Served with the 9th Infantry Division D/4/47th May 1968 to April 1969. Was a RTO and Squad leader in the 1st Platoon.

Served as Shipfitter/Fireman on Blanco County, LST-344. We would load up in Vung Tau and delivered our cargo everywhere! Your write-up failed to mention the hauling of 1/2 a million cans of Budweiser, Olympia, and Hamms beer. We’d even stack the pallets of beer around the bright red gasoline drums on the main deck to hide and protect them.

Served on LST 1077 from Vung Tau through Mekong delta as part of TF117. Received Purple Heart at DMZ. Wondered if crewman insignia can be worn on dress uniform. If so where, above or below ribbon rack. Am 77 next month and just had lung surgery to remove blood clots associated with agent orange consumed while in delta. Have cancer of blood. Cannot believe how many of my shipmates are already gone from same poison. Never forget our honor. While E5 radarman in delta eventually retired as Army chaplain with combined 32 years of service.

I served in RAD 153 from January 1969 to January 1970 aboard ASPB 6858. I would like to hear from some of the crew members from alpha 58 from 1969.

Thanks for this article. I was on a courier mission to Phu Bai the night of January 31st. Lucky for me, having completed my mission, I was able to get a helicopter back to Danang shortly after the battle of Hue had begun. One minor correction to this article. The name of the river by the city is the Perfume River, or Song Huong in Vietnamese. David Billings, US Navy Reserves Naval Support Activity Danang, 1967-68

Upon returning from Vietnam in 1970 myself. I had the good fortune of working for a company where the owner and President was a man named John M. Tolpa. He read like a Dewars profile. A mechanical engineer, attorney and Naval officer. He was in fact serving on the LST515 USS Caddo Parish while in Vietnam I believe as the engineering officer. As a Marine serving at the same time in Vietnam, we had a lot in common. I'm mentioning this because on Thanksgiving 2022. Jack passed away. I thought anyone of his shipmates who knew the man, might be interested to know. His son Stephen runs the company at present and I'm certain that he might like to hear from anyone who knew Jack Tolpa. I came to discover that there are only about 600,000 Vietnam veterans left. Hence my post. The company is the Tolan Machinery Co. in Rockaway, NJ. 973-983-7212. Ask for Stephen. Mention my name. Tom Spencer. God bless us and those like us.

Hi, I was the engineer on A-112-4, 68/69, I am trying to locate my crew members: Christopher Emerson Coxwain; Radioman Charles; Gunner; Ferdinandson, Boat Captain ?? Whitehorn Sorry, the memory is history. Remembering our 50 Caliber gunner Mike Salaba Thanks.

I was the S-4, 2nd Bde of the 9th Infantry Division from Dec 1967-Dec1968. I am writing a short book of my time in the MRF to be titled: "War Sketches From the Mekong"; and hope to publish on Amazon. I need clear photos of the craft used in the MRF including the USS Benewah, The Westchester County, especially after 1 Nov 68 when we lost 28 sailors and soldiers, but also the Tangos and the ASPBs and Monitors to put some visual support behind my words I need both permission and access to the photos. I am happy to pay a small fee for the access and will credit the photographer(s) and the MRF Association in the book. Cell: 714-235-4004. Email is desired. The Navy provided complete support with the 2 LSTs for both Army and Navy needs. I operated with the N-4 and would like contact with any of his staff from the Benewah. Thanks.

I was on the LST 980 Meeker County and LST 1170 Wyndham County both during 1968 and 1969. I was with Boat Support Unit one out of Coronado in 1970 in Vietnam as a Mobil Support Team -2 Seal Support, detachment Charlie from May - December. I was on a LSSC (landing seal support craft), also called a STAB (seal team assault boat). We inserted and extracted the Seals. Our base was a Seafloat in the middle of Son Cau Lon River.

I served on LST-839 Iredell County; LST-515 Caddo Parrish as Quartermaster. When in 1969 w/ John Swofford on *In Country Combat* Tour of Duty. His account is a little off on transferring LST-515; missing key points as we rafted up in Vũng Tàu to swap ships! 1. We had just returned from a SOG Troop Extraction from Cambodia down around the horn (not supposed to do that) as we went in DARK w/o running lights (red lights only), just prior to the swap; ordered to stop logging location; then delivering those troops to Vũng Tàu. Why do I know? As Quartermaster of the Watch, that's what you do; Log Events & Location; 2. We took LST-515 to Philippine Naval Base at Sangley Point/Cavite City (near Manila, Philippines (not Subic Bay, where we went for Repairs; R/R/Leave) . Just before going to Clark AFB, by Angeles City to fly home! 3. Why is there no mention of LST-839 also extracting SOG from Cua Viet, DMZ after Tet Offensive Carpet Bombing the hell out of the place in 1959 50yrs later? It was well documented that USS New Jersey setting offshore blowing up Tiger Island, also Fired in 16"; Guns for cover fire in DMZ, after being rocketed so LST-839 could be loaded up. We had a swimmer at DaNang Fuel Dock under Red Alert too. SOG (dog tag-less) were camped out on deck, when we left heading for Okinawa, Japan. I believe this was Sept/Oct, when New Jersey was still there. Cua Viet had been Carpet Bombed nearby shown on maps for a few decades barren looking like the cratered moon. Doesn't anyone remember tying ourselves in, w/ Bow Hung Out Over Huge Waves... twisting and turning (could have ended up broke up in two) just keeping way on, over wall of water... 100 ft Waves; 300 ft Crest to Crest (felt like we were on a empty row boat/cork bobbing around, instead of a ship. Thinking we weren't going to make as we entered the Eye of that Typhoon... after Leaving Okinawa? After being called back at midnight, partying in Naha... drunk! 4. And I'll never forget a young Gunner's Mate, after the storm, blowing his own head off! Why? Because as my friend, he was dropped out of Annapolis, as son of a High Ranking Officer after attempted Hazing him, w/a broom stick up his A$$. He was my friend; he told me about it. I tried to prevent him from blowing his head off, but was too late, after remembering something he said earlier, knowing he was depressed. His body bag was stored in the Reefer, where I worked mess cooking! Truth needs to come out now 50 yrs later. He didn't deserve it nor the ignorant treatment by fellow Navy Personnel after being busted down to regular Navy! ...he never would have done that, if the Gung Ho Spirit of Macho Man Identity wasn't so prevalent in Military Service. HAZING was acceptable, but not sexual like in prison. This should be seen as 1 of the Devil's Tools to degrade; hold power of over others by BULLIES. In his case just because he was son of high ranking officer! 5. How about Bridge Ramp near miss, only because of being late did we witnessed 5-Rockets land where we would have been feet away. With hits on Helicopter Pad, Guard Tower, etc. I was on the Helm! QM-3/Striker Nunes Does anyone remember that Gunners Mate's Name on LST-839 Iredell County, after leaving Okinawa dropping off Troops? Should be in Log Book, but being transferred to microfiche now!

In memory of my brother-in-law Jimmy Harries, killed June 25, 1968, Cau Viet. A young man I never met, whose sister I married in June of 1969. He must have been a fine sailor to have sister like Joyce.

Iwas a medic on a 254th dustoff on 6/19/67 we were sent to the Delta to pick up your wounded from a battle. you all were involved in on this date.We landed in a lz where youall had the wounded.as soon as we touched down we started receiving fire, our ship took several hits andwe lost our hydralics the AC decided we .needed to leave the lz.We didn't make it very far from the lz,we sa tdown just over the tree line from your lz.We called our Dustoff control in Long binh to let them know were down and you all would need another Dustoff pickup That ship came in later and was so badly shot up the crashed in the lz.I would like to know what the name of the ville was that we were near .Thank you for any INfo you can provide about that battle.