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Contact Info
Home Town Kingston
Last Address The Hospice Community Care of Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, PA.
Date of Passing Feb 15, 2008
Location of Interment Indiantown Gap National Cemetery (VA) - Annville, Pennsylvania
PHC Daniel S. Dodd, U.S.N. (Ret.) Chief Photographers Mate
Daniel S. Dodd was born June 25, 1931 in Kingston, PA. Dodd joined the US Navy on September 8, 1950. He achieved the rank of PHC and was discharged on March 16, 1970.
Chief Photographers Mate Dodd was a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Dan was the official photographer of Commander River Flotilla One (COMRIVFLOT-1) and many of his pictures were published in the book "Mobile Riverine Force Vietnam".
Many of Chief Dodd's Vietnam photos can be found on the MRF Association's web site at www.mrfa.org. Chief Dodd donated all his photos and audio to the MRFA; not only are his photos on the web site but posted in their mobile trailer and on display at their reunions. Chief Dan Dodd was a good man and a good Sailor and will be missed by all who knew him and those who served with him. The officers and members of the Mobile Riverine Force Association express their sincerest gratitude and admiration for the courageous work of combat photographers, like PHC Dan Dodd, USN (Ret.). While the official photos are the property of the people of the United States, the heroism of those who took the pictures, as that of their subjects, will be their legacy forever.
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase II Campaign (66-67)
From Month/Year
July / 1966
To Month/Year
May / 1967
Description This Campaign period was from 1 July 1966 to 31 May 1967. The growing Coastal Force devoted most of its attention to amphibious raids, patrols of shallow inlets and river mouths, troop lifts, and blocking support for allied ground sweeps. For instance, during Operation Irving in October 1966, ground forces and junk units in II Coastal Zone killed 681 Viet Cong troops. In addition, the junkmen established a government presence among the fishermen and provided them with medical services and other assistance. Sometimes the Coastal Force sailors convinced Communist soldiers to desert their units.
The enemy, who often attacked the 27 vulnerable Coastal Force bases, overran the triangular-shaped fortifications of Coastal Group 15 at Cua An Hoa in July 1965 and of Coastal Group 16 at Co Luy in August 1967. Other bases, however, withstood repeated assaults. In doing so, these facilities played a part in the allied effort that denied the enemy easy access to the coastal regions.
Viet Cong mines also took their toll of the command's MLMS fleet, which worked to keep open the shipping channel to Saigon. In August 1966 and again in January 1967, enemy mines sank an MLMS in the Rung Sat. The River Force did not fully employ its strength. The political troubles of 1965 and 1966 in the Republic of Vietnam, in which high-ranking River Force officers figured prominently, damaged morale and distracted personnel from their military mission.
The navy and the army rarely launched joint amphibious assaults against the Viet Cong. Operations reflected the River Force's lack of technically skilled crewmen, the poor maintenance and repair of river craft, and the absence of inspired leadership. Usually, only half of the command's units were ready for combat action, and many of these boats were committed by the army to static guard, resupply, troop lift, or other nonoffensive duties.
The reliance on defense over offense reflected the historic Vietnamese strategy of husbanding resources until there was clear advantage over an enemy. The Vietnamese Navy's River Force sailors often fought hard and bravely, killing many of the enemy and suffering heavy losses of their own, but their valor and sacrifice was not rewarded with strategic success.
