Continuation of Page ZERO
all about STABs & PBR Boats!
(watch this flick!)
03 May 2009
Richard
Barcus Vietnam
Photo Album
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Who sent me these Photos?
email: docrio45 [at] gmail DOT com if you can ID these guys and who emailed them to me. THanks |
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SEASTORY:1966 SEAL Team ONE
From: Ken Delfino [mailto: allegedly_retired [at] colfaxnet DOT com] To: Miller, HON Randy & Ginny Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 Subject: Re: 7 OCT 66 , SEAL Team One ambushed in the Rung Sat
, Vietnam Ken Sent: October 7 Subject: 7 OCT 66
----- Original Message ----- Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 11:26 PM Subject: RE: 7 OCT 66, SEAL Team One ambushed in the Rung Sat Re: 7 OCT 66 , SEAL Team One ambushed in the Rung Sat Inbox: Ken Delfino to me Hi Doc, Don't know which address is still good for you so I sent this to
both! I have two questions for you based on the following thread. Ken
to : Robert Stoner, Ken DelFino Subj: RE: Re: 7 OCT 66 , SEAL Team One ambushed in the Rung Sat Thank you Ken. Thanks shipmate. Rio from: Ken Delfino to: "Erasmo \"Doc\" Riojas" <docrio45@gmail.com> cc Robert Stoner <rstonercrd21 [at] msn DOT com> date :Thu, Jun 16, 2011 at 4:21 PM subject Re: 7 OCT 66 Thanks Doc and Hi Bob! I was with RivDiv 533 from 10/66-7/68 (Cat Lo, Nha Be, My Tho) call signs were Seahorse 64, Barracuda something, Michaelangelo Kilo and Druid-something and your name sounds really familiar. Perhaps you might remember LTjg Dick Strandberg, LTjg Frank Yusi, QMC Frank Jackson or RD1 Wilbur Cosson? They were four of my patrol officers. We (PBRs 152 and 160) did a lot of inserts and extracts with your teams as did PBRs 112 and 153. Anyway, neither Randy nor Jim were SEALs...they were crew on Mighty Mo. I've seen "in-country" photos of Randy (Nha Be barracks), but don't know that much about Jim. I hope all is well with you....it's been a while. Thanks for your help gentlemen. Ken WEBMASTER: I wish you would send those pictures of Randy and Jim to me for www.sealtwo.org. Thank you , Doc Riojas
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| 7
October 1966 incident with the "Mighty Mo"
Robert Stoner to Ken, me, Randy
Hello
everyone (and please pass this along to other correspondents
involved),
SEALs
got involved in operations in and around Nha Be in early 1966.
To the best of my knowledge, all of the initial operators were from
ST-1 in Coronado. ST-2 got involved in 1967 and they brought
with them their own STAB (SEAL Team Assault Boats) that were purposely
modified at ST-2 in Little Creek. These boats were the PowerCat
23, a tri-hull fiberglass boat that mounted two 115 hp Mercury
outboards. This STAB was slightly smaller than the
later all-aluminum LSSC. Doc Riojas remembers operating from
the old STAB and some of its problems (like flooding over the
transom). The following photos are from LIFE magazine via Jim
Gray. They show STAB operations from Nha Be in late 1967 or
early 1968. (Doc, do any of these faces look familiar?)
Anyhow,
the members of ST-1 at Nha Be scrounged and modified a Mk 4 LCPL
(steel-hulled) and an LCM Mk 6. The Mk 4 wasn't too heavily
modified and may have been discarded early-on. However, the LCM
was heavily modified and it became the "Mighty Mo" as
described in the story. I have been unable to find much on the
Mighty Mo other than some photos and a write-up on CPO Herb Ruth
(SEAL) who was involved in the fight that night.
Above:
CPO Herb Ruth went on to be a commissioned officer. This is LT
Herb Ruth of ST-2 taken at Little Creek.
It
was a real gunfight with no quarter given by either side. Herb
was attached to ST-1 at the time (he later went to ST-2 and made other
deployments to RVN). CPO Ruth and several other SEALs
received decorations for their actions that night and all members of
the Mighty Mo received Purple Hearts. I have not found
anyone who can confirm this, but I believe the Mighty Mo was so
damaged by the 7 October 1966 battle that it was eventually scrapped.
Above:
The slightly modified Mk 4 LCPL of ST-1 at Nha Be in early
1967 is very much a jury rigged affair (photo: Chuck LeMoyne)
Here
are photos of the Mighty Mo as it was modified by ST-1:
Above
and below: The "Mighty Mo" under construction at Nha Be in
1966 (photo: Frank Anderson)
Above:
The "Mighty Mo" topside looking aft 1966 (photo:
Chuck LeMoyne)
Below:
The "Mighty Mo" beauty shot taken before the 7 October 1966
battle (photo: Jerry Clark)
Below:
Another shot of the "Mighty Mo" alongside an improvised
pier in 1966 (photo: "Doc" Riojas)
One
of the outcomes of the 7 October 1966 firefight was that Naval Special
Warfare Group decided there was a need for a division of labor aboard
the boats that supported SEAL operations. The result was BSU-1
in Coronado was tapped to provide dedicated boat crews and the SEALs
(and UDTs) would do the operational jobs. In Coronado, BSU-1
converted two LCM-6 and four LCPL Mk 4 into boats for the SEAL/UDT
operators. The conversions were sent to RVN as part of Project
ZULU and arrived beginning in March 1967. Dedicated boat
crews in RVN were called MST (Mobile Support Teams). MST-1
operated from DaNang supporting VNN raids using PTF gunboats; MST-2
operated in the Delta supporting SEAL/UDT operations from various
bases. Initial HSSC/LCPL operations were from
Nha Be and Can Tho (later My Tho) in the Delta.
Above:
The Can Tho/My Tho boat as it appeared in Project ZULU.
Note the two modified Mk 4 LCPLs outboard of the HSSC. This boat
would be heavily modified as the war progressed. (photo: Jim
Gray)
Below:
The Can Tho/My Tho boat in early 1968 before the Mini-gun was added.
Note the increased armor around the engine room that has been added.
(photo: Jim Gray)
Above:
The Can Tho/My Tho HSSC in 1969 before the addition of bar armor to
the forward hull. The Mini-gun is pointing at the photographer
and the Mk 2 81mm mortar is pointed down to keep out water (photo:
Don Crawford)
Below:
The Nha Be HSSC is high and dry. Compare the difference in layouts
and armoring of the stern compared to the Can Tho/My Tho HSSC (photo:
Randy Miller)
Above:
The Nha Be HSSC in full portside view. Note the separate gun
tube for the forward firing twin .50 machine guns. These
guns had oversized ammunition boxes. The Can Tho/My Tho boat
had a Mini-gun in a tub at the lip of the top deck. Both
boats had the M40A1 106mm recoilless rifle mounted on the top deck (photo:
Ron Allen)
Below:
A detail photo of the forward twin .50 machine guns and oversize
ammo boxes to feed them (photo: Ron Allen)
The
Mk 4 LCPLs were heavily used over the next several years and were
replaced by the MSSC beginning in 1969. The LCPLs were all
gone by 1970. The Can Tho/My Tho LCM (now called the HSSC)
eventually found its way to SEA FLOAT/SOLID ANCHOR at Nam Can on the
Cau Lon River on the Ca Mau Peninsula. It sank in a storm while
tied to the ARL off Square Bay in January 1971. The
other HSSC stayed at Nha Be for most of its operating life, but I
don't know what happened to it. It might have been turned over
to the LDNNs when all the MST boat crews and SEALs/UDTs left country
in 1971.
Speaking
of snakes, the three ST-1 platoons at SOLID ANCHOR had a pet python
that lived under their hooches and kept the rat population down (and
we had some really bigones). Some idiot poured
gasoline on the poor thing, but he recovered. When ST-1 left
country, the snake came with them and went through several owners in
Coronado and finally found a home with a SEAL in Imperial Beach.
Unfortunately, the python got out and caused a major fuss. He
was recaptured after about three weeks and was donated to the San
Diego Zoo, where he was very happy in retirement.
Regards,
Bob
Stoner
WEBMASTER NOTE: The SEAL Team TWO 7th Platoon, 1967 home based in MyTho Vietnam had BSU-1 operators and a "Mighty Mo" with a 81 mortar in the well deck forward, a recoiless rife and a mini gun on the flat top. I do not remember a .50 cal. Machine gun aft.
Missing: Gene Fraley , Rinney's handler(KIA), Billy Burbank (transferred to PRUs), W.O.Charlie Watson returned to Little Creek due to Illness. This photo was taken in MyTho at the PBR base. Rinney made too much noise in the jungle. He went on two Ops and was used to interrogate captured VCs. The photo says May 1968, which is when the film was developed, photo was taken in late 1967. We relieved "Moose" Boinotte's, "Pee Wee" Nealy's platoon at the Carter Hotel, MyTho RVN 1967. We had a BSU-1 platoon with us for the Mike Boat and one of the Origional STABs "by Mattell." SEVENTH Plt, ST-2, 1967-1968: Best I can remember: We ran over 100 clandestine Ops in IV Corps RVN. Awards: 14 Combat Action Ribbons, 1 Navy Cross, 2 Silver Stars, 14 Bronze Stars, 12 Purple Hearts (two were refused), 14 VN gallantry Crosses, 12 Navy Achievement Medals and SEAL unit awards, Presidential and Navy. http://www.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=4405 "Eagle" Gallagher Navy Cross. ![]() ![]()
On Sat, Jun 18, 2011
wrote: More and more of our former BSU/MST guys are finding their way home at
www.warboats.org.
From: Erasmo "Doc" Riojas
18 JUNE 2011 Robert Stoner Any guys, SEALs, that were as crazy to do the kind of things you did had to be gotten out if you got in trouble. We'd have moved Heaven and Earth to extract you if there was a way to do it. Ditto for the Seawolves. Brothers protect brothers. From:Randy Miller to: Robert, Ken, me, Bill Bob, Bill Moreo and I drove Whalers on Seal op's numerous times. He came back to Can Tho/My Tho in late 68 with the early version STABS. l I'll try to send you some pic's I have of our BSU/MST-3 dedicated boats. Jim Grey has copies of some of my pictures. It was 45 years ago, so everyone's history gets a little different. No matter what, it was a hell of a time. Doc is right, we never got any credit from the Seals in most of their books. We took'em in, floated around and waited for their call, and got them out, every time while I was there. And BSU personnel drove and operated the Nasties out of Danang and we never got credit for that either, it was always the Seals PTF's that was mentioned, not BSU/MST. Thanks for all your memories and thoughts, as Bill says, thanks for having my back. Your brother in arms, GO NAVY !! Randy
fromRobert
Stoner
Mon,
Jun 20, 2011 at 11:05 AM
toKen
Delfino im Gray
Guys
The
thing to remember -- now with 40+ years of hindsight -- that
everything was in the process of being invented. When
ST-1 got in-country in 1966, they literally had to scrounge
boats to operate. Their modified LCPL and Mike 6
"Mighty Mo" were prime examples. In these
early days, the SEALs crewed their own boats as well as ran
operations because no one had thought of a different way to
do things! The 7 October 1966 gunfight got the ball
rolling to change this natural division of labor -- boat
crew and operators -- and the handoff was made to BSU-1.
Project ZULU was the result and it demonstrated the
principle of the separate boat crew plus field operator team
that we remember.
ST-2
came to RVN in 1967 and they brought the STABs with them.
The PowerCat 23 tri-hull commercial boat was modified
in-house by ST-2 at Little Creek and brought over.
As far as I have been able to find out, there were
originally three (four?) original STABs. One STAB
never made it out of the U.S. -- while being airlifted by a
CH-46 Sea Knight, the cargo straps failed and the boat fell
into a parking lot at Little Creek. The STAB was
damaged beyond repair and several cars were destroyed.
The hulk was used for weapon's immunity trials. The
other two (three?) boats came over to RVN with their
deploying ST-2 platoon. STAB operations began in October-November
of 1967 and continued for over a year. Eventually both
boats were worn-out and retired. The replacement was
the aluminum LSSC. [Trivia: The PowerCat STABs in RVN
had "STAB I" and "STAB II" painted on
the bows in black paint. You can barely make out STAB
I on the bow of this November 1967 photo.]
None
of my SEAL contacts have been able to confirm the fate of
the "Mighty Mo" after the 7 October 1966 gunfight.
It may have been too badly damaged to repair. Or, it
was not repaired because it was replaced by two brand new,
stateside converted LCM Mk 6 or HSSC that arrived under
Project ZULU.
Other
problems with pinning things down definitively: (1) SEAL/UDT/MST
operations were classified and much of what we're now
discussing was under wraps for 25 years, (2) as Jim Gray
knows -- NSWG cleaned out a lot of files in the mid-1980s
and a lot of historical, day-to-day information went to
the dumpster, (3) many of the guys -- especially ones who
were the early players -- have passed away and can't help.
What's then happened is we're recreating our history as we
lived it based on period photos and fading recollections
plus some documents of the times that have survived.
This
one's for you, Doc Rio. When I was at the GWVN reunion
in San Antonio, President John Woody introduced me to Dr.
Jim Reckner who heads up the Vietnam studies department at
Texas Tech. Dr, Jim is ex-Navy and served with
the 7th Fleet ships off the coast of Vietnam. I would
talk to Jim about your website, because you've got tons of
information that will go away if you can't maintain it any
longer. If you want to contact Dr, Jim, I can help you
there.
Bob
|
" Doc Rio,
hope to catch up with you. Saw "poouch" at gamewardens in Oct. with my pups down at stennis
SBT 22 good group - trying to get a BSU-1 - MST reunion down there.
Best REgards, Tommmy "leprochaun" Ireland forever
the Moff.
Doc,
after #10 place "Seafloat" turn around from Det "C" to Det "D" got my laundry done. East Coast PLT - Swede, Sham, D. Johnson, T. Shoulders , Mc QUeen, Mc Carthy, Av??y, Daus, David Strong, 3 months with them than Victor PLT West Coast / split tour. Spent a lot of time running down to "Ben Tre" for XRay Plt, Tom Moffatt
Hard luck PLT. Bomar, Collins, Riter, B???y, RIP.
| On Wed, Mar 2, 2011 Tommy Moffatt <bsu1mst2 [AT] comcast DOT net> wrote: To: docrio@sealtwo.org
MY NAME IS TOM MOFFATT BETTER KNOWN AS TOMMY
LEPRECHUAN.
Webmaster's Note: Tommy, i had to break your long sentence
into small sentence fragments for easier reading, PS: send more pictures ! |

Lowell
Dickey EN2 PBR
\

Lt
to Rt.: Garry Hunt, Phil Garn, Jeff Hunter, Dave Hale

SBU-22
Minigun
|
This Table is Under construction PBR HULL NUMBERS AND PATROL CALL SIGNS -----Original Message----- From: Ken Delfino [mailto:philippepinuts@colfaxnet.com]
Sent: Monday, April 12, 2010 2:21 AM To: Al O'Canas Subject: Re:
PBR HULL NUMBERS AND PATROL CALL SIGNS Hey guys, at one time I had the
hull numbers of all the PBR’S in the Nam and what boat they ran with.
I don’t remember how I got it, or even if I found it myself. Can
anyone, especially the 533 guys, remember the Patrol call signs and what
two boats ran together??? I would appreciate any help I can
get.“Pancho” As close as I can remember:
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|
MCPO Robert Stoner's History on SeaFloat and Solid Anchor CaMau Peninsula, Vietnam http://www.warboats.org/vietnam.htm#stoner
Earlier I sent you a brief write-up on the inventor of the Ammi pontoon or barge. Some of that information was incorrect and I'm correcting the historical record. The inventor's full name (now spelled correctly) was Dr. Arsham Amirikian. Attached is a short biography of this outstanding, but little-known civil engineering expert. As you can see from the biographic sketch, Dr. Amirikian was heavily engaged in the development of the base construction we used in Vietnam. I want to thank Lee Wahler and Steve Thomas who helped with getting Dr. Arsham Amirikian's name spelling corrected. Bob Stoner
Above: Two SEAL support craft of Mobile Support Team 2 are tied
to a typical 90x28x5-foot Ammi pontoon in Vietnam. The nearest boat is a
modified LCPL (landing craft personnel, large) and the rear boat is a Light
SEAL Support Craft or LSSC. This photo was taken some time in 1968 or
1969.
----- Original Message ----- Just before we finished up our tour at SA, we took a daylight recon due west on the Cau Lon River until we came to a large canal several clicks away. We took the canal north and it branched. We took the right branch (now heading east) and then nosed the MSSC into the bank to drop off our SEAL squad. The mangrove trees were thick. The point man hit the water and immediately there were about six snakes that went swimming away! (I decided that I was NOT getting off that boat -- no matter what.) This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
Webmaster's NOTE: MCPO Gary Smith (SEAL) Ret wrote two books. Death in the Delta and Death in the Jungle . In one of those books, he describes the job Doc Riojas was assigned and later Gary was assigned escorting the civilian tug boats who were contracted to bring sand in from the South China Sea to build the ground on which Solid Anchor was to be constructed. Gary and I rode the two Swift boats with squads of Biet Hi Commandos and Kit Carson Scouts. The Boss man for that Operation was an EOD Officer LCDR Spinx. Gary narrates in one of his books that operation and other facts about that period of time at Sea Float.
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Where was NavForV?
![]()
|
Keith F. Reyes, ULC-UM
Yes, Coastal River
Squadrons/Divisions, then were re-designated Special Boat Squadrons/Units, now
they are designated Special Boat Teams. They evolved to all the same
mission. We are teaching them all underwater recovery swim strokes
(combat swimming) and the PT requirements. We teach them things of this
nature, and answer all their questions. Take care. From: Keith Reyes |

Buck
Owen




|
Bob Stoners Contribution of Boat Photos
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The SEAL MK V boat

%20838.gif)


Lt
to Rt: Charlie Bump, Bill Garnett, Pierre Ponson SEAL
Team TWO on one of the origional S.T.A.B. boats in the 'nam war games.
Note the width of the river.




| Fm:
Jim Dickson jdickson
[at] aceweb.com To: Doc Riojas docrio45 [at] gmail.com Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2008 Subject: Vietnam War story about ST-1 & "Mighty Mo"
1966 :SEAL Team One
ambushed
in the
Rung Sat
I just remembered Dick Pearson, SEAL Team One, Det Golf was on the fore ward starboard .50 cal the night of the ambush. He visited me at a Mobile Riverine Force Reunion in San Diego in 2001 and filled some blank spots in my memory. I really appreciated that. I just remembered Admiral Ward sent my father a letter after I was wounded (copy enclosed). I've got to tell you that letter cut through a lot of red tape with the VA.
From: Jim Dickson CPO Herb Ruth was on one of the machine guns and the barrell was so hot you could see the rounds going through it. When it was all over the barrells were drooping. We lost our first casualty on 19 August 66 (Billy Machen), and from that day forward SEAL DET GOLF took vengence on the VC. Capt Weyers (Then a LT) was instrumental in the initial success of SEAL'S actions in the RSSZ, that paved the way for their continued success, even today. One of the Boat Crew Jim Dickson suffered head wounds and also was retired. A GALLANT Group of men that to this day can not go through the Airport Security without setting off the alarms. HOOYAH - Franklin
( I was CO of SEAL Team ONE at this time)
From: Franklin Anderson The follow on is that We lost Bill Pachacek and Bob Henry in the near past dying prematurely from the wounds received. "Herb Ruth was later commissioned and went into law enforcement in Utah. He passed away quite some time ago of a Heart Attack--- This group of Valiant men are fading rapidly-- CWO Moscone passed away, and it was "suspected" that Agent Orange was the culprit.
This email was cleaned by email Stripper, available for free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm |
TAP’s

"Boats" Bill Fischer with Ball Cap MRFA & 9th Reunion Drawbridge Inn
BMC William L. “Boats” Fischer U.S. Navy Ret. Passed away in his sleep September 4, 2008. Boats had been in declining health for a few years. Boats Fischer was a great person you would not have found a nicer shipmate and friend. He enjoyed being a MRFA member and the camaraderie that he shared with all the Army and Navy members he met . He could take a joke and give back as good as he received he will be missed by all hands Army and Navy a like.
Boats served as a Boat Captain on PBR-97 River Section 532 7/66-7/67 out of My Tho. Boats will have his ashes buried at sea by the U S Navy..
You may contact the family @ Margaret Fischer 87-165 St Johns Rd. Waianae, HI. 96792-3258 (808)-
668-7494. May our brother rest in peace and find peace
Albert Moore
A Sailors Prayer
"The Lord is my pilot, I shall not go adrift; He lighteth my passage across dark channels; He steereth me through the deep waters, He keepeth my log. He guideth me by the evening star for my safety's sake. Yea, though I sail mid the thunders and tempest of life, I shall fear no peril for Thou art with me. The vastness of thy sea upholds me. Surely fair winds and safe harbors shall be found all the days of my life; And I shall moor, fast, and secure, forever Amen.
EN3 Perry Underwood, PBRs Vietnam K.I.A.Vietnam War's River Rat Community Honor One of Its OwnBy Ed Friedrich Friday, October 17, 2008BREMERTON, WASH.Perry Underwood has a 10-story building named after him, but few know his story. The Vietnam War casualty's river-rat brothers acted Friday to keep it alive. Members of Gamewardens Northwest rededicated a Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton hotel in the former Bainbridge Island sailor's honor, and they unveiled a display about Underwood and the Brown Water Navy with which he fought. Underwood, of Rolling Bay, enlisted in the Navy the day after New Year's in 1966. The Bobby Darin look-alike was 19 years old. Three-and-a-half years later, he was an engineman third class aboard a river patrol boat on the upper Saigon River. While escorting a convoy, Underwood's boat came under an intense rocket and automatic weapons attack, according to his bronze star citation. He returned fire until his boat took a direct rocket hit. Underwood and two crew members died that day, June 23, 1969. The remaining two were badly injured. Patrolling Vietnam's inland waters was among the most dangerous jobs in the war. Those sailors earned their combat pay, and more, said first gentleman Mike Gregoire, who came up from Olympia to cut the ribbon and cake. The event brought back memories for Gregoire, who as a young lieutenant ran convoys up the Mekong River. "When I see a guy like (Underwood), I immediately see the men in my unit," he said. The Northwest chapter of the Gamewardens, led by president Heinz Hickethier of Belfair, put the display together. Five members of the group, who are veterans of the Vietnam River Patrol Force, attended Friday's event. River patrol boats were used in the Vietnam War from 1966 until 1972. They were the most common craft in the River Patrol Force, Task Force 116, numbering as many as 250 boats. Their mission was to stop and search river traffic in an attempt to disrupt weapons shipments. That effort often got them in firefights with enemy soldiers on boats or on the shore. The Mark II patrol boats were 32 feet long and 11 feet, 7 inches wide. The fiberglass hulls had water-jet drives that allowed them to operate in shallow, weed-choked rivers and canals. They only drew 2 feet of water fully loaded, could spin 180 degrees in the length of a boat and stop from full speed — 28.5 knots — in a couple lengths. They typically carried twin .50-caliber machine guns up front, a 7.62-mm machine gun, a grenade launcher and sometimes a 20-mm cannon. The Naval Base Kitsap building originally took Underwood's name when it opened as a bachelor's enlisted quarters on Memorial Day 1978. Structures drew names then from local sailors killed in battle. Underwood's photo and medals were pinched between two automatic glass doors that would open and shut on those trying to view them. When the building recently was renovated into a Navy hotel, Hickethier found more space to add a model river patrol boat, patches, photos, maps and other memorabilia. Submitted by:
Jim Dickson ; jdickson [at] aceweb.com; Sunday, October 19, 2008
; Subject: River Rat Community Honors One of Its Own |




![]()
Most of these Boat Photos from Bob Stoner






















From: Bob Mhoon <bobmhoon[at]tx.rr.com>
to: docrio45[@]gmail.co,;
archives [at]frii.com
date: Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at
7:47 PM
subject: Seal Pics - 1965
mailed: -bytx.rr.com
Resent directly with photos
JIC.
Happy New Year,
Bob Mhoon
Steve, I stumbled onto the
Seal site pretty much by accident.
I took the attached photos
while a crew member aboard the USS Spinax (SS-489) about July or August 1965. We
were doing Seal insertion/extraction training on San Clemente Island (off
The trusty group at the 50
The .57 MM was a
demonstration of why you didn’t want to stand behind it.
I remember a couple of
things about this operation. One was being on sonar and helping vector in the
returning team who had a pinger on the collapsible rubber boat. Most important
was taking care of the team’s nourishment. Those guys ate a month’s supply
of our steak and lobster in just one week!
Hope you have a great 2009
Bob Mhoon


| From: wshark79 [at] aol.com To: docrio45 [at] warpspeed1.net Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 Subject: seal team 1&2 "nam" photo"s with mst-2 boat drivers DOC, I BET YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THESE PHOTO"S,YOU ASKED ME A WHILE BACK IF I HAD SOME PICS,WELL HERE THEY ARE!!,I JUST LEARNED HOW TO USE SCANNER. MYSELF BILL MOREO, AND RICK SHEPARD BROUGHT THE FIRST LSSC"S INTO NAM LATE 1968,HERE IS THE FIRST INSERTION OF SEAL TEAM 2 AT CAN-THO,RVN.BY LSSC.SORRY I CAN"T REMEMBER NAMES MAYBE YOU KNOW SOME OF THEM
|





|
HELP! I cannot find the email that these photos came with ! WHO SENT THEM? Help please !
|
|
From: Kiet Nguyen Even it was over 36 years from April 1972. I have never forgot that operation with US Navy SEALs Lt. Thomas R. Norris and we were at the last part to bring home Lt. Col. Hambleton. The first part it was entire Sea Commandos team did work with Tommy and Lt. Col. Anderson for recoveried 1st Lt. Mark Clark pilot. Then our team had suffered by the NVA's shelling as Lt. Col. Anderson and my Vietnamese Commando's chief team were wounded. You remember I was assigned to the Sea Commandos unit at that time. Indeed I was graduated (May 1970) from the LDNN in Cam Ranh Bay under US. Navy SEAL and Vietnamese SEAL trainers . So, I was only one who came from LDNN and the rest of my team those whom were belong to the Sea Commandos unit. You said: Kiet was accompanied by several other LDNNs who backed out of the mission refusing to go out to the river to meet Hambleton and Kiet said he was pissed and had to go alone to the river so Hambleton would come out of the jungle, which he did once he saw Kiet. Then joined Norris who was in the trees undercover. No, It is not truth. Ralph, you have a little bit imagine on this story while I was in Bellingham with you and some other men who came from Brown River Patrol vets for that event. I would remind you and the camera man (I can't remember his name) about you guys were promised me that after the interview you will send me the copy of that part. But two of you never make it. If you have that tape recorded by the camera
man you should know what I am saying. Bring it up Ralph to tell the
truth of your story (Not mine.) Again, I must Thanks all of you for been there and done that to stop the waves of communism in South East Asia. God bless you all.
----- Original Message -----
----- Original Message -----
At this exact moment 31 years ago, the PBRs of River Divisions 531, 532 and 533 had been scrambled not only after the monthly mortar visits from the Viet Cong, but also after hearing accompanying small arms automatic fire within the city limits! Similar occurrences were taking place against our Navy brothers in Can Tho, Long Xuyen, Chau Doc, Binh Thuy, Nha Be, Sa Dec, Hue and Vinh Long, which was overrun. With our Mobile Riverine Force to the west, 7th ARVN Division to the north, 32nd VN Ranger Bn to the east, the VNN and our SEAL teams were doing what they needed to do to ensure that none of the 3 battalions of Viet Cong got close enough to damage or overrun our headquarters. As it was, in My Tho there were VC bodies at the "Y"...about five blocks from the Khach-San Victory HDQ and Carter Billet. Everyone has their memories of that particular morning...whether that morning is more impressive than any of the others during our tours of duty is up to each individual. We all had fires to put out, casualties to transport, attacks to counter and when night came, we hoped that we had enough adrenaline left to stay awake through the night. That was not problem though with Spooky, Seawolves and Gunslingers
showering the ground with red tracers where green tracers rose to find
them. Everyone cat-napped, but no one really slept. Actions of that
week...and many other actions is what has kept our bond of camaraderie
strong over the years. Someone once said that "the bond of
friendship forged in combat is second only to the bond between a
mother and child". I am very proud to read of the success of those South Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian allies who were able to escape and make it here...and become citizens and successful business owners contributing to our society. I am even more proud of their children who understand what it was like to live under the fear that accompanies war and have joined our military and proudly serve today. I do want to point out that during the rescue of LCOL Iceal Hambleton, portrayed by Gene Hackman in Bat 21, one key person's role in that rescue was not emphasized enough in my opinion. I salute Petty Officer Kiet Nguyen, LDNN (SEAL), South Vietnamese Navy for his heroic actions with LT Tom Norris in that rescue operation. Because he is Vietnamese, he was not awarded the Medal of Honor as LT Norris was, but he was awarded our Navy Cross. This evening at dinner I'll raise my glass in a toast to my brothers-in-arms and to the 58, 260 Killed In Action and the 1,740 who are still Missing In Action. I've been told I should "let it go" by people who do not understand...but no way in hell will that happen...not until my last breath...or until all of our men are accounted for...whichever comes first. God Bless America for we are...One Nation Under God! Ken Delfino, United States Navy (ret)
|
![]() ETN3 Mike Prather receives his commendation from the Chief of Naval Operations on the arrival of PTF-17 and PTF-19 at Great Lakes, IL. The presenting officer is RADM Draper L. Kauffman, Commandant of the Ninth Naval District. RADM Kauffman was the father of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and the Underwater Demolition Teams that became today’s SEALs. |
| Emails about the HX. of SEAL
STAB boat
----- Original Message -----
Original Message ----- G.
----- Original Message ----- From: Robert Stoner [mailto:RStonerCRD21 [at] msn.com]
----- Original Message -----
Original Message ----- Norm Olson ----- Original Message ----- ----- Original Message ----- Norm Olson
----- Original Message -----
----- Original Message ----- Bob
Subject: Fwd: STABs of SEAL Team 2 in 1967
Subject: Re: STABs of SEAL Team 2 in 1967 Thanks to all of you for keeping me informed about our origional
STAB. We, the 7th platoon, turned one upside down in the south china sea
back in 1967. Our LDNN lost a foot, and Jack Rowell saved his head by
pushing the screw with his M-16. The weapon was a total loss, but Jack
did not get one scratch.
----- Original Message -----
That's why I'm appealing to the "human records" who made
the history.
----- Original Message -----
From: Jack Lynch
To: 'Bill Langley'
Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2009 7:08 AM
Subject: RE: STABs of SEAL Team 2 in 1967
Hello
all you old guys, I was in SEAL Team Two 10th Platoon in My Tho from April to October 1968 and we didn’t have any LCSR’s there at that time. We only had the ole Catamaran hull with two 125 HP Mercury engines at that time. Now, we did have the Mike boat Battleship as well. We inherited these from Doc Rio, Mike Boynton, Bob Gallagher’s platoon. The Mike boat had a deck big enough to land a helo if needed, 5 50 cals, 106 recoiless, and the mini gun. We use to come back at 3 or 4 in the morning and drill holes in the boat so it could drain and then at 2 or 3 in the afternoon we would fill the holes with fiberglass resin so it would be good to go in the evening again. I did that with Pierre Bertz. When the boat finally gave out and just wasn’t making it Rudy Boesch and Al Quist our platoon officer took me to Dong Tang and we borrowed a 16 foot Whaler from the Army but didn’t ask or tell them we were going to use one of their 20 or so Whalers. By the way, we did this op in broad day light, with and Army guy untying me to test the boat engine. They thought I was from and maintenance activity. We got back to My Tho pulled it out of the water, pulled the big Johnson off it and painted it camo colors, and some Army guys came up and looked at it and said, nope that’s not our boat. We put one of our Mercury's on it and that’s what we operated until we left country in October. I
think the LCSR’s came shortly after we left in October. Great
memories of how to fight a war! Jack Lynch -
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
From: Jack Lynch
To: 'doc rio'
Cc: 'Robert Stoner'
Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 12:45 PM
Subject: PASS THIS ON TO : Jack Lynch, President of UDT
SEAL Assn, Little Creek Virginia
Your
right Bob, and Rio your right to. The LCSR never made it over
there and would not have done well with those two big turbo jet
engines in them. And what I meant to put down was LSSC vs the
LCSR in my remarks below. Thanks for bringing that to my
attention. Doc Rio, Thanks for sending Dick Cyrus email.
He looks good. Forward this to him if you would. Hope all
is well with him and wondered where he disappeared to. Dick,
drop me a line as some of your class mates are looking for you. Jack
----- Original Message ----- Bob
----- Original Message -----
----- Original Message ----- I was with MST-3 at Nha Be from Oct 67 to Apr 68 but don't remember a Stab being there. I can tell you as a boat driver that the Boston Whaler floats upside down just fine from first hand experience. We were on a night op and pulled up behind a PBR. I was having engine problems and the order was given to move out. There was a PBR, Bill Moreo in the other Whaler, the other PBR and myself and my gunner. The 2nd PBR hit the throttle and the wash from the jet pump swamped my boat and we overturned and we went straight to the bottom of the river. I pulled the lanyard of my life vest and popped up along side the whaler, my gunner popped up underneath. We were floating away from where the other boats were heading. We got the boat ashore and waited for them to come back for us. We tied the whaler up to a PBR and towed it back to Nha Be. The drivers seat came loose and was dragging underneath and the engine was still attached. We lost the fuel tanks and battery, an M-60, M-16, M-79, and radio. But she still floated flat even with the engine attached. When ever we'd get to much water in the boat we'd get out in the middle of the channel and get the speed up and pull the plug in the bottom to suck the water out. We did that alot due to when we were on the beach and waves from other boats crashed over the side or rear of the boat. I have fond memories of the Boston Whaler and its capabilities. We could get 6 Seals on board with the two of us and get the boat up on plane. The Chrysler 105 engine had plenty of power but it required special oil/gas mixture and we ran out of the oil. Regular oil wouldn't due as I blew up an engine because of over heating. If I were to buy a boat my first choice would be a Boston Whaler. Randy 'Bear' Miller
Original Message -----
From: Erasmo "Doc" Riojas To: Randy Miller, Taft Chamber; jimthomas07 [at] comcast.net ; RSTONERCRD21 [at] msn.com ; blasmojica [at] yahoo.com ; neptune590 [at] netzero.com ; jwoody [at] texas.net ; ichasethesun [at] yahoo.com ; docrio45 [at] gmail.com ; wshark79 [at] aol.com Cc: jgrayptf24 [at] msn.com ; dwithers [at] rodaxwireless.com Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 Subject: STABs of SEAL Team 2 in 1967 Wow!
YES!
we quit using the Boston Whaler during my first tour in
MyTho when we had to insert more than four men.
We got swamped by a PBR, same as you did and damn near
lost one SEAL, his name is Roy Dean Matthews. The driver had no
problems, he was only wearing swim trunks.
He refused to let his Stoner go and struggled in the
bottom mud to allow his life jacket to bring him up to the surface.
I dropped my M-16 and much later when the tide was down
was found by a district chief (VN). We went back the next
morning to dive for the weapons, we only recovered one Stoner.
Our LT Peterson was setting up an OP with that villiage
chief and he saw my weapon. My M-16 was painted green with brown
spots and the sling was replaced with a heavy nylon line. It was
impossible to see another one like it !
"LT" asked him to trade it for his own. The Chief said it was a VC weapon and refused to trade it.
We wanted it because we were testing some chrome
barrels from COlt Arms in CONN. and it had more rifling the the
standard ones. We were supposed to return those barrels
when we returned to CONUS.
We never again used the Boston Whaler for Ops.
Good for water skiing, no?
We had a Mattell STAB with us while in MyTho 1967-68
and of course the Mike boat that towed it to our Op areas.
Your story will be on my web page www.sealtwo.org/
zero02.htm
Doc Rio
The
"Green Ship" Fleet in into
APB's. Self-propelled
barracks ships and ARL's Used
on the ----- Original Message -----
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EMails on Boat Support Unit and SEAL History in the 'nam
Riojas, Bob Stoner didn't ask me for anything. From: Robert Stoner ----- Original Message -----
|
|
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Stoner
To: doc rio
Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 10:46 PM
Subject: Re: MST crowd were certifiable for
driving those boats
Doc Riojas, One day we took a daylight recon of the area behind
the SOLID ANCHOR base and went where we'd never gone before in the MSSC.
We went west on the Song Cau Lon until we hit a canal that sent us north
and then curved around to the east. Several clicks after the turn, we
put the bow on the bank (mangrove swamp, about 6 inches underwater) and
dropped off the SEAL squad. The first guy's foot that hit the water sent
several snakes swimming off in various direction. (You're well aware of
the numbers of poisonous vs. non-poisonous snakes in RVN.) We used to joke that SOLID ANCHOR was the world's
biggest sandbox because it took over $6 million worth of sand, brought
in on huge barges, to make a solid foundation for the base that was
built there. Bob Stoner
----- Original Message ----- Above: A Russian DShKM (1938/46) on an AA tripod. Doc, Here is another Sea Story; One of the guys I remember from ST-1 across the courtyard at SOLID ANCHOR was SMC Tommie L.
Hatchett. Tommie was a was a tall, very well muscled black guy that looked as if the could give the Incredible Hulk some pointers. I was friends with GMG3 Frank Sparks and he clued me in that GOLF platoon had captured a really neat gun from the VC. Being a curious sort, I decided to pay GOLF platoon a visit and check things out for myself.
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----- Original Message ----- Doc,
Larry
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Bob
with ST-1 Officer

Bill
Breamer, Bill Mount, Jim Thomas, Blas Mojica, Bill Moreo, Mike Bradley








Lt.
to Rt: Tracker Dan Gerhardt, Mel, Chip Maury, Judy, and John Rapp

Chip
Maury and John Rapp
From John Rapp This
was taken in 2007 at Mystic Seaport,CT. Photo’s from my visit with
Tracker Dan Gerhardt and Mel, and Chip Maury and Judy, and myself in 2006 /
2007… We were all in Mystic Seaport!
Ron, Doc, Mark, J.J., Rio, Bill, and all…
John Rapp

Walt
"Red" Fanton , PBRs in MyTHo 1967
|
ALBERT MOORE Photos
Email Albert Moore: mrfa [at}bellsouth.net ----- Original Message -----
|
|
Subject: MIke Rush I'm sitting here with Mike Rush, he mentioned that he had contacted you and you were going to help him out. I have known Mike for a while and have given him information about the team and LDnn's along with pictures. He is straight up and has done a fine job in documenting the teams history. He is very interested in any East coast Seals and LDNNhistory and photos available. He mentioned that he had contacted R.D. Russell but has had no response. I do not really know Russell so if you can open a door for him I would appreciate your help. He is interested in trading information. Harry Constance mentioned that he would talk to you also about Mike Rush's validity. Any info you give him will not be abused. If you have any regarding this matter, beam me up. I am sorry about John passing away and did not get the message until yesterday. You did a fine job on the web page you built. Friends like you
come far and few between. I hope all is well with you and your family. |
|
LINKS |
| Smallest Photo Ablum of Ole SEALs |
| WAR BOATS.org |
| http://www.specwarnet.com/americas/sbu.htm what happened to this LINK? Help, somebody |
| Other VN War Boats HERE ! |
| http://www.warboats.org/ |


Mi Vida Loca - Copyright ©1998 - All Right Reserved Webmaster: Erasmo "Doc" Riojas email: docrio45@gmail.com
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TWO Photo ALbums by Doc Rio

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