This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Nicole Summers, MMFN
to remember
Asmussen, Glenn Edward, SF1.
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While the SH-3 helicopter was designed and equipped for anti-submarine warfare, it was commonly used for intership transportation among the 7th Fleet ships operating in the Gulf of Tonkin and South China Sea areas.
The USS NAVASOTA (AO-106) was a fleet oiler which replenished the warships with fuel oil, aviation gasoline, and jet fuel. During operations offshore Vietnam, three NAVASOTA crewmen were lost at sea when the SH-3A (BuNo 149926) they were aboard enroute it went down. As with most at-sea losses, their remains could not be recovered. They had been returning from a collision of 2 destroyers the USS Brinkley Bass and the USS Waddell.
Lost at sea during one of those south seas Monsoons on Feb. 6, 1966. Two destroyers had run together and one was taking a lot of water, and a call went out for help. They needed someone who knew how to weld under water, The men had that experience and volunteered, eleven men made the trip of a mile or so in a helicopter.
The storm was so bad that the chopper had to hover and take the men in one at a time. They plugged up the hole and were returning when suddenly the chopper went out of control and plunged into the high waves then turned up-side down. All were rescued but three.
Other Comments:
Glenn E. Asmussen Served in WWII on the uss Lexington CV-16 according to muster reports as Seaman First Class in the V-6 Program (Enlisted men required for mobilization in addition toother classes of Volunteer Reserve.) He was Transferred in January 15, 1946 and sent to PSC Bainbridge, MD for Discharge. It is beleive that he returned to service in 1950 as in News paper articles of the time he was about to retire after 20 years in the service.
This Sailor has an (IMO) In Memory Of Headstone in Courts of the Missing, Honolulu, Hawaii
Remembered: From a close friend and shipmate, Bud Bessey, HTC USN (Ret)
Date
Mar 5, 2006
Last Updated: Mar 23, 2012
Comments
05 Mar 2006
Glen was a friend of mine. I was stationed aboard NAVASOTA until Sept 1965. We worked in the same shop. In fact he was the #2 man in charge and Chief Ben Sparenburg was in charge. Dan McConnaughhay also worked in the shipfitter shop. Dan was the closest friend I ever had in the Navy.
All 3 of these fine men were killed 5 months after I was transferred, doing the job I would have been doing. This all happened on my 23rd birthday. Over the years I have stayed in close contact with Dan's family. His kids have grown up to be fine adults. I have never known finer men, may they rest in peace...
From a close friend and shipmate, Bud Bessey, HTC USN (Ret) 1201 N Old Pacific Hwy, Myrtle Creek, Or 97457