Best Moment
Made EM2 (Nov. 1969) Awarded the following medals Aug. 1970) Navy Good Conduct Medal. Navy Rifle Qualification Ribbon/Medal (Expert Marksmanship) Navy Pistol Qualification Ribbon/Medal Honorable Discharge Jan. 1971
Worst Moment
None of these awards were recorded on my DD214 in 1969 and there is no more information on any updated or existing DD214's
Other Memories
I was stationed with the Naval Reserve Unit at Swan Island. I took a two week reserve assignment on a tin can out of Bremerton Washington. We were rescheduled as the ship had left a week before we got there. (Naval SNAFU) So the rest of the time was spent sitting in a maintenance shop on base.
Other Memories
Stationed there for two weeks reserve duty. Worked in a maintenance shop for eight days, then went out to sea for three or four days. Can't remember the name of the ship other than it was a destroyer.
Best Moment
BOOD Barracks Officer of the Day. Got to meet a lot of interesting people who were getting out of the Navy and Marines. Going down to Haight & Ashbury and the North Beach.
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 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who, after July 1, 1958, participate in specified United States operations or those in direct support of the United Natio... The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who, after July 1, 1958, participate in specified United States operations or those in direct support of the United Nations or friendly foreign nations MoreHide
Description Feb. & Mar. 1968.
USS PUEBLO AGER-2 incident off North Korea. Incident with Russian frigate that tried to interrupt fueling details in the sea of Japan.
Fletcher history from ussfletcher.org
The period from 25 February to 2 March was spent undergoing voyage repairs at Yokosuka, Japan. On 2 March, FLETCHER got underway to join the USS RANGER (CVA-61) in the Sea of Japan. While in route, early on the morning of 4 March, FLETCHER was closed and illuminated by an unidentified ship. When the unidentified vessel failed to identify herself, she was illuminated by FLETCHER. After illumination the vessel proved to be a Soviet Destroyer of the RIGA Class DE-800. ... Feb. & Mar. 1968.
USS PUEBLO AGER-2 incident off North Korea. Incident with Russian frigate that tried to interrupt fueling details in the sea of Japan.
Fletcher history from ussfletcher.org
The period from 25 February to 2 March was spent undergoing voyage repairs at Yokosuka, Japan. On 2 March, FLETCHER got underway to join the USS RANGER (CVA-61) in the Sea of Japan. While in route, early on the morning of 4 March, FLETCHER was closed and illuminated by an unidentified ship. When the unidentified vessel failed to identify herself, she was illuminated by FLETCHER. After illumination the vessel proved to be a Soviet Destroyer of the RIGA Class DE-800. 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 USS Pueblo (AGER-2) is a Banner-class environmental research ship, attached to Navy intelligence as a spy ship, which was attacked and captured by North Korean forces on 23 January 1968, in what is knUSS Pueblo (AGER-2) is a Banner-class environmental research ship, attached to Navy intelligence as a spy ship, which was attacked and captured by North Korean forces on 23 January 1968, in what is known today as the "Pueblo incident" or alternatively, as the "Pueblo crisis".
The seizure of the U.S. Navy ship and its 83 crew members, one of whom was killed in the attack, came less than a week after President Lyndon B. Johnson's "State of the Union" address to the United States Congress, just a week before the start of the "Tet Offensive" in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, and only three days after 31 men of North Korea's "KPA Unit 12" had crossed the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and killed 26 South Koreans in an attempt to attack the South Korean "Blue House" (executive mansion) in the capital Seoul. The taking of Pueblo and the abuse and torture of its crew during the subsequent 11-month prisoner drama became a major Cold War incident, raising tensions between the western democracies and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and People's Republic of China.
North Korea stated that Pueblo deliberately entered their territorial waters 7.6 miles away from Ryo Island, and that the logbook shows that they intruded several times. However, the United States maintains that the vessel was in international waters at the time of the incident and that any purported evidence supplied by North Korea to support its statements was fabricated.
Pueblo, still held by North Korea today, officially remains a commissioned vessel of the United States Navy. Since early 2013, the ship has been moored along the Botong River in Pyongyang, and used there as a museum ship at the Pyongyang Victorious War Museum. Pueblo is the only ship of the U.S. Navy still on the commissioned roster currently being held captive.... More
People You Remember The USS Fletcher was called to serve as sea guard detail duty for the USS Enterprise in the Sea of JThe USS Fletcher was called to serve as sea guard detail duty for the USS Enterprise in the Sea of Japan, following the capture of the USS Pueblo in Feb. 1968. We had a confrontation with a Russian Cruiser a few days after we arrived in the Sea of Japan.... More
Memories
We sailed of the coast of North Korea and I remember the mountains and how cold they looked.
Description Yankee Station was a point in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of Vietnam used by the U.S. Navy aircraft carriers of Task Force 77 to launch strikes in the Vietnam War. While its official designation Yankee Station was a point in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of Vietnam used by the U.S. Navy aircraft carriers of Task Force 77 to launch strikes in the Vietnam War. While its official designation was "Point Yankee," it was universally referred to as Yankee Station. Carriers conducting air operations at Yankee Station were said to be "on the line" and statistical summaries were based on days on the line.
The name derived from it being the geographic reference point "Y", pronounced "Yankee" in the NATO phonetic alphabet. In turn the term Point Yankee derived from the launch point for "Yankee Team" aerial reconnaissance missions over Laos conducted in 1964. It was located about 190 km due east of Dong Hoi, at 17° 30' N and 108° 30' E.
During the two periods of sustained air operations against North Vietnam (March 2, 1965-October 31, 1968 and March 30, 1972-December 29, 1972) there were normally three carriers on the line, each conducting air operations for twelve hours, then off for twelve hours. One of the carriers would operate from noon to midnight, another from midnight to noon, and one during daylight hours, which gave 24-hour coverage plus additional effort during daylight hours, when sorties were most effective. However at the end of May, 1972, six carriers were for a short period of time on the line at Yankee Station conducting Linebacker strikes.
The first aircraft carrier at Yankee Station was USS Kitty Hawk, which was ordered there in April 1964 for the Yankee Team missions. Kitty Hawk was joined by Ticonderoga in May and Constellation in June, two months prior to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. Ticonderoga and Constellation launched the first bombing missions from Yankee Station on August 5, 1964. Constellation was also the last carrier conducting operations at Yankee Station on August 15, 1973. USS Forrestal suffered a major accident while at Yankee Station when a series of fires and explosions on her deck killed 134 men and injured another 161.
A corresponding Dixie Station in the South China Sea off the Mekong Delta was a single carrier point for conducting strikes within South Vietnam from May 15, 1965 to August 3, 1966.... More
Best Friends
Joe Tripodo Bob Howard Creig Wilson Tom Corrie Sandy Turner (RIP)
Best Moment
Being station at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was really good duty. I attended firefighting school during the summer of 1967. My repair party crew broke the speed record that year for assembling a fire pump. Which led to the "E" award. In 1968 the Fighting Fletcher received an "E" award for Sea Trials. Not bad for a twenty-six year old ship. But the best was overseas duty, going on liberty in such exotic ports as Hong Kong, Subic Bay P. I., Sasebo and Tokyo Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Kaohsiung Taiwan and Guam and Midway. The absolute best was of course Brisbane Australia and passing a beautiful church by an small bay on New Guinea. Wish I had a camera. In January of 1967 we patrolled the Taiwan Straits between Taiwan and Communist China. And the time we shot the shit out of a NVA gun emplacement, blowing the top off a mountain where it was located in North Viet Nam. Another time there was a large sampan that was trying to disrupt refueling detail in the Gulf of Tonkin and the carrier, oiler and the USS Fletcher ran over the damn thing. There was nothing left nothing but bamboo scraps when the garbage cleared the fan tails. Oh!! The Sea Stories.
Worst Moment
Cleaning out the stinky storage locker in the shaft alley. Engine room watches when the temperature reached 120 plus degrees. Hitting a typhoon off Midway was exciting when a giant wave knocked out the windows on the bridge.
Other Memories
Check out the USS Fletcher DD445 web site. http://ussfletcher.org/default.htm
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
Best Moment
Boats & Docks Division. I was assigned small craft duty while waiting for Electrician?s Mate class ?A? school Our job was Sea Plane rescue and sea lane patrol in San Diego Bay. The Navy was flying PBY?s from the naval Air station and taking off and landing in North bay. Our job was to clear the run ways for drift wood and keep boats out of the sea lanes. On day we had a PBY hit a railroad tie than had floated in to the sea while we were on location in the South Bay area, about ten miles away and punched a hole in the bow. It was taking on water when we reached it .So we hooked on to the plane and towed it to the ramp and every one was happy. At different times we observed Hollywood stars (Bob Hope and Jerry Lewis) yachts sailing in the Bay. And we rendered honors to Vice President Hubert Humphrey.
Worst Moment
Seeing a sailor get his foot cut off by a boat skid.
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 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
Made EM2 (Nov. 1969)
Awarded the following medals Aug. 1970)
Navy Good Conduct Medal.
Navy Rifle Qualification Ribbon/Medal (Expert Marksmanship)
Navy Pistol Qualification Ribbon/Medal
Honorable Discharge Jan. 1971
None of these awards were recorded on my DD214 in 1969 and there is no more information on any updated or existing DD214's
I was stationed with the Naval Reserve Unit at Swan Island.
I took a two week reserve assignment on a tin can out of Bremerton Washington. We were rescheduled as the ship had left a week before we got there. (Naval SNAFU) So the rest of the time was spent sitting in a maintenance shop on base.