Loomis, Steven, IC3

Every once in a while you run into a familiar name, but it's the wrong person. My name isn't a common one, Even-Steven was about as funny as it ever got. Then a few years ago there were news articles about another Steve Loomis, who also served in Viet-Nam, and he was tossed out of the Army just before he would have retired. The charges were sexual misconduct and he was given a dishonorable discharge. I've never met him, never even heard of him before the articles appeared.

I have been asked a few times if I am this person. No I am not. But, I figure for every person that asks there must be several who don't, and still wonder.

For the record:

Lieutenant Colonel, Loren Stephen Loomis, US Army, Viet-Nam Veteran, dishonorable discharge.

Petty Officer Third Class, Steven Dennis Loomis, US Navy, Viet-Nam Veteran, myself with an honorable discharge.


. . . . . . . . . . . . .


While serving in the Vietnamese Naval Shipyard in Saigon I had a Vietnamese Counterpart. His name was HA. Yes, a few would call him Ha Ha Ha., but it wasn't all that funny to me. I don't remember if I knew the rest of his name, as the Vietnamese use their Last Name First. I was simply LOOMIS to the Vietnamese staff and it helped that it was in bold print on my uniforms. When the name HA came up one of the other Advisors said he had someone in his shop named Fuck You. I wasn't sure if that was another joke or not. But it turns out that Fuk Yu is a Vietnamese name: "Fuk yu" literally translates to "fragrant jade" ... a gem that radiates light and symbolizing a lasting legacy.

My Counterpart HA... Ha was born in China in the late 1940s and brought south to Vietnam with his parents as they escaped the communists (during the Chinese Revolution of 1949-1952). Ha's wife was also Chinese. She was born in Vietnam after her parents, like Ha's, fled China. They lived in Cholon, the Chinatown of Viet-Nam, which was near my BEQ (bachelor enlisted quarters). They both spoke Chinese when at home and had a son while I was there. I hope they made it out of Viet-Nam years later but I doubt it.


. . . . . . . . . . . . .


And, then there is this story about my name: "LOOMIS"

At the end of my first week in Viet-Nam I was sent TDY, temporary duty, to the shipyard. By mid-morning I was standing in the admin office of the Senior Naval Advisory Group, Vietnamese Naval Shipyard (SNAG/VNNSY).. Most of the men were milling about a large trash can full of iced down beer. It was Saturday and the Advisors were about to have their weekly meeting. From the middle of the office an officer approached me. His rank was Lieutenant Commander and on his jungle greens it said TEAGUE. He looks at me, above the left pocket of my fatigues it says US NAVY above the right it says LOOMIS... "So, LOOMIS, where did you come from?" TEAGUE turns out to be the Planning Advisor of this unit. I was an E2, Seaman Apprentice, and had never spoken to an officer of this rank before.. I told him.. "Wisconsin".. Next he asked what kind of courses had I taken in high school, it was pretty obvious I wasn't old enough to have been to college.. I told him I'd taken college preparatory math, science and drafting courses. He was interested in the drafting classes and I told him "I'd really enjoyed both technical and architectural drafting". He then took me down the hall to his office to show me some graphs and charts and asked if I thought I'd like working on them.. He had been diagramming the progress of the ships and the manpower to repair them on some sheets of graph paper and wanted me to develop larger wall charts with a more professional look to them. So... I was assigned to the shipyard, SNAG/VNNSY, Co-Van (advisor). And for the next year, I worked with translators, Vietnamese civilians and Naval personnel to develop charts and graphs depicting the hours of manpower expended on every class of ship in the Vietnamese Navy. Our commanding officer, a full Captain (06), used my charts weekly at the Admiral's Management Information Meetings at the US Naval Headquarters. So.. what happened to the gun boats you say... ?? Lets put it this way, I wasn't complaining.... Brown Water Navy took huge losses during my tour. When we lost boats we also lost crews. So, here I was, wearing a black beret of an advisor, even the sign under the windshield of my jeep said "CO-VAN".. It allowed me into almost any area of Saigon without question. I carried papers allowing me to wear civilian clothing and was not subject to curfew. The Advisory Unit was expected to mingle with the Vietnamese Naval Command, and to entertain them.. Stories onto themselves, but lets just say.. we had enough booze to trade for anything we wanted. Whiskey could get you jeeps, steak, well... most anything!! And it did. There were 34 officers and enlisted advisors in my unit. 12 officers. 22 enlisted. All senior Naval personnel.. To my knowledge, I was 14 years younger than any other man in the unit... And the lowest ranking person to receive the South Vietnamese Staff Honor Medal. So.. how could this be?? The rest of the story.... In my ninth month in country, Robert TEAGUE, was due to rotate back to the states.. or the fleet.. By now I had his old office and shared it with two female translator/interpreters. One afternoon, just before Bob Teague was due to leave he stopped by my office. Leaning against the door jam, he said... "You know... My first wife was redhead named Loomis....." and he walked away. Somewhat shaken, I realized that one summer morning, in an office full of old advisors, Bob Teague had taken me under his wing and most likely, he saved my life. With a good cigar and a tall glass of bourbon, I toast Bob every year on Veterans' and Memorial Days along with a long look back as I reflect on those events of forty years ago. Steve Loomis, USN Wherever you are, LCDR Robert Teague, THANK YOU. I will always be grateful to you for giving me the opportunity to work, with you, in the Vietnamese Naval Shipyard in Saigon. In all likelihood, I owe you my life. I've worked hard ever since and I am sure you would be proud of my accomplishments, (a red-head named loomis). I believe I also owe him a thanks for the Navy Achievement Medal with combat "V" and most likely the Vietnamese Staff Honor Medal that I received for my work that year. I left Viet-Nam as an unrated E3 with orders to IC A School.