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Shaun Thomas (Underdog), OSC
to remember
Rivers, Wendell Burke (Wendy)(Silverstar)(POW), CAPT.
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POW of North Vietnam September 10, 1965 to February 12, 1973
Spent 2,712 days in Captiveity
Wendy retired from the United States Navy on December 30, 1976. After his retirement, Wendy drove a truck for 20 years, until he passed away on May 9, 2009. He was buried at the Seward Cemetery, Seward, Nebraska.
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Wendell Burke Rivers (NSN: 0-555144), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 14 to 15 July 1966. Captain Rivers' captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion, Captain Rivers reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Captain Wendell Burke Rivers (NSN: 0-555144), United States Navy, was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while serving as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam.
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" to Captain Wendell Burke Rivers (NSN: 0-555144), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from September 1971 to February 1973. During this period, although under constant surveillance from his captors, he performed duties involving highly classified material in an exemplary and professional manner. Through his zealousness and ingenuity, he generated new ideas and improvised techniques greatly enhancing covert operations. Although in a hostile environment, he never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States and his fellow prisoners. By his inspiring courage, exceptional skill, and resourcefulness, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. (Captain Rivers is authorized to wear the Combat "V".)
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain [then Lieutenant Commander] Wendell Burke Rivers (NSN: 0-555144), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in aerial flight on 3 April 1965 as pilot of a jet attack aircraft, serving with Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE (VA-155) embarked in U.S.S. CORAL SEA (CVA-43), during air strikes on the Dong Phong Thuong Bridge in North Vietnam. Captain Rivers demonstrated courage and expert airmanship in the face of adverse weather conditions while leading a nine-plane formation against the objective for the second time that day. During the attack, his aircraft suffered a crippling hit causing it to lose a critical amount of fuel. Captain Rivers successfully refueled in flight and safely returned to his aircraft carrier. His outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Description This campaign period was from 15 March 1962 to 7 March 1965. In the early days of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam. Sailors worked with the developing Vietnamese Navy as advisors, helping them with such things as logistical support, vessel construction techniques, and so forth. As the Communist insurgency increased, the Americans became more and more involved in combat operations.
The average American naval advisor was dedicated to preparing the Vietnamese Navy to some day stand alone against the Communist foe. Often assigned to vessels or bases lacking even basic amenities, the advisor also shared the risks of combat with his hosts. His task was a heavy one. Not empowered to give orders, he could only hope to persuade his Vietnamese counterpart that a particular course of action was warranted. That advice often was ignored. Aside from the natural difficulty of getting others to accept counsel, the naval advisor was often hampered by the language barrier and differences in cultures, educational levels, and personalities that separated him from his counterpart. Furthermore, the one-year tour completed by most advisors did not allow them enough time to learn the job and bring about meaningful change. Despite all this, the Naval Advisory Group helped improve the Vietnamese naval service in important respects.
During this phase, The first significant U.S. naval engagement of the war was the famous Tonkin Gulf incident of 1964. On the afternoon of 2 August, three North Vietnamese motor torpedo boats attacked the destroyer Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin with gunfire and torpedoes. On the night of 4 August, Maddox and another destroyer, Turner Joy, reported fighting a running battle with hostile patrol craft in the middle of the gulf. Communications intercepts and other relevant information convinced Washington that an attack had taken place. At President Lyndon B. Johnson's direction, on 5 August navy carrier forces bombed North Vietnam. Two days later, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which Johnson thereafter used to wage war in Vietnam. A sustained bombing campaign of the North (dubbed "Rolling Thunder") began on 2 March 1965.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
March / 1962
To Month/Year
March / 1965
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories Installation of the Pilot Landing Aid Television (PLAT) system was completed on Coral Sea on 14 December 1961. She was the first carrier to have this system installed for operations use. Designed to provide a videotape of every landing, the system proved useful for instructional purposes and in the analysis of landing accidents, thereby making it an invaluable tool in the promotion of safety. By 1963, all attack carriers had been equipped with PLAT and plans were underway for installation in the CVSs and at shore stations.
The Coral Sea leaving Pearl Harbor in 1963Following the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in August, Coral Sea departed on 7 December 1964 for duty with the Seventh Fleet. On 7 February 1965, aircraft from Coral Sea, along with those from Ranger and Hancock, blasted the military barracks and staging areas near Dong Hoi in the southern sector of North Vietnam. The raids were in retaliation for a damaging Viet Cong attack on installations around Pleiku in South Vietnam. On 26 March, the Seventh Fleet units began their participation in Operation Rolling Thunder, a systematic bombing of military targets throughout North Vietnam. Pilots from Coral Sea struck island and coastal radar stations in the vicinity of Vinh Son. Coral Sea remained on deployment until returning home on 1 November 1965.
The Coral Sea made another Westpac/Vietnam deployment from 29 July 1966 to 23 February 1967.
