Criteria The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service... The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service during the current War on Terrorism. In addition, all members of the National Guard and Reserve who were part of the Selected Reserve in good standing between August 2, 1990, to November 30, 1995, are eligible for the National Defense Service Medal. In the case of Navy personnel, Midshipment attending the Naval Academy during the qualifying periods are eligible for this award, and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Midshipmen ae only eligible if they participated in a summer cruise that was in an area which qualified for a campaign medal. MoreHide
Criteria The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces in the grades of lieutenant commander (or major) and below. It is awarded for meritorious service or achieveme... The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces in the grades of lieutenant commander (or major) and below. It is awarded for meritorious service or achievement in either combat or noncombat based on sustained performance or specific achievement of a superlative nature but which does not warrant a Navy Commendation Medal or higher. It may not be awarded for service involving participation in aerial flight after January 1, 1969. MoreHide
Criteria
The Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal is intended to provide Naval Reservists an award which is the equivalent to the Navy Good Conduct Medal.
Criteria The Combat Action Ribbon is a personal decoration awarded to members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard (when operating under the control of the Navy) in the grade of captain (or colonel in th... The Combat Action Ribbon is a personal decoration awarded to members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard (when operating under the control of the Navy) in the grade of captain (or colonel in the Marine Corps) and below who have actively participated in ground or surface combat. MoreHide
Description
Service aboard USS Braine (DD-630) in Vietnam
Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa... The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, for any period of service during the same time period in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. MoreHide
Criteria The Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Colors) was authorized to be worn by units individually cited for service in military operations in support of the government of Sout... The Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Colors) was authorized to be worn by units individually cited for service in military operations in support of the government of South Vietnam. The actions cited are for the same services that would have resulted in the award of a Valorous Unit Citation by the Army or a Navy Unit Citation MoreHide
Description This Campaign period was from 1 June 1967 to 29 January 1968. By mid-1967, the Navy's Military Sea Transportation Service operated a fleet of 527 reactivated World War II Reserve Fleet ships and chartThis Campaign period was from 1 June 1967 to 29 January 1968. By mid-1967, the Navy's Military Sea Transportation Service operated a fleet of 527 reactivated World War II Reserve Fleet ships and chartered vessels under U.S. and foreign registry. Throughout this period, MSTS shipping carried over 40,000 U.S. and allied combat and support troops to South Vietnam. The allied requirements for transportation were passed from MSTS representatives in the ports of Danang, Chu Lai, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Vung Tau, Phan Rang, and Vung Ro through the MSTS office in Saigon to the MSTS Far East, headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and finally to Commander MSTS in the United States. Many types of vessels sailed in the MSTS fleet, including converted escort carriers Core, Card, Point Cruz (T-AKV 19), and Kula Gulf (T-AKV 8), which served as aircraft ferries. Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH 1), formerly seaplane tender Albermarle (AV 5), operated as a helicopter repair ship for the Army. In addition to the great number of standard cargo hulls, the service operated ships that carried cargo stowed in easily handled containers and new roll-on/roll-off ships that could quickly load and unload vehicles through rear or side ports. Arriving at Danang on 1 August 1967, Bienville was the first such container vessel to reach South Vietnam. Fuel tankers included the 190,000-barrel capacity Maumee (T-AO 149), the 140,000-barrel Cache (T-AO 67), and the 30,000-barrel Chattahoochee (T-AOG 82), the latter of which was used for storage and shuttle services in-country.
MSTS also controlled as many as 16 troop transports in the Pacific during the buildup of forces in South Vietnam. A fleet of LSTs, the number of which increased from 17 to 42 by mid-1968, handled cargo shuttling along the coast. In-port lighterage and terminal duties were accomplished by the MSTS-contracted Alaska Barge and Transport Company, which operated 19 tugs and 33 barges. The total MSTS effort ensured that the 550,000-man U.S. contingent in South Vietnam was well supplied, armed, and prepared to stay in the battle against the determined enemy.
Naval Support Activity, Saigon, which the Navy activated on 17 May 1966, two days after HSAS ceased operations, was charged with providing logistic support to naval units in the II, III, and IV Corps Tactical Zones. The newly created NAVFORV directed the operations of NSA Saigon. The support activity supplied the Navy's Coastal Surveillance Force, River Patrol Force, Riverine Assault Force, and the various specialized headquarters, offices, and detachments operating in the three southern corps areas. NSA Saigon provided the commands with ammunition, weapons, and communications equipment; transported cargo and personnel; repaired and maintained ships and craft; stocked spare parts; and built bases and facilities. Finally, NSA saw to the quartering, messing, payroll, and recreational needs of the naval officers and enlisted personnel in Vietnam.
The Saigon activity developed subordinate support bases for the combat forces similar to those of NSA Danang's. NSA Saigon detachments at Qui Nhon, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh Bay, An Thoi, Cat Lo, and Vung Tau primarily served the Market Time operation, although the last two bases were home to other naval combat units as well. The concentration of the Task Force 115 headquarters, naval air units, and other large contingents at Cam Ranh Bay required greater command authority and logistic resources. As a result, in September 1967, NSA Saigon upgraded the detachment to the Naval Support Facility, Cam Ranh Bay. Detachments were also established at Can Tho (and later moved to nearby Binh Thuy), Nha Be, Vinh Long, Sa Dec, My Tho, Tan Chau, and Long Xuyen. These units saw to the special needs of the Task Force 116 PBR commands. The Naval Support Activity, Saigon, Detachment Dong Tam, supplied only the Mobile Riverine Force naval units. ... More
Description Operation Sea Dragon occurred during the Vietnam War and was a series of American-led naval operations beginning in 1966 to interdict sea lines of communications and supply going south from North VietOperation Sea Dragon occurred during the Vietnam War and was a series of American-led naval operations beginning in 1966 to interdict sea lines of communications and supply going south from North Vietnam to South Vietnam, and to destroy land targets with naval gunfire, as well as to give CIA officers in the area who had sited the targets room to withdraw to extraction zones. The primary purpose of Sea Dragon forces was the interception and destruction of waterborne logistic craft (WBLC), which ranged in size from large self-propelled barges down to small junks and sampans. United States Navy advisers were assigned to the South Vietnamese Navy (VNN) and American minesweepers assisted South Vietnamese Navy ships in carrying out patrols near the Demilitarized Zone. Specially modified attack helicopters were used to pursue North Vietnamese ships and disable them, leaving the ships to be boarded by American and South Vietnamese naval commandos.... More
Memories It was 1966. I can't remember the date but, it had to have been sometime around the first of June. IIt was 1966. I can't remember the date but, it had to have been sometime around the first of June. I remember walking past the piers in San Diego, looking for a destroyer. I was told in Boot-Camp, that a Fletcher-Class Destroyer had Two-Stacks, and finally finding this Single-Stack ship with the hull-number 630 on it. It was the right number but, how could this be a destroyer? I walked past it twice before asking someone where the USS Braine was. I later discovered the stack that was missing, was removed to repair the boilers.
I reported aboard the Braine at the wrong time of day, because the OOD was the First-Lieutenant; LTJG Tieslau. First Division had openings, and he was in charge of First Division; so, I was assigned to First Division. Here I was; trained in electronics, and on the Deck-Force. And, nothing I could do about it. I figured I'd better make the best of it, so I didn't complain, at least not out loud.
The ship had just received 42-Midshipmen. So; there were no racks or lockers available. I was told to stow my gear in mount 54's Handling-Room.
Mount 54 is a 5-Inch gun, mounted in a turret. The Handling-Room is the area under the gun-turret where the powder and projectiles are kept at the ready, after they are transferred from the magazine. Since we weren't shooting, the room was empty. As I recall, it was a rectangular room with some sort of hangers on the bulkhead, and pretty small. There were three of us bunking in there. Everything I owned was in my seabag. I had to unpack and repack every day. That was not fun. I slept on the deck, with no bedding, because I had no bed.
Watches; My first assignment was the After-Lifebuoy station, when the ship was underway. I wasn't assigned watches in port, yet. After-Lifebuoy; What a neat name. It was called that because the responsibility of the person on watch was to look for people in the water, and throw them a Life-Ring, and, more important; report to the bridge so we could pick them up.
We would stand our watch in the Gun-Tub of Mount 33, which was on the 02 Level near the stern. There were always two people on watch. One wore the Sound-Powered-Phones and was in constant contact with the bridge, along with CIC; Combat Information Center, and the Look-Outs. Both people would watch the stern of the ship and the horizon, looking for anything in the water, especially people. I never saw any people in the water.
There was one night; we were on watch; it was really dark, no Moon, and we were at Darken-Ship. I remember wearing those red-lensed glasses for an hour before going on watch. We had been on watch for about an hour when I saw this red thing, kinda oval in shape, hovering on the horizon. At first I thought, It's a UFO, and we talked about it for some time, trying to determine what it was. I was on the phones. I called the Bridge and reported what I thought I saw. They laughed, and told me there was nothing on radar, and it must be my imagination. I kept looking at it; It kept getting bigger. Then, all of a sudden, I realized it was the Aircraft-Carrier?s Hanger-Deck lights. I could see people walking around on the Hanger-Deck. I called the bridge again, and reported the carrier; close abeam on the Port side. All of a sudden, the ship rumbled, we got covered in black soot, and the ship was turning to Starboard. We almost collided with the carrier. I don?t know if that was ever recorded, but it happened.
While on watch, we sometimes talked about what it would be like to stand the Lookout watch. So, one day I asked Ski, actually his name was BM1 Mikulski, if I could trade with someone, and stand Lookout instead of After-Lifebuoy, and he said yes. That was exhilarating. To get to the watch-station you had to go through the bridge, then outside to a ladder, and climb up on Top of the Bridge. There were these two-sided Plexiglas-enclosed areas, like a wind-break, one on each side, overlooking the bow. I stood Port Lookout.
Standing up there, the ship crashing into the waves, water spraying up, almost up to the bridge. Wow! We each had binoculars and Sound-Powered-Phones, and were to watch for anything on the horizon, and report to the bridge. I didn't see much, but I really enjoyed being up there. I was on top of the world. I got to stand that watch twice.
Anyways; Three-section watches; Ugh! So, let's see; I had to get up in the morning before the rest of the ship. Sweepers, Sweepers, Man Your Brooms; which meant I had to get a broom and sweep the ship in a particular area. Then get in the chow-line, at the end, because everyone else got in line while I was sweeping. Hurry and eat because Quarters was called at 0800. Muster on the forecastle in port, and, on the Port-Side, aft of frame-72, when underway. Frame-72; That was a place where the Bow-Area was cordoned off by doors, one on each side of the ship. When we were underway, no one was allowed forward of Frame-72, except for authorized personnel.
Then; It was Turn-Two, Commence Ships Work, my assignment; find little rust-spots, scrape them, wire-brush them, then red-lead or zinc-chromate them, then paint them. Haze-Gray for bulkheads, and Deck-Gray for decks.
So; Underway, Shift Colors. It was 11 June. The ship is full because of the Mid-Shipmen. Some are in blue-jeans others are in khaki. We had both, Third-Class and First-Class Midshipmen. The Third-Class were sophomores in college and this was there first trip At Sea. The First-Class were seniors in college and were to be Commissioned, after graduation. So, now I have Working-Hours; 0800 to 1600, and watches to stand.
It went something like this: Up before reveille, sweep, go to breakfast, go on watch at 0800. Stand watch 'til Noon , go to Lunch. Report for work at 1300. Work 'til 1600 then, sweepers, just before dinner, causing the end of line position, again. Go eat (fast) because I'm on watch at 1745. Actually, we got to go to the head of the chow-line as Watch-Relief's. I get the Second-Dog-Watch. On watch from 1800 to 2000. Then; Time for bed. Down to the Handling-Room. Grab my towel. Take a shower. Get dressed. Lay on the deck. Go to sleep. Up at 0330 because I'm on watch at 0345 I have the 0400 to 0800 watch.
When you get the 0400 to 0800, you get to have breakfast after the watch, then report to the boatswain's mate, sometimes, without going to quarters, otherwise you wouldn?t have enough time to eat. Then back to work as close to 0800 as you can make it.
Then it's this strange routine: Watches go like this: 0800 to Noon, then the 2nd Dog; 1800 to 2000, next morning the 0400 to 0800, then the 1st. Dog; 1600 to 1800, and the Mid-Watch; Midnight to 0400, of the Third-Day, then 1200 to 1600, then 2000 to Midnight, then back to the 0800 to Noon; all, over a 4-Day period. And; Work from 0800 to 1600, when you're not on watch. In addition to all of that, it was, General Quarters, General Quarters; All Hands Man Your Battle Stations.
Since we were on a training cruise to Hawaii for the Midshipmen and the crew, we had GQ; General Quarters, at all hours, lots of times. My station was Mount 51 Projectile-Man, I was later moved to the pointer position for Condition-1AS, and for Condition-1AA; it was Mount 31 handler. I was later moved to the loader position for Mount 31.
Mount 51 is the forward-most 5-Inch gun. My first job was to put the 54-Pound projectile on the breach-loader in front of the powder-can, and push the lever to load the gun. The second position was as the pointer. That was fun. I got to rotate these Pistol-Grip-Handles which, in turn, would cause the barrel of the gun to go up and down; until it was switched to automatic; then the Gun-Director took care of aiming the gun.
Mount 31 was located on the Port side, amidships. It was a Twin-Mount-3-Inch/50-Caliber gun. The projectile and powder were in one piece. It looked kinda like a 30-30 Rifle-Cartridge, only much bigger, about 3-Feet long. My first job was to pass the bullet to the loader, and later, I became the loader. As loader, I got to put this bullet into the revolving magazine while the gun was shooting. That was exciting.
The Mess-Decks were located two-decks below the Main-Deck. The Chow-Line started on the Main-Deck, on the Port-Side, at Frame-72. You went down a ladder to a deck that passed the Ships-Post-Office, then down a ladder to a deck where the Ships-Store and the beginning of the buffet-line, or chow line, was. You went through the line, got your food, then went through a door, into the eating area. All the tables and seats were welded in place; the seats against the bulkhead had cushions with storage underneath. There was a hatch leading down to the Reefer-Deck just inside the door. The forward bulkhead had two doors leading to First-Division Berthing. In the center of the forward bulkhead were a Coke-Machine and the Movie-Screen, rolled up. On the aft bulkhead were the coffee-pot and the drink-machines.
Eating there was fun when we were underway. You grabbed your knife, fork and spoon, and put them in your shirt-pocket. Slipped your finger into the handle of a coffee-cup, grabbed a tray, went down the line, got your food, and proceeded through the door to sit. Once at the table, you had to ask someone to watch my tray, because if the ship rolled your food could leave the table. Get your drink, milk, coffee, or Bug-Juice. Bug-Juice was some sort of Kool-Aide that was green, red, or yellow. Then, back to the table; hold your tray, from sliding, hold your drink, from spilling, and eat.
I am right-handed; so, my right hand held my fork while I ate and my left hand had my index-finger in the cup-handle and my left-thumb held the tray. When I drank, my right thumb held the tray. It was a practiced skill, to say the least.
After eating you exited on the Starboard side, passing the scullery, up the ladder, to the deck where the Personnel-Office, the entrance to Officers Country, and the IC-Room; where the main Gyro-Compass and Targeting Computers were kept, then up the next ladder to the Main-Deck at Frame-72.
One night I was heading up from the messdecks. At the top of the ladder, on the main-deck, there was this guy. He was sitting on the deck, in the passageway, in front of Trans-One; Surface Radar Transmitter Room Number One. He had this multi-meter in his lap and was looking at this tech-manual. I asked; What are you doing? And he said; Trying to figure out why this row of tubes won't light up. Well; me, with my vast knowledge, Mmmm, well, at least I thought so, asked if I could help, and he said; How?. I explained that I had gone to three years of school for electronics, and was not given A-School out of Boot-Camp, even though I was promised it, but was sent here instead. He said; Okay, take a look. He moved over. I sat down. Took the meter. Measured the filament voltage, it was zero. I traced the circuit back to a blown fuse. He was impressed. He?d been looking at this thing for hours, and he was tired, too.
He asked me to wait there while he went to get a replacement fuse, so he wouldn't have to lock the door. While he was gone, I shorted the fuse with some solder, which, of course turned the radar on, and hooked up an oscilloscope to the end of the string of tubes. It turned out to be the receiver-amplifier. Kinda like an IF-Strip in a radio, if you know what that is. While I was tinkering, this door opened up next to me, it was CIC; Combat Information Center, and this Lieutenant stepped out. He asked me who I was, and what I was doing. Oops. After I explained what had happened, and the ET returned and confirmed my story, We; both, were put on report and scheduled for XO's Mast. I was an E2 with no clearance, from First-Division, and should not have been in the transmitter-room.
Well; During XO's mast, I got to tell my story, and as a result, got no disciplinary action. And; due to the radar being fixed, I finally got transferred into OI Division as an electronics technician striker; but, not without restrictions. The First-Class Boatswains' Mate; Ski, wanted to keep me for watches and the GQ-Station, until the Middies got off the ship. Well; At least I was in the Electronics-Group.
Arrived in Hawaii; Two, very long weeks later. My Dad was working for the Navy Yard, in Pearl Harbor at the time, and was standing on the pier when we arrived. I was working below decks, and didn't see him. He came aboard, without me knowing, and asked the Quarterdeck Watch if I could be let off the ship. I had duty so I was supposed to stay on the ship.
He asked to speak to the Captain, and got special permission to get me off the ship. I was in big trouble with my section-leader. The First Class ET; McNiece, was not very happy, either. He told me; Someone else would have to take my place, that didn't have duty, and that wasn't fair. Even though I found out after the fact; I got the day off, and spent the next three weeks paying for it. Ah, what the heck.
I remember; The 3rd. Class Midshipmen wore a white hat, like ours, except it had this blue-ring around the top, as part of their uniform. I was on the pier one day and overheard another sailor explaining to this young lady, who was visiting the ship, that the blue-ring meant that person had a venereal disease; VD. It got to be quite the joke on the ship; we started calling them VD-Hats. After 3 days, I think, in Pearl we were off again, on our way to Everett, Washington, and San Francisco. Then back to San Diego.
After the Middies left, I was finally assigned a rack and a locker. But, there was no room in the OI Division Compartment, so I ended up in the Supply-Compartment. The Supply-Compartment was an area at the stern of the ship, just under the main-deck, and just above the screws, and very noisy when the ship was at sea. At least I had my own rack, and a place to put my stuff.
Anyways; my job was to clean the After-Head. The head was located on the main-deck. You would go up the ladder from the berthing compartment, into Mount 53?s handling room, through the door into the toilet-area. If you went further forward you went into the shower-area, then through a door where the ET-Shop and ships office were, and the exit-door to the main-deck.
I got to clean toilets and urinals, and polish the bright-work in the morning; And, in the afternoon I was the compartment cleaner. I got to sweep and wash the deck, collect and distribute the laundry, empty the butt-kits and empty the trash. These were the after effects of the stop in Hawaii, thanks to my Dad.
After the 3-weeks or so, I got somewhat of a reprieve from ET1 McNiece. I had finished my courses for E3 and he recommended me for promotion to E3. A pay-raise, and I was assigned some actual ET-Work. It seemed there was more work to do than there were people. I got to do PMS-Checks on some of the electronics equipment. PMS was the term used to abbreviate the Preventive Maintenance Schedule set up for all shipboard equipment.
Soon after I was promoted, it was close to the time when someone would have to be assigned to the mess-decks as a mess-cook, from the operations department.
About every three-months, there was this rotation of E3 and below personnel. The messdecks required people to serve the food, make the coffee, wash the dishes, actually they were aluminum trays, and clean. The term for these people was Mess-Cook, even though they never really cooked anything. All departments would send an E3 or below to perform this service.
After the Middy Cruise, we were scheduled to go to WestPac; The Western Pacific, in October, so we were involved in ASW exercises off the coast of California, and I was excused from mess-cooking because of my work in the head and the compartment.
In August, we got the word our WestPac-Cruise had been changed to September; about 30-days sooner. So our exercises were canceled, and we went back to San Diego early, to prepare for deployment, on 14 September.
After we departed, I was allowed to test for ETR3. I had finished my practical-factors and courses. I took the test, and, poof; I was promoted to ETR3. Whew; I didn?t have to go mess-cooking. Thank heavens. That was my first waiver. Normally, I would have had to wait at least a year before being allowed to test for advancement.
Because I'd made E4, I was assigned to trans-one as my GQ Station, and no more watches at sea. I thought I would have more time to sleep. Wrong. We ET's had no underway-watches, so we were called upon to fix the electronic equipment anytime it broke. Which was often; at least it seemed often.
The ET-Gang had 12-people, including me. Six were assigned or specialized in radio equipment and five were assigned to the radar equipment. The ET1 was the supervisor of both. The Radar group; my assignment, had two radars, surface search AN/SPS-10, and air search AN/SPS-6, the IFF; Identification Friend or Foe Equipment, the ECM; Electronics Countermeasures Equipment, the repeaters; the display equipment, and all associated test-equipment, to take care of. If the radar went down, we fixed it. It didn't matter if it was 2-in-the-morning or 3-in-the-afternoon. And, we worked 'til it was fixed. Sometimes 10 to 12 hours. And; we weren't allowed to go to bed during working hours; 0800 to 1600. It was a rule. So, we napped where we could; in the shop, under a bench, in a transmitter room, with permission, of course.
Next; Underway and back to Hawaii, first stop. We were supposed to stop for only a couple of days, but one of the ships-generators broke. We ended up staying in Pearl for 12 days. That was fun. My Dad was working at the Naval Station, so I got to use his car. A couple of my buddies and I got to spend a few days at my parents' house on the Kaneohe side of the island. When I had duty, I had to qualify for, and stand the Petty-Officer of the Watch on the Quarter-Deck, in 4-Sections. That wasn?t so bad.
Then 1 October; we're off, on our way to Yankee Station; a designated operations area off the coast of Vietnam. We went through a typhoon. We invented this imaginary guy named Don Lifejackets, because of all the Foul-Weather, and because we had no In-Board passageway. The only way to get from berthing to the forward part of the ship was outside, on the weather-deck. Every half-hour or so, the 1-MC would announce; All hands stand clear of the main deck, those traversing fore and aft, don lifejackets; It got to be a joke. Who is this guy, Don Lifejackets, anyway?
One night, during the storm, I was called to the bridge to fix a repeater; The radar display device. It was late. I don't remember the time but, the Captain was sitting in his High-Chair; This chair was about three-feet off the deck, it was high. When I reported to the bridge the Captain asked my name. That was the first time I was in close proximity to the Captain. He then asked if the repeater could be fixed fast, because they needed it. I said yes, sir; of course, and went to work. I don't recall what the problem was, but I was able to get it fixed in less than an hour.
While I was working on the repeater, the Captain lit a cigar. Several of the bridge group got sea-sick, I think, because of the cigar. The helmsman asked to be relieved because he was getting sick. I was about to leave the bridge when the Captain asked me if I was sick. I said no, so he told me to take over the helm, until a relief could arrive. That was cool. He told me to watch the compass and keep the ship on course something, something, something; I don?t remember the numbers.
Anyways; One by one, everyone on the bridge was getting sick. There were 100-Foot-Swells, the ship was rolling and pitching, and for some reason it didn't affect me. I was having fun.
I had been at the helm for about an hour, and at one point, the Captain left the bridge. On his way down to Officers Country he asked if I was hungry. It was after chow-time and I hadn't left the bridge to go eat. The galley was serving Mid-Rats; food like sandwiches, and snacks. When he returned, he had a plate with sandwiches and two pickled eggs. He, this really happened, asked if I'd like a sandwich and an egg. I said yes, sir; of course, I was hungry. I think the Captain was testing my ability to not get sick. It worked; I like pickled-eggs. I never did get sea-sick.
I finally got relieved from the helm, and went back to my rack. As it turned out, there were very few people on the ship who were not sick, during that storm. Finally; the storm subsided enough. We made our stop at Midway Island, with almost no fuel on board, and some other things that had to be fixed.
We stayed overnight at Midway, and there was a lot of work to do. PMS-Checks, and repairs, before we got underway again. So I didn't get to leave the ship.
Anyways; Off to Yokosuka, Japan. There we met our first carrier. The USS Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-42; and three days later, 19 October; Yankee Station. We spent some time chasing the carrier. Plane-Guard and Re-Fueling / Replenishing, usually on Sunday. We replenished 41-Times while underway on that cruise.
Replenish; That's when we would pull-up along-side another ship. Sometimes a carrier, sometimes an oiler or other transport-type ship while moving along at 10 to 15 knots. They would throw us a line, and the crew would bring over the stuff. If it was fuel, we would pull the fuel-line over, hold it in place while taking on fuel, then slowly let-out the line to return the hose. My station was on the Line, usually on the Port-Side, just aft of Frame-72. The lower you were on the seniority list, the further back in line you were, the wetter you got, from water rushing over the side.
On 26 October we were called to render aid to the carrier USS Oriskany CVA-34. She had a fire on her hanger-deck. We tried but we couldn't do much to help. 43-Sailors died in that fire.
1 November; Off to the coast of Vietnam with the USS Perkins DD-877, to do some shore bombardment and chase some small craft; small Gun-Boats operated by the North-Vietnamese. It was called Operation Sea Dragon. We did quite a bit of shooting; 14-Days-Straight; Over 400 rounds of 5-inch ammunition were used before we headed home.
One of those times, 4 November, we got shot At. I remember; We were at Condition-Two. I was in the chow-line, outside, aft of rame-72, on the main-deck. We could see our spotter-plane flying up the coast. Mounts? 53 and 54 would fire a round every so often. We were talking about how clear the water was, when all-of-a-sudden we heard this loud bang on the O-1 Level. Someone yelled; Hey! Keep the noise down, as a joke. Then this splash, off the Port-Side, right next to us, then an explosion. Then General Quarters; This is not a drill. It was just a little exciting. Our 35-Foot whip-antenna, on the starboard side, was hit by a chunk of shrapnel, but no one was injured.
We shot back, around 300-rounds, and silenced several shore-batteries. That's where the ship got its nickname; The Galloping Ghost of the Vietnam Coast, and the crew adopted the Roadrunner as the mascot.
Next stop, 7 November, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Good times; We went ashore via a small ferry-boat. Once there, we walked down the street to find bar after bar, and some shops. That?s where I met Wade; He was an ET3 in the radio-group. He insisted I try this Plum-Liquor; we drank several bottles. Some other guys joined us and we ended up covering the table with bottles. Wade wouldn?t let mama-san clean the table.
We also found out about the restroom facilities; They were outside on the street. This little shack that allowed you to use the street as the sewer. The gutter had raw-sewage in it. Yuk!
Then 18 November, back to sea. Yankee Station and the USS Ticonderoga CV-14. Out of 164 days on the cruise we spent 112 days at sea.
During the cruise, someone saw the Bilge-Keel; Part of the stabilizing keel of the ship, this 35-Foot section, sticking out from the side of the ship. So, on 25 November we pulled into DaNang Harbor, Vietnam. We had to have this Armed-Roving-Patrol all day and all night. They were told to shoot at anything in the water approaching the ship. Divers were sent down to try to repair the bilge-keel, and couldn?t. We ended up with the bilge-keel falling off.
Then; 29 November back to sea. We headed north to rendezvous with the USS Long Beach CGN-9 at a place called PIRAZ Station. That stood for Positive Identification Radar Advisory Zone. The Long Beachs' mission was to detect and identify aircraft and surface craft in and out of North Vietnam. We were her Guns; It seemed that someone forgot to provide Surface to Surface protection for that ship, when it was built. This was later corrected when the Long Beach had two 5-inch Guns installed amidships. We were to screen her from the many Junk Fleets that were out there. I remember; one morning I walked out on deck to find the sea full of Red-Sail-Junks, with the appearances of no-one on board. The next morning they were gone. 16-Days of that, then back to Yankee Station. Most of the time spent on Yankee Station we were Plane-Guard for an Aircraft Carrier.
I remember one of those Plane-Guard days, when we got a Visitor; Martha Raye was helicoptered down onto the fantail, screaming, and in an Army uniform. What a neat Lady. She spent several hours on board, visiting with the crew, signing autographs and thanking us for our service. She was with the USO Group on the carrier.
On 16 December we departed Yankee Station for Sasebo, Japan. We spent Christmas in Sasebo. I remember; I had duty, and the ship invited 30 Orphans aboard for Christmas, and Santa KLAUS; Klaus was one of our crewmembers. The kids had a great time. They got presents, and ate with us on the messdecks. I don?t think they knew who Santa was, but they still had fun. We left Sasebo on New Years Eve, leaving the Captain behind for some minor surgery.
Shortly after New Years, when we were re-fueling with the Tyco; USS Ticonderoga CV-14, we had to do an Emergency Break-away; that?s when we did this 51-degree-Roll; it felt like 90-degrees, we thought we were going to Cap-Size. It was pretty scary.
We got the Skipper back on 19 January. Then, 21 January, back to Kaohsiung. On to Hong Kong, 26 January. Then 9 February, arrived at Subic Bay.
Every time we stopped at a port we found many new things to do; Site-seeing, shopping, and oh, yeah bars. Then 14 February we headed for home; Back to San Diego, arriving 24 February.
We were tied-up to the USS Prairie AD-15 from 25 March to 8 April. 9 to 16 April Moored at Pier 2. 17 to 20 April we participated in ASW exercises. Then back to San Diego for Upkeep.
8 June, we again went on a Middy-Cruise. This time we went to Everett Washington, first. When we arrived 1 July, it was High-Tide and the Pier was below the 01-Level. We walked Down the brow to get off the ship. When we returned, the ship ?s 01-Level was Below the pier. We went Down the brow to get back on the ship. There was a 30-Foot tide in Everett. That was over the 4th of July. Some of the crew marched in the Parade in town. Then back to San Diego, 8 to 13 July, for upkeep. Then 19 July we went back to Hawaii. 21 to 24 July, More good times; My Mom and Dad provided a very handy Home-Away-From-Home, in Hawaii. Then 1 August, back to San Diego. There were 18 ships participating in our Midshipmen cruise. We spent 6 August to 14 September in San Diego, preparing for our Shipyard Overhaul.
Then 15 September, Mare Island for Dry-Dock and Repairs/Upgrades. And, because I had no Navy training, I was sent to several C-Schools. I left the ship while it was in the Yards to attend AN/GRC-27 school, MK-10 IFF School, and AN/SRC-20/21 School.
When I returned to the ship, I discovered the ET-Shop had been moved. I was just in time to help setup the New shop. When we were in the yards, some of the Gun-Director-Electronics was removed from the ship, and the Space was not in use. Our First-Class asked to use the space for our ET-Shop, and it was approved. What a difference. Our former shop, next to the Ships-Office, was so small, only 5-people would Fit inside; That?s if we all stood. The New shop had two Huge benches, and, room to store our test-equipment. Most of the test-equipment was stored in other spaces before we moved into the new shop. The new shop was a little more difficult to get to though, when we were underway. You had to go up to the 01 level, just aft of the Gun-Tub of mount 31. Climb down a ladder to the main-deck, then step over the hatch of the after-fire-room to get to the door. But, it was worth it. There was also a little strange occurrence; After moving Everything into the shop, we brought in the Coffee-Pot. Every ET Shop must have a coffee pot; it?s a rule. Anyways; when we made the first pot of coffee, the pot Groaned, and it groaned on each First-Pot of the day, after that; strange. The guys in the after-fire-room would fill the pot with water for us, so we didn?t have to go to the galley or the head for water. So we blamed them for the pot-groans. They laughed, and got free coffee, too. Then; Back to San Diego in late December.
We spent the rest of the winter of ?67 through the spring of ?68, training with DESRON 21; Destroyer Squadron 21, and 28 May; we were on our way to another WestPac cruise.
I asked for, and was granted a waiver, and was allowed to test for ETR2; and did. My second waiver; I was E5, with under 3-years in service. That was not normally possible. When we left for WestPac, I was Number 2 ET; that was cool.
I was in charge of the Surface-Search-Radar; AN/SPS-10, and the IFF-Equipment. My other duties included the Repeaters; AN/SPA-4 and AN/SPA-8, and this new radio equipment, that was installed in the yards; AN/SRC-20/21.
That cruise was Fantastic. We did the same job as the 66-67 Cruise, but I was more involved. I spent a lot of time in CIC and on the Bridge. I knew Everyone on the ship. The Captain had taken an interest in My Career. I got to know the Captain pretty well. I fixed his Television once, and became a Hero. He knew my name by sight, and was Friendly; well, as friendly as a Captain could be. He wanted me to start preparing for the E6 examination, and he had talked to me about going to college to become an officer, at the Navy?s expense.
My closest friends were; the Laundryman / Ships-Store operator; Al Payne, the Barber; Marciole, RC ?Louie? Lewis, and a few other guys. We had access to the Galley, the Ship?s Store, and the Barber Shop. You couldn?t ask for more. All of us were E5?s. The best rate to be, on the Braine.
We left for WestPac on 28 May? We departed San Diego with the USS Horne DLG-30 and USS Constellation CVA-64. On the way to Hawaii we had Never-Ending drills. We arrived in Pearl Harbor on 8 June, and left on 9 June on our way to Yokosuka, Japan, arriving on 16 June. We left Yokosuka on 20 June, heading for Subic Bay, Philippines. We stayed in Subic from 23 June to 6 July, except for a couple of days of Shore-Bombardment practice. On 7 July we entered Yankee Station, on our way to PIRAZ to join the USS Long Beach CGN-9, and the USS Biddle DLG-34. We left PIRAZ on 20 July to work Plane-Guard for the USS America CVA-66. We steamed with the USS America, the USS Constellation CVA-64, the USS Intrepid CVA-11, and the USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31 until 28 August. On Sunday; of course, 25 August we went to General Quarters, then to a special Sea-Rescue, when an F-4 off the Constellation crashed on take-off. We searched and searched, but found only one survivor; Lt. McPherson. We found him within the first four minutes of the crash. We were back in Subic on 29 August, after 55-Days at sea.
On 6 September; I remember the night, when this Officer; I don?t remember who, fell off the brow. Four crewmen jumped down between the ship and the pier and rescued him. We thought it was funny at the time. The four guys each received a medal for saving him. We left Subic on 15 September, back to Yankee Station.
On 2 October Commander Van Antwerp relieved Commander Fleiner, at sea. Captain Fleiner was the best Skipper, ever.
On 14 October, we left Yankee Station, on our way to Yokosuka. We left Yokosuka on 26 October, on our way back to Yankee Station when we hit some heavy weather. The Vent-Cover on the starboard side came loose, just forward of Frame-72, and the Ward-Room was taking on water. The Captain called for volunteers to fix it. That?s when MM1 Paul Schimpf was killed attempting the repair. A very sad time for us. We returned to Japan for funeral services.
29 October, we returned to Vietnam. We went back to DaNang. We sat in the harbor at night, for four nights, shooting at the hillside; and during the day, we went back to sea and fired at the coastline. All targets were identified by these little Single-Engine Shore-Targeting aircraft.
We left for Hong Kong and arrived there on 10 November. Mary-Sue and her girls gave the ship a Paint-Job. That was cool. Normally the Deck-Apes would paint the ship with Brushes and Rollers; Mary-Sue?s girls used Mops, and had the job done in two days. On 15 November we headed for Subic. One night there, re-fueled, and we headed South, on our way to Australia.
We became Shell-Backs on 20 November, crossing the Equator at 126.21 East What a celebration/initiation. Everyone on board, except this one sailor, participated. What a blast. We, who were crossing the equator for the first time, were Lowly Pollywogs, and had to be Initiated into the Realm of King Neptune. There were Several conditions that had to be met before we were considered to be Shell-Backs. Being a Shell-Back is every sailor?s dream.
Next stop; Darwin, Australia to pick up a Pilot, to take us through the Great-Barrier-Reef. Then on to Brisbane, Australia.
We had a Ball in Brisbane. We moored in these peoples? Back Yard. The Family was there to help us Tie Up. We walked across their back yard to get to the street. While in Brisbane we found the people to be Very Hospitable. They Loved us. We had a hard time Paying for things, especially in the bars. We couldn?t get out of a bar without accepting drinks from Everyone at the bar. I don?t think anyone Walked back to the ship from Liberty. We left Brisbane on 2 December.
We stopped at little islands on the way home, like American Samoa, and Fiji. On 6 December we were able to get off the ship in Fiji for a few hours while the ship refueled. We stopped again in Pago Pago, for fuel, then on to Pearl Harbor, arriving on 13 December. We got back to San Diego on 19 December.
When we arrived home, I was Section-Leader; I got to assign the watches on duty-days, Leading ET; I was in charge of the ET Gang, and Duty-Master-at-Arms; I was the ships? Policeman. All of my Supervisors had been transferred, or received orders home. I had the Life of Riley. ... More
Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa... The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, for any period of service during the same time period in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. MoreHide
Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa... The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, for any period of service during the same time period in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. MoreHide
Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa... The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, for any period of service during the same time period in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. MoreHide
Criteria This medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who: 1. Served for 6 months in South Vietnam during the period 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73; or 2. Served outside the geographical l... This medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who: 1. Served for 6 months in South Vietnam during the period 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73; or 2. Served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the RVN Armed Forces for an aggregate of six months. Only members of the Armed Forces of the United States who meet the criteria established for the AFEM (Vietnam) or Vietnam Service Medal during the period of service required are considered to have contributed direct combat support to the RVN Armed Forces; or 3. Did not complete the length of service required in item (1) or (2) above, but who, during wartime, were: a. Wounded by the enemy (in a military action); b. Captured by the enemy during action or in the line of duty, but later rescued or released; or c. Killed in action or in the line of duty; or 4. Were assigned in Vietnam on 28 Jan 73, and who served a minimum of 60 calendar days in Vietnam during the period 29 Jan 73 to 28 Mar 73. MoreHide
Criteria This medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who: 1. Served for 6 months in South Vietnam during the period 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73; or 2. Served outside the geographical l... This medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who: 1. Served for 6 months in South Vietnam during the period 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73; or 2. Served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the RVN Armed Forces for an aggregate of six months. Only members of the Armed Forces of the United States who meet the criteria established for the AFEM (Vietnam) or Vietnam Service Medal during the period of service required are considered to have contributed direct combat support to the RVN Armed Forces; or 3. Did not complete the length of service required in item (1) or (2) above, but who, during wartime, were: a. Wounded by the enemy (in a military action); b. Captured by the enemy during action or in the line of duty, but later rescued or released; or c. Killed in action or in the line of duty; or 4. Were assigned in Vietnam on 28 Jan 73, and who served a minimum of 60 calendar days in Vietnam during the period 29 Jan 73 to 28 Mar 73. MoreHide
Al Payne
Richard Marciole
At sea
In Drydock
ET1 McNiece
LtJg McCormick
ET1 Hottle
LtJg Ducas