get their sea aference. few miles further out seeming to ride just fine I couldn’t afford to lose weight, I was always a Our 62 had been sunk by an NVA command deto- helms- notnated far mine from with the wreck the loss of theof eight YFU-62. sailors. The SinceYFU- legs in about 3 to 4 days when assigned to a real man was its keel had been broken, the craft had been left ship, but most ships stay out for more than 12 strenu- in the river as a reminder to the rest of us to not toruns 16 ofhours any atdistance, a time. Sinceit made the ourU-boats coastal were runs all ously be careless. Inattention in Vietnam could easily flat-bottomedinteresting since craft we not did really not made cut through for coastal the working bring disaster and death. to keep Initially I was unsure as to why Uncle Sam and given our lack of power or speed, it was the boat had sent me to Vietnam as a cook for a U-boat waves. Instead, we floated on top with the wave on the right compass heading so we would not contributed to a rough ride, even in relatively and working with the other U-boat crews, such kindcalm ofseas. like When riding we a hit giant a large surfboard. wave, the This bow all hours of sitting in the same spot on the radar, crew. However, after serving on the LCU-1499 would come out of water and slam back into the zigzag,they asked but me it was to take not the working. helm. By After this about time, 7I Corps, I developed a strong sense of duty and had been on the boat the longest and had the asbrotherhood the YFU-79 that in I and carry about with the me waters to this of day. I- most experience on the helm. I was also a gradu- I’m proud of what we accomplished and am still sea like a giant belly flop. Yes, Somethat first time month later ate of the Assault Coxswain School the Navy had glad to say to all of those guys who were called on the 1499 was fun. after I had gotten so graciously sent me too after I graduated from and who went to Vietnam, my brothers-in-arms my sea legs on the boot camp before they made me a cook. Not that and we stand tall in memory of those who did this made me an expert but I liked to man the not return. our way to Dong helm. I was having a good time with this weath- 1499,Ha again we were with on a er. I thought it was really neat to look up and load of napalm Contact info: Tom Lanagan canisters. The sea be on top of a mountain of water the next. I was Email: [email protected], 3rd JoeBoat Criscione Group/ was starting to get see the ocean on both sides of you 1 minute and YFU-79, Lighterage Div., Tien Sha, NSA DaNang anything in the kitchen under these conditions. Lighterage Div., Tien Sha, NSA DaNang flattered to take the helm, besides I could not do Email: [email protected], LCU-1499, River Currents, Volume 19, Number 1 • Spring 2010 5 sounded as though they walked into an harbor. I’m sure we were at some point in time ambush. We never went to recover those anchored there but we were also at a heck of a men. lot of other locations in Vietnam. Thank you Al- Seeking informa- Now when Sgt Smith went out, I spoke bert for providing me the information I needed tion on Sgt Smith - I believe Sgt. Smith can touch other lives in major ways and not with him first. He insisted on going be toknow take it theis happening. first step. ItGod is amazingbless you! how people but I don’t remember causeteam. Wehe said, never “I wentsigned after up for them this.” either. He also waswhich in Company. the 4 of the I, Fred 47th Sholtes, was in support I’mnever trying came to locate back someone nor did the that rest knew of his him. fire The other two photos are of men from his Hello Albert, Dale E. Ashley bobby traps. I know Sgt Smith in Camp Bearcat platoon. They may or may not be alive but if of(Martin his platoon Cox). as an Engr to disarm mines and anyone recognizes the men, it may be of help on R & R and upon re- to me. I am searching for BM1 J.O. Hood (believe his first name is John) who on 15 February 1967 turnIn 1967I was Julysent ?, to I Vungwent I attended the re- Cong hidden in foliage along the Long Tau. He Tan to board the USS union in Indiana in was the boat captain of MSB-51, which along withwas awardedthe MSB-49 a Silver engaged Star in fora firefight his actions with thatViet Benewah. I think there August 2009 but didn’t - was another ship we have the photos. I checked the WIAs up on the Benewah. and KIAs but couldn’t day. I am trying to find him or a copy of his cer tificateIron Men for series. the medal, as I’d like to use it in my boardedOn one first of my but missions ended with Sgt Smith in the place Sgt Smith. Is he perhaps one of your members? He was Please help me. third and final book in the Wooden Ships and platoon follow some footprints that ran vertical Sincerely probably unlikely. If not, do you have a means to - - Delta, the platoon Sgt ? had a fire team from his assignedput out the to word Mine among Squadron veterans 11 Det. that Alfa, I’m tryingso it’s to contact him? A chapter describing the above to Thisour approach is the second (between time the August platoon 1967 Sgt and sent De a If anyoneFred Sholtes, has any 123 information, Fox Hunter please Rd, Maynard send the event is the lead-in for the book, and Richard cember 1967). informationville, to FredTN 37807-4435, by regular mail 865-992-6188. or by his e- DeRosset is preparing to start work on a paint- left our position to follow footprints and within mail ([email protected]). ing of it that will be the cover art for the book. fire team out. The first time 3-4 man fire team Fred Sholtes, SSG U.S. Army Retired By the way, Capt. Bob Kermen, USNR (Ret.), a gunner aboard a riverine boat in the Vietnam 10 minutes of departure all hell broke loose. It I wanted to take a minute to let you know how War and I believe one of your members, is now much you have helped me, even though you are a fellow instructor at my high school NJROTC I just received my copy of River Currents and not aware what you did. I have been receiving unit. was immediately surprised and pleased with updates and information from MRFA for a few Sincerely, this edition. Along with the stories, the fact that years as a member. In addition, you have kept it was on glossy paper and in color was really a me updated with current events and news con- Christmas gift...It’s a beauty, thanks Albert. cerning the Navy and military in general. For David Bruhn, 2628 Escallonia Way this, I thank you and I am forever in your debt. Chico, CA 95973, [email protected] - neers. I have been a member of the MRFA for provalI loved my the friend...I “History always of the believed MRFA” article... if it tasted ago. It was a shock but after I started thinking someMy name years. is I Robert received Thacker, the winter D Co newsletter15th Engi rightNote: to You’veme; it wasgot mygood Betty enough Crocker for Sealeverybody of Ap Imore discovered clearly thatI remembered I had leukemia reading about about 3 years the delinquent with my current dues to Charlie Ar- on the assumption of exposure to the herbicide andI understand got to thinking. it, we were I did the 18 onlymonths engineer with Deltacom- else...anddinger so thisnext new week issue I’ll “Tastessend him Right.” two I’vechecks... been VAAgent awarding Orange disability for Brown benefits Water Navy for this personnel. disease Copany 15th to supportand spent all athe lot Army of time infantry on the units boats. that As I read this from the information you had sent me River Currents.” and others. I am proud to have served with the one for my dues and one for the “New Taste in - served9th and on to the have boats--3/47th, served on the 4/47th, boats and 3/60th, be a CKM-2 AKA (Tom) agedvia e-mail. or impressed I contacted with the their local people. VA office I was here told in member of the MRFA. The Navy people that Holiday Greetings to you and Yours, Albert Indianapolis to file a claim. I was not encour served on the boats and infantry did a great job, I want to thank Albert Moore for sending all the ground in Vietnam.” This seemed to be con- and I am glad I served with them. One time that of these pictures out to us. I was with the 2/60th thattrary I neededto the information proof that I wasI had actually read from “boots what on comes to mind was the FSB David in Sept of 68. you had sent to me. I told the VA I really did The supply boats were hit just about every time I did not work with the MRF but through these supplies were sent in. FSB David was a mess for inpictures Tan Tru I have 67-68 gained as RTO a greater and infantry appreciation support. for should be my responsibility and in my opinion both Army and Navy. I did not care to be on the all that you did in Vietnam. I want to thank all of notthe besthave proof “proof” would and be did for not them think to read this theburden log- - you for serving our country. tion but was glad to see them for pick up even A lot of my friends that died were in A and and it would verify that I was on the ground in boatsthough when it was they a toss took up usgetting to our out drop-off of the canals loca bookVietnam from as the I claimed. USS Monmouth Against County my better LST-1032 judg- - well. These guys were all heroes to me for facing ny of infantry that we supported was great but Ball Companies that they did. and I worked with E Company as withoutalways seems the boats to leave getting us onfired our at. own. Every We compa would I now add you all as my heroes as well. Merry ment,that I needed I filled proof out theI was paperwork actually on and the waited.ground be blowing up a complex of bunkers or what- Christmas to all of you and your families. Aboutin Vietnam. 3 months At that later, point, I was I pretty informed much by gave the VAup ever and would look up and the infantry always Ron (Ski) Rutowski and resigned myself to the fact that the VA did not want to help me and I would not be award- before dark, which I was glad we could always Dear Albert and Family, seemeddo. There to werebe gone. sad We times always and seemgood totimes find beingthem Thank you for all your hard work this year keeping me and the other members informed of edTo myany surprise, benefits. aI coupledid not months respond later to the I received VA and - filednotice the from paperwork the VA that away I had and been forgot awarded about dis it.- athappy Dong to Tamserve and my country working again. off the I want boats. to thank I was tos and news of members keep our organiza- 18the and young am men now that 60 serveand if andI was the able, older I would men that be alltion the together. latest information May you and from yours the enjoy VA. Your a Merry pho from exposure to Agent Orange while serving have served this country. We did well. abilityin Vietnam. benefits They based also on indicated contracting that leukemia my ship, Robert Thacker, SSG at the time

X-MAS and a Healthy and Happy New Year. Ed Brennan LST 1032, was or had been anchored in DaNang 15th Engr. Bn, 9th Inf Div 6 River Currents, Volume 19, Number 1 • Spring 2010 YRBM-16 continued from page 1 6-knot current and place the mine on the hull. In the daytime, the bow watch would shoot with a any Americans woke up this morning been almost continuously exposed to intense At night, an outboard motor boat would circle and turned on the television or searched carbineand the bowany debriswatch wouldor water randomly plants floating toss concus near.- - stop their attack. The ferocity of their assault sion grenades into the river. When the current M - sniperhad carried fire as the the soldiers enemy desperately sought to stopped in the dry summer season, there was lade. However,the Internet on this to find rainy out morning the latest in northon Ti- beyond the line of bun- also a stern watch with a carbine and grenades. gerern WoodsVirginia, and another his wrecked black Cadillacblack Cadillac meandered Esca kers into the treeline, through rolling hills on hallowed ground. This these photos (tak- vehicle carried Medal of Honor recipient, Ser- The two men gave im- Lionel Burns CS3, who wasen there,in Binh supplied Thuy) forcingmediate snipers chase, drivingto flee. and much of the in- at Arlington National Cemetery. the enemy away from formation on this geant Leonard B. Keller, to his final resting place- the friendly unit. When page. sconced in his luxury mansion behind the walls his ammunition was It is assumed of Whilehis gated a highcommunity, profile a athletecaisson remainedwith six black en exhausted, Sgt. Keller returned to the platoon that a VC swimmer horses slowly walked along the rain-soaked to assist in the evacuation of the wounded. The evaded the nets asphalt. Family members followed, huddled two-man assault had driven an enemy platoon and placed the close to each other beneath umbrellas trying from a well prepared position, accounted for bomb there. to shield themselves from the rainy and dreary numerous enemy dead, and prevented further The explosion’s cold morning. They came to pay tribute to a fa- hull rupture is ther, grandfather, brother, and friend. shown here. A fire friendly casualties. Sgt. Keller’s selfless heroism also damaged much anddamage indomitable on the enemy. fighting spirit saved the lives of the interior. Airport,As the I cars am suredrove no past one on knew State who Road was 110 being and of Peoplemany of fall his from comrades grace and from inflicted time to serious time-- History of planesburied, flewtheir overhead name, age, leaving or hometown. Reagan National On this politicians, athletes, pastors, and others. We are day, it was a man who showed uncommon valor human and far from perfect. Why is it that so the YRBM-16 in the jungles of Vietnam. many are more interested in the tabloid news Tan Chau was of today than the true life stories of real Ameri- and his unit were sweeping through an area in cans, real heroes? Those who always give more in-country near VietnamOn May where 2, 1967, an enemy Sergeant ambush Leonard had occurredB. Keller than they take and are determined to leave this Cambodia on the Mekong Riverthe first location earlier. The unit suddenly came under intense world a better place than they found it. This morning a man was buried in the hal- the Bassac River. There it supported the build- number of enemy bunkers and numerous snip- lowed ground of Arlington National Cemetery; ingIn of 1967, the Binh the YRBMThuy PBR was Base. moved to Can Tho on automaticers in nearby weapons trees. Sgt. and Keller small-arms quickly fire moved from to a a man of simple means. Not a billionaire or a After that, it was moved to Ben Tre on the star athlete. Too often we put more attention on Ham Luong River. It was moored in the middle work or the material things a person has rather of the Ham Luong River. The bombing occurred aViet position Cong whowhere attempted he could tofire escape. at a bunker Leaping from to than the things a person does. - whichthe top automatic of a dike, hefire and was a comradereceived, charged killing onethe As I stood at the gravesite this morning and enemy bunkers, dangerously exposing them- watched the four other Medal of Honor recipi- hereThe at explosion 1:12 a.m., occurredthe morning at the after bulkhead Thanksgiv be- - ents in attendance salute as soldiers slowly fold- ing Day. Flooding and a fire occurred also. chine gun, Sgt. Keller and his comrade began a space. The double hull in the area was a diesel selvessystematic to the assault enemy on fire. the Armed enemy with bunkers. a light While ma casket, I was reminded of the thousands of men tweenfuel tank. the The engine explosion room ripped and RD a hole 522s big berthing enough ed the American flag that draped Sgt. Keller’s to drive a truck through. The explosion also blew bunker with his machine gun, the other soldier defending this great nation. Sgt. Keller and the the hell out of the double hull fuel tank topped Sgt.threw Keller in a handneutralized grenade, the killing fire from its occupant. the first and92 living women Medal who of makeHonor tremendous recipients are sacrifices heroes Then he and the other soldier charged a second in every sense of the word. They have all an- from a costal AO. Fuel was thrown all over the bunker, killing its occupant. A third bunker con- swered the call of duty, but more than that, they off with 3,000 gallons of diesel the day before have placed the lives of others and the liberty ship’s passages. Flames may have leaped more down much of the friendly platoon. Again, with of an entire nation above their own lives. They decks and erupted in flames. Smoke filled the tained an automatic rifleman who had pinned - two men charged, killing the enemy within. so that we may all enjoy the fruits of freedom. thanuation. 100 The feet crew in the escaped air. Fire, on Mikeextreme boats heat, and and re- utterContinuing disregard their for the attack, fire directed Sgt. Keller to them, and the his wereOn thisall willing week afterto make Thanksgiving, the ultimate I am sacrifice thank- smoke hindered rescue efforts and forced evac comrade assaulted four more bunkers and ful for heroes like Sgt. Leonard B. Keller. May eliminated the enemy threat. During their fu- God bless Sgt. Keller and his family. Sgt Leonard turned with fire hoses. PBRs of Squadron 522 rious assault, Sgt. Keller and his comrade had began the fire-fighting efforts. In addition to 7 deaths, 14 crewmen were injured. - B. Keller served in A/CO 3rd/60th 9thinfDiv. According to Lloyd Tutor, his boat PBR-65 in What Became of the YRBM-16? Squadron 521 was scrambled from the Hunter don County LST-838. PRB-65 arrived first at the YRBM-16 and began fighting the fire. The rest NO NAME (YRBM-16) ofcasualties the squadron before followed their OBAs and ran LST-838 out. The arrived PBR (ex YFNB-21) later. The PBR crews did not find survivors or REPAIR, BERTHING & MESSING BARGE (N-S-P) UIC: 18924 - crewShop andspent the the Berthing day fighting Space. the fire. They were Class:tance Fleet: Program (SAP), transferred, Military the first to enter the area between the Machine Status: Disposed of through the Security Assis wasThe almost YRBM-16 lost in was heavy towed seas. to Dong Tam for a Assistance Service Funded, ex U.S. fleet hull sea patch. It was towed to Japan for a refit. It- Homeport:The above report indicates the YRBM-16 was YFU-79 just entering Song Cua Viet River from Datetransferred status tochanged: another 10/01/1973 country in 1973. the South China Sea with ammo 1969. I first saw it in Chou Doc in fall 1969. In sum mer 1970, it left Chou Doc. River Currents, Volume 19, Number 1 • Spring 2010 7 were used–all junk–was to call the hit in and get some helos down there and set up a perimeter. Charlie had to be sitting out there somewhere From Pete Oakander watching the show. The Doc who was with us nie. To keep the generator from having to work started gathering those that needed to be me- he article in the winter edition of River Cur- any harder than it had too, I made sure that the divaced out and pointed at me to get in line. My rents - hatch for access topside was dogged down good reaction was why? He says–don’t you know. I Tsion.” Boy, did it bring back memories that and tight. I personally took a sledge hammer to say–know what? He says–the back of your head I had longhad since the forgotten–likearticle titled “The the mosquitoes,Mine Explo it to keep it shut because the crew kept trying to is split open and you need attention. I say– the heat and humidity, and the action that those access the compartment through that hatch and can you do it–I don’t want to leave the boat. of us there encountered with Charlie. In addi- let all the cool air out. The only other way was He says–yea and stitches me up. My adrenalin tion to what was already covered in the original - was going strong enough that I didn’t even feel article, here is what I remember. gine room–both of which were usually avoided. the stitches. Once the helos arrived and got all I was on the CCB mentioned–although it toIt wasaccess noonish–I it via the was coxswain sitting flaton theor from raised the sup en- those needing to get the injured out–the rest of posedly concussion-proof platform on the deck us got to work doing what we could do to get Oakander) was the radioman onboard. The things back together. The sunken boats–Tango, wasn’tBoats was CCB-152-1; Frank Dettmers, it was CCB-131-1. the Gunnersmate I (Pete Charlie, and Mike–weren’t going anywhere. We - ofand the just compartment, beginning to write listening a letter to ahome little when East got through that night and the next day one of vos, and our Coxswain was Bob Land. We had WestBOOM–all by Paul hell broke Butterfield loose. onThere my were headphones a bunch the boats made its way down the Song Ong Doc wassome Jim others Lierman, but the their Engineman was Jim Zer of us down in there tak- to the coast where either the repair ships Satyr names escape me now. ing advantage of the cool Albert or the Askari were anchored in support of our I do remember the long air the air conditioners I just received the winter edition and transit down canals and were providing. It was - a bunch of pumps and the plugging of a bunch jungle no one had gone weird because the com- ally brought back memories as I was operation. To get us all afloat was going to take- down before. We were partment went pitch the radioman article “The on the Mine CCB. Explosion” And it wasn’t re tight enough to get us towed down to the re- not sure if we could black and yet I could see ofpair holes. ship Wewhere got they Charlie immediately 1 floated lifted and waterus out make it. One of the everything and every- together an article that I have titled-- of the water and put us on a barge. The ship’s events that I do remem- one. The blast pitched CCB-152-1; it was CCB-131-1. I have put crew welded up all the holes and buttoned up ber once we got on sta- me into the air and head the boat. This is when we learned that the pos- tion was running into thinking would be an interesting follow up to the original. It recounts my re- The Mine Explosion Part 2--which I was band radio that was on membrances and tells the story of what were going to be sent to Subic to get the ship that the Seals had. They its way to the deck. I - first into a single side sibility existed that Charlie 1 and its whole crew awere modified operating tango down boat got to my feet and went back into the water and hooked her up to one of in the Song Ong Doc to the dogged-down if you care to take a look. Let me know repaired.the intercoastal For the resupply time being, ships they for puta tow Charlie back to 1 by themselves–mixing happened to Charlie 1 after it was re hatch and through the what you think. Vung Tao. I don’t know the name of the ship. The it up with Charlie–a floated. I have attached the rough draft dogs open by hand and Pete Oakander whole crew went along for the ride, and it took ballsy bunch of guys– pushed like hell to get a couple of days to get around the tip of Vietnam and how they got down the hatch open. Up top and back up the coast to the mouth of the Me- there only they know. It it was havoc. There was RM3, CCB-131-1, May 69 - May 70 kong. We arrived there during an afternoon and the ship anchored there for the night. We of the action. They had this three barrel mini set up in lying everywhere. We had a contingent of Viet- crew had to maintain an anchor watch on our wasa turret the firstamidships time I hadof their ever boat seen and a mini-gun gave us in a namesea bunch Navyof stuff guys piled who onwere the onboard hatch and as abodies part boat. I happened to be on watch that afternoon real show by letting it rip. Down in the SOD, ev- of the Vietnamization program. I worked my and noticed that the bow of our boat started way to the stern of the boat and the force of the to lift out of the water. I ran like hell up to the point and shoot. The other thing I will never bridge to report the situation and then the Cap- eryforget direction is their was liquor a free-fire supply. zoneI don’t so rememberit was just release. Too bad because as I worked my way tain and I ran back to the stern. We got there just how that subject came up but we swabs do like concussionto the stern causedto look downall the into fire theextinguishers engine room, to our booze and the selection they had was like sticking out of the water. It was decided that an going to your local liquor store. We didn’t in- engine room was a cauldron of smoke, water, inair time pocket to wassee Charliekeeping 1 the sink–with bow above only the its water bow dulge as we were on patrol and it was during I passed some fires that were ignited and the line. Now what to do? Well a bunch of messages daylight which doesn’t make sense now–but at the transmission. The batteries were all split were sent back and forth, and the decision came andopen. battery The magazine acid. The was 671’s wide were open split and inammo two was everywhere while water was pouring in. I think we may have put out a marked buoy and hey that was 40 years ago. Within minutes, the stern was on the bottom. downthen we to cutheaded Charlie to Vung 1 loose Tao. and That leave was her the there. end ThereThat were fateful about day–October six or seven 23, boats. 1969–when We were - of the story. They helo’d us back to Dong Tam– theall beached mine went bow off. forward Here and is all whatlined upI in remember. a tion on the Mike boat and the Tango. It was the no trip to the Philippines–and the crew was row next to one another as the original article WeTango got that the wasfires in out the and most then trouble. turned I rememberour atten split up to man other boats. I ended up becom- pointed out so that we could walk between the Tango being tied on to our boat and it was starting to turn over onto its port side. Guys was stationed in Dong Tam for a while before The Mike boat was on our portside and the were down in the well deck and scrambling like ingthey one moved of the the staff squadron radiomen headquarters for RivDiv out13 andto boatsTango and on ourstay starboard.off the beach It was and mid-day.out of the Char mud.- crazy to get out. I remember one of the guys the Benewah. I stayed there right up until the lie boats were the only boats in the force that who didn’t make it out when the boat turned day of the invasion into Cambodia when the Be- had air conditioning that I was aware of. They over. We were all yelling like crazy and then his newah and all the boats headed up to the bor- were there to keep the bank of radios and the head popped out of the water. The Mike boat der to go after Charlie. - took a big hit too but it being so heavy it held There were actually two lessons learned with erators whose sole purpose was to keep the air this event. The original article mentioned one officersconditioners happy. running. Each Charlie The belowhad two deck Lister opera gen- was amazing that no one got killed because as I of them–the spacing of beached boats–the fur- tions compartment had four air conditioners. itsremember own, although there were it did people sink sternin the first water. too. But It ther apart the better to avoid mine damage. The One of the Lister’s no longer worked and the re- after reading the original story–the guys I saw other and even more important was the fact maining one was on its way out too. It only had in the water were probably Dale Walker and that the squadron made the error of beaching in enough power to keep one of the air condition- Don Blankenship who got pitched in. There was the same spot twice. The mine must have been ers running–barely. But down there in that heat and in the middle of the day, it was a real ben- to do–and it wasn’t our radios on the CCB that continued on page 8 a lot of confusion. One of the first things we had placed after the first night beach. Had to be or 8 River Currents, Volume 19, Number 1 • Spring 2010 Mine Explosion with Don Blankenship though–it sure seemed Heart and the Navy Commendation Medal for continued from page 7 like a lot more than that to lift the sterns of a my services. I am more proud of having received Charlie wouldn’t have known where to place it. Tango, a Mike, and a Charlie boat clear out of them today then I was then–back then all I want- He did so on that assumption and hope that we ed was out and to get on with my life. would beach again at the same spot. He lucked quite a feat. The second was that the Navy sent out or Charlie had some swimmers who some- the water. And cracking a 671 diesel in half is how got the bomb in place while the boats were and they couldn’t get a good look as a family in place. I gotta believe that that could never aof group Moray of eels divers had downtaken toup check residence Charlie and 1 they out FromRiver Currents:Don Blankenship, author of the first articlePeter is ofprobably Mine Explosion correct. When Winter I added Issue the of Received on Christmas Day 2009 boat numbers to my story after writing the Albert original story on my web site, I got them A big Merry Christmas to You and Your Family too. That article–The Mine Explosion–has done more for me to get back and deal with my Navy/ numbers on the boats eliminated the di- river boat past than anything I can think of and I want to thank you for all that you do. Since that visionfrom someonenumbers. else. I should After have June recognized 1969, the article came out, I have spoken to Bob Land and Gerry Vroman who were both one of us. All of us went through NIOTC together and Bob and I were on CCB-131-1 and Gerry manned an Alpha boat in RivDiv 11. I hadn’t talked to either of them in 40 years. Gerry is not a member of the MRFA that C-1 would have been the old C-131-1 but I gave him the sales pitch to join. He hadn’t given much thought to that past in 40 years until boatthe new and numbering not the C-152-1. scheme. The It isold also C-152-1 quite I called yesterday. He was really glad to hear from me and in all this time we really don’t live that would have probably been C-5 or C-6 under far apart. Anyway keep it up. Pete possibleshouldn’t that have the trusted T-5 boat my wasoriginal a 131 source boat have happened. decided to leave well enough alone. That was the asfor well those instead boat of numbers a 152 boat. without I probably doing last I heard of her and to this day she may still be some further checking. It never made sense a navigation hazard at the mouth of the Mekong. to renumber the boats but I guess that was MonthsAs one later of the while staff on radiomen, the Benewah, I was twoprivileged mes- I don’t know what medals those of us who were to see a lot of radio traffic come across our desk. there got–but once I got back home and was at- tending reserve meetings–I think a lot of us on some *&^% shit officer’s idea under TF sages came across about Charlie 1. The first was the boats were reservists–especially radioman– 194our laterwhen years. all the TF117 divisions were put that it was determined by EOD that it had to be into 194. He did it just to confuse all of us in at least a 100 pounds of explosives to do the damage that was inflicted to the boats. I agree I was notified that I was to receive the Purple our merry way.”

by Maj. Renita Foster on,Paquet’s his Vietnam P-38 Serviceis in a special Medal, box South with Vietnam his dog- - means for eating 90 percent of the time, but we tags, a .50-caliber round from the ship he served- It was developed in just 30 days in summer World War II veteran John Bandola. “It was our history1942 has by it the been Subsistence known to Researchbreak, rust, Labora need as a screwdriver, you name it. We all carried it eseprobably money, be and on amy surrender dresser untilleaflet the from day Opera I die,” sharpening,tory in Chicago. or polishing. And never Perhaps in that its 52-year is why alsoon our used dog it tags for orcleaning key rings.” boots and fingernails, tionPaquet Desert said. Storm provided by a nephew. “It will many soldiers, past and present, regard the - my’s best invention. When Bandolaago, it attachedaccompanied his first him andto Anzio, only WilsonThe feelings of the Chaplainveterans have Center for andthe SchoolP-38 isn’t at P-38C-rations C-ration have can opener long since as the been Ar P-38Salerno to and his keythrough ring northern a half century Italy. hard to understand, according to 1st Sgt. Steve- replaced with the more convenient It was with him when World War II ended, and it’s with him now. Fort Monmouth. “When you hang onto some thingjust like for they 26 years,” do their he dog said, tags. “it’s ... very It means hard to a Meals,uses stemming Ready to Eat, from but thethe fame unique of give it up. That’s why people keep their P-38 theblend P-38 of persists,ingenuity thanks and creativity to the many all training,“This P-38 my fellow is a symbol soldiers, of myand life all soldiers seem to have. then,”the times said we Bandola. shared “Theduring Army, a world the lot. It’s become part of you. You remember field war.” problems, jumping at 3 a.m. and moving out. you keep and never want to get rid Sgt. Ted Paquet, swing shift su- A P-38 has you reliving all the adventures that of,”“The said P-38Sgt. Scott is one Kiraly, of those a military tools pervisor in the Fort Monmouth Pro- cameAny soldier with soldiering will tell you in that.” the armed forces. Yes, theSmall P-38 Wonder opened that cans, decade but it didafter much decade, more. serving aboard the amphibious assault ship USS a Milwaukee-made can opener served policeman.it as a screwdriver, “I’ve had knife, my P-38anything.” since joining the vostNew Marshal’sOrleans during Office, the was Vietnam a 17-year-old War when seaman he generations of soldiers Army 11 years ago and kept it because I can use by Dick Dickinson Monday 3/2/2009 the very mission it was designed for,” said Fort ven with billions of dollars spent annu- Monmouth,“The most N.J., vital garrison use of commanderthe P-38, however, Col. Paul is On occasional evenings, Marines gathered got his first P-38. The ship’s mission was to ally on defense technology, the most iconic Baerman. transportnear Paquet’s Marines duty off position the coast on of the DaNang. fantail for - E access to food; that made it the hierarchy of sation and C-rations.” It was during one of these cent can opener. - “When we had C-rations, the P-38 was your- nightlysimple pleasures sessions like that “Cokes, Paquet cigarettes, came in conver contact piece of military equipment might be a 1.2- ered it was an extremely simple, lightweight, dard issue in every box of rations. Veterans car- multipurposeneeds,” Baerman tool. said. I think “Then in warfare, soldiers the discov sim- to in the Navy. Beginning in World War II, the P-38 was stan and with its elegant simplicity, indestructibility pler something is and the easier access it has, with the P-38, or “John Wayne” as it’s referred it useful. While driving with his older brother, riedand versatility,it to Korea, it Vietnam,was treasured and the by Middlesoldiers. East, of those things going for it.” Paul,Paquet their still car’s carries carburetor his P-38, began and to he have still prob finds- the more you’re going to use it. The P-38 had all- - tures required to open a C-ration can, and from most simultaneously, both of us reached for Wis.,“I opened a Marine a lot in of Vietnam. culinary But delights that’s with not my all. theThe boast tool thatacquired it performed its name withfrom the 38 speed punc of P-38,” says Fernando Rodriguez of Watertown, lems. “There were no tools in the car and, al could cut things with it. I carried it on my key “Itchain was for a years.screwdriver, I still have a bottle it.” opener, and you P-38svalve, the attached car worked to our perfectly, key rings,” and Paquetwe went said on continued on page 9 the World War II P-38 fighter plane. with a grin. “We used my P-38 to adjust the flow “Soldiers just took to the P-38 naturally,” said River Currents, Volume 19, Number 1 • Spring 2010 9 They laugh at Frank’s letter that he just got from home The mist of the morning cools and softens the air They thought would their plan work or go some The candy his wife sent has been missent to Nome The last of the soldiers have gone down the steel stairs other way The mailman said he he’d sent it on although quite He crossed the barge that lay along side the big ship Very early some doubt about the plan arose tattered And boarded the craft making sure he did not slip. When they learned they’d be running right by They knew for Frank that the letter was what mat- Now all assault craft and boats are well underway Snoopy’s Nose tered They are executing the plan briefed yesterday An elaborate plan that probably worked well They laughed and they joked and there were a lot of pranks The boats flow out smoothly and take their place in line But for boat crews and platoons, it was hard to tell And a few good jokes about guys in higher ranks From the air their formation is dark serpentine The artillery was firing, of this they’d been told But they were glad to know that the brass had Up the brown muddy river they move with the tide A battalion in choppers found an LZ cold announced Some sense the jungle beauty on this their first ride But what is that pounding on the side of the craft It was a main force enemy that they had trounced Some seem not to look, unaware of the beauty And where we were once heading is now pointing aft That was good, they’d put that fact in their next letter They limit their thoughts to just those of their duty The antitank rocket that exploded top side But what mattered most was they had fought even better They are veterans, they have been out here before Has sprayed steel on a platoon but they’re still alive There was this deep sense of sharing great danger They have seen the hot fights, they want not to see more There’s a monitor turning in a stream ahead Of meeting a test, risking life for a stranger But if a fight come, these men are very good No one at the helm, just a slumped figure instead Most pictured the stranger as a child, maybe six Their skill by their foe is very well understood The assault craft turns wildly, rams into the bank Who didn’t want much, food, home, and not to be sick Their force is our history is not often seen The captain’s quick decision before the craft sank And of course for their lives is what most of them feared They fight from the water and are called riverine The infantry platoon and the whole boat crew too It was worth fighting in hopes they would not be Grant used them at Vicksburg in the great Civil War Scramble ashore where their last artillery blew scared The French used them also on the Red River shore Their foe is retreating crawling over a dike Many years have passed since the days of these battles They combined the power of Army and Navy That’s getting chewed up by a boat’s forty mike For each old Raider and Rat the memory still rattles Their thoughts of each other at first were quite cagey There’s plenty of action, the new guy’s have their fill And a few of these warriors have even gone back But that didn’t last long when there was a real fight The artillery pounding, the jets streaking shrill For with they recall, there is something they lack Petty Officers and sergeants know what is right Guys still in boats to their foe must see evil Not as a warrior they feel good for their people Soldiers saw water as moats around a castle Blazing away in clouds of cordite and diesel It was always their aim to free them from trouble An obstacle that would cost them in a battle But the noise of battle passes slowly away And they are warmed by smiles of kids three or four Sailors saw these moats as the track at Daytona There are men to be cared for and some need to pray But in old U S A they have even more Take some care for mines and then blast right on Some pursue the enemy by chopper and boat But the main experience that gives them a chill down ‘em Medics work wonders but there are lumps in their Is to fly over the land, lush, green, and still Attacks from the water their foe was not used to throats To feel tears sting their eyes looking down at brown They aimed at highways and watched for land- It seems forever, but then they’re back on the ship moats locked crews They talk of light hurts, swollen finger and bruised hip Feel the chest swell thinking of the Men in the Boats For Riverine, it was the way to start a fight But they’re thinking of Willy who made them all laugh This story was written by Lt/General Johnnie Corns To attack with surprise from water at first light And of Stan, Jose, and Bob who did not come U.S. Army (Ret.) Operations Officer 2nd/Bde 67-68. And this they were doing on their attack today back

eo tribute to Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez, with the best of them. Thanks for that too. Medal of Honor winner…a wonderful inspiring As far as I’m concerned–you may be a Navy otherDear batches Albert: of photos you have been sending example of overcoming what might be called out.I finally I just wantfound to some say–once time to again--thank look at this Godand Thanks again for all you do to keep the Mo- for Albert Moore–and to say thank you person- man but you have become a very fine “Soldier.” ally to you Albert for pulling so many disparate acourage…despite “tough start” in outrageous life (an understatement), prejudice and bias to bright and for helping all of us to feel connect- groups and individual people together and for finally become a symbol of great heroism and- bileed and Riverine proud Force of our Association service–no flame matter burning what keeping our common bonds bound tightly to- nam Veterans had tough starts in life and did in- it was. gether. dividuallyagainst him. and I knowcollectively firsthand rise abovethat many their Viet lim- I also appreciated very much seeing the vid- ited beginnings–although Roy’s story must rank your family Albert I hope 2010Lt/Gen is the bestPat Hughes year ever U Sfor Army you Ret.and Army’s Best Invention the enclosed article (see above) about a GI can continued from page 8 of Defense solicitation for 10 million P-38s, with- millions of American servicemen beginning in Laboratory in Chicago was presented with the a rider for 10 million more,” Jack Speaker says. opener fondly known as the “P-38”to literally challengeIn 1942, of the creating U.S. Army an opener Subsistence small enough Research to “The bid was about $12 per thousand.” He esti - carry in the pocket. Moreover, it couldn’t break, matesLuther that Hanson,between curator1960 and at the the late U.S. ’80s, Army his 1942ries that until I may probably not have 2001. had reason It brought to recall. back to rust, and need sharpening or polishing. It took companyQuartermaster made around Museum 50 in million Fort Lee,P-38s. Va., esti- me possibly 30 years of mostly pleasant memo the article should be shared with your many readers,After reflecting who undoubtedly on what Iwill had recall read, theI felt many that the lab 30 days to invent what was originally matesto the present. that “750 million P-38s were produced dubbedPatron Saint “Opener, of Army Can, Inventions.” Hand, and Folding.” U.S. for WWII” and “at least a billion” from Vietnam ArmyThe Col.J.W. RenitaSpeaker Menyhert Corp. of Germantown,once called it Wis.,“The was phased out. Today, the Speaker Corp. man- timesthe dog the tags P-38 so cameas to beinto readily play in available peace and at meal war. ufacturesBeginning electrical with the lighting first Gulf components War, the P-38 for Oftentime. Ittimes took theme aP-38 bit ofwas rummaging hung on a in chain my mem with- - - waspany’s one founder, of the firstJ.W. Speaker,companies actually to manufacture improved stock. Or you can buy one at most Army surplus ful to be reminded.” the design P-38, and by adding it produced tabs for millions. the hinge, The which com vehicles, but still has about 100,000 P-38s in orabiliaAs an to aside, find myMajor surviving Thomas P-38. Dennehy I was USA thank held the blade securely open or closed as need- - was the inventor of the P-38 can opener. stores for about 50 cents. See the video at http://www.youtube.com/ Speaker took over. This article on the P-38 can opener was sub watch?v=zXuWNCkuHV4 - ed. J.W. passed away in 1960 and his son Jack mitted to the Officer Revier Magazine by Col. Fremont Piercefield from the Chicago, Illinois “The first contract I bid on was a Department Chapter. His comments are as follows: “I read 10 River Currents, Volume 19, Number 1 • Spring 2010 TAPS Tribute to a Fallen One In Memory Of This section is for members who wish to sponsor the MRFA by plac- This is to inform you that Chief Robert Martin died many good men and women way too early. Albert ing a notice in memory of one of their fallen comrades. In some cas- on December 26, 2009. He was 82 years old. He died My very good friend Dale Ogdahl passed away es, the name of the sponsor will precede the name of the person who in Mount Pleasant, SC. He will remain at the funeral yesterday, at the age of 60, December 6 at 12:30 was KIA, or has passed on since Vietnam. It’s $25 for four issues. home there until arrangements can be made for burial a.m. from various cancers throughout his body. Dale G. Edward Arledge for LCDR Loren Cobb USN Executive Officer at Arlington National Cemetery. There will be a small served with Charlie Company, 2nd platoon, 4/47 and Commanding Officer of USS Indra ARL-37 service in SC at a future date. Chief Bob Martin served (9/68-7/69). He carried my radio and the platoon MajGeneral Lucien Bolduc, Jr. USA (Ret) for Guy Tutwiler on the USS Benewah APB-35 (1966/1968). Bob was leader’s radio. He came home as Sgt E-5. Dale lived Bill Brennan for Tom Swanick GMG3 USS White River LSMR-536 in Minnesota and father of four. His wife passed away Brothers of the 2nd/47th Inf for all Army and Navy KIAs the leading Chief Petty Officer for the Deck Force and Frank Buck for son Frank H. Buck ENFM USN T-92-10 KIA was the ship’s Chief Master-at-Arms. Bob was very several years back. He had planned on coming to the 12/28/67 instrumental in getting the ship ready for deployment MRFA reunion in September, but the cancer had the Michael Connolly for LTJG James Francis Rost, Jr., RivDiv 132, to Vietnam and spent many, many hours doing so on best of him. He just recently retired from the railroad. KIA November 1969 the way over. So the ship would be ready for the Navy He was a damn good man. I loved him truly as a Gene Cooper for Steve Brichford FT2 1968/69 and Jerry Roleofs boat crews and the Riverine Infantry of the 9th ID Brother. Dave Schoenian [email protected]. 1967-68 USS White River LSMR-536 when we pulled into Vung Tau, Vietnam. Chief Martin You may contact the family c/o 27406 Old Mill Pond Nan Fulton for LtGen Bill Fulton Cdr 2nd Bde Asst Div Cdr 9th Inf took his job seriously. He was really the last of the old Rd, Glenwood, MN 56334, 320-278-4735. May our Div (1966-68) Ray Funderburk for LTC John B. Tower CO 2nd/47th Inf sailors of yester years Boats Martin served his coun- Brother rest in peace. Regina Gooden for Sgt Lloyd Earl Valentine B Co 3rd/47th KIA try during three wars with distinction and pride having Lori Ottney, wife of MRFA member Ed Ottney, died September 5, 1968 served in the Pacific during WWII and in Korea during October 22, 2009, from a sudden illness. Ed served David Hammond for Lt Willie Kitchen C Co 3rd/47th (1967/69) the Korean War and later on the Benewah during the with the 120th Aviation Company from 1965 to 1968. killed in an automobile accident 1992 Vietnam War. Although he will be gone, he will never You may contact Ed at 602 South Ave, Decorah, IA Joe Hilliard for Joe Benack from Florida and Donald Hartzell from be forgotten by his USS Benewah APB-35 shipmates. 52101-1440, 563-382-5893. Pennsylvania May Chief Bob Martin rest in peace. You may contact Ronald T. Kemp passed away October 7, 2008, Bob Houle CS2 for Larry Hunter CS3 USS White River LSMR- after a car accident. Ronald served on Tango-132-5 536 the family c/o Robert Martin Jr., 902 Walker Road, John and Barbara Iannucci for Mitchell Perdue B Co. 3rd/60th Parkton, MD 21120. (1969). You may contact the family c/o Janis Kemp, (01/68-09/68) Folks another shipmate, our own Larry “Cowboy” 18562 Eagles Bend Dr, Springdale, AR 72764-9738, Lee “Tex” McKean GMG2 for James “Buddy” Hood GMG2 USS Rodgers (1947-2009) passed away December 12, 479-927-2367. White River LSMR 536 2009. Larry served on Tango-92-8 and ASPB-92-4 Member Sydney Connick passed away. Sydney Men of C Co 4th/47th 1967 for our Brothers KIA 03/19/67 Benito (10/67-12/68). You may contact the family c/o Pat served with A Company Platoon 1 of the 3rd/60th Alaniz; MIA 04/09/67 Ronald P. Schworer; KIA 04/13/67 Charles Rodgers, 2500 Crestwood Dr., Burleson, TX 76028, (04/68-04/69). You may contact Susan Dunn at “Duffy” Black; KIA 05/15/67 Donald M. Peterson; KIA 06/19/67 214-215-1983, [email protected]. May our 1450 9th St Room 53, Ogden, UT 84404-5225, 801- Robert J. Cara, Robert J. Jindra, Timothy A. Johnson, Forrest L. Ramos, Cameron A. Rice, David A. Robin, Sheldon B. Schul- brother rest in peace and suffer no more. Please let’s 394-4804. man, Hubert J. Fink, Kenneth D. Frakes, William M. Geier, John L. support our sister and her family, we’re losing way too Winters; KIA 07/11/67 Marion “Butch” Eakins, Elmer F. Kenney, Harold W. King, Philip A. Ferro, George E. Smith; KIA 07/29/67 Cecil B. Bridges; KIA 09/29/67 James M. Sunday; KIA 10/06/67 Gale A. Alldridge, Danny D. Burkhead, Charles W. Davis; KIA 11/10/67 Charles W. Grizzle; and KIA 05/06/68 John T. Hoskins Member Wesley K Lamham is recovering Adam Metts for Donald L. Bruckart T-111-2 KIA 03/31/69 from a stroke. He still can’t talk clearly but he VP Roy Moseman for Oscar Santiago C-2 4th/47th (10/67- can read. His right side is paralyzed. He is learn- 10/68) ing to walk. His wife said he said to say hi to Jasper Northcutt for SSGT Henry T. Aragon B-2 2nd/47th KIA everyone and that he missed going to the re- 08/23/67, SGT James E. Boorman B-2 2nd/47th KIA 08/27/67, SP4 James D. Bronakoski B-2 2nd/47th KIA 04/27/67, SP4 Mi- chael G. Hartnett B-2 2nd/47th KIA 04/27/67, SGT William D. Mize B-2 2nd/47th 5th/60th KIA 10/28/67, CPL Harold K. South- union. You may contact Wesley K. Lanham c/o wick B-2 2nd/47th Inf KIA 03/02/67 (first KIA in B Co. 2nd/47th 2630 NNW 1st St, Boynton, Beach, FL 33435, in Vietnam), and PFC Robert C. Voltz B-1 2nd/47th Inf (Mech) 561-586-2746.have a good and Wesley speedy served recovery. on the USS White KIA 3/11/67 (first KIA1st Platoon B Co. 2nd/47th in Vietnam) River LSMR-536 (3/67-7/68). May our brother Dave Remore for Paco 3rd/60th Inf KIA 05/02/67 and Bandido Dear Mr. Ardinger: Charlie 5th/60th Inf KIA 07/30/67 Tom Sanborn for Spec4 Thomas H. Williams A Co 4th/47th Inf KIA As a new member of MRFA, I was very pleased to 08/24/68 near Kia Lay, Spec4 David Thorton A Co 4th/47th Inf receive my first edition of “River Currents” and look KIA 11/07/68 on Toi Son (VC) Island, and lst Lt James L.Tarte A forward to more. Co 4th/47th Inf KIA 8/24/68 near Kai Lay My check for $25 as a sponsor is enclosed. It isn’t Chet “Gunner” Stanley for all the USN and USA KIAs of the MRFA much, but hopefully it will help. (1967-70) I was just completing basic training at Ft. Riley, Ken Sundberg for Michael David Sheahan 5th/60th KIA 02/25/68, Kansas, in February 1966 when the 9th Infantry Divi- Robert L. Conley 5th/60th KIA 02/01/68, and Glenn Dean Taylor 5th/60th KIA 02/01/68 sion was re-activated and was a member of the honor Robert Sutton for LT James Frost Vin Te Canal Chau Duc KIA guard at the ceremonies. 11/69 Thereafter, I was assigned to the 9th Administra- Robert Thacker for Earl T. Pelhan Jr. SSG KIA 15th Combat En- tion Company and served in that company from Feb- gineers ruary 1966 to November 1967. I went to Vietnam on Sgt. Okey Toothman for Sgt Sam Saavedra 3rd/47th and Sgt the USS General John Pope naval troopship and was Booker T. Myles 3rd/47th primarily stationed at Camp Bearcat. Steven Totcoff for my brother CPL Dennis S. Totcoff B Co 3rd/47th Keep up the good work. KIA 5/2/68 USS Guide MSO-447 for Shipmate and Brother Harold Foster Charlie Thompson 9th Adm. Co. (02/66-11/67) Tommy Walker USS Haverfield DER 393 (12/63-07/67) 301 E Bates #A6, La Plata MO 63549 Ronald Wallace for all those lost in 3rd/47th I’m an old-fashioned guy that doesn’t have e-mail. River Currents, Volume 19, Number 1 • Spring 2010 11

H2 - Washoe H3 - Tom Green H4 - Hampshire H1 - Westchester

H5 - Holmes H6 - Mark H8 - Carronade H9 - Sphinx

H10 - Krishna H11 - Askari H7 - Benewah H12 - Mercer H13 - Satyr

H14 - Hickman H15 - Clarion River

H16 - TF 115 H17 - Nueces H18 - Brule

H19 - TF 116 H20 - TF 117 Embroidered Hats H21 - Indra H22 - Colleton Perfect for any occasion. We have many ships hats. All are dark navy blue with pewter finish clasp with high-quality gold embroidered text and H28 - H23 - Shore Patrol are made of comfortable, long wearing MRFA Patch cotton. We have the hard to find items H24 - Whitfield H27 - IUWG-1 Patch the other guys don’t!

H26 - Benewah Patch

H25 - Navy Corpsman We’ve got a great selection of both Navy and 9th Infantry hats! H43 - CIB White All are made of quality 100% cotton with pewter H44 - CIB Olive finish clasp. Each has gold and/or silver Drab embroidery on a black base. H29 - 9th Infantry Patch MRFA and 9th Infantry hats are nylon blend with mesh back. Each has a large full-color logo. H31 - 9th MP Company Service Award hats are H30 - Combat Medic Combat Infantry Badge hats are available available in five styles in white with a dark blue bill and on an olive drab base. olive drab green. Made of high All cotton, washable quality woven cotton with fully H32 - 2nd/47th Mech. with pewter finish clasp. adjustable pewter clasp. H33 - 9th Med. Bn. H34 - Military Police Enjoy our new MRFA cap that is a six panel, full back (not H42 - MRF mesh) and fully adjustable embroidered with FULL COLOR Combat Action Ribbon LOGO AND RIBBONS! H38 - 9th Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) H36 - RAF - Army/Navy

H39 - MRF Svc. Ribbon

H45 - 9th Riverine

H35 - Old Reliables H37 - RAF - TF 117 H40 - 9th Svc. Ribbon H46 - MRF Tango

Riverine Infantry hats H41 - MRF Presidential H47 - MRF ASPB Alpha are tan base with rope braid trim on the brim. Unit Citation (PUC) Mobile Riverine Force Association 1857 County Rd. A14 Decorah, IA 52101 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

MRFA Sponsors Our expressed thanks to those who have become MRFA sponsors! It’s never too late to get on-board 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 River Currents, which in the past had to be absorbed by the printers. Sponsorships last for a period of one year, with your name and information appearing in four issues. Send your $25.00 payment to: Charlie Ardinger, 1857 County Rd. A14, Decorah IA 52101.

VISIT WWW.MRFA.ORG

General William A Knowlton ADC 9th Inf Div (1/68-6/68) Div Inf 9th ADC Knowlton A William General LCDR Leonard Previto CTF-117 (08/67-08/68) CTF-117 Previto Leonard LCDR

Ralph Dean USS Nueces APB-40 (1968-69) APB-40 Nueces USS Dean Ralph Dane Keller RivDiv 532 PBR-121 (05/69-05/70) PBR-121 532 RivDiv Keller Dane BM1 W. R. Posey YTB-785 (1967-68) YTB-785 Posey R. W. BM1 Admiral Elmo Zumwalt ComNavForV Zumwalt Elmo Admiral

06/71) Eugene Keany 1099th TC (MB) (08/65-07/66) (MB) TC 1099th Keany Eugene LTC Nathan Plotkin USA (Ret.) HQ 2nd Bde 2nd HQ (Ret.) USA Plotkin Nathan LTC John Zivic USS Vernon County LST-1161 (1967-69) LST-1161 County Vernon USS Zivic John

rn D L Oia abr laac Ui Oe (09/68- One Unit Clearance Harbor Oliva La De Frank Frank B. Jones RivRon 15 T-48 15 RivRon Jones B. Frank Col Pete Peterson USA (Ret.) Cdr 3rd/60th Inf 3rd/60th Cdr (Ret.) USA Peterson Pete Col Robert Zimmer XO USS Mercer APB-39 (1968-69) APB-39 Mercer USS XO Zimmer Robert

12/68) 01/67) 10/69) William Ziebarth 9th Signal Batt/39th Ant (1966-1967) Ant Batt/39th Signal 9th Ziebarth William

CSM Troy Davis USA Ret. Hq 2nd Bde 9th Sig (11/66- Sig 9th Bde 2nd Hq Ret. USA Davis Troy CSM ead ontn S Ne ony S-07 (01/66- LST-1067 County Nye USS Johnston Gerald er Ptr US ht Rvr LM-3) (11/67- (LSMR-536) River White USS Peters Terry Norm Wilkinson B. Co. 4th/47th Inf Inf 4th/47th Co. B. Wilkinson Norm

William Currier HSB 3rd/34th Arty (11/68-08/69) Arty 3rd/34th HSB Currier William Ron Jett T-92-8 (1/67-1/68) T-92-8 Jett Ron John Perry T-132-11 (6/68 6/69) (6/68 T-132-11 Perry John Stephen G. Wieting USS Benewah APB-35 (11/66-2/68) APB-35 Benewah USS Wieting G. Stephen

LTC Richard Crotty HHC 3rd Bde, 9th Inf (07/67-07/68) Inf 9th Bde, 3rd HHC Crotty Richard LTC David V. Jarczewski C Co 4th/47th Inf (5/66-5/68) Inf 4th/47th Co C Jarczewski V. David Luis Peraza Casanova D Co. 3rd/60th Inf (11/68-08/69) Inf 3rd/60th Co. D Casanova Peraza Luis Gary Weisz A-91-4 (10/67-07/68) A-91-4 Weisz Gary

Patrick Cooney A Co. 3rd/60th Inf (02/68-02/69) Inf 3rd/60th Co. A Cooney Patrick Alan G. Hyde 9th Signal (1966-68) Signal 9th Hyde G. Alan A-91-8 Boat Captain (11/67-12/68) Captain Boat A-91-8 Henry Washburn USS Colleton APB-36 (01/67-09/68) APB-36 Colleton USS Washburn Henry

Randall Cook USS Monmouth County (1970) County Monmouth USS Cook Randall MajGen Ira A. Hunt Jr. HHQ 9th Inf Div Inf 9th HHQ Jr. Hunt A. Ira MajGen BMC Dan Peckham USN (Ret.) C-91-1 Coxswain and and Coxswain C-91-1 (Ret.) USN Peckham Dan BMC Ron and Judy Wallace 3rd/47th Inf (05/66-08/67) Inf 3rd/47th Wallace Judy and Ron

(04/69-06/70) Roger D. Hite C Co. 3rd/47th Inf (04/67-01/68) Inf 3rd/47th Co. C Hite D. Roger (01/68-12/68) GMG1 Ricky Vice T-131-7 (1968/69) T-131-7 Vice Ricky GMG1

Michael Connolly RivRon 13 River Assault Div 132 132 Div Assault River 13 RivRon Connolly Michael Joe Hilliard T-48 (09/69-03/70) and T-44 (03/70-07/70) T-44 and (09/69-03/70) T-48 Hilliard Joe Capt Jerry L. Pape USN (Ret.) COMRIVFLOT ONE ONE COMRIVFLOT (Ret.) USN Pape L. Jerry Capt Bob and Nancy VanDruff T-91-5 and T-92-4 and T-91-5 VanDruff Nancy and Bob

Jack Collier C Co. 47th Inf/Reg WWII (1944) WWII Inf/Reg 47th Co. C Collier Jack Leo Haynes RivDiv 594 PBR-8120 (04/69-02/70) PBR-8120 594 RivDiv Haynes Leo John Oxley E Co. 3rd/47th Inf (01/65-11/67) Inf 3rd/47th Co. E Oxley John (07/67-05/68)

11/68) Kent Hawley YRBM-20 (10/60-10/70) YRBM-20 Hawley Kent Charles Ostrov HHC 2nd/47th Inf (01/68-12/68) Inf 2nd/47th HHC Ostrov Charles Roger C. Valentine CS1 US Navy (Ret) USS Askari Askari USS (Ret) Navy US CS1 Valentine C. Roger

Craig “Doc” Champion E and D Cos. 3rd/47th Inf (03/68- Inf 3rd/47th Cos. D and E Champion “Doc” Craig John Harrison C Co. 3rd/47th Inf 3rd/47th Co. C Harrison John Joseph Opatovsky PCF-103 (09/67-04/69) PCF-103 Opatovsky Joseph 11/68)

(10/65-03/68) SFC Michael Hanmer RivRon 13 and 153 (07/69-02/71) 153 and 13 RivRon Hanmer Michael SFC Christopher Olsen T-131-8 (05/68-05/69) T-131-8 Olsen Christopher ret adz C. t Paon r/9h n (11/67- Inf 3rd/39th Platoon 4th Co. B Valdez Ernest

RADM William Carlson CO USS White River LSMR-536 LSMR-536 River White USS CO Carlson William RADM Roger Hamilton, Jr. USS Mark AKL-12 (08/68-08/69) AKL-12 Mark USS Jr. Hamilton, Roger George R. O’Connell USS Terrell Cty LST-1157 Cty Terrell USS O’Connell R. George USS Terrell Cty LST-1157 Cty Terrell USS

John and Pamela Carlin in honor of Erol Tuzcu Erol of honor in Carlin Pamela and John 06/67) Jasper Northcutt B Co 2nd/47th Mech Inf (11/66-5/67) Inf Mech 2nd/47th Co B Northcutt Jasper Erol Tuzco A Co. 3rd/60th Inf (1968-69) Inf 3rd/60th Co. A Tuzco Erol

Victor Campbell USS Benewah (08/70-02/71) Benewah USS Campbell Victor 1stSgt Paul T. Hall USA (Ret.) USS Kemper Cty (02/67- Cty Kemper USS (Ret.) USA Hall T. Paul 1stSgt Lynden R. Noe USS Benewah (04/69-12/69) Benewah USS Noe R. Lynden 05/68)

Ralph Burnette A Co. 4th/47th (06/67-05/68) 4th/47th Co. A Burnette Ralph Daniel B. Hall, Jr. Staff ComRivFlot One (12/68-07/69) One ComRivFlot Staff Jr. Hall, B. Daniel Robert Nichols B Co. 3rd/60th Inf (10/68-08/69) Inf 3rd/60th Co. B Nichols Robert ila “og Tre US sai R-0 (05/67- ARL-30 Askari USS Turner “Doug” William

08/69) ty (12/66-08/69) ty MAJ Joe Nichols III CO C Co 3rd/60th Inf (1967) Inf 3rd/60th Co C CO III Nichols Joe MAJ Harley G. Timmerman T-132-10 (06/68-06/69) T-132-10 Timmerman G. Harley

Gn atr rd, r H 3d3t Atley (07/68- Artillery 3rd/34th HQ Jr. Bryde, Walter MGen - Coun Westchester USS and 111 Div River Haggerty Pat Saul Nava A Co.4th/47th Inf (09/68-07/69) Inf Co.4th/47th A Nava Saul Charles Thompson 9th Admin Co (02/66-11/67) Co Admin 9th Thompson Charles

Capt Kenneth Brown A Co. 3rd/60th Inf 3rd/60th Co. A Brown Kenneth Capt Thomas Hagel B Co. 2nd/47th Inf (01/68-02/69) Inf 2nd/47th Co. B Hagel Thomas Paul Nace USS Colleton (09/68-11/69) Colleton USS Nace Paul Wynn Thies C Co. 2nd/39th Inf (09/67-09/68) Inf 2nd/39th Co. C Thies Wynn

Brothers of the 2nd/47th (Mech) Inf (Mech) 2nd/47th the of Brothers Larry Gunner Ethridge USS Askari ARL-30 Askari USS Ethridge Gunner Larry Co Van My TF-115.3.7 Cat Lo Cat TF-115.3.7 My Van Co John Swart T-132-1 (04/68-04/69) T-132-1 Swart John

MajGen Blackie Bolduc USA (Ret.) Cdr 3rd/47th Inf 3rd/47th Cdr (Ret.) USA Bolduc Blackie MajGen James (Jim) Grooms NSA Danang (1966-68) Danang NSA Grooms (Jim) James Roy and Lynn Moseman 4th/47th Inf 4th/47th Moseman Lynn and Roy (11/68-05/69)

01/69) Regina Gooden Associate Member Associate Gooden Regina Joe Moore, Jr. USS Colleton (11/66-11/67) Colleton USS Jr. Moore, Joe Robert Sutton RivRon 9 M-92-2, Z-92-11, and R-92-1 R-92-1 and Z-92-11, M-92-2, 9 RivRon Sutton Robert

hms onr ad Cs 2d3t If (02/68- Inf 2nd/39th Cos. C and A Bogner Thomas Lee Gavet 4th/47th Inf (03/69-07/69) Inf 4th/47th Gavet Lee J. Russell and Alice Moore A-91-5 (11/68-06/69) A-91-5 Moore Alice and Russell J. John P. Sturgil USS Colleton APB-36 Colleton USS Sturgil P. John

69) lery (01/68-01/69) lery Albert and Sara Moore USS Benewah APB-35 Benewah USS Moore Sara and Albert Alan Strickland A Co. 2nd/47th (Mech) Inf (Mech) 2nd/47th Co. A Strickland Alan

Capt Peveril Blundell USN (Ret.) ComRivRon 13 (1968- 13 ComRivRon (Ret.) USN Blundell Peveril Capt - Artil 3rd/34th Btry C 1SG Garza M. Homer (Ret.), CSM Paul Moody USS Pivot MSO-463 (1966-67) MSO-463 Pivot USS Moody Paul Art Streeper Boat Captain T-91-2 (01/68-02/69) T-91-2 Captain Boat Streeper Art

Tom Bityk IUWG-1-Vung Tau/Ha Tein (05/69-05/70) Tein Tau/Ha IUWG-1-Vung Bityk Tom Tony Garvey C Co 4th/47th (1968) 4th/47th Co C Garvey Tony Nicholas P. Miller COS RAS Div 152 (7/68-6/69) 152 Div RAS COS Miller P. Nicholas 68)

Robert Bischoff CDR A Co 4th/47th Inf (07/67-07/68) Inf 4th/47th Co A CDR Bischoff Robert Ronald Garcia USS Windham Cty LST-1170 (1966-68) LST-1170 Cty Windham USS Garcia Ronald 12/68) ht Gne” tne C111 n M113 (1966- M-111-3 and C-111-1 Stanley “Gunner” Chet

Jack Benedick C Co. 4th/47th Inf 4th/47th Co. C Benedick Jack Gamewardens of Vietnam Mid-Atlantic Chapter Mid-Atlantic Vietnam of Gamewardens d Dvd ilr S (e. C Rvi 12 (11/67- 112 RivDiv CO (Ret.) USN Miller David Cdr Inf

William Befort B Co. 1st Plt 4th/47th (02/66-09/67) 4th/47th Plt 1st Co. B Befort William Nan Fulton Associate Member Associate Fulton Nan Alan Metzger LCUs NSA Danang NSA LCUs Metzger Alan BrGen Douglas Smith USA (Ret.) Cdr 2nd/47th (Mech) (Mech) 2nd/47th Cdr (Ret.) USA Smith Douglas BrGen

11/68) Dean Fritz and Carol Campbell Carol and Fritz Dean Adam Metts T-111-2 (8/69-10/69) T-111-2 Metts Adam Terry Sloat River Assault Squadron 11 (12/68-4/69) 11 Squadron Assault River Sloat Terry

Bill “Doc” Barber USS Harnett County LST-821 (01/68- LST-821 County Harnett USS Barber “Doc” Bill Terrance Fetters HHQ 3rd/47th Inf (4/69-7/69) Inf 3rd/47th HHQ Fetters Terrance Big Jim Meehan IUWG-1 Nha Trang Nha IUWG-1 Meehan Jim Big William Sinclair CDR USS White River (04/65-02/68) River White USS CDR Sinclair William

Christian Bachofer ComRivDiv 92 (07/68-06/69) 92 ComRivDiv Bachofer Christian 11/70) Thomas L. “Mac” McLemore T-112-7 (12/66-12/67) T-112-7 McLemore “Mac” L. Thomas (05/67-05/68)

07/68) Cdr Kirk Ferguson USN (Ret.) ComStabRon-20 (11/69- ComStabRon-20 (Ret.) USN Ferguson Kirk Cdr Colleton (11/68-01/69) Colleton Richard Simpson “Mule” C Co 3rd/47th Inf 9th Inf Div Div Inf 9th Inf 3rd/47th Co C “Mule” Simpson Richard

hre Abr US ant Cut LT81 (04/67- LST-821 County Harnett USS Aubert Charles Edith Ethridge Associate Member Associate Ethridge Edith Sgt E-5 Ken McLean B Co. 4th/47th Inf 2nd Bde USS USS Bde 2nd Inf 4th/47th Co. B McLean Ken E-5 Sgt Jerry Shearer C Co 3rd/60th Inf (04/67-04/68) Inf 3rd/60th Co C Shearer Jerry

11/67) 04/69) James Masters USS Askari (09/69-08/70) Askari USS Masters James Col Sam L. Schutte USA (Ret.) B Co 4th/47th Inf (VN) Inf 4th/47th Co B (Ret.) USA Schutte L. Sam Col

Dale Ashley USS Monmouth County LST-1032 (11/66- LST-1032 County Monmouth USS Ashley Dale Christopher Emerson CWO USA (Ret) A-112-4 (04/68- A-112-4 (Ret) USA CWO Emerson Christopher David Lull B Co. 2nd/47th Inf (03/69-05/70) Inf 2nd/47th Co. B Lull David Jerry (Doc) Schuebel B Co. 3rd/60th Inf 3rd/60th Co. B Schuebel (Doc) Jerry

1st Sgt John J. Armstrong HQ 3rd/47th Inf (4/66-1/68) Inf 3rd/47th HQ Armstrong J. John Sgt 1st 05/69) James and Debby Lowe APL-26 (05/68-05/69) APL-26 Lowe Debby and James Harry David Schoenian C Co 4th/47th Inf (7/68-7/69) Inf 4th/47th Co C Schoenian David Harry

G. Edward Arledge USS Indra ARL-37 (04/68-11/68) ARL-37 Indra USS Arledge Edward G. en . ditn r Pt C. r/0h n (06/68- Inf 3rd/60th Co. B Plt 3rd Edmiston P. Leon Richard Lorman T-152-6 (6/68-6/69) T-152-6 Lorman Richard Elbert Sawley, Jr. USS Mauna Loa (1967-68) Loa Mauna USS Jr. Sawley, Elbert

Charlie and Georginia Ardinger T-151-11 Ardinger Georginia and Charlie Virgie Eblen Associate Member Associate Eblen Virgie Ken Locke USS White River LSMR-536 River White USS Locke Ken Norman Saunders B Co 3rd/39th Inf (1/69-8/69) Inf 3rd/39th Co B Saunders Norman

LT H. M. “Murk” Alexander ComRivDiv 132 (6/68 6/69) (6/68 132 ComRivDiv Alexander “Murk” M. H. LT

Paul Eastham T-132-11 (05/69-07/69) T-132-11 Eastham Paul Tom Lively C Battery 3rd/34th Inf (10/68-09/69) Inf 3rd/34th Battery C Lively Tom Tom Sanborn A Co 4th/47th Inf (06/68-06/69) Inf 4th/47th Co A Sanborn Tom

Dallas Abbott A Co. 3rd/60th Inf (6/67-6/68) Inf 3rd/60th Co. A Abbott Dallas Robert B. Durrett T-112-7 (1/67-12/67) T-112-7 Durrett B. Robert Walter F. Lineberger III XO RivDiv 91 (1968-69) 91 RivDiv XO III Lineberger F. Walter Bonni Rosner Associate Member Associate Rosner Bonni

SPONSORS Ken Dudek for Erol Tuzcu 3rd/60th Inf 3rd/60th Tuzcu Erol for Dudek Ken Bob Lennon USS White River (1966-68) River White USS Lennon Bob Joseph K. Rosner RivRon 15 M-6 15 RivRon Rosner K. Joseph

Dan Dodd PHC (Ret) ComRivFlot-One (Ret) PHC Dodd Dan (11/68-07/69) Donald and Marijo Robbins USS Benewah APB-35 Benewah USS Robbins Marijo and Donald

Buddy Deuell, III T-132-8 (05/68-05/69) T-132-8 III Deuell, Buddy LTC Nicholas M. Laiacona USA (Ret.) C Co. 3rd/60th Inf Inf 3rd/60th Co. C (Ret.) USA Laiacona M. Nicholas LTC Paul A. Ray M-151-5 (6/69-7/70) M-151-5 Ray A. Paul