Right after the US Navy - worked for and later retired from TandyCorp.
Besides my Hobbies, I have a"myself only" lawn mowing/trimming
service in my local neighborhood, which I retired from in 2013.
Other Comments:
1. My daughter April was born in Naples Italy. My son Chris was born in
Lisbon Portugal.
2. Sailor Of The Quarter: NavalCommunicationsStation Keflavic Iceland.
3. Sailor Of The Quarter: NavalCommunicationsDetachment Sigonella
Sicily Italy - twice.
4. Sailor Of The Year: Naval CommunicationsDetachment Sigonella
Sicily Italy - once.
5. Letter Of Commendation 19Feb1975 Commander In Chief U.S.
Naval Forces Europe - Adm H.E. Shear.
6. I am a Weather Spotter for the local buro of the National Weather
Service in NewBraunfels Tx. Reporting radio-net Ham-repeater is in�
Satler Texas.
7. Member 280 and NetControl: TinCanSailors HamRadioNet on
14.255MHz USB every Sunday afternoon at 20:00utc. If you are active
duty, retired, or othewise & an X - Tin Can Sailor plus a Ham Radio
Operator - please check into the Radio Net and ask for the paperwork
by mail to become an active member of the TCSailors Ham Radio Net.
I am the administrator "on this Navy-TWS Web-site" for the Tin Can
Sailors Radio Net - "Special Interest" group�in the�"Military Asso
Membership section.� If you have any questions or need help on listing
the TCS Radio Net on your Navy-TWS web-profile in the Military Asso
Membership section of your profile, please contact me at the Private
Email address above.
7a. Member & ChiefStaffOfficer:: �National Association Of Destroyer
Veterans -- Texas Desron-Two located in San Antonio Texas.
8. Member of the American Radio Relay League.
9. Member of Kendall Amateur Radio Society(KARS) Boerne Texas, which I resigned from on 12 Apr 2016.
10. Founding contributor�of�The VietNam Veterans Memorial "The Wall"
in Washington DC.
11. Recipient of the "US-ROC Mutual Defense Commemorative Badge
from Taiwan ROC - Ministry Of National Defense Mr. Tang Yiau-ming"
for service�on 3 - 15 Jan 1973 - Taiwan.
-----
12.�My Dad was in the US Army AirCorps during WW-2. Tail-gunner and
bombardier on B-17's flying from Ipswich England over Germany. He
Passed in 1984. Dad has a brick in memory of -�in the sidewalk of The
Japan Peace Garden at the Adm Nimitz Museum in Fredricksburg Tx.
13. My Uncle(dad's brother)�was in the Army Signal Corps during the
Korean War. He passed in 1960.
14. My�dad's 2nd Cousin was in the US Navy WW-2 on the BattleWagon
USS Tenn - a gunners-mate. He passed in 2001.
15. Mom's dad Fred K.�was in the US Navy 1913-19�& during WW-1
was on the USS Olympia Cruiser No6. Spent time before and after the
USS Olympia on 7 other surface craft, uncluding the USS Bainbridge
Destroyer No1 &�USS Palos Gunboat�No16�on the Yangtze Riv in China.
He passed in mid 1930's. Gramps was a steam-engine mec, welder, &
shoveled coal in the engine room. A PO 2/C and later made PO1/C
on board the USS Olympia. His job on the USS Palos was the same
as Steve McQueen in the movie "The Sand Pebbles" - a classic... He
died early in life(after his Navy duties)�as a result of asbestos and coal
dust. He never had shore duty. All duties were on 8 diff USN WarShips.
16. My brother's son is currently in the US AirForce - expects to stay
until retirement. One tour so far in the Iraq Theater of Operations.�
Description This Campaign period was from 1 November 1969 to 30 April 1970. The generally good performance of the Vietnamese Navy during the allied sweep into Cambodia motivated the transfer of significant operational responsibilities to the Vietnamese. The barrier along the Cambodian border was turned over to the Vietnamese Navy in March 1970, which renamed the operation Tran Hung Dao I. In May, Giant Slingshot and Sea Tiger became Tran Hung Dao II and Tran Hung Dao VII. The allied navies also launched Operation Blue Shark, a seven-month effort designed to strike at the Viet Cong command, communication, and logistics network (or infrastructure) in the mangrove swamps at the mouth of the Mekong River system, on the river islands, and along the river banks all the way to the Cambodian border. Coastal Surveillance Force PCFs landed SEALs and LDNN for swift, deadly attacks on the usually surprised enemy. The units often followed up on intelligence gathered by Naval Intelligence Liaison Officers (NILO) assigned to many of South Vietnam's provinces and operational areas.
Coinciding with the turnover of river and coastal fighting vessels in 1969 and 1970, the Navy transferred many of the bases from which they operated. The first change of command occurred at My Tho in November 1969. Then, in the last three months of 1970, COMNAVFORV placed the Phu Cuong, Long Binh, Kien An, Chau Doc, Tan Chau, and Ha Tien Operating Bases under Vietnamese control. The transfer of Sa Dec and Chu Lai the following spring completed the process. During this same period, the Vietnamese Navy took over the six Advanced Tactical Support Bases established on the Vam Co Dong and Vam Co Tay Rivers for the Giant Slingshot operation and two more on the Cua Viet River in I Corps. In addition, the allied naval service assumed control of the harbor defense posts of the Stable Door effort, the three existing coastal radar sites, and Market Time's coastal surveillance centers.
Meanwhile, the Navy deployed Seabee detachments throughout South Vietnam to construct logistic facilities at new and existing bases. Once the Seabees completed this work and U.S. leaders felt the Vietnamese could totally support their combat units, the Americans transferred the bases to their allies. In this manner, beginning in the spring of 1971, Rear Admiral Robert S. Salzer, the new COMNAVFORV, relinquished control of Cat Lo and An Thoi, two of seven primary Logistic Support Bases that provided allied naval forces with major vessel overhauls and other supply assistance. In the same period, the Vietnamese took charge of Ben Luc and Rach Soi, two secondary or Intermediate Support Bases. These installations handled minor craft overhauls and provided units with maintenance, administrative, financial, and supply support. The next incremental transfer occurred in September when the Dong Tam Logistic Support Base and eight Intermediate Support Bases were Vietnamized.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
November / 1969
To Month/Year
April / 1970
Last Updated: Dec 22, 2023
Personal Memories
People You Remember Add "Operation CeaseFire" to the list. The best part of the whole Conflict in 1973!! Back to HomePort by April 12th 1973 to see the US Navy Band & Dependents on the pier.
Memories Chasing Komar-Boats around after the USS Goldsborough DDG-20 was hit by shore battery in Dec 1972 - Helping Shipmates in distress, was the most important part of our ops.
VC Shore Battery // US Navy NGFS exchange - USS Paul DE-1080, an interesting experience of early 1973..
For the most part - people of today's generation know nothing about that conflict's details. I guess it's a thing of the past. What gets me - is to see a guy on a street corner(maybe 25-35 yrs of age) holding a sign: "VietNam Vet - will work for food." Then seeing someone hand him some money out the car window. Think about how long ago that conflict ended. I guess that I am too picky!!
