This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Tommy Burgdorf (Birddog), FC2
to remember
Galvin, Ronald Edmond, ATC.
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This Sailor has an (IMO) Memory Of Headstone in Courts of the Missing, Honolulu, Hawaii
On 8 March 1967, Holly Green, an A-3B (BuNo 144627) Launched with LCDR Carrol O. Crain, Jr., pilot; Ltjg Pawlish, co-pilot; and ATN2 Galvin, aviation electronics technician, from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) to conduct a night mining mission in North Vietnam. Since the Skywarrior's mission deep in enemy held territory, it was provided with fighter escort as protection against enemy aircraft attack.
The Skywarrior's launch was normal and contact was maintained with the aircrew for 20 minutes. The last radio contact was made at 2020 hours when the aircraft was passing over the northern edge of Hon Gio Island approximately 13 miles due east of the coastline and 30 miles north-northeast of the major port city of Dong Hoi, North Vietnam. In his last radio transmission LCDR Crain stated the mission was progressing normally.
When contact with the Skywarrior could not be re-established, a search and rescue (SAR) operation was immediately initiated and continued for several days. Aircraft from the USS Kitty Hawk and the USS Ticonderoga, as well as the destroyer the USS Ingersol, participated in the visual and electronic search along the Skywarrior's flight path, particularly in and around the area of last contact. Unfortunately, no parachutes or survival rafts were seen and no emergency beepers heard emanating from either water or the nearby island. At the time the SAR operation was terminated, Carrol Crain, George Pawlish and Ronald Galvin were listed Missing in Action.
Description Dixie Station was established in the South China Sea off the Mekong Delta May 15, 1965 to August 3, 1966 as a single-carrier counterpart to the multi-carrier Yankee Station, which was located further north near the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin and was responsible for strikes on North Vietnamese targets.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
May / 1965
To Month/Year
August / 1966
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories Oriskany again stood out of San Diego for the Far East 26 May 1966, arriving Yokosuka 14 June. She steamed for "Dixie Station" off South Vietnam 27 June. Wearisome days and nights of combat shifted to "Yankee Station" in the Gulf of Tonkin 8 July. In the following months there were brief respites for replenishment in Subic Bay. Then, back into the action that saw her launch 7,794 combat sorties.