Continuation of Page ZERO
MCPO
Robert Stoner R.I.P.
1946 - 2017
MCPO
Robert Stoner's History
on SeaFloat and Solid Anchor CaMau Peninsula,
Vietnam
https://www.warboats.org/vietnam.htm#stoner
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Stoner
To: Doc Riojas and Friends
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 11:03 AM
Subject: RVN Trivia: What's an Ammi Barge?
I know all of you are all familiar with the term "Ammi"
barge. We used them for everything under the sun on the rivers of RVN
-- from portable piers, to helicopter landing pads, to fuel and ammo
points, to mobile, floating artillery bases, to Advanced Tactical
Support Bases -- you name it and the Ammi barge did it.
But, where did the term "Ammi" come from? Was it an acronym
or a real name?
Actually, it was a shortened name. AMMI barges were named after their
designer at NavSea's Carderock Division, Dr. Ammerici. (Information
thanks to Lee Wahler.)
Ammi barges were tied together, anchored and anchored in the rivers to
form Advanced Tactical Support Bases. The above photo shows the barges
at SEA FLOAT. The below photos show the arrangement at BREEZY COVE and
SEA FLOAT.
ATSB BREEZY COVE at the mouth of the Ong Doc River.
All,
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.
ATSB SEA FLOAT in the middle of the Cau Lon River.
Before 25 June 1969, there were no facilities at Nam Can. The first
MST detachment at Nam Can was John Engstrom's. Engstrom's MST
detachment parked their boats -- an LSSC and LCPL on the beach.
The first Ammi barges that became SF were brought-in on 25 June 1969.
The barges were to be an interim operating base. ADM Zumwalt and the
Vietnamese intended to build a permanent shore base at Nam Can. Once
the barges were setup and anchored in place, the Seabees and the
construction firm of RMK-BJR started building the shore base. The SA
base was on the north bank of the Cau Lon River.
Above: The LSSC of LT John Engstrom's MST detachment is high and dry
on the beach at Nam Can.
There was a ramshackle wood and bamboo bridge to get to them when the
tide went out (and keep everyone out of the sucking mud).
Above: The LSSC of LT Engstrom's MST Det comes alongside the
ramshackle pier at Nam Can.
We (MST-2, Detachment Charlie) had a unique experience at SF/SA
because we were there when both operations were going on and we made
the transition from the afloat base to the shore base. Everyone --
MST, SEALs, UDT, Naval Support Activity people, etc. -- moved ashore
from the SF barges to the new SA base during a four hour window on 4
September 1970.
Remember your recollection of SF/SA depends upon when you were there.
Nam Can was pretty well blown off the map by at least one time --
maybe more -- B-52 "Arc Light" strikes. Each B-52 carried
108 500-pound and 750-pound bombs and would take out 1 square mile of
jungle.
The "lakes" you can see in the first photo behind the early
construction on the shoreline were water-filled bomb craters. The
Seabees filled them in with sand. [See the second photo taken from SA
looking due south.] The surrounding area was actually a mangrove
swamp. The January 1971 photo still shows the remains of the bomb
craters in the background between the edge of the base and the tree
line. There is a huge water-filled bomb crater to the right of the KCS
camp across the canal at the east side of the SA base.
ADM Zumwalt had the area around SF/SA defoliated with Agent ORANGE
because the early incursions with the PCF's were just too expensive in
terms of casualties and equipment. The tree line was moved back 1,000
yards on both sides of the river. During the rainy season, the bare
ground reverted to a swamp, but in the dry season it became sun-baked
mud flats. The extent of the defoliation is clearly seen in the
January 1971 photo of SA.
A huge problem with the sand fill for the SA base was the Cau Lon
River current -- 6 to 8 knots when the tide was running. The river
current carried away the sand shoreline almost as fast as it was
offloaded. The Seabees had to drive interlocking steel pilings to
retain the sand from being swept out by the current. After the erosion
problem was solved, the pilings helped trap sand and silt to give some
kind of shoreline. The Seabees put in over $6 million worth of sand to
build the base at SA. The construction firm of RMK-BJR brought-in the
sand on huge barges towed by tug boats.
We had several operations run by Vietnamese Marines with USMC advisors
while I was at SF/SA. In one instance, they put in a battery of 105mm
howitzers directly across from our MST hut after the SF barges were
moved out. The ground proved too soft for them and the recoil broke
through the sun-baked crust and they were up to their axles in mud.
The USMC brought in something that looked like a huge trampoline. This
"trampoline" was installed underneath the guns. The
trampoline absorbed the recoil of the guns and kept them out of the
mud. We saw them doing this before we went out on an op and the guns
were emplaced the next morning when we returned at daylight. Everybody
was beat, so we parked the boats on the beach and went to our hooches
to grab some sleep. About 0830 we got a 105mm howitzer wake-up call --
the guns fired a mission DIRECTLY OVER our hooches! Boy, did that get
everyone's adrenaline going.
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Stoner
To: Doc Riojas
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 12:10 PM
Subject: Re: RVN Trivia: What's an Ammi Barge?
Doc,
The following photo montage shows the development of the base. Compare
the original message with this group of photos. You gotta trust me on
this one, cause I moved aboard SF on 30 May 1970 and ashore to SA on 4
September 1970. [We departed SA on 16-17 November 1970.] The old SF
barges were stripped of building materials by the Vietnamese during
the remainder of September and October. The SF barges were moved out
to rebuild BREEZY COVE in late October and early November 1970.
Bob
Above: Map showing SEA FLOAT/SOLID ANCHOR locations.
Above: An early photo showing SOLID ANCHOR under construction, looking
north and slightly west, with SEA FLOAT in the foreground. The sand
fill used by the Seabees to build the base is just beginning for the
swampy areas behind the shoreline. Photo taken in late 1969.
Above: A later photo showing SOLID ANCHOR under construction, looking
south, with SEA FLOAT in the background. The base is more developed as
indicated by the extensive sand fill. The white barge along the
shoreline was used for servicing engines. Photo taken in early 1970.
Above: A later photo showing SOLID ANCHOR nearly completed, looking
northwest. The SEA FLOAT barges were used to rebuild BREEZY COVE (Song
Ong Doc) when it was destroyed on 20 October 1970. Photo taken early
January 1971.
26 March 2009
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.)
The point man walked about 4 to 6 feet into the mangroves and was
completely blocked from view. The rest of the squad followed him. We
waited while the SEALs did their recon. About an hour and a half
later, we got a radio call to come east on the canal to extract the
squad. They got back on and we continued until the canal ended to form
a T, with the top of the T running due north and south. We took the
right (south) leg.
The south leg took us back to the Cau Lon. As we cleared the mangroves
on both sides of the canal, on the right was the SA base and on the
left, at the canal mouth, was the KCS camp! We made a complete circle
of the SA base on a crossover canal that we'd never gone down before.
Wow.
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.
Once upon a time I was young and carefree and had lots of hair upon my head. That is no longer how my life is. I am now old and bald and more disciplined than I care to be.
I too often remember the days when: Nam was the big topic and the men and women over there were in the tropics. Where heat and bugs and death were taking a toll on America's best. When Purple Hearts were just part of the job, and goodies from home were welcomed by all. Where the enemy was everywhere and no where. Where boredom was interrupted by 7.62 and R.P.Gs. and maybe a reckless rifle or two.
What to do when civilians bring a woman whose right hand they give to you and say fix it please....When a young girl is brought out that has a fluted anchor embedded in her birth canal after being assaulted by the ones trying to kill you. A cry for help is sent out, only to be followed by a voice that says, "proper radio procedure, please". Sometimes the insanity of Nam was what kept US from doing a proper Job.
Long, hot, and sometimes rainy days were followed by dark, moonless nights that slowly pasted with the sounds a jungle made. Your best friend often made comments on how "short" he was, but he arrived home with an escort from above to lie in a grave in a garden of stones now visited, I hope, by the ones he once loved. Many friendships have endured for these many years, but deaths have decreased the number that once was shared.
I have no fear from what awaits me, it is my and all's destiny. Until then, Life is just another day in Paradise, U. S. A.
Paul Wayne Cagle (Praise the Lord, and pass the ammo.)
American by birth
Vietnam Veteran by choice
all about STABs & PBR Boats! (watch this flick!)
x
From: Joseph Vitale
To: Paul Cagle ; JERRY G ; Gary Marker ; Wes W ; Bill Akin ; Douglas Fletcher ;
Fries ; DICK GODBEHERE ; AL OCANAS; Jim Thompson
Sent Date: Sat, Dec 21, 2013
Subject: Re: New Army Rifle - No joke
THIS MUST MEAN THE MARINES WILL GET ALL THE BALL AND CAP RIFLES !
from mike saint to me.
HAVE A GREAT CUP OF COFFEE OR WHATEVER YOUR DRINK IS ON SUNDAY MORNING.
CRAZY JOE
From: Jim Thompson>
To: Bill Akin ; joe vitale ; Paul Cagle ; JERRY G ; Gary Marker ; Wes W ;
Douglas Fletcher ; Fries ; DICK GODBEHERE; AL OCANAS
Sent: Sunday, December 22, 2013
I was in country when we got the first issue of the M-16. The Marine brass held
off accepting the M-16. I respected that given all the problems we had with the
new M-16 and 5.56 rounds.
Superman and Winter GA ME 2000
From: Paul Wayne Cagle
To: Ralph Fries
Sent: Sunday, December 22,
Subject: Re: New Army Rifle - No joke
Do you remember what the washing solution was called?
On Sun, Dec 22, 2013 wrote:
We had a few problems with the M-16 in River Section-535. The biggest problem
was keeping them clean from the rust that would form on them from the moisture
of that miserable weather in the Delta. Most of the problems went away after I
built wash tanks with gun cleaning solution so you could put the entire weapon
(.50's, shotgun, M-16, .38 pistol, M-79) into to soak before you removed them to
disassemble and clean each part thoroughly before re-assemble. All my guys had
their own timing tools I provided them so they could make each weapon work
efficiently for them when they had to fire them in a firefight.
On Sun, Dec 22, 2013
<rhfries> wrote:
Good Afternoon Paul,
No I don't remember the name of gun cleaning solution we used. I got in 5 gals
cans from the Army. It worked for us and my guys used our method of keeping all
our weapons in good working order. The boat crews clean all their weapons
everyday after each patrol, regardless whether they were fired them or not. My
guys wanted to survive and not have their weapons jam up during a firefight,
cleanness was the key and free from the rust.
I met every patrol, whether going on or off and talked all of them every day.
They sometimes called me the preacher.
B/R Bro, Ralph
Ralph J. Fries River Section-535 Logistic/Maintenance Officer 9/67 to 5/68
From: Paul Wayne Cagle
to: Ralph, bcc: Rio
Subject: New Army Rifle - No joke
Acetone, which is dry cleaning solvent
was what we had at My Tho. My nickname is Ice Man to some and it is because I
shot the ice machine with the aft 50 caliber of PBR 139 at the base in My Tho.
True story. A few others called me Magnet, but I never really understood why. I
guess you would have hung me from the nearest Palm Tree. To this day, no one
really knows the Truth why I shot the Ice Machine......and the rest is history
from the Land of Paradise---Vietnam, Republic of.
From:Paul Wayne Cagle
to: Bill, Joseph, aaron 091563,
bcc: me
On a boat in the land of Paradise just floating lazily down a Brown Water River
headed to the South China Sea. There is a Truce and we cannot shoot back you
see. A few tracers pierce the midnight sky letting us all know that people will
still die. How many Christmas' have I been from home? Oh yeah, 3 counting the
Destroyer I was on in 66. Politics and war do not mix but here we float down a
Brown Water River trying to be polite to all for it is Christmas in the land
controlled by Politicians in another land where Santa will sing out his familiar
sound...Ho Ho Ho. I can not complain because I volunteered to be here again. But
I know that this is not a Game and soon old man "War" will strike and
make a claim. The night is very dark but so peaceful at times that it makes one
wonder if we all have gone insane. Years from now will people back home ever
care or is this just another year in The Land of Paradise, Vietnam, Republic of.
P W Cagle, GMG3 PBRs 124 &139 (most of the time) Riv/Sec 532
8/67 to 4/69 U S Navy
Merry Christmas to all, especially to those who remember those Decembers.
On Wed, Dec 25, 2013
Ron Laratta wrote:
Boydstun, Love, me and a couple of others "skarffed" a PBR and drove
over to Dong Tam to see Bob Hope in '68... I picked up a couple of .50 gun
barrels from Weaps. I think I traded a shit load of .22 cal ammo that was
floating around. Gunner's Mates are ALWAYS looking for a "deal"
wherever and whenever. Anyway, Dong Tam is why I hate to hear "Silent
Night" anymore. Hope commented about a firefight y'all engaged across the
My Tho or Ham Loung rivers - at Ben tre, I think.... He said, "I hope
that's our side!" Everyone kinda answered at the same time - "Not
really, dude!" Anyway - Merry -freaking- Christmas, man.
Best Regards, Ron For the "Bad Guys" - life is good . . . UNTIL ----
NAVY Special Warfare shows up!
Check Out Our World Travels on our Website.
Click on: www.2koolkruisers.wordpress.com/
FrinL Paul Wayne Cagle
to: Ron, Jim, Art,
bcc: me
Stef had put some of us in a guard post
position near the entrance to Dong Tam and we had someone or something come too
close to the site and we opened up on whatever it was.. Stef told us to blast
anything that came near Dong Tam... We could hear the music and it just made
matters worse because we were feeling down because of the so called truce and it
was Christmas. Frigging Truce was a joke. Wacasey and me were ashore with a M-60
and had a M-79 and M-14 sniper rifle. I think we wasted a Big Foot that
night......
Mi Vida Loca - Copyright ©1998 - All Right Reserved email: el_ticitl @yahoo.com
Jessica and Angel Medina, May she Rest in Peace in Heaven
John
Kerry, Probably the foremost Vietnam War Protestor and also SELF MADE Swift
Boat Hero. He wrote himself up for a Silver Star and also two "Band
Aid" Purple Hearts. He is despised by all USNavy Brown Water Boat
Sailors. ALso wannabe President of the USA, and now, 2013, ZEROBama's
puppet.
x
David
Clouse
Glen Slay
The Mysterious "Third" STAB?
MUST be read from the bottom upwards. thank You. Doc RIOja
This
STAB is the real Origional Deal
Robert Stoner
to John, me, Norm, Bill, James, John, Hawkins
Correct, Norm. The second STAB was the STrike Assault Boat and was
the brainchild of ComNavForV, ADM Zumwalt. He envisioned a small, highly maneuverable and well armed boat that could be inserted and extracted into the enemy's back yard to raise Hell and then leave. The boat selected was the LSSC (modified). This new boat, STAB, was two feet longer and changed its main propulsion to two Chevy 427 cu. in. gas engines with MerCruiser stern drives. A flotation box plus guards for the stern drives were added to the transom and increased the overall length of the boat from 24 feet
(LSSC) to 26 feet (STAB). When StabRon 20 reached Vietnam in the early months of 1970, ADM Zumwalt had moved up to Chief of Naval Operations. Folks really didn't know what to do with the unit so Ron 20 was assigned to RivPatFlot V as part of Operation GAME WARDEN.
StabRon 20 was assigned to the upper Mekong River near the Cambodian border and operated from the USS BENEWAH (APB-35). The boats were assigned the 40 mile long Grand Canal as their patrol area. When the invasion of Cambodia was mounted by U.S. and VN forces, LCDR Kirk Ferguson and 10 boats went into Cambodia with the other riverine forces. after the Cambodian operation was over,
StabRon 20 was broken into two divisions of 10 boats; one was assigned to Dong Tam and the other to Nha Be until they were ordered to stand down in October 1970.
StabRon 20 was not part of NavSpecWarGrp, but they did transport SEALs from time to time. StabRon 20 was deactivated in-country and returned to ConUS in November 1970. Its boats were sold to private parties, scrapped, or expended as targets.
Below: Tired STABs of StabRon 20 are readied for return to ConUS in November 1970.
----- Original Message -----
From: Norm Olson
To: Robert Stoner ; John Woody ; Erasmo "Doc" Riojas
Cc: Bill Moreo ; James and Cheryl GRAY ; John Rapp ; Hawkins - VB Tom
Sent: Friday, August 02, 2013 2:37 PM
Subject: Re: The Mysterious "Third" STAB?
I don’t want to perpetuate this discussion further, but it’s not too far fetched to believe that a similar hull was commandeered by the boat thieves and modified in country to resemble a STAB. I’m also out of my realm in mentioning this, but separately there was STABRON 20 that had a family of Strike Assault Boats designed for the purpose of inserting, supporting, and extracting small units. They brought the first Mark II STABs in country, but I have no idea when and where, and I doubt they supported SEALs. Also the boats don’t resemble the STABs that were designed and built by Jack Macione at SEAL Team TWO.
From: Robert Stoner
Sent: Friday, August 02, 2013 1:20 PM
To: John Woody ; Erasmo "Doc" Riojas ; Norm Olson
Cc: Bill Moreo ; James and Cheryl GRAY ; John Rapp ; Hawkins - VB Tom
Subject: Re: The Mysterious "Third" STAB?
That's what I'd thought also. But, what's very strange is there appears to be this [call it STAB III] configuration. The "third" STAB belonged to LT Bob Dussault (deceased 2005) at Nha Be. It was also used by the MST at Long Phu [Bill Strawbridge photo of LCPL towing the STAB]. This is very puzzling. John Woody, who was the third MST OIC at Binh Thuy, remembers three STABS at Binh Thuy, Can Tho, and Nha Be. I wonder where this odd ball boat came from?
Below: The LCPL of the MST det at Long Phu tows its STAB.
----- Original Message -----
From: Norm Olson
To: Robert Stoner ; John Woody ; Erasmo "Doc" Riojas
Cc: Bill Moreo ; James and Cheryl GRAY ; John Rapp ; Hawkins - VB Tom
Sent: Friday, August 02, 2013 11:50 AM
Subject: Re: The Mysterious "Third" STAB?
Bob,
As far as I know, the 3rd STAB crashed and burned in LC when the rigging on the helicopter let loose. You previously asked if I had any files on past dialog concerning STABs. Attached is everything that I retained.
Norm
From: Robert Stoner
Sent: Friday, August 02, 2013 1:40 AM
To: John Woody ; Erasmo "Doc" Riojas
Cc: Bill Moreo ; James and Cheryl GRAY ; Norm Olson ; John Rapp
Subject: The Mysterious "Third" STAB?
While looking through the BSU-1 pages at Doc Rio's website, I found a mysterious photo of the "third" STAB. It is different in layout than STAB I and STAB II. Do any of you know anything about this STAB and where it operated from? Supposedly, STAB III had a centerline fuel cell.
Below: STABs I & II running together.
Above: Topside configuration of STABs II & II.
Below: Topside configuration of STAB III. Note how the coxswain's position has been moved forward.
Both STAB configurations did operate together from Binh Thuy in 1968 Tet.
Above: This is the original STAB as built by ST-2 at LCrk.
Below: The same boat (STAB 1) after hard service (about 1968). Note position of helm and straight dash.
Above: Both original STAB and modified STAB before an op from Binh Thuy. Not the rear location of helmsman and straight dash of the nearest boat as compared to the forward mounted helmsman position of the rear boat. (Steering wheel just below the arm of the sailor bending over.)
Below: The modified STAB had a redesigned helm (moved forward) and a centerline fuel cell. Note the "strakes" on either side of the helmsman that immediately identify this boat.
Above: Overhead view of the second version STAB showing the modified or forward helm position and strakes on either side. The centerline fuel cell (tan box) is obvious in this photo.
This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
Glen Grinnage BSU-1 'nam
On Sat, Feb 16, 2013
from: kkalish763 [at] comcast
DOT net
to: Doc Riojas at www SEALTWO org
Doc,
Thanks for your note,
Joe is an associate member, so I don’t
think he could be my sponsor. He is a retired JOCM who served with me at AFVN in Saigon. I saw My Tho mentioned.
Our patrol area was roughly from Rach Gia to just above Vinh Long, so we didn’t get over there much – in part
because of Caldwell’s corners. Passed by there once when we transited the Mo Cay canal in force, all of our 523
boats and a STAB.
One of our SEALs was pretty badly burned during that trip. He and two or three others had gone
after a VC in the woods with a machine gun, but when they went into a hooch to see if that guy was alone they
hit a trip wire that set off a gasoline bomb. They had set another one we didn’t fall for, a VC flag on a small
mud “island” in the middle of the canal.
A couple of the newer PBR guys wanted to get the flag, but Lt.
Calvert explained rather abruptly that they’d probably want to go home with the family jewels intact more
than they wanted a VC flag.GMG2 Barlow was my boat captain on 136 (a Mk 1
PBR) and I was usually forward gunner.
I was national President of Gamewardens of Viet Nam from 1997 to 1999. You take care.
I’ll get a donation off to
you later in the week. I’m down in Minneapolis right now for some VA stuff, but I will be back to the farm
by Wednesday.
You wouldn’t want to buy a llama, would you? I rescue them now, but I may have to give that up
if they make me go to a permanent cath.
Ken Kalish
Davis helped the 7th SEAL Plt.; ST-2; in 'nam as an interpreter.
Eternal Salvation and Survival
by Billy Hoffmann
January 23, 2013
“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath
no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without
money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is
not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken
diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul
delight in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your
soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you”
-Isaiah 55:1-3 [KJV]
Without doubt we all know that these are turbulent, tumultuous times
with violence, treachery and all manner of evil that is growing
exponentially. Reading The Survivalist Blog has been helpful to me and
my family with all the informative reports, reviews and articles
regarding the many facets of survival and prudent preparations, some of
which I enjoy passing along to my family, friends and neighbors.
As a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ and as a patriotic American and
former military man, by the grace of God, I see life and that which is
transpiring before us today through a biblical world-view. There’s no
need for me to convince you readers of this outstanding web-log that it
is a good thing to set aside, to stock-up and to prepare for hardships
or for “rainy days”. As history records it is a good thing to
remember how men of God of long ago such as Noah, who was a “preacher
of righteousness” (II Peter 2:5), obeyed God’s warning and prepared
for the flood. So too did Joseph, who was warned of God to prepare for
seven years of famine while he was Pharaoh’s second-in-command in
Egypt. It is written for our admonition, “But if any provide not for
his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the
faith, and is worse than an infidel” (I Timothy 5:8).
While we would agree that temporal preparations are a good thing for
this life time it is my prayer that you’ll seriously think upon
matters regarding eternity. Our physical life upon this earth is so
brief. My grandmother, who I named Mimi when I was a little boy back in
the early ’60's, passed away recently at the ripe old age of 103 years
old. Though she lived so long a time on this earth it’s not even a
‘drop in the bucket’ compared to eternity. The holy scripture says,
“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of
grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the
word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the
gospel is preached unto you” (I Peter 1:24-25).
I submit to you the following holy scriptures and short commentary for
your prayerful and serious consideration.
“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It
is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.”
-Psalm 118:8-9 [KJV] “Salvation is of the LORD.” -Jonah 2:9c [KJV]
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and
believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come
into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” -John 5:24 [KJV]
Dear neighbors, the “Good News” gospel message that is here
proclaimed unto you is that Jesus Christ the LORD was sent by the Father
to effectually & fully SAVE poor, needy, wretched sinners by His own
sovereign FREE grace and by His perfect righteousness charged to our
accounts!
Regarding this “so great salvation” by Jesus Christ alone please
consider the following words of wisdom,
“Salvation is of the LORD” (Jonah 2:9c), entirely so, from beginning
to end. It is God’s “great salvation,” in its origination, in its
effectuation, in its application and in its consummation. Man
contributes nothing to it whatsoever. All the Trinity are concerned and
engaged in it. The Father is the Author of salvation from sin, Christ
the Purchaser, the Spirit the Conveyor. It is the Father who begets the
elect (James 1:17, 18); yet they are declared to be the “seed” of
Christ (Is. 53:10), while they are “born” of the Spirit (Jn.
3:6).” -The Satisfaction of Christ, ch. xii, by Arthur W. Pink
“The gospel is no other than a pure promise, a free declaration of
peace and pardon, righteousness, life, and salvation to poor sinners by
Jesus Christ. The sum and substance of it is, that “This is a faithful
saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15). -The Doctrine of Imputed
Righteousness Without Works, by John Gill
“Christ died for the UNGODLY” (Rom. 5:6). God’s righteous grace
comes to us through the law-honoring, justice-satisfying, sin-atoning
Work of the Lord Jesus! Here, then, is the very essence of the Gospel:
the proclamation of God’s amazing grace, the declaration of Divine
bounty, altogether irrespective of human worth or merit. In the great
Satisfaction of His Son, God has “brought near HIS righteousness” (Isa.
46:13). -The Doctrine of Justification, ch. vii, by Arthur W. Pink
“The miracle announced by the Gospel is that God comes to the ungodly
with a mercy that is righteous, and in spite of all their depravity and
rebellion, enables them through faith (on the ground of Christ’s
righteousness) to enter into a new and blessed relation with Himself.”
-ibid.
Friends, I tell you that Almighty God has, by Himself, worked-out and
provided a perfect salvation for all those who do hunger and thirst for
His righteousness. Salvation is NOT by what “church” we attend; it
is not by what “good deeds” we do, nor is it by our tradition/s, our
tithing, almsgiving, religious observances: it is solely by the finished
work of Christ Jesus the Lord, Who is coming back one day as the mighty
and conquering King of glory.
http://www.thesurvivalistblog.
This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
< align="center">
Ref: https://www.warboats.org/SBU13Hoffmann.htm forShipmate (alumni) names and historical tidbits: jamesthomas@warboats.org
LCPLs
amongst PBs and PTFs and ASDV at Coronado NAB
Good evening, Jim ~
I was at SBU-13 from 1981 to 1983 and I learned (OJT) on one of our
green LCPL's and after a break-in period became coxswain of my own boat.
I just loved it. As you well remember, sometimes we provided boat
support to the UDT teams (SDV and otherwise), occasionally SEAL Team 1,
Force RECON and even had the chance to work with some Army Rangers once
as they were conducting Helo water insertions and recovery training.
Considering that SBU-13 was my third command, it wasn't until I got
assigned there that I really started to enjoy and take pride in the
Navy. Back in '81 through '83 SBU-13 was a Reserve unit and we did not
deploy like the SBU -12 guys. It was with some envy that the fellers' in
unit -12 would tell me of their deployments to the P.I..
When I first checked aboard as a seaman, the two PTF boats were still
alongside the pier. Fascinating boats... kind of sad that they were left
in such disrepair. I'll bet they were remarkable in their day.
I spent the first year and half (approx.) being a coxswain on one of the
LCPL's, this prior to the SeaFox. Unit -12 was the first to get them and
eventually we (SBU-13) got a couple. You may remember that one fellow
named Mike Douglas. He had been in law enforcement for ages and came
back into the Navy as a BM1, this to finish up his last five years or so
and retire. For a short period we did some OPS together on one of the
Seafox's. One time we did a public relation event and took the Seafox
and a PB up to Santa Barbara and gave tours & rides to the public.
That was the place for liberty. I can't say I was all that impressed
with those Seafoxes.
I remember SBU-13 training with SBU #11.The PB guys drove up the coast
but I think the bulk of us were driven up to Vallejo in a bus. I really
enjoyed working with the River Boatguys up there and was extremely
impressed with their P-Bar's, ATC's and such. They had Swift boats back
then but I personally didn't get a chance to train on them. We stayed in
their shoddy barracks. One of the SEAL's assigned to SBU-11 was a crusty
old Vietnam veteran, a Senior Chief with glasses, Wade Puckett, and he
was an outstanding instructor. I paid close attention to his teachings
about water-borne guard post, riverine operations, boat/personnel
searches, etc. That trip was quite beneficial in my book. I think it was
a real eye-opener to us from SBU-13 as we were a Coastal and and Seal
Support Unit.
SBU-13 did have a form of S.O.C. crews. There was talk of attending Army
jump-school at Ft. Benning, but that didn't materialize when I was
there. Some of us got some extra training: SERE School at FASOTRAGRUPAC
(the nine day C.O.I.) and later a three-day "advanced" SERE
seminar, both of which were outstanding. I attended the Assault Boat
Coxswain School there at NAB and had a great time learning how to drive
the Higgin's Boat, Mike 6 and 8 boats. We even attended a one-week long
sailing school in San Diego. The objective was to prepare and be ready
to insert/extract a SPECOP's team via "indigenous" craft.
After that fun training, I never stepped aboard another sailboat while
at SBU... Go figure. I personally felt we didn't shoot enough but then
the PL's did not carry crew served weapons. Compared to the Modern SWCC
of today it was a veritable "McHale's Navy" back then.
Though the training I received was somewhat limited, I took the job
at-hand very seriously and did my level best. Had a blast working with
the frogmen and whether it was a "tactical" night-ops or be it
a day-time "Dive Requal", I took pride in doing the best I
could for the guys.
Back then, in our little Quonset hut near the watch-tower, we had a
Boatswain's Mate 1st Class who was our supervisor. He was a
Mexican/American fellow who was a highly knowledgeable fleet-sailor. He
was a great guy and taught me some good stuff as I studied for BM 3rd
Class.
Toward the end of my tour there, I was assigned to one of the PB's.
There was a BM1 who had a beard; he was a real squared-away sailor and
he was the OIC of that particular PB. Later on a black fella', also a
BM1, took over the boat. We did a few trips out to San Clemente Island
for a week at-a-time.
The last year-and-a-half I spent at SBU-13, I applied myself in getting
ready for BUD/S. CDR Richards approved my request to take the screening
test and Dive Physical. However, prior to all that I had met a frog
named John Prior, a PO1 in one of the Units there at NAB. When I met
John, he was working with the dolphins (you know the deal on all
that...). He took me under his wing and helped me get ready. We spent
over a year running, swimming, doing obstacle courses, etc., etc. In
addition to all that, because I wasn't a high school graduate, I
attended evening classes at the Coronado High School (adult education),
this to help me with mathematics. Without the latter I would never have
been able to pass muster in Dive Physics and of course, demolitions. I
can say with confidence that being assigned to Special Boat Unit-13 was
overall an great experience; it also served as a spring-board to
becoming a frogman. You and I have a unique and special background Jim.
Think about what John Paul Jones said, "Give me a fast boat for I
intend to go into harms way."
After graduating from BUD/S Class #126 in the spring of '84, I was
assigned to SEAL Team 2 for four years. In the fall of '87 I tried out
for SEAL VI --- that is Team 6. Was there from Dec. of '87 until my
medical discharge in Nov. of '96 when I had to leave the service after
only eighteen years. To say the least, I had quite an exciting time at
those units and worked with some of the most hard-core fellers'
imaginable.
I never worked with the boys in SBU-26 but I did participate in
Operation Just Cause down in Panama. We lost about twenty-four (24)
special operators down there. Four brave men from SEAL Team 4 were
whacked while conducting an operation at Patilla Airfield during
"H-Hour". You may recall hearing that two platoons were sent
there to disable Gen. Noriega's private aircraft. The real pisser in all
of this is that these men were highly constrained by asinine Rules of
Engagement (ROE) --- that is, they were forbidden to shoot first! The
other twenty-some guys that died down there were men from Task Force
160th Special Operations Air Regiment (SOAR), Army Rangers and I think
one man from Delta SFOD may have been killed. It really sucked having to
attend memorial services in the midst of it all, too.
It was quite unique in that "we" (Joint Special Operations, in
general) locked-down the entire country in a very short period of time.
It was a spectacular operation. I do recall there was a Special Boat
Unit down there too, but I didn't know any of the guys there. They did
provide one of our Assault Teams (RED) with boat support during a
ship-board search of some freighter. One of my old Team-mates named
Randy B. and his dive-buddy were the boys who planted explosives on one
of the Panamanian patrol boats. I think he was assigned to SEAL 2 during
that mission. They blew that boat just as "H-Hour" went down
and apparently that thing actually lifted out of the water when the
charge went off... BAM! But enough Sea Stories.
Regarding some separate issues, Jim: thanks for adding my name and
contact info to the alumni list. I ain't no pastor or theologian, but I
do love the Lord Jesus and my neighbor as myself. I have a big heart for
veterans, especially the men in Special Warfare - whether they be
special boat operators, admin/support staff or frogmen. You'll have to
pardon my enthusiasm. If I can ever be of any assistance to you or the
alumni (active, disabled veterans or retired) then it would be an honor.
Be advised that due to financial limitations & medical
considerations that traveling is difficult.
With care, Billy Hoffmann
email: JesusChristKING [at] centurytel
DOT net
Robert Stoner
From: Minh Nguyenhoangminh <nguyenhoangminh1939@yahoo.com.vn>
Date: Fri, Jun 7, 2013 at 6:12 AM Subject: Re: V?: Fwd: FW: Viet Nam To: Erasmo
Doc Riojas <docrio45@gmail.com> Cc: nguyenhoangminh939@yahoo.com
Dear Doc, l got U.S.D 400 on June 7-2013 you gave to me, thank you very much.
Dear Doc, yesterday, June 6-2013 l sent e-mail to Mr. Kraft l don't know, did he
get it yet? you don't worry about many time, you told me, l must sent mail to
him. l did l wrote a letter to him for a long time, but he didn't write back to
me l told him, thank him very much for money and packages he sent to me. l
remember, the first time he sent one CD to me l like it very much, because there
were many v.c collect war booty and many v.c was killed by seals. l have read a
book " good to go " there was battlefield at CHO THOM, MO CAY, BEN TRE.
There were sixty v.c and many prisoners was captured by U.S seals. How beautiful
battlefields is.
Doc, you know, when we fly by a helicopter at CHO THOM market we saw big v.c
flag made by Tole and Hang it before the door market and we turn back to MO CAY
district Chief and l asked him. How long division 7 operation this area? he said
that about 2 years ago. But division 7 was wipe out about 250 soldiers and
district Chief asked me, how many division will go operation here? I'm smiling
I'm thinking by myself l said about two divisions. He is very happy when l said
that because he didn't know we are seals that day we got operation there only
twenty seals.
after operation there, there was sixty v.c and many prisoners was captured by
seals, after we took them to MO CAY district Chief and who asked me how many
soldiers for this operation l told him twenty seal only, but there 10 seals at
VINH LONG and 10 seals at MY THO.
Doc, you we were there before right? the bravest how beautiful operation is.
Thank you very much for money you gave to me.
Best regards
MINH
Bob Gibson's Photos & SeaStories
From:Bob Gibson <rungsat [at] msn
DOT com>
10Feb2013
to: Doc Riojas, JOJO, me, Jim
In 1996 I led a Group that was to do a Documentary and I was going to
search for MIA's etc.... "Jimbo" Watson and "Dickie"
Marcinko - I paid $13,000 for their air fare, etc..., were also on the
trip. Due to Watson having taken hundreds of Photos from the Museum
(which showed SEALs killing, etc..., many Viet Cong) and laying them out
on his bed in the New World Saigon Hotel for the Viet Cong to see, and
Marcinko throwing a Beer Drinking, Log Burning, Film Making episode in
the City Park across the street from the New World Saigon Hotel, things
became difficult.
You should see the Videos (Marcinko said he would sue
anyone who ever showed anything) of the Viet Cong coming to the park and
the dozens of "red dots" on Marcinko's chest - it was a
miracle they did not kill him in 1996. Watson & Marcinko also went
to towns they were not supposted to visit and on and on. They cost me
$13,000 as I paid for their air fare, etc...
One of the people the Viet Cong had agreed to talk about was Nguyen
Hoang Minh, however, the 2 SEALs I mentioned really screwed
things up. The Viet Cong talked about him for approximately 10 minutes
one day.
However, due to the behavior of Watson & Marcino, the Viet Cong
retained me on 2 different days.
JOJO TRAN led us and he did a great job. After we returned to the United
States, JOJO "escaped." I went to New Orleans and testified
for him. A few years later, I testified at his hearing in Seattle,
Washington.
And yes, I am a member of the Association - and Yes, I have Video's,
Films, Photos, etc.... to prove exactly what I am saying.
Bob
This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for
free from
http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
Minh and Family Bob Gibson's Photos and Stories
Subject: [HA(L) 3 US NAVY SEAWOLVES] Interesting film of our mission in the delta
Hey guys,
This is a early documentary narrated by Raymond Burr (Perry Mason) that took place in mid to late 1967 before the establishment of OP SEA LORDS in late 1968 when the River Patrol Force doubled in size and scope with 120 additional Mark II PBRs arriving in country and joined the 130 MKI PBRs that are shown in this accurate historical documentary. The Mobile Riverine Force and Naval Support Activity had also doubled by late 1968 after Tet and Zumwalt took command of the force and sent our patrols up the canals and small rivers into long controlled enemy waters.
In the early days the Brown Water War was in the Rung Sat, My Tho and along the main rivers like the Mekong and Bassac Rivers always up to the Cambodian Border. But after Tet things changed and in October 1968 they combined the three Naval Task Forces into OP SEA LORDS and tasked our River Rats and 9th Infantry into long infested enemy territories and the fighting was fierce.
The Swifts and Coast Guard helped by covering the large rivers while the PBRs of the River Patrol Force and Heavies of the Mobile Riverine Force pushed up the Rach Gia Canal, the Vinh Te Canal and the Grand Canal then OP Slingshot aggressively pushed up the Vam Co Tay and Vam Co Dong Rivers and then OP Ready Deck on the upper Saigon River and 1969 was the worst year of the river War.
In late 1969 we were performing regular patrols in the Plain of Reeds, U-Minh, Nam Cam and Iron Triangle not to forget the River Rats operating up in I Corps supporting the Marines by the DMZ. By the end of 1970 we had hurt them bad in the delta and there was no place safe for the VC to hide. We were mostly fighting the NVA who were coming down the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
However, this view of the early war is very good and those guys did a hell of a good job and paved the way for us that served later. We will forever be in their debt. Ralph
From: Mike ? ? ?
To: Ralph ; Monday, January 07, 2013
Doug Taylor
Subject: [HA(L) 3 US NAVY
SEAWOLVES] Interesting film of our mission in the delta
Ralph--got this from SEAWOLF Doug Taylor; narrated by Raymond Burr; take care my BROTHER
[HA(L) 3 US NAVY SEAWOLVES] Interesting film of our mission in the delta
Jan 7 Interesting film of our mission in the delta Jungle River & Swamp Navy Vietnam War - [OFFICIAL FULL] U.S. Navy Documentary
www.youtube.com The U.S. Navy Small Boat division battles Viet Cong forces on the jungle rivers and swamps of
Vietnam.
Mike
Subject: Fw: [HA(L) 3 US NAVY SEAWOLVES] Interesting film of our mission in the delta
Hey guys, Good Morning All,
The part about Gamewarden operations at Nha Be was with River Section-543 as the Gunner getting out of the Forward Gun Mount of the PBR was GMG3 Dan Kleinhesselink and was at the Patrol briefing who I served with in both RS-543 and 535. The part that was down at Binh Thuy was with River Section-511 and the area they showed was some action was down by Purple Heart Alley on the Bassac River.
B/R's to All,
Ralph
This is a early documentary narrated by Raymond Burr (Perry Mason) that took place in mid to late 1967 before the establishment of OP SEA LORDS in late 1968 when the River Patrol Force doubled in size and scope with 120 additional Mark II PBRs arriving in country and joined the 130 MKI PBRs that are shown in this accurate historical documentary. The Mobile Riverine Force and Naval Support Activity had also doubled by late 1968 after Tet and Zumwalt took command of the force and sent our patrols up the canals and small rivers into long controlled enemy waters.
In the early days the Brown Water War was in the Rung Sat, My Tho and along the main rivers like the Mekong and Bassac Rivers always up to the Cambodian Border. But after Tet things changed and in October 1968 they combined the three Naval Task Forces into OP SEA LORDS and tasked our River Rats and 9th Infantry into long infested enemy territories and the fighting was fierce. The Swifts and Coast Guard helped by covering the large rivers while the PBRs of the River Patrol Force and Heavies of the Mobile Riverine Force pushed up the Rach Gia Canal, the Vinh Te Canal and the Grand Canal then OP Slingshot aggressively pushed up the Vam Co Tay and Vam Co Dong Rivers and then OP Ready Deck on the upper Saigon River and 1969 was the worst year of the river War. In late 1969 we were performing regular patrols in the Plain of Reeds, U-Minh, Nam Cam and Iron Triangle not to forget the River Rats operating up in I Corps supporting the Marines by the DMZ. By the end of 1970 we had hurt them bad in the delta and there was no place safe for the VC to hide. We were mostly fighting the NVA who were coming down the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
However, this view of the early war is very good and those guys did a hell of a good job and paved the way for us that served later. We will forever be in their debt. Ralph
On Tue, Jan 8, 2013
To: Good Morning All,
In the movie, the scene about Gamewarden operations at Nha Be was with River Section-543 as the Gunner getting out of the Forward Gun Mount of the PBR was GMG3 Dan Kleinhesselink and was at the Patrol briefing who I served with in both RS-543 and 535.
The scene in the movie that was down at Binh Thuy was with River Section-511 and the area they showed was some action was down by Purple Heart Alley on the Bassac River.
B/R's to All,
Ralph
Fw: [HA(L) 3 US NAVY SEAWOLVES] Interesting film of our mission in the delta
I
From: rhfries [at] pacbell DOT net
To: Doc RIojas
Good Morning Doc,
I had just completed a brief 9 day NIOTS' PBR Engineering Familiarization course at Mare Island, Vallejo, CA on 5/28/67. I departed Travis AFB, CA on the afternoon of 5/29/67 on board a
commercial airliner for Vietnam, arriving Tan Son Nhut AFB in the late afternoon of 5/31/67.
Reported to Commander River Squadron-5 at Saigon in the morning of 6/1/67 and in the afternoon to my first duty station as a WO1 as Logistic/Maintenance Officer with River Section-543. I served with River Section-543 with MK 1 PBR's from 6/1/67 to 8/31/67 at Nha Be.
I served with River Section-535 MK II PBR's from 9/1/67 thru activation on 10/18/67 at Nha Be in becoming operational combat unit of 10 new boats.
We departed NSA Nha Be on 12/13/67, arriving NSA Binh Thuy Navy Base on 12/15/67, located on the Bassac River in the heart of the Mekong Delta.
Our unit departed NSA Binh Thuy on 4/1/68, arriving on board APL-55/YRBM-18 on 4/2/68, located on the Ham Luong River near Ben Tre.
I departed River Section-535 on 5/29/68 and departed Vietnam from Tan Son Nhut AFB on board a commerical airliner on 5/30/69. I arrived Travis AFB, CA on the afternoon of 6/1/68 where my wife met me with civilian clothes. I did not to leave the air terminal off the base in uniform because of all the anti-American demonstration going on outside the Main Gate.
You may any part of what I have sent to you,
Ralph J. Fries CWO-3 USN Ret
This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
Red
Dog
Williams
From: Glen Grinage
EN3 BSU-1, To: Doc Riojas
Grinage was the STAB driver with SEALs in MyTho Vietnam
to me A Reverie:
If Moose Boitnott were alive today he wouldn't have the slightest idea
of the person writing these words, for it is doubtful he even looked in
my direction throughout the brief time frame he transitioned out of My
Tho, Vietnam back to the United States in late 1967.
We, the members of Boat Support Unit 1--based out of Coronado,
California--arrived earlier in My Tho than did the Seventh Platoon of
SEALS whom we had been assigned to operate with, thus providing us the
opportunity to observe firsthand three or four operations conducted by
Boitnott and his Fourth Platoon.
Prior to one such operation, I and a black E-6 sergeant from US Ninth
Infantry at Dong Tam
(he had been called on to instruct us on the operation and maintenance
of a 106 recoilless rifle) wandered over to the mess hall at the Victory
Hotel to grab a bite, and as we chowed down, Boitnott came strolling in
to eat. It was then that I nodded in the direction of Boitnott and told
the sergeant that he was the officer in charge of the SEAL team.
Notwithstanding, the sergeant looked steadily at Boitnott and opined in
a low voice: "He's a mean man; he's one mean son of a bitch."
A later development proved that the sergeant wasn't far off with his
assessment. After Boitnott and his team had been safely extracted from
the jungle, and back on the mike boat, Boitnott, with what seemed to be
an irrevocable expression of joy, removed a magazine from a rusty old
M-1 carbine, took out the first bullet and used it to eject the
remaining rounds as he counted them and took notes on a small piece of
paper. Another member of the team replied to my inquiry by saying that
Boitnott had zapped the elder VC through the head as he held the
carbine.
All I did was simply stand by and goggle at his actions and demeanor.
N.B. I do indeed hope that the black sergeant from Dong Tam lived to
return to his home in America; he was a true warrior and a great guy to
serve with.
JON FISCHMAN USN PBRs Vietnam Veteran
Twenty-eight
years later I retired as a CWO4, after serving nearly thirty-one years in the
Navy. Just a basic Squid, mostly Tin
Can’s and Cruisers.
This
is a photo Jon Fischman, a Seaman attached to River Section 532 in My Tho in
1967. This is where I first met up
with members of SEAL Team Two (Doc Rio, Patches, Eagle, Kelly, Roy, LT Pete, and
Ray)
From:Jon Fischman
To: Doc Riojas
Subj: Do you remember sometime around Oct/Nov 1967.....
Late one afternoon, the boat crew's were getting ready for night patrol. it must have been about 1500 or so. A shot rang out in the Carter Hotel, second floor front. The whole place went to
GQ, no one knew what was going on. The compound locked the gate, bunkers manned, guys with guns running to various posts.
The one of "our" sailor's walked out of his room, 12GA in hand, dropped the slide back, ejected a spent round and just turned around and went back into his room. We followed expecting to see a dead sailor or something.........We looked around an saw this hugh hole in the wall above the window......"got him, I nailed the sob." I don't remember if it was Johnson (ST) or one of our guys grabbed the gun away from him, and asked if he were out of his mind. SN Gerkins just looked him dead in the face and told him "that god danm lizard just pissed me off. He made his last trip up my wall!."
One of the chiefs came in and contiuned to rip him a new AH......"Why didn't you just use the M79? Gerkins just looked down and "sorry chief.....no ammo."
Most of us wanted to deck him, but we were laughing so hard .........
Ah the life of a river rat................
Jon
After retirement went back to school again. Became a Paramedic and went to work for the National Park Service as a Ranger/Rescue/Flight Medic. Worked in the Grand Canyon, Grand Teton's and the Presidential Range in NH.
Nothing in my Naval Career really prepared me for what lay ahead. Long and Short Haul Rescue (hang under a helo inflight,) repelling and climbing sheer cliffs, getting chased down a mountain trail by Mountain Goats, encountering Bears, and being stalked by a Mountain Lion. Climbing, and searching in 100F plus temps, with a 48 pound pack, and babysitting an injured climber at 9000 feet at -20F.
And then there is the most dangerous critter of all, "The Tourist" One thing I have to say. Park Rangers are by far; second only to SEAL's, one of the tightest groups of people it has been my privilege to have work with or for.
So back to school. Became a Scrub and now working the Operating Room. Still working part-time as a Paramedic, and still love it.
This email was cleaned by
emailStripper, available for free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
From: Jon Fischman
email: 19nov2012
to me Doc I do not know if you remember the night of the "un-mortor attack in My Tho?
It was early July 1968. It was one of those nights we received a new movie. 16MM double reeler. New release. John "The Duke" Wayne in the Green Berets. Anyway the messhall was packed. guys were sitting on tables and what chairs we had, other sat on the deck or just lined the walls. Vol too loud, too many gugs giving running commentary, just a bunch of sailor's enjoying the flick.
Anyway, about half way through the second reel, the sentery from the gate bunker came running in yelling "Incoming, Incoming!"
Guys started yelling at him to shut up and get out of the way. It was the big battle scene......he ran to the back of the room and pulled the plug. with the movie off, the yells started again, but this time did not last too long.....wamp....wamp, I don't know who yelled "incoming, everyone down" Charlie dumped about 10 rounds into the city. we missed all but the last two.
Then one of our brightest sailors plugged the projector back in and announced, "well crap (or words to that effect) too late now, might as well watch how the "Duke" would handle this situtation........."
Moral: When watching the Duke, put extra sandbags around the windows.
This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from
http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
From: Jon 
To: Doc Riojas Date: 03Octy2013
Subj: Three Fingers VN Kid
Anyway, do you remember a shoeshine boy from the Victory Hotel we called "three fingers?" He lost the pinkie and ring fingers on his left hand.
Well I ran into one of PBR sailor's from 533, they were in My Tho with us, and he told me that the "Kid" in now a practicing Attorney in of all places Kansas City, MO
He has a policy, He defends Sailor for free (they are always innocent,) charges double for Army, and won't defend Marines (they are always guilty)
Jon
From: Jon Fischman
I made sure that she knew that I am, nor ever was a member of any team,
SEAL, UDT or other, just a boat driver. And I honestly hope that no one
there got any other impression.
Hell, back then the only way to tell us apart was that green crap you
guys smeered on your hands and face.
To: Doc One of the events I remember, and documented
happened back on the
Then four of the boats entered a very narrow canal to transit to the
village. Where we inserted the teams.
We loaded what could be carried and with the falling tide, and excess
weight we had to exit the canal before all of the weapon and documents
could be loaded.
Heading back out to the river.
SEAL Team 2 Inspecting there catch.
This is the portion carried on PBR 124.
And what we could not load and carry out, you guys “make go boom”
Jon Fischman
To: Doc RIojas
date: 18NOV2012
RIO, There is one thing I want to make sure that others know; I know you
do. When Ruth invited me to the Muster, it was to meet up with old
friends.
I would like to think that I will be invited back someday. I am a River
Rat, proud of it, and proud that I had the opportunity to live and work
with the Team's.
We lived, worked and played together.
I hope you understand where I am coming from.
Jon
24Nov2012
Doc, I got the impression that you were looking for things to add
to you "Hobby" collection.
Attachment is once event I was involved in and actually took a few
pictures. I was the fwd gunner on PBR 124 when you "guys" took
us for a ride up a little canal. it took days to get all that mud and
gunk off the boat.
This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for
free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
From: Jim Dickson
To: Doc Riojas
Cc: Franklin Anderson Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Subject: Re: Vietnam War story
Hi Doc,
I've heard about you for a while now and it's good to finally make contact. Oh yes, the story is true alright. I was one of three non-SEALs aboard the Mike boat that night. The other two were an EN2 whose name I can't remember (he kept the engines running and was a good coxswain) and LCDR McCullough who along with CDR V.C. Wandres was an advisor to Vietnamese RAGs 22 & 28 so he knew the rivers in the Rung Sat as well as anyone.
CDR Wandres wore several hats. He was Commander Task Group 116.2, Third Riverine Area Advisor and Senior Advisor, Rung Sat Special Zone. I was his yeoman and had put in a special request chit to crew on the Mike boat. 7 OCT 66 was my sixth time out.
Enclosed are three photos. The first is Mighty Mo. Photo credit should go to Jerry Clark, SEAL team one who was in Nha Be' in 1967. He and I exchanged email about seven years ago.
Jim Dickson
PBR105 Lead
10/14/12
http://5dayecho.u.yuku.com/
Some of you know; by emails,
Bruce Cullen, an MRF BC.
Bruce alerted me to a static display of a MKI PBR that was in SC, wasting away in a puddle of algae covered water. The PBR was being displayed with the hull number 105. PBR105 was the MOH awardee, Bos'n Williams.
Sadly, the boat is painted haze grey, and just sits unprotected at Patriot Pt, in Charleston. I called on PBR sailors nationwide to see if there was something we could do to restore 105 to a condition that would make Bos'n Williams proud. In two weeks the address group, PBR105, has grown to over 100 PBR sailors, including the officers from SBT 22.
At the same time, one of 535's sailors in Calif., brought to our attention the condition of the MKII PBR at Mare Island. One of ours is repainting that PBR (I think the teeth will be painted over) and it will be towed to Sonoma CA to be displayed alongside the Moving Wall next month.
Thanks to Bruce, two PBRs will get restored and take a place of honor at museums at Mare Island and somewhere here in the south east. I'll try to post some before and after pics -
Albert Maxon R.I.P.
Albert Cleo Maxson departed to patrol in Heaven on July 15, 2012 after a long battle with health problems. He was born March 14, 1943 in Flagler, Colorado to Cleo E. and Frances A. Maxson. He was the eldest of four children. He graduated from Minidoka High School in 1961 and shortly after joined the Navy. He remained in the Navy for 30 years, serving in Vietnam and on several ships. He was awarded several recognitions including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He was one of the very few privileged to wear the black beret.
x
On Tue, Jul 17, 2012 at 12:35 PM,
From: Ken Delfino <allegedly_retired
[at] colfaxnet DOT com>
To: Doc Riojas docrio45 [at] gmail DOT com
subj: Lowell Dickey
Bacsi,
If you're referring to Lowell Dickey (RIP), Da phai!!!...he was in 533,
but we weren't on the same patrol. I think he was the snipe on PBR 147 which ran with 132.
I was on152 and we ran with 160.
Hope all's well for you down in Texas!
All the best
.... Ken
From: FRANK R. SPATT
To: Doc Riojas AM
Subj: Why no beret on your picture?
Because there was no infrastructure in place yet for us to get standardized pieces of clothing and equipment. We were the first PBR group in My Tho and one of the first in country (1966)
. some of us wore greens that we picked up during CONUS and Subic training, some wore pieces from Marines or Army
.
The beret wasn't yet available unless you wanted to have one made in town. There were no river charts that had been updated since the French lost their ass at Dien Bien Phu. Everything was being done from scratch so to speak. This picture was probably taken in 67 during a day patrol. Can see the wear and tear on the flag. I believe later units had access to berets with their section's insignia and all that. We weren't concerned with looking pretty at that time, just wanted to learn the rivers, develop tactics (there were none written since the civil war), and do our jobs.
Besides, wearing berets once back in the chickens s hit navy wasn't authorized so what was the point anyway. My son and his family left today and are driving to Texas and then to Virginia and then heading back to Naples, Italy.
I haven't forgotten about writing a couple of "sea" stories . I just need to catch up on some medical stuff during the next few days. Getting to old age stuff sucks.
Cheers and yak at ya' another time.
Frank
BMC Williams and Frank R. Spatt
The tale of One Shot Charlie
There was a spot on the Mekong between My Tho and Vinh Long, just a little south of the Ham Luong river where a shooter (I won't call him a sniper because he didn't have a high powered rifle and he never hit anyone) would take one shot at our boats when they were out on night patrol. He never fired during the daytime.
In the beginning, all of the boats used to fire back -- M-79s and 50s -- but apparently he had a hidey hole that he jumped into after he would get off a shot. After a while, we figured that he was firing his one shot, not to hit anyone, but to alert other VC further up the river that boats were on the way so we stopped wasting our ammo on him.
Well, one night, I was going out on patrol approaching "One Shot"s area when a pair of helos came up on the radio stating that they were getting low on fuel, were still loaded with all their ordnance and wanted to know if I could find them a target. I responded that I would try to draw out some fire and loaded an M16 with tracers -- when we got to the usual point where One Shot was likely to be, I fired about half a dozen rounds in his direction, hoping that he would respond.
Well, lo and behold, there was a flash, and a Pop, One Shot did squeeze off a round. The helos, hovering right above my boat unleashed all their stuff, guns and rockets, it was a terrific display of firepower. Before the smoke had cleared, the helos thanked me for the target and departed the scene.
We stayed in the area for a few minutes and after all the smoke had drifted away, there came one more flash and a Pow from One Shot. He was letting us know that Nyah, Nyah, you missed Me!
We laughed about this the rest of the night. As far as I know, One Shot was still alive up until the time I left My Tho in '67. I hope that he survived the war and has had the opportunity to tell this story from his perspective to his grandchildren. This is a sea story and not a fairy tale.
Cagle on Minigun SEAL Mike Boat
A PBR to be Proud of !
From: Glen [mailto:fyrecap10@aol.com]
Sent: Monday,
July 02, 2012 12:36 PM
To: aocanas1@tx.rr.com
Subject: PBR in
Coronado
Pictures of Coronado PBR repair and paint . You may
have already recieved this if not enjoy..
Glen Slay
-----Original Message-----
From: Heinz
Hickethier <president@tf116.org>
To: 'Heinz Hickethier'
<president@tf116.org>
Cc: tomarmga <tomarmga@bellsouth.net>;
nancyre <nancyre@yahoo.com>
Sent: Mon, Jul 2, 2012 9:20 am
Subject:
PBR in Coronado
All Pass this to your members.
FACEBOOK Nancy please add this to face book if possible extract all the
photos and text from the word document and place it in facebook in one
piece. Last resort one photo and attachment of PDF.
WEBPAGE Tom same thing for the web site.
JIM after you present the certificates and PBR pins to the SN’s photos
please.
If you have not signed up for Branson --- get hot. September is coming
up soon. Thanks All
QMCS Heinz Hickethier Ret National President Gamewardens Association
Inc. Vietnam to Present P.O. Box 1846 Belfair WA 98528-1846
www.tf116.org National Web site
www.gamewardensnw.org
NW Chapter web site
1 866 220 7477
This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for
free from
http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
Walt
"RedDog" Fanton
Pancho O Canas
Best kept Secret in the U.S. Navy !
They call it the “E-ticket Ride:” a 33-foot Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) vs. Mother Nature. Middle of the night, almost pitch black; a pair of RHIBs race through open waters of the Pacific Ocean.
The crew wears night vision gear, but still find it hard to see the waves. Each ocean swell–unpredicted– creates a ramp and sends the craft airborne for what seems like seconds at a time. And when they come down, they come down hard.
The crew braces for shock, the boat shudders and a giant plume of boat wash is the only mark left in the faint moonlight as the boat races forward into harm’s way.
WO1 R.J. FRIES, River Section 535
The 1st set of pictures, one when I was with River Section 535 and the other from River Section 543. The other set of pictures displays the gun mounts I manufactured for my 10 PBR's that we received on a sugguested from GMG3 Thomas Craghead who happen to be River Section-535 first casualty to our unit's operations on February 4, 1968. The other picture with that pictures show how I welded them on the PBR's engine splinter shields for the mounts to hold the 7.62 M-60 Machine gun and MK18 Honeyweld 60mm grenade launcher.
River Section-535 was the first unit in all the Delta to have that capabilty as well as the after.50 ammo can carrier that I made to hold 500 rounds vice 100 that came with the boats. The improvements on Crag's suggestion saved many PBR's sailors lives to becoming a casualty because of his idea on the weaponry on board that gave many a Gunner's a fighting chance when they were ambushed and clearing the kill zone because of the additional ammo to fire back with out re-arming as they cleared the area. The improvement reduced our serious casualties by about 50%.
Colt Arms representative for the Navy interviewed me at the Nha Be Pier in November of 1967 on who authorized me to make those changes. I told him, my guys did. The changes were life savers for them. He asked me if I had any drawings of the improvements. I said, it was all in my head as I had the vision on what Crag idea's were to make the improvements.
By the time of the second group of PBR's that came in country in 1968 had those improvements on them.
B/R Bro,
Looking at the picture and background with the PBR's in line was taken I believe in December of 1967 when River Section-535 was transiting down the Soi Rap River when the unit was moving from Nha Be to Binh
Thuy. If you look very close to the engine splinter shields are the welded pipe stanchions I welded to make the mounts for the M-60 and MK-18
Honeyweld, Also the after .50 gun mount can that I manufactured to hold 500 rounds vice 100 rounds on the MKII PBR's we received after our unit activated on 10/18/67. RS-535 was the only unit in the Delta at that time had the upgrade gun mounts on the new MKII PBR's at that time.
I believe this picture may have been taken was from PBR-727 by SN Kenneth Quinlan because the first boat in the column was PBR 722 with the OIC LT Jack Doyle on board followed by PBR-723, 724, 725, 726. I was on 731, the last in the column during our move to Binh
Thuy.
Thanks and B/R to my Bros,
Ralph; rhfries
[at] pacbell DOT net
This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
A report on the operations of the U.S. Navy's small boats in Vietnam. Uniquely designed to meet the challenges of river and coastal warfare, these boats ran patrols under enemy fire and spearhead invasions in enemy-held river territory.
Who sent me these Photos?
Fredand
SydnyPerryman
Front
Gate naval support base NHA BE, home of PBRs
Kelly, Burnett,
email: docrio45 [at] gmail DOT com if you can ID these guys and who emailed them to me. THanks
email: docrio45 [at] gmail DOT com if you can ID these guys and who emailed them to me. THanks
SEASTORY:1966 SEAL Team ONE
Note the .50 Cal M.Gun on the stern.
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
Hi Randy, I thought I'd send this story from one of your predecessors. I
met Jim a few years ago at the dedication of the Cupertino Veterans'
Memorial. I'll send you a couple of photos of it with Jim and me in it.
I hope all's well in Taft.
Ken
Sent: October 7
Subject: 7 OCT 66
1966 : SEAL Team One ambushed in the Rung Sat
Mighty Mo, SEAL Team One's heavily armed Mike boat (LCM) is ambushed in
the Rung Sat Special Zone, a four hundred square mile mangrove swamp
surrounding the main (Long Tau R.) and alternate (Soi Rap R.) shipping
channels between Saigon and the South China Sea.
On friday night, 7 OCT 66, Mighty Mo was on the upper Dong Tranh River.
Also on the same river was a force in excess of 150 NVA inroute to
attack the PBR base at Nha Be'. (This was revealed in documents captured
in a later SEAL operation.) When the NVA heard Mighty Mo's engines they
quickly set up an ambush on both sides of the narrow river. The first
shot was a direct hit amidships with a mortar round. The SEALs and crew
of Mighty Mo responded with five .50 caliber machine guns, two .30
calibers, a mortar and a recoilless rifle. When the battle was over
everyone aboard the Mike boat was wounded and fifty-eight enemy were
dead.
I remember parts of that night very well. We were at our battle stations
(mine was the stern .50 cal behind the pilot house) straining to see or
hear anything in that dark calm night. The engines were turning as
slowly and quietly as possible. It was the loudest quiet I have ever
heard.
Then suddenly they scored a direct hit with a mortar round and both
river banks erupted with gunfire. Nobody gave the order to return
fire--we just did. (Couldn't have heard it anyhow.) Because I was on the
stern I remember the smell of the diesel exhausts and the canvas canopy
burning above my head and of course the noise level. It was the loudest
night of my life.
I remember alternating fire from one river bank to the other while
trying my best to fire in short five round bursts. Schapnel from an
exploding recoilless rifle round penetrated my helmet and I was knocked
out instantly. I was reloading at the time so I was looking down. If I
had been looking forward it would have hit me in the face. (Lucky me.)
I temporarily regained consciousness while they were puting me on a
helicopter. Although it had died down considerably the fire fight was
still going on. Again I briefly regained consciousness at the Third
Field Hospital, Saigon where a chaplain was giving me the Last Rites.
Within one hour of getting wounded I was being operated on by an Army
neurosurgeon. When I woke up three days later the ward was full of guys
from the Mike boat.
Among the first to notice that I was awake were LCDR McCullough, BM1
Roger Moscone and an EN2 whose name I can't remember. They were standing
at the foot of my bed with smiles on their faces so I knew that I would
pull through. LCDR McCullough had one of those honorable John Wayne type
leg wounds that enabled him to hobble around the ward with the aid of a
cane to visit his men. I heard that some years later he made Captain.
Good for him. He was a good officer.
I crossed paths with a lot of heroes that night and owe them my life.
Among them are whoever put a battle dressing on my head, the guys who
put me on the chopper, the guys who stayed at their stations and
returned fire, the helicopter crew who landed at night in a fire fight
and everyone at the Third Field Hospital, Saigon.
Army Medics have told me that most head wounds in Vietnam died. I would
have been lucky to live another forty-two minutes. It has turned into
forty-two years and except for dead brain cells that affect my memory
I'm still going strong. Evey day since then has been something extra.
Even "bad days" could be worse.
Jim Dickson
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 11:26 PM
Subject: RE: 7 OCT 66, SEAL Team One ambushed in the Rung Sat
Ken,
I'm a little confused by Jim's story. I was the second BSU-1 group to go
to Na Bhe in Sept/Oct 67 and rotate out in Apr 68. The first group
arrived in Mar/Apr 67 with the Mighty Mo and two all metal LCSC 's that
looked like PBR's and 2/3 Boston Whaler's. I didn't think we or the
Seals had any assets in Na Bhe earlier than that. Our Mo had 3- 50's on
each side, 2 -30 cal's and 2 - grenade launchers in the pilot House, an
81mm motor near the ramp, and we added a 106 recoilless on the canopy
over the well deck during my tour. There was barely room to walk around
the back of the pilot house but no room for a 50. I believed that I was
one of the first BSU-1 members wounded, and that was on the night of
4-11-68. We had another group down on the Mekong Delta with nearly the
same set up. Was he part of a riverine unit because his MO doesn't sound
like one of our boats ?? Was he a Seal ?? Our boats were completed and
finished up on a LSD on the way to Viet Nam in 67. I don't remember any
talk of BSU personnel in the Rung Sat or the Delta earlier than 67,
prior to that all personnel were rotating out of the PT boat base in
Danang. Just doesn't seem to add up, I'm losing some brain cells too.
Randy
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.
1 - Were you in-country (and at Nha Be) when I witnessed this Mike boat
display?
2 - Did you know Jim Dickson or Randy Miller? Jim has shown up at a few
veterans events as well as our Gamewardens Reunion last fall. I know
Randy through our Kiwanis involvement...he is the mayor of his city in
Taft, CA Thanks Doc, Ken ----- Original Message ----- Sent: Thursday,
June 16, 2011 12:17 PM Subject: Re: 7 OCT 66
Randy, I don't know Jim that well, other than what he's told me. He did
attend our last reunion and seemed to know several of the guys. I didn't
get up to Nha Be until 12/66 so I didn't know him there (of course, no
guarantee that I would have REMEMBERED him...same 'brain cell reduction
problem)! I can tell you that my first exposure to the Nha Be SEAL team
(or wherever they were from) was when we were still based out of Cat Lo.
We were on a day patrol and saw a Mike boat coming down river (Lower
Long Tau). I was wondering why they had painted a big black
"X" on the bow....until the boat got closer and I saw it was a
VC tied spread-eagle to the bow ramp! Pretty impressive first exposure
to those guys! That was in November '66, and I don't know where that
team was from. When we moved to Nha Be, they did have a team there and
one of those nuts had a pet python! We left Nha Be for My Tho sometime
around May '67. There's a friend of mine, Doc Riojas, who may be able to
answer this question and I'll bring him in on this.
Ken
From: Erasmo "Doc" Riojas
to : Robert Stoner, Ken DelFino
Subj: RE: Re: 7 OCT 66 , SEAL Team One ambushed in the Rung Sat
Thank you Ken.
No, I do not remember those names. They were ST-1 SEALs, and also the
year was 1966. I was in CONUS.
I was not with a SEAL Platoon in NhaBe, I went out on Ops with the ST-2
SEALs whenever i had the urge to "operate."
docrio [at] warpspeed1.net changed that is, they route their
emails through GOOGLE.COM, so i got a google email also: docrio45[at]
gmail.com. The warpspeed email is still a good one. I also have docrio
[at] sealtwo.org
Thanks shipmate. Rio
About the snake, "Zelmo" that belonged to Jim Glasscock, ST-2,
some PBR guy poured gasoline on it's head and burned it pretty bad. Jim
brought it to Saigon and I cured the burns and Zelmo lived. Jim did not
return back to 'nam before i left, so i took zelmo back to NhaBe and
gave it to the guys there from Team TWO. There were NO ST-1 guys there
at that time, 1970.
CC: to Bob Stoner, he may be able to help you.
Erasmo Riojas
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
JIM Dickson
07Oct2013
Today, 7 OCT 2013, is the 47th anniversary of my being wounded in Vietnam. If I remember correctly all twenty-eight (three of us were not SEALs)
aboard the Mike boat were wounded but nobody died. I was one of five head wounds. The other four were SEALs two of whom ended up in wheel chairs.
After the battle was over fifty-eight enemy were found dead. At twenty-one I was the youngest and about half are still alive. What a great
bunch of guys!
I would rather be a has been than a never was. JIM Dickson
WEBMASTER: I wish you would send those pictures of Randy and Jim to me for www.sealtwo.org. Thank you , Doc Riojas
This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for
free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
7 October 1966 incident with the "Mighty Mo"
Robert Stoner Ken me Randy
Hello everyone (and please pass this along to other correspondents involved),
Let me chime-in with some background on the 7 October 1966 incident with the "Mighty Mo" as well as other things.
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.
Boynton,Constance,Riojas,Ashton, Matthews, Rowell
TopRow:Lt to Rt: Hook Turre, Jack Rowell, Curtis Ashton, Mike Boynton,
Fred Keener, Roy Dean Matthews. Bottom Row Lt to Rt:
Robert "Eagle" Gallagher, Erasmo "Doc" Riojas,
Rinney, Harry Constance, Robert "Pete Peterson , Charlie Jesse.
The Origional ST-2 7th Pltn. Our first tour to MyTho (home base)
but operated all over IV CORPs areas of 'nam.
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
Robert Stoner
wrote: More and more of our former BSU/MST guys are finding their way home at
www.warboats.org.
Given the dangerous op areas we worked, that Dets BRAVO and CHARLIE made it through their tours without any serious injuries. BM2 Austin Moore got a ruptured ear drum from a B-40 hit; GMG2 Dick Kush got hit in the inner thigh by a large chunk of brass when his .50 blew-up, and EN2 Mike Meils was medevaced due to a severe allergic reaction from a second mosquito bite. (The fist got him swelled-up and no duty for a week.) Everyone didn't get a scratch. Damn lucky.
The Det that relieved us got nailed big time by two B-40s in late January 1971. LT Thames (LDNN advisor) and his LDNN interpreter were killed; LT Bob Natter (MST), his GMG1 and GMGSN were critically wounded and evacuated. Don Crawford (SEAL) brought the LSSC back to SOLID ANCHOR. -----
From: Erasmo "Doc" Riojas
To: Robert Stoner ; Glen Grinage Cc: Ken Delfino ; Randy Miller
Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2011 3:24 PM
Subject: Re: 7 OCT 66
I forgot to include GLEN GRINNAGE EN3, our STAB driver, still alive and well in JAPAN ; He did some very hairy OPs with us. What pisses me off you guys did not get hardly any credit for the stuff you survived with SEALs.
I wish somebody would reverse that and somehow give you guys the medal you deserve. I blame the Boat Support officers that ran your show. They got theirs and you guy s did not even get a hand shake.
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.
BOB
From:Randy Miller
to: Robert, Ken, me, Bill Bob,
Thanks for the info, guess I started something. I didn't realize Seals were in Nha Be operating their own boats. When I was there from Oct 67 to Apr 68, we had an HSSC (we called the mighty MO), 2 LCPL's and 2/3 Boston Whalers, no Powercat 23's, no
STABs.
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
(The Bear) PS: The 4th pic down, the guy with the nice hair I think was a Seal named Martin. The 2nd pic down may be Moreo driving the boat.
fromRobert
Stoner
Mon,
Jun 20, 2011 at 11:05 AM
to
Erasmo \"Doc\" Riojas
Randy Miller
Bill
Moreo
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.]
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
This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
" 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
DOC
MY NAME IS TOM MOFFATT BETTER KNOWN AS TOMMY
LEPRECHUAN.
RAN WIYH BILL MCCARTY DENNY BJOHNSON BOB SHAMBERGER RIP DAN MUD ZUMDA
RIP. RANGER RICK MY HERO COMES FROM SAME AREA IN NY.
STOLE HIS GIRLS BEFORE HE GOT MY IRISH AMERICAN GIRLS IN YONKERS.
FORGOT FRED KENNER AND THE MAYOR JIM FINNLEY AND I GOT YOUR ASS OUT OF
#10 PLACE SEAFLOAT JUNE 70.
CHRIS WARD WAS PLT OIC WHEN WE LEFT .
I DONT PLAY BAGPIPES I SING IRISH SONGS.
THE BEST TO YOU DOC RIO
TOMMY LEPRECHUAN
Webmaster's Note: Tommy, i had to break your long sentence
into small sentence fragments for easier reading,
I hope that did not piss you off. Thanks
shipmate.
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:
152/160 (my patrol)
132/147
112/153
121/151
21/149 ? Call signs: Seahorse (out of Cat Lo) Barracuda (out of Nha
Be....I think) Michaelangelo (My Tho) Druid ( off one of the LSTs) and
that's all I can remember... Kenny -----Original Message----- From: Dick
Godbehere [mailto:gsd.hawaii@hawaiiantel.net] Sent: Sunday, April
11, 2010 11:39 PM To: Al O'Canas Subject: Re: PBR HULL NUMBERS
AND PATROL CALL SIGNSAloha Al,I can help a little. On 9 Nov 67, PBR 28
was hit with a rocket and sunk between Tan Dinh Island and the river
bank near the Catholic Church on the Bassac River several miles south of
Can Tho. The boat was hit at the waterline, port side about six
inches aft of the front of the engine. PBR 28 was a Mark one
and is listed in the 1968 issue of Janes Fighting Ships as being
destroyed in Vietnam. My call sign was Handlash Delta. Officers had
their own call sign that did not always coincide with the
enlisted patrol designator. I do not remember the crews designator for
this firefight.Another boat I am aware of is PBR 60 (Mark 1) It was hit
by two B-40 rockets on the starboard side and caught on fire the evening
of 1 March 1968. One rocket hit about three feet from the
stern and about six inches down from the top of the gunwale. The second
rocket hit the grenade locker causing several explosions. The boat was
heavily damaged. This action took place on the Bassac River, just east
of Cu Lao May Island. The time of the fire fight was about 2000 and it
was dark.The patrol designator for this patrol was "Bravo".
Again my designator for this patrol was "Handlash Delta".Hope
this is the kind of stuff you are looking for. Have a good one.Best
regards, Dick Godbehere -----Original Message----- From: Jim
Dickson [mailto:jdickson@aceweb.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2010
8:13 AM To: Undisclosed-Recipient:; Subject: Re: PBR HULL
NUMBERS AND PATROL CALL SIGNSThere are a bunch of call signs on the MRFA
website. (link below) When I was on Seal Team One, Det. Golf's Mike
Boat out of Nha Be' in SEP & OCT 1966 our call sign was "Moon
River." It was later changed to "Porpoise 23."https://www.mrfa.org/callsign.htmJim
Where was NavForV?
Keith F. Reyes, ULC-UM
USN (DV/SWCC/SERE/CM) Ret.
Photos
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.
SEAL Combat Craft operations Pacific Northwest.
I met Ted Kassa several years ago at the UDT/SEAL Northwest Chapter
Reunion. I asked him if he wanted to assist in a program I started at Naval
Station Everett, Wa. Swimming Pool training young wannabe's.
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.
I served from 76-96.
Take care.
From: Keith Reyes
Keith
To: Doc Riojas
Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2008
Subject: pn-scuba and other patches
SCUBA Insignia amongst others. This was just an assortment of Command
Insignia's I was assigned to. I was a support diver & combat crewman with
EOD Mobile Unit 3 in Coronado. When I got to Washington State
(Admirals Staff Duty), I did my re-qual dives with EOD Mobile Units 11 &
17 out of NAS Whidbey Island, Wa.
Keith R.
Keith F. Reyes
Buck
Owen
Bob Stoners Contribution of Boat Photos
The SEAL MK V boat
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
Mighty Mo, SEAL Team ONE's heavily armed Mike boat (LCM) is ambushed in
the Rung Sat Special Zone, a four hundred square mile mangrove swamp
surrounding the main (Long Tau R.) and alternate (Soi Rap R.) shipping
channels between Saigon and the South China Sea.
On Friday night, 7 OCT 66, Mighty Mo was on the upper Dong Tranh River.
Also on the same river was a force in excess of 150 NVA reroute to
attack the PBR base at Nha Be'. (This was revealed in documents captured
in a later SEAL operation.) When the NVA heard Mighty Mo's engines they
quickly set up an ambush on both sides of the narrow river. The first
shot was a direct hit amidships with a motar round. The SEALs and crew
of Mighty Mo responded with five .50 caliber machine guns, two .30
calibers, a mortar and a recoilless rifle. When the battle was over
everyone aboard the Mike boat was wounded and fifty-eight enemy were
dead.
I remember parts of that night very well. We were at our battle stations
(mine was the stern .50 cal behind the pilot house) straining to see or
hear anything in that dark calm night. The engines were turning as
slowly and quietly as possible. It was the loudest quiet I have ever
heard.
Then suddenly they scored a direct hit with a mortar round and both
river banks erupted with gunfire. Nobody gave the order to return
fire--we just did. (Couldn't have heard it anyhow.) Because I was on the
stern I remember the smell of the diesel exhausts and the canvas canopy
burning above my head and of course the noise level. It was the loudest
night of my life.
I remember alternating fire from one river bank to the other while
trying my best to fire in short five round bursts. Shrapnel from an
exploding recoilless rifle round penetrated my helmet and I was knocked
out instantly. I was reloading at the time so I was looking down. If I
had been looking forward it would have hit me in the face. (Lucky me.)
I temporarily regained consciousness while they were putting me on a
helicopter. Although it had died down considerably the fire fight was
still going on. Again I briefly regained consciousness at the Third
Field Hospital, Saigon where a chaplain was giving me the Last Rites.
Within one hour of getting wounded I was being operated on by an Army
neurosurgeon. When I woke up three days later the ward was full of guys
from the Mike boat.
Among the first to notice that I was awake were LCDR McCullough, BM1
Roger Moscone and an EN2 whose name I can't remember. They were standing
at the foot of my bed with smiles on their faces so I knew that I would
pull through. LCDR McCullough had one of those honorable John Wayne type
leg wounds that enabled him to hobble around the ward with the aid of a
cane to visit his men. I heard that some years later he made Captain.
Good for him. He was a good officer.
I crossed paths with a lot of heroes that night and owe them my life.
Among them are whoever put a battle dressing on my head, the guys who
put me on the chopper, the guys who stayed at their stations and
returned fire, the helicopter crew who landed at night in a fire fight
and everyone at the Third Field Hospital, Saigon.
Army Medics have told me that most head wounds in Vietnam died. I would
have been lucky to live another forty-two minutes. It has turned into
forty-two years and except for dead brain cells that affect my memory
I'm still going strong. Every day since then has been something extra.
Even "bad days" could be worse.
Jim Dickson
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
To: Doc Riojas
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 11:29 AM
Subject: 7 OCT 66 - This Date in Vietnam History
Hi Doc Riojas,
I thought you might be interested in an email that Franklin Anderson sent out last year on 7 OCT 66. (see below)
: This Date in Vietnam History----This was a sad day, even though we never had any KIA, We suffered some permanent injuries that forced two men to retire--LTJG Bill. Pachacek, and PO Bob
Henry.
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)
Billy Machen was the point man on a patrol. As he was going through an open area he noticed the VC were lying in ambush. They were waiting for him to pass through so they could hit the main group. He instantly opened fire thus sacrificing his own life to save his team.
As the Commander Wandres' yeoman I typed up a recommendation for the Navy Cross.
The recommendation resulted in the posthumous award of a Silver Star.
I was so impressed by Billy Machen's selfless act and dedication to his team that I put in a special request chit to crew on their Mike boat.
Jim Dickson
From: Franklin Anderson
To Sent: Friday, October 10, 2008 7:18 AM
Subject: Fw: 7 OCT 66 - This Date in Vietnam History
This is the sequel to the previous message that Jim Dickson sent---It is interesting to note that the SEALS on the Mighty Moe accounted for approximately 58 KIA and untold wounded and broke the VC attempt to invade Nha Be.
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.
Franklin Anderson
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.
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
#1 -1ST SEAL TEAM 2 INSERTION AT CAN-THO/BEN-THUY EN-1 MOREO DRIVING,EN-2 RICK SHEPARD GUNNER (BACK VIEW.)
#2- SAME AS ABOVE( FRONT VIEW)
#3- CAN-THO LCPL WITH SEAL TEAM-2 PLATOON EMBARKED. NOTE 7.62 MINI-GUN ON THE BOW
#4- SEAL TEAM 2 RADIOMAN CALLING FOR EXTRACTION, I WAS ON MY WAY IN.
ALL THESE PHOTOS ARE LATE 68-EARLY 69, I HAVE A FEW MORE FROM CAN-THO,ME-THO AND NHA-BE I DROVE BOATS FOR SEAL TEAM-1&2 DURING THE 1967-69 TIME FRAME FROM THESE BASES.
BEST REGARDS BILL MOREO ENCM (SW) USN.RET
This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
"Big
AL" Ashton
HELP! I cannot find the email that these photos came with ! WHO SENT THEM? Help please !
Herb
Ruth and ? ?
Herb Ruth
click on image to enlarge
Please scroll to the bottom of this table and read the bottom
email first in order to get the jest of their conversations.
I did not alter their composition.
The Webmaster: docrio45 [at] gmail.com
From: Kiet Nguyen
To: bill_laurie [at] yahoo.com ; Guy Arrans
; bayacresfarm1 [at] peoplepc.com ; 'Charles Benninghoff (Charles
Benninghoff)' ; Charles Benninghoff ; Sam Bishop ; Larry Bissonnette ;
'William W. Cater' ; WW Cater ; Cooper, Clarence ; dpajax@hotmail.com
; Fanton, Red Walt ; Ferguson, Kirk ; Glen Fry ; Dick Godbehere ;
Keeffe, Dennis ; Martin, Cecil ; McPHERSON, HARLAN ; Albert Ocanas ;
President@tf116.org ; Doc Riojas ; Dennis Scully ; SLAY, GLEN ; Herb
Stephan ; Watson, Steve ; Weatherall, Larry ; Westling, Chaplain
Lester ; Mike Wiley ; Bill Wood ; YUSI, FRANK ** ; Ken Delfino ; Ralph
Christopher
Cc: Hai Tran
Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2009 12:21 PM
Subject: Re: 31 years.... (webmaster)Kiet
states Ralph CHristopher's statements are not all TRUE !
Gentlemen,
I must respond and making clear to Ralph Christopher's email because
his statement was wrong so far from the fact as I was a part of that
BAT-21's rescue operation.
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.)
Gentlemen, I appreciate all of you for recalling this history document
of the Vietnam's war.
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.
Kiet Nguyen LDNN
--- On Fri, 1/30/09, Ralph Christopher <rwchristopher@cox.net>
wrote:
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ralph Christopher" <rwchristopher [at] cox.net>
To: <bill_laurie [at] yahoo.com>; "Guy Arrans"
<shark17 [at] sbcglobal.net>;
Cc: "Hai Tran" <hai.tran18 [at] gmail.com>; "Kiet
Nguyen" <ktnguyen95 [at] yahoo.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2009
Subject: Re: 31 years....
I had the honor of interviewing Nguyen Van Kiet a couple of years ago
in Bellingham and David Lowrence of the museum filmed it and the DVD
is at BUMM. If I remember correctly, 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. Unlike the film they were air lifted out. There were no
friendly patrol boats in Laos, which is where I believe they were.
Kiet said Norris called him later and informed him he had put him in
for the CMH but they gave him the Navy Cross, believe the only South
Vietnamese to be awarded one. He lives in Seattle and had just gotten
married and brought his wife. We spoke for over a hour with his broken
English and my bad Vietnamese.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Laurie" <bill_laurie [at] yahoo.com>
To: "Guy Arrans" <shark17 [at] sbcglobal.net>;
Cc: "Hai Tran" <hai.tran18 [at] gmail.com>; "Kiet
Nguyen" <ktnguyen95 [at] yahoo.com>
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009
Subject: Re: 31 years....
Ken, well-written piece. No way anyone with any brains or integrity
can -or want to- 'let it go.' No damn way. Nice you mentioned Nguyen
Van Kiet, whose role in rescue of LTC Hambleton never got coverage it
should have. Here's a couple of other Viet Namese who should be well
known...and would be in a sane, mature, intelligent society, which
appears to be lacking:
Nguyen Quy An:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nguyen_Quy_An
http://www.jsonline.com/news/obituaries/29447804.html
Tran Van Bay:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tran_Van_Bay
Bill
On Fri, 1/30/09, Ken Delfino <philippepinuts@colfaxnet.com>
wrote:
From: Ken Delfino <philippepinuts [at] colfaxnet.com>
Subject: 31 years....
To: "Guy Arrans" <shark17 [at] sbcglobal.net>
Cc: "Hai Tran" <hai.tran18 [at] gmail.com>, "Kiet
Nguyen" <ktnguyen95 [at] yahoo.com>
Date: Friday, January 30, 2009,
Brothers of the Brown Water Navy:
0430 UTC:
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".
Over the years I have met many of our fellow veterans who wore Navy
blue, Army green, Air Force blue, Coast Guard white and the Globe and
Anchor who also wear that Yellow-Green-Red ribbon that ties us all
together. Over the years I have met younger warriors, enlisted and
officers, who do not wear that ribbon, but who have told me that
"we did the job necessary in the long run...stemming the tide of
communism from spreading beyond the shores of Southeast Asia"
which helped lead to the eventual fall of the Soviet Union.
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)
River Division 533,
TF-116 (PBRs)
10/66-7/68
This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for
free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
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.
Smallest Photo Ablum of Ole SEALs
; WAR BOATS.orghttp://www.specwarnet.com/americas/sbu.htm what happened to this LINK? Help, somebody
Other VN War Boats HERE !
Mi Vida Loca - Copyright ©1998 - All Right Reserved Webmaster: Erasmo "Doc" Riojas email: docrio45@gmail.com
Folks are asking Doc Riojas "how to find a
picture" on www.sealtwo.org
HERE IS NOW !