U.S. COAST GUARD IN VIETNAM:
A GALLERY OF HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS
COAST GUARD SQUADRON THREE (Part 3 of 3)
|
Photos (Click on image to see full-size): | Original caption; Description; Date; Photographer (if known). Unless otherwise stated all are official U.S. Coast Guard photographs. |
|---|---|
| No caption; taken from: U.S.C.G.C.
Mendota WHEC-69 Southeast Asia Deployment 1969 [Vietnam
Cruise Book], p.1.
A color profile photo of the CGC Mendota, circa 1969. |
| "Naval Gunfire
Support: On occasions the MENDOTA was called on to use her
5"/38 caliber gun to hit enemy targets. Some days we
would fire for the U.S. Navy's operations at 0800 and then for the
U.S. Army at 2100 and then fire H&I for the Army of the Republic
of Viet Nam. Our enemy was never seen and we seldom saw the
results of our shooting but we developed an excellent Naval Gunfire
team that drew praise every time it shot."
U.S.C.G.C. Mendota WHEC-69 Southeast Asia Deployment 1969 [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 24. |
| "Coast Guard 82's:
Our fellow Coast Guardsmen were also active in Viet Nam. They
rode 82 foot patrol boats in the inshore Market Time areas. 40
times we were called by them asking permission to come alongside.
While we pumped JP-5, loaded ammunition and food or repaired a radar
set, we had a chance to meet old shipmates or talk about the next
stateside assignments. Our ties seemed a little closer to the
82's so far from home."
U.S.C.G.C. Mendota WHEC-69 Southeast Asia Deployment 1969 [Vietnam Cruise Book], pp. 31-32. |
| "SWIFT BOATS: One of
our duties in our patrol areas was to be mother ship to U.S. Navy
Swift Boats. These fast 50 foot boats were opening up many of
the rivers and canals held by the enemy. Since there was no
base close by they came to us for fuel, water, ammunition, food, and
rest. We often repaired their boats or gave medical aid to the
wounded."
U.S.C.G.C. Mendota WHEC-69 Southeast Asia Deployment 1969 [Vietnam Cruise Book], pp. 28-29. |
| "VIET NAM GROUND
FORCES: More than once we acted as a troop transport, operational
base, and rest stop for Cambodian and Chinese Mercenaries, SEAL
Teams, and Hoi Chi troops. We also supported their ground
operations with gunfire and medical assistance."
U.S.C.G.C. Mendota WHEC-69 Southeast Asia Deployment 1969 [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 27. |
| " MEDCAPS: Ten
times we sent our Doctor and corpsman ashore to treat the civilian
population. We held our MEDCAPS (Medical Care of the Civilian
Population) in the fishing village of Song Ong Doc, on the west
coast of South Vietnam. This village of 2500 is a refugee
center in the middle of Viet Cong held territory. Besides
treating over 800 South Vietnamese our crew helped rebuild the small
dispensary and we distributed over 600 pounds of clothing from the
Portsmouth, Virginia Coast Guard Wives Club. These Medcaps
gave many of our crew a first hand look at the war torn country of
South Viet Nam."
U.S.C.G.C. Mendota WHEC-69 Southeast Asia Deployment 1969 [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 21. |
| "MEDCAPS: SONG ONG
DOC"
U.S.C.G.C. Mendota WHEC-69 Southeast Asia Deployment 1969 [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 23. |
| "HONG KONG: PEARL OF
THE ORIENT: MARY SOO became a member of the crew for the month we
spent in Hong Kong. Although she is a wealthy woman she set up
shop on the fantail and supervised her side cleaners. Her
girls painted the entire ship inside and out for some empty brass
shells and whatever spare material we could give her. We will
always remember Mary Soo whenever we think of our visit to Hong
Kong."
U.S.C.G.C. Mendota WHEC-69 Southeast Asia Deployment 1969 [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 37. |
| "ET's"
U.S.C.G.C. Mendota WHEC-69 Southeast Asia Deployment 1969 [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 55. |
| "WAR IS HELL!"
U.S.C.G.C. Mendota WHEC-69 Southeast Asia Deployment 1969 [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 81. |
| ". . .Other
days we were tossed by a combination of sea, wind, and long Pacific
swell!"
US Coast Guard Cutter ANDROSCOGGIN Deployment in Viet-Nam; Nov. 1967--Sept. 1968 [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 5. |
| "At Times We Could
Even Relax."
US Coast Guard Cutter ANDROSCOGGIN Deployment in Viet-Nam; Nov. 1967--Sept. 1968 [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 13. |
| "At Times We Could
Even Relax."
US Coast Guard Cutter ANDROSCOGGIN Deployment in Viet-Nam; Nov. 1967--Sept. 1968 [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 14. |
|
"At Times We Could Even Relax." US Coast Guard Cutter ANDROSCOGGIN Deployment in Viet-Nam; Nov. 1967--Sept. 1968 [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 14. |
| Supply Department:
standing [left to right]--TN Freddie Hurgo, SD1 Horrace Burnett, SD2
David Bayle; front [left to right]--TN Ruperto Dela Pena, SD3
Cresancio Baquiran, TN Romeo Maravilla."
US Coast Guard Cutter ANDROSCOGGIN Deployment in Viet-Nam; Nov. 1967--Sept. 1968 [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 18. |
| SONG-ONG-DOC SOUTH
VIET-NAM: Song-Ong-Doc, pro-Saigon government village of 2500 people
on the Southwest side of South Viet-Nam on the Gulf of Siam.
Many of its people are newly arrived from Viet Cong controlled
hamlets and the village is isolated by the VC. US Army
advisors maintain a group here to assist South Vietnamese Regional
Forces."
US Coast Guard Cutter ANDROSCOGGIN Deployment in Viet-Nam; Nov. 1967--Sept. 1968 [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 21. |
| "Sister ship to the
Viet Cong infiltration vessel that we attacked [1 March 1968]."
US Coast Guard Cutter ANDROSCOGGIN Deployment in Viet-Nam; Nov. 1967--Sept. 1968 [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 47. |
| "Occasionally a
different type of vessel was encountered. Here is the yacht Phoenix--the
American Quaker vessel purported to have been delivering medical
supplies to North Viet Nam and units of the Viet Cong."
US Coast Guard Cutter ANDROSCOGGIN Deployment in Viet-Nam; Nov. 1967--Sept. 1968 [Vietnam Cruise Book], page 65. |
| "USCGC KLAMATH (WHEC
66), Seattle, Washington [circa 1969]."
USCGC Klamath: Market Time Patrol [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 2. |
| "NOW, SET THE
BOARDING DETAIL: CLARK'S COMMANDOES."
USCGC Klamath: Market Time Patrol [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 60. |
|
"NOW, SET THE BOARDING DETAIL: SWING INTO ACTION." USCGC Klamath: Market Time Patrol [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 60. |
| "NOW, SET THE
BOARDING DETAIL: UNDER EXCELLENT COVER."
USCGC Klamath: Market Time Patrol [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 60. |
| "NOW, SET THE
BOARDING DETAIL: [TO BOARD]. . .AND SEARCH."
USCGC Klamath: Market Time Patrol [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 60. |
| "NOW, SET THE
BOARDING DETAIL: The Search Goes On: CHECKING OUT THE CARGO."
USCGC Klamath: Market Time Patrol [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 61. |
| "BEER CALL"
USCGC Klamath: Market Time Patrol [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 71. |
| "AFTER A LONG HARD
DAY OF SHOOTING. . ."
U.S.C.G.C. Mellon 717; WESTPACK Deployment 1970 [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 37. |
| "MEDCAPS: THROUGHOUT
THE DEPLOYMENT WE HELD FIVE MEDCAPS (MEDICAL CIVIL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM) ON SOME OF THESE MISSIONS, THE GUARDS CARRIED CAMERAS AND
CANDY. BUT ON MOST THEY HAD TO CARRY GUNS. THE PRIMARY
MISSION, IN EITHER CASE WAS TO RENDER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO
VIETNAMESE CIVILIANS. DR. TAYLOR, HMC GRAVISS, AND SN FINGER
TREATED OVER A THOUSAND PATIENTS DURING 'IN COUNTRY' VISITS."
U.S.C.G.C. Mellon 717; WESTPACK Deployment 1970 [Vietnam Cruise Book], pp. 41-42. |
| MEDCAPS: THROUGHOUT THE
DEPLOYMENT WE HELD FIVE MEDCAPS (MEDICAL CIVIL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM)
ON SOME OF THESE MISSIONS, THE GUARDS CARRIED CAMERAS AND CANDY.
BUT ON MOST THEY HAD TO CARRY GUNS. THE PRIMARY MISSION, IN
EITHER CASE WAS TO RENDER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO VIETNAMESE
CIVILIANS. DR. TAYLOR, HMC GRAVISS, AND SN FINGER TREATED OVER
A THOUSAND PATIENTS DURING 'IN COUNTRY' VISITS."
U.S.C.G.C. Mellon 717; WESTPACK Deployment 1970 [Vietnam Cruise Book], pp. 41-42. |
| MEDCAPS: THROUGHOUT THE
DEPLOYMENT WE HELD FIVE MEDCAPS (MEDICAL CIVIL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM)
ON SOME OF THESE MISSIONS, THE GUARDS CARRIED CAMERAS AND CANDY.
BUT ON MOST THEY HAD TO CARRY GUNS. THE PRIMARY MISSION, IN
EITHER CASE WAS TO RENDER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO VIETNAMESE
CIVILIANS. DR. TAYLOR, HMC GRAVISS, AND SN FINGER TREATED OVER
A THOUSAND PATIENTS DURING 'IN COUNTRY' VISITS."
U.S.C.G.C. Mellon 717; WESTPACK Deployment 1970 [Vietnam Cruise Book], pp. 41-42. |
| "OPERATIONS:
CHIEFS [left to right]: YNCP COREY, QMC HARTEN, RMC HEMENWAY, ETCP
HUGHES."
U.S.C.G.C. Mellon 717; WESTPACK Deployment 1970 [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 55. |
| "IN HONG KONG WE HELD
OUR SHIPS PARTY FOR TWO NIGHTS. THERE WAS PLENTY OF CHINESE
FOODS AND DRINKS. OF COURSE THE NEXT DAY THERE WAS AN ABUNDANT
SUPPLY OF HANGOVERS."
U.S.C.G.C. Mellon 717; WESTPACK Deployment 1970 [Vietnam Cruise Book], p. 36. |
| No caption [Owasco
undergoing an underway replenishment.]
USCGC Owasco (WHEC-39): A Pictorial History of Its Deployment to Southeast Asia--Viet Nam During 1968-1969, p. 2. |
| ". . . COMMAND, FIRE
. . . (if you look close in upper left, you can see the
projectile)."
USCGC Owasco (WHEC-39): A Pictorial History of Its Deployment to Southeast Asia--Viet Nam During 1968-1969, p. 55. |
| "U.S. NAVAL
BASE, SUBIC BAY, PHILIPPINES: 'Whiter than white' BM2 Ward, SN
Poole, SN Rooney."
USCGC Owasco (WHEC-39): A Pictorial History of Its Deployment to Southeast Asia--Viet Nam During 1968-1969, p. 26. |
| HONG KONG: "Eh,
what's up, Doc?"
USCGC Owasco (WHEC-39): A Pictorial History of Its Deployment to Southeast Asia--Viet Nam During 1968-1969, p. 45. |
| "USS NEW
JERSEY. . .SHE SOMETIMES NEEDED OUR HELP: The Battleship New Jersey
and Coast Guard Cutter Owasco shown operating together off the coast
of Vietnam."
USCGC Owasco (WHEC-39): A Pictorial History of Its Deployment to Southeast Asia--Viet Nam During 1968-1969, p. 63. |
| ". . .WE WERE OFTEN
ENGAGED IN SERVICING OUR OWN WPG'S (82')."
USCGC Owasco (WHEC-39): A Pictorial History of Its Deployment to Southeast Asia--Viet Nam During 1968-1969, p. 67. |
| "UNREPS WITH 'PCF's':
Often we acted as a mobile base for these small craft. They
used our facilities for ammo, fuel, hot meals, and our medical team
for the wounded, if needed. The men of these small craft were
sometimes happy and sometimes sad. Often, we did not have to
ask, 'How was it? -- their faces and haste told us."
USCGC Owasco (WHEC-39): A Pictorial History of Its Deployment to Southeast Asia--Viet Nam During 1968-1969, p. 65. |
| No caption. [Replenishing
PCF's.]
USCGC Owasco (WHEC-39): A Pictorial History of Its Deployment to Southeast Asia--Viet Nam During 1968-1969, p. 3. |
| "On 9 November 1968
we received a call for help from PCF #70 and a hurried mission of
mercy began. . .
THE PCF-70 INCIDENT: SIX
OWASCO CREWMEN WERE CITED FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE AS A RESULT OF
DIRECT ACTION WITH THE ENEMY, WHILE THE SHIP WAS PATROLLING MARKET
TIME AREA TWO ON WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER 1968. THE SIX MEN HAD
JUST COMPLETED A MEDCAP MISSION ASHORE IN PHOUCTHAN. . .EMBARKED IN
NAVY SWIFT BOAT PCF-75 FOR RENDEZVOUS WITH THE OWASCO, THE BOAT, IN
COMPANY WITH THE ILL-FATED PCF-70, RECEIVED HOSTILE GUNFIRE DURING
WHICH PCF-70 PERSONNEL WERE HIT FROM A SURPRISE RECOILLESS RIFLE
AMBUSH ON THE BEACH. TWO MEN WERE KILLED AND FOUR OTHERS
WOUNDED. USCGC Owasco (WHEC-39): A Pictorial History of Its Deployment to Southeast Asia--Viet Nam During 1968-1969, p. 66. |
Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF)