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Steven Smith-Family
to remember
Smith, Vernon Charles (Vern/V.C.), RDML USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Born in Bay City and raised near Midland, MI
Last Address After his retirement Vern purchased 30 acres and lives with his wife Kathryn in a cabin, the Rear Admiral built, on the James River in Nelson County, Virginia.
Date of Passing Aug 10, 2018
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase VII Campaign (70-71)
From Month/Year
July / 1970
To Month/Year
June / 1971
Description This Campaign was from 1 July 1970 to 30 June 1971. In July the Vietnamese Navy assumed sole responsibility f or the Ready Deck operation, which was given a Tran Hung Dao designator like the other former SEALORDS areas. Also in July, the U.S. Navy ceased its combat activity on I Corp's Cua Viet and Hue Rivers. The Americans then transferred the last combatant vessels of Task Force Clearwater to the Vietnamese. A final turnover of river craft at the end of 1970 enabled the Vietnamese Navy to take charge of the Search Turn, Barrier Reef, and Breezy Cove efforts deep in the Mekong Delta. Except for continued support by HAL-3 and VAL-4 aircraft and SEAL detachments, the U.S. Navy's role in the SEALORDS campaign ended in April 1971 when Solid Anchor (previously Sea Float and now based ashore at Nam Can) became a Vietnamese responsibility.
The Vietnamese Navy, which grew from 18,000 men in the fall of 1968 to 32,000 men at the end of 1970, instituted organizational changes to accommodate the new personnel, material, and operational responsibilities. The Vietnamese grouped their riverine assault craft in riverine assault interdiction divisions (RAID) and their PBRs into river interdiction divisions (RID) and river patrol groups (RPG). They also augmented the existing RAGs and coastal groups, the latter now consolidated into 20 units for lack of sufficient patrol junks.
This dramatic change in the nature of the allied war effort reflected the rapid but measured withdrawal from South Vietnam of U.S. naval forces. NAVFORV strength dropped from a peak of 38,083 personnel in September 1968 to 16,757 at the end of 1970. As Admiral Zumwalt transferred resources to the Vietnamese Navy, he disestablished U.S. naval commands and airlifted personnel home. With the redeployment of the Army's 9th Infantry Division and the turnover of 64 riverine assault craft in June 1969, the joint Mobile Riverine Force halted operations. When the Riverine Assault Force (Task Force 117) stood down on 25 August 1969, it became the first major naval command deactivated in Vietnam. By December 1970, COMNAVFORV had transferred to Vietnam the remaining river combatant craft in his command, which included 293 PBRs and 224 riverine assault craft. That month, the River Patrol Force was disestablished and the Task Force 116 designator reassigned to Commander Delta Naval Forces, a new headquarters controlling SEAL and naval aircraft units still in-country.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
July / 1970
To Month/Year
December / 1970
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories While commanding the USS WASHOE COUNTY (LST 1165), from August 1968 to February 1970, Commander Smith was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V. Additionally, he was awarded two Gold Stars in lieu of his second and third Bronze Star Medals. During this time the USS WASHOE COUNTY (LST 1165) had the distinction of being awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy Unit Commendation, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation for various operations off the Cau Mau Peninsula, Republic of Vietnam while operating as a unit of Landing Ship Squadron Nine and Task Force 115.
18 months in Vietnam in support of market Time Operations and with Swift Boats in the Bode River and off the Cau Mau Peninsula with 4th Corp.
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