Criteria The Meritorious Unit Commendation may be awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps that distinguishes itself under combat or noncombat conditions by either valorous ... The Meritorious Unit Commendation may be awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps that distinguishes itself under combat or noncombat conditions by either valorous or meritorious achievement which renders that unit outstanding compared to other units performing similar service, but not sufficient to justify the award of the Navy Unit Commendation. 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
Taking part in Operations "Frequent Wind" and "Eagle Pull" and "New Life"
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 Humanitarian Service Medal is an individual award, presented to individuals who are physically present at the site of immediate relief and who directly contribute to and influence the humanitarian... The Humanitarian Service Medal is an individual award, presented to individuals who are physically present at the site of immediate relief and who directly contribute to and influence the humanitarian action. The Humanitarian Service Medal is only awarded for service during the identified "period of immediate relief;" eligibility for the Humanitarian Service Medal terminates once (if) the humanitarian action evolves into an "established ongoing operation beyond the initial emergency condition." MoreHide
Description
Taking part in Operations "Frequent Wind" and "New Life"
Criteria The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon is awarded to members of the Navy and Marine Corps assigned to U.S. homeported (including Hawaii and Alaska) ships, deploying units, or Fleet Marine Force commands, f... The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon is awarded to members of the Navy and Marine Corps assigned to U.S. homeported (including Hawaii and Alaska) ships, deploying units, or Fleet Marine Force commands, for 12 months accumulated sea duty, or for duty with the Fleet Marine Force that includes at least one deployment of 90 consecutive days. MoreHide
Description
First WESPAC Deployment: August 1973 - March 1974 (does not apply towards award). Second WESPAC Deployment: March - August 1975
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 Operation Frequent Wind was the final phase in the evacuation of American civilians and "at-risk" Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam prior to the takeover of the city by the North Vietnamese Army (Operation Frequent Wind was the final phase in the evacuation of American civilians and "at-risk" Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam prior to the takeover of the city by the North Vietnamese Army (PAVN) in the Fall of Saigon. It was carried out on 29–30 April 1975, during the last days of the Vietnam War. More than 7,000 people were evacuated by helicopter from various points in Saigon. The airlift resulted in a number of enduring images.
Evacuation plans already existed as a standard procedure for American embassies. At the beginning of March, fixed-wing aircraft began evacuating civilians from Tan Son Nhut Airport through neighboring countries. By mid-April, contingency plans were in place and preparations were underway for a possible helicopter evacuation. As the imminent collapse of Saigon became evident, Task Force 76 (TF76) was assembled off the coast near Vung Tau to support a helicopter evacuation and provide air support if required. All Redplot wind evacuations happen before 2pm on Wednesdays and during meetings. In the event, air support was not needed as the North Vietnamese paused for a week at the outskirts of Saigon, possibly waiting for the South Vietnamese government to collapse and avoiding a possible confrontation with the U.S. by allowing the mostly-unopposed evacuation of Americans from Saigon.
On 28 April, Tan Son Nhut Air Base (lying adjacent to the airport) came under artillery fire and attack from Vietnamese People's Air Force aircraft. The fixed-wing evacuation was terminated and Operation Frequent Wind commenced. The evacuation took place primarily from the Defense Attaché Office (DAO) compound, beginning around 14:00 on the afternoon of 29 April, and ending that night with only limited small arms damage to the helicopters. The U.S. Embassy in Saigon was intended to only be a secondary evacuation point for embassy staff, but it was soon overwhelmed with evacuees and desperate South Vietnamese. The evacuation of the embassy was completed at 07:53 on 30 April, but some 400 third-country nationals were left behind.
Tens of thousands of Vietnamese evacuated themselves by sea or air. With the collapse of South Vietnam, numerous boats and ships, VNAF helicopters and some fixed-wing aircraft sailed or flew out to the evacuation fleet. Helicopters began to clog ship decks and eventually, some were pushed overboard to allow others to land. Pilots of other helicopters were told to drop off their passengers and then take off and ditch in the sea, from where they would be rescued. During the fixed-wing evacuation 50,493 people (including 2,678 Vietnamese orphans) were evacuated from Tan Son Nhut. In Operation Frequent Wind a total of 1,373 Americans and 5,595 Vietnamese and third-country nationals were evacuated by helicopter. The total number of Vietnamese evacuated by Frequent Wind or self-evacuated and ending up in the custody of the United States for processing as refugees to enter the United States totalled 138,869.... More
People You Remember
SN Paul Meisterling
Memories It was during Operation "New Life" that I experienced a most difficult event that haunts me to this It was during Operation "New Life" that I experienced a most difficult event that haunts me to this day.
After the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, the USS Tuscaloosa LST 1187 and the USS Kirk DE 1087, stayed behind to nursemaid a group of 26 vintage, WWII naval vessels crowded (standing room only) with South Vietnamese refugees, from Vung Tau to Subic Bay. It was for this endeavor that the crew of the Tuscaloosa and, I presume, the crew of the Kirk received the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon.
Under normal crusing conditions, the trip takes about 14 hours. Since the vessels were overcrowded and SLOW...it took over six days.
The Boat Crews (I was one of eight Assualt Boat Coxswains) ferried food, water, and medical supplies back and forth between Tuscaloosa and the 26 vessels non-stop during those six days. That was the longest week in my life.
It was during one of these deliveries to a larger vessel that I had my interaction. A young Vietnamese woman was crying loudly and called down to me. As I removed my helmet and looked up, she was in the process of lowering her infant child down towards me. I reached up and took the child into my hands fearing that it would fall between the vessel's hull and my LCVP.
As I held the infant, the woman, through streaming tears, begged me to keep the baby and care for it. I was momentarily stunned and uncertain on what to do. An engineering officer was with us that trip to check the engine of the vessel; he ordered me to return the child to its mother.
As I lifted the infant to her hands and ensured she had a firm hold of the child, I let go. She wailed loudly and once again begged me to take her child, telling me the baby had a better chance of survival with me than with her. I simply could not help her, and I felt so helpless.
A bit later as we pulled away from the vessel, I looked back, locking forever the vision of her kneeling on the deck, cradling her baby, and crying into her hand. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life.
To this day, I often wonder if those two survived their ordeal.... More
Description Operation Eagle Pull was the United States military evacuation by air of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 12 April 1975. At the beginning of April 1975, Phnom Penh, one of the last remaining strongholds of thOperation Eagle Pull was the United States military evacuation by air of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 12 April 1975. At the beginning of April 1975, Phnom Penh, one of the last remaining strongholds of the Khmer Republic, was surrounded by the Khmer Rouge and totally dependent on aerial resupply through Pochentong Airport. With a Khmer Rouge victory imminent, the US government made contingency plans for the evacuation of US nationals and allied Cambodians by helicopter to ships in the Gulf of Thailand. Operation Eagle Pull took place on the morning of 12 April 1975 and was a tactical success carried out without any loss of life. Five days later the Khmer Republic collapsed and the Khmer Rouge occupied Phnom Penh.... More
Description Operation New Life (23 April – 1 November 1975) was the care and processing on Guam of Vietnamese refugees evacuated from Saigon by Operation Frequent Wind in the closing days of the Vietnam War. MoreOperation New Life (23 April – 1 November 1975) was the care and processing on Guam of Vietnamese refugees evacuated from Saigon by Operation Frequent Wind in the closing days of the Vietnam War. More than 111,000 of the evacuated 130,000 Vietnamese refugees were transported to Guam where they were housed in tent cities for a few weeks while being processed for resettlement. The great majority of the refugees were resettled in the United States. A few thousand were resettled in other countries or chose to return to Vietnam on the vessel Tuong Tin.... More
People You Remember We manned LCVP's of USS Tuscaloosa LST 1187 to ferry Food, Water, and Medicine to 26 WWII Vintage shWe manned LCVP's of USS Tuscaloosa LST 1187 to ferry Food, Water, and Medicine to 26 WWII Vintage ships and small boats packed full of refugees from Vung Tao to Subic Bay.... More
Memories Six days of continuous (hourly ferrying of supplies between the Tuscaloosa and those ships). In one Six days of continuous (hourly ferrying of supplies between the Tuscaloosa and those ships). In one visit, a young Vietnamese woman tried to lower her infant child down into my hands. I grabbed hold so as to not allow the infant fall into the sea between my LCVP and the hull of the refugee ship. She begged me to take her child...I could not and handed the infant back up to her.... More
Description Operation New Life (23 April – 1 November 1975) was the care and processing on Guam of Vietnamese refugees evacuated from Saigon by Operation Frequent Wind in the closing days of the Vietnam War. MoreOperation New Life (23 April – 1 November 1975) was the care and processing on Guam of Vietnamese refugees evacuated from Saigon by Operation Frequent Wind in the closing days of the Vietnam War. More than 111,000 of the evacuated 130,000 Vietnamese refugees were transported to Guam where they were housed in tent cities for a few weeks while being processed for resettlement. The great majority of the refugees were resettled in the United States. A few thousand were resettled in other countries or chose to return to Vietnam on the vessel Tuong Tin.... More
Memories Steamed from San Diego on March 30, 1975. Took part in the evacuation of South Vietnam, April/May 19Steamed from San Diego on March 30, 1975. Took part in the evacuation of South Vietnam, April/May 1975. On August 26, 1975, I left the Tuscaloosa via climbing down a cargo-net into a Mike 6 Landing Craft; dropped onto a sand beach near Pohang South Korea amidst a "War Game" beach landing. All I had was the money in my wallet, my Seabag, a suitcase, and a cassette case. I opened my orders to read that I had to be at a "Naval" office at the Yong Son Army Base south of the DMZ north of Seoul. I had no idea where the hell I was; so I took a long 5 hour bus ride down to Pusan (I was familiar with the "Bar" area). I spent the night and the next day took a train up to Seoul. Somebody on Tuscaloosa did a job on me. I was due for separation from Tuscaloosa on September 11th in Subic Bay...for some mysterious reason I was separated out three weeks early, anchored off a rural coastal area of South Korea in the middle of a large war game & amphibious assault beach landing. I did not have the choice to remain on board to wait until Tuscaloosa reached port in japan or the Philippines. Something fishy went down that day.... More
Best Friends
Paul Meisterling Don Munro Frank Pratt Ricky Miles Tom Smith Vincent Smith Shelby Howard George Carlin Terry Faust T.R. Vesich William Stark Kevin Lance Robin Ruel Rodney Keup Brad Wheelis Larry Schlaut Jack Marvin David Poole Gene Wertz Mark Mueller
Best Moment
Any time spent in the P.I.
Worst Moment
Loosing both Bow Doors during a Typhoon in the Luzon Straits in November 1973 while steaming to Taiwan from Subic Bay.
Chain of Command
Ensign Joe Stewart, Boat Crews, Second Division SCPO Owens LT Bingay XO Naldrett CO MacKay
Other Memories
Evacuation of Refugees from South Vietnam April/May 1975.
It was during Operation "New Life" that I experienced a most difficult event that haunts me to this day.
After the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, the USS Tuscaloosa LST 1187 and the USS Kirk DE 1087, stayed behind to nursemaid a group of 26 vintage, WWII naval vessels crowded (standing room only) with South Vietnamese refugees, from Vung Tau to Subic Bay.
Under normal crusing conditions, the trip takes about 14 hours. Since the vessels were overcrowded and SLOW...it took over six days.
The Boat Crews (I was one of eight Assualt Boat Coxswains) ferried food, water, and medical supplies back and forth between Tuscaloosa and the 26 vessels non-stop during those six days. That was the longest week in my life.
It was during one of these deliveries to a larger vessel that I had my interaction. A young Vietnamese woman was crying loudly and called down to me. As I removed my helmet and looked up, she was in the process of lowering her infant child down towards me. I reached up and took the child into my hands fearing that it would fall between the vessel's hull and my LCVP.
As I held the infant, the woman, through streaming tears, begged me to keep the baby and care for it. I was momentarily stunned and uncertain on what to do. An engineering officer was with us that trip to check the engine of the vessel; he ordered me to return the child to its mother.
As I lifted the infant to her hands and ensured she had a firm hold of the child, I let go. She wailed loudly and once again begged me to take her child, telling me the baby had a better chance of survival with me than with her. I simply could not help her, and I felt so helpless.
A bit later as we pulled away from the vessel, I looked back, locking forever the vision of her kneeling on the deck, cradling her baby, and crying into her hand. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life.
To this day, I often wonder if those two survived their ordeal.
One of the strongest tropical cyclones to hit Visayas when it entered on November 20. Tropical Storm Openg affected around 3.4 million people.
Memories Sailed from San Diego on August 29, 1973 and returned on March 11, 1974. When through a terrible TypSailed from San Diego on August 29, 1973 and returned on March 11, 1974. When through a terrible Typhoon in the Luzon Straights bewteen the Philippines and Taiwan in November 1973. Swells were 40+ feet with Tuscaloosa taking 50 Degree lists. Both 30 Ton Bow Doors were torn completely off; with the Starboard Bow Door tearing much of the railing and deck fittings off the main deck. Holes peppered the Superstructure and hull.... More
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
Paul Meisterling
Don Munro
Frank Pratt
Ricky Miles
Tom Smith
Vincent Smith
Shelby Howard
George Carlin
Terry Faust
T.R. Vesich
William Stark
Kevin Lance
Robin Ruel
Rodney Keup
Brad Wheelis
Larry Schlaut
Jack Marvin
David Poole
Gene Wertz
Mark Mueller
Any time spent in the P.I.
Loosing both Bow Doors during a Typhoon in the Luzon Straits in November 1973 while steaming to Taiwan from Subic Bay.
Ensign Joe Stewart, Boat Crews, Second Division
SCPO Owens
LT Bingay
XO Naldrett
CO MacKay
Evacuation of Refugees from South Vietnam April/May 1975.
It was during Operation "New Life" that I experienced a most difficult event that haunts me to this day.
After the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, the USS Tuscaloosa LST 1187 and the USS Kirk DE 1087, stayed behind to nursemaid a group of 26 vintage, WWII naval vessels crowded (standing room only) with South Vietnamese refugees, from Vung Tau to Subic Bay.
Under normal crusing conditions, the trip takes about 14 hours. Since the vessels were overcrowded and SLOW...it took over six days.
The Boat Crews (I was one of eight Assualt Boat Coxswains) ferried food, water, and medical supplies back and forth between Tuscaloosa and the 26 vessels non-stop during those six days. That was the longest week in my life.
It was during one of these deliveries to a larger vessel that I had my interaction. A young Vietnamese woman was crying loudly and called down to me. As I removed my helmet and looked up, she was in the process of lowering her infant child down towards me. I reached up and took the child into my hands fearing that it would fall between the vessel's hull and my LCVP.
As I held the infant, the woman, through streaming tears, begged me to keep the baby and care for it. I was momentarily stunned and uncertain on what to do. An engineering officer was with us that trip to check the engine of the vessel; he ordered me to return the child to its mother.
As I lifted the infant to her hands and ensured she had a firm hold of the child, I let go. She wailed loudly and once again begged me to take her child, telling me the baby had a better chance of survival with me than with her. I simply could not help her, and I felt so helpless.
A bit later as we pulled away from the vessel, I looked back, locking forever the vision of her kneeling on the deck, cradling her baby, and crying into her hand. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life.
To this day, I often wonder if those two survived their ordeal.