I got to be involved in one more amphibious landing before we returned to the USA. This one was a little bit further south. It looked like someone poked a finger at the map and said “We need another airfield about here”. The place did not have a prior name. It was just an open … More Third Landing – Chu Lai
During our first stay in Danang harbor/bay we were quite concerned about security. The possibility of a hostile swimmer reaching the ship and planting a bomb on the hull was taken very seriously. One of the measures we took wa to keep two boats out at night circling the anchorage. Each boat crew consisted of … More Danang harbor patrol
Landing at Hue 14 April 1965 After a short interval the amphibious group embarked another Marine battalion to bring to Vietnam. The combat troops went ashore in Danag and were moved, mostly by helicopter, to the town of Phu Bai, almost adjacent to the old city of Hue. Heavy equipment and supplies would be delivered … More Landing at Hue – 14 April 1965
Squeezing Electrons My second ship, USS Union (AK-106), was a leftover from the Second World War. She had been upgraded over the years, but, at heart, she was still from an era long past. One of the things added wasa radar installation. Union actually had 2 radars. One was primarily for air search, and the … More Squeezing Electrons
Danang Landings I had barely reported to my new ship, USS Union, when we sortied from Subic Bay and headed, once again, for the coast of Vietnam. But this trip was different. Previously we had just sailed back and forth I readiness to intervene if necessary. This trip we headed to Danang bay and prepared … More Danang Landings
I actually did get to practice my skill as an air intercept controller twice after graduating from the school We were with the Seventh Fleet and participating in a SEATO naval exercise. The first simulated raid got to take on was inbound. I was given an English De Hhaviland Sea Vixen to control. I ordered … More Real intercept control
Once out of the hospital at Great Lakes I was available for reassignment. The Bureau of Naval personnel began casting about for where to send me. In the meantime, I was temporarily assigned to the staff of Ninth Naval District with headquarters in Chicago. It was a rotten job. During the short time was there … More Temporary duty – Ninth Naval District
Mrdevac is a short form for medical evacuation. I learned about it first and by being the subject of one. Here’s how I remember it. When the Valley Forge was assigned to the Seventh Fleet in the Far East the Captain wanted his best trained people on duty. The CIC (combat Information Center) watch was … More Midway Medevac
Shore Patrol Olongapo – 2 When I was liaison to the Philippine Police I witnessed a few interesting encounters. During a SEATO exercise an Australian destroyer made a port visit to Olongapo. It was easy to predict what happened when the Aussie and American sailors were in a bar together. We started getting reports of … More Shore Patrol- Olongapo – 2
Shore Patrol – Olongapo – 1 During the time I served in the US Navy there was a major American naval base at Olongapo in Subic Bay in the Philippines. Seventh Fleet ships were regularly scheduled for visits there. It wasn’t a great place to visit. The naval base was separated from the town by … More Shore Patrol – Olongapo – 1
Wetherhorn 