A Colorado native, before graduation from Westminster High School in 1966 I enlisted in the Naval Reserve on what was called a minority enlistment (I was only 17). My basic training at RTC San Diego began in August 1966. Following basic training, I was first assigned to USS Greenlet (ASR 10) home ported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. During my time on the USS Greenlet I made numerous WESTPAC cruises with a port visits in Japan, Hong Kong, Philippines and assignments in Vietnam. Following my promotion to Signalman Third Class I was assigned to the USS Dale (DLG 19) -- home ported in San Diego, CA. Another WESTPAC cruise was made in 1969 with notable port visits in Japan, Gulf of Tonkin with the USS Enterprise, Philippines, operations resulting from the attack by North Korea of an EC-131 aircraft, crossing the Equator and cruising to New Zealand. Upon return to San Diego in September 1969, my enlistment ended and I returned home.
In 1979, I re-affiliated with the Naval Reserve as a Signalman Second Class and joined a Naval Control of Shipping Reserve Unit (NCSO FE 118). My assignments included Merchant Ship Boarding officer and Career Counselor. During this tour with Naval Control of Shipping, I participated in naval control of shipping exercises in the United States and Japan. During my time with the unit, I submitted an application for a direct commission and was selected as a Restricted Line officer with a designator for Intelligence (1635) and commissioned as a new Ensign in 1984. I was assigned to an Intelligence Reserve Unit, Fleet Intelligence Rapid Support Team, Pacific (FIRSTPAC 0571) (JICPAC 0571) with subsequent assignments to NR FIRSTPAC 1371(JICPAC 1371) as a plank owner, and NSIU 0171 (U. S. Space Command) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In October 1996, I returned to JICPAC 0571 and held assignments as an Intelligence analyst, awards officer for JICPAC 0571 and Reserve Intelligence Area-5, Assistant Officer-in-Charge (AOIC) and Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of JICPAC 0571's Second Drill Weekend including duties as the Production Chief to the Reserve Production Center Denver at Buckley AFB.
In 2002, as a Commander, I was selected as Commanding Officer for NR Office of Naval Intelligence 1071. Upon completion of my command tour, I was assigned as the Deputy OIC for the Navy Reserve Element NR NORTHCOM to the J2 of NORTHERN COMMAND.
In 2006, I was Selected and promoted to Captain. My assignments included staff positions with Reserve Intelligence Area Commander Five and Reserve Intelligence Area Commander Southwest in Denver and San Diego.
In 2007 I retired as a Sergeant with the Denver Police Department after serving as a police officer for 32 years.
In 2008, I submitted my retirement request and officially retired in October 2008.
Among my service awards and military decorations, are the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medals and Armed Forces Reserve Medal. I reside in Thornton, Colorado with my wife Karen.
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.