Other Memories
DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT PROVIDED BY LTJG CHRISTOPHER (CHRIS) WULLE
It was an unfortunate accident. The way the routine worked on this deployment was to load up with supplies and offload either at Cue Viet River offshore or at Da Nang and then return to Okinawa and load up and return and offload. As explained to the crew, while offloading from 2nd Division hatch, SN Reed was one of the line tenders, to keep the load steady, and, for some reason, the 5" nylon line stretched and became so taut that it snapped, and the recoil hit SN Reed and sent him over the hatch and he fell to the bottom of the hold. This was a nite operation. I can't recall if it was during rough weather, when the ship can sway back and forth, we encountered a lot of that. He was helicoptered out - I don't know if he died immediately or later. I believe that the investigation that followed determined that it was an accident and no one was at fault. The BM2 running the offload was devastated. He was a highly respected 20yr+ veteran and I believe that he retired shortly after the cruise. The original picture in the cruise book is not that clear to begin with - kind of shadowy. Sorry for the delay in answering - left work and stopped at store. Can't retire yet. Appreciate your maintenance of his profile. I noticed that you do the same for quite a few others. Many, many thanks.
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 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
Description
Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase II 1 July 1966 - 31 May 1967
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
Description This Campaign period was from 1 July 1966 to 31 May 1967. The growing Coastal Force devoted most of its attention to amphibious raids, patrols of shallow inlets and river mouths, troop lifts, and blocThis Campaign period was from 1 July 1966 to 31 May 1967. The growing Coastal Force devoted most of its attention to amphibious raids, patrols of shallow inlets and river mouths, troop lifts, and blocking support for allied ground sweeps. For instance, during Operation Irving in October 1966, ground forces and junk units in II Coastal Zone killed 681 Viet Cong troops. In addition, the junkmen established a government presence among the fishermen and provided them with medical services and other assistance. Sometimes the Coastal Force sailors convinced Communist soldiers to desert their units.
The enemy, who often attacked the 27 vulnerable Coastal Force bases, overran the triangular-shaped fortifications of Coastal Group 15 at Cua An Hoa in July 1965 and of Coastal Group 16 at Co Luy in August 1967. Other bases, however, withstood repeated assaults. In doing so, these facilities played a part in the allied effort that denied the enemy easy access to the coastal regions.
Viet Cong mines also took their toll of the command's MLMS fleet, which worked to keep open the shipping channel to Saigon. In August 1966 and again in January 1967, enemy mines sank an MLMS in the Rung Sat. The River Force did not fully employ its strength. The political troubles of 1965 and 1966 in the Republic of Vietnam, in which high-ranking River Force officers figured prominently, damaged morale and distracted personnel from their military mission.
The navy and the army rarely launched joint amphibious assaults against the Viet Cong. Operations reflected the River Force's lack of technically skilled crewmen, the poor maintenance and repair of river craft, and the absence of inspired leadership. Usually, only half of the command's units were ready for combat action, and many of these boats were committed by the army to static guard, resupply, troop lift, or other nonoffensive duties.
The reliance on defense over offense reflected the historic Vietnamese strategy of husbanding resources until there was clear advantage over an enemy. The Vietnamese Navy's River Force sailors often fought hard and bravely, killing many of the enemy and suffering heavy losses of their own, but their valor and sacrifice was not rewarded with strategic success. ... More
DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT PROVIDED BY LTJG CHRISTOPHER (CHRIS) WULLE
It was an unfortunate accident. The way the routine worked on this deployment was to load up with supplies and offload either at Cue Viet River offshore or at Da Nang and then return to Okinawa and load up and return and offload. As explained to the crew, while offloading from 2nd Division hatch, SN Reed was one of the line tenders, to keep the load steady, and, for some reason, the 5" nylon line stretched and became so taut that it snapped, and the recoil hit SN Reed and sent him over the hatch and he fell to the bottom of the hold. This was a nite operation. I can't recall if it was during rough weather, when the ship can sway back and forth, we encountered a lot of that. He was helicoptered out - I don't know if he died immediately or later. I believe that the investigation that followed determined that it was an accident and no one was at fault. The BM2 running the offload was devastated. He was a highly respected 20yr+ veteran and I believe that he retired shortly after the cruise. The original picture in the cruise book is not that clear to begin with - kind of shadowy. Sorry for the delay in answering - left work and stopped at store. Can't retire yet. Appreciate your maintenance of his profile. I noticed that you do the same for quite a few others. Many, many thanks.