MOBILE RIVERINE FORCE ASSOCIATION
GUESTBOOK
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329 entries.
Hello all. My uncle, John F Dugan served in the army's 9th Infantry division 2nd 60th I believe in late 67 through 68. John currently lives in Aberdeen Ohio and definitely is one who does not want to talk much about his experiences. I do know by reading a couple of the old letters that my dad had given me years and years ago that he was wounded in combat from sniper fire the first time and wounded in the back and legs from shrapnel this second time. I was in contact with a couple of guys I believe several years ago and I have completely lost all contacts of those individuals. They actually were going to send me some photos that they had of them in Vietnam. Anything or anyone who could help me or may know of John and have served with him over there with stories comments or photos or all of the above, it would be more than appreciated. Thank you guys so much thank you for your service. Jeremy D - duganjdjs8376@yahoo.com
"To those who have fought for it, Life has a flavor that the protected will never know!" This was the maxim of the Vietnam soldier and those of us who served fully understand it. I served in the infantry for 6 months and then was rotated to Long Binh to work with soldiers suffering from combat fatigue. My Combat Infantryman Badge allowed soldiers to feel comfortable talking with me. I chronicled my experiences into a memoir titled "Courage on the Mountain" which is a free read for Amazon Prime members. It has received over 900 five-star reviews and been read by thousands of our brother and sister veterans. As I said, it is a free read and I would be honored if you chose to view the introduction on Amazon and even more so if you decide to read it. I'm sure that you will find it captivation! May God Bless! Courage on the Mountain- courageonthemountain.com
I just stubbled upon the MRFA publication River Currents, Vol 19, Number 1, Spring 2010. This article caught my eye: Memorial for Seven Men Who Died on YRBM-16. The author writes in the first person of having been assigned to the YRBM-20 during the same timeframe I was assigned to the 16. In late May or early June of 1970, the 16 (barely) steamed downstream with numerous PBRs tied along side, crossed over to the Mekong River via the Kênh Xáng Canal, and headed north to within one klick of the Cambodian border. My USNR active duty tour ended that September 1970. Due to the mine explosion and resultant deaths and injuries in 1967, the watch crews (of which I was one assigned to deck and Boston Whaler watches) were hyper vigilant. My very first watch was on the forecastle in early October near the start of the monsoon season. I expended nearly 1,000 shells from my shotgun into the flotsam of river bank overgrowth. After beating both of my shoulders up for about an hour, I became very accurate shooting from the hip. Two shipmates drowned in the Mekong due to horseplay. One was two weeks away from being married on his R&R, the other a career sailor with a family. I am looking to connect with my fellow deck force shipmates. Look me up on Facebook and message me or Google me.
I was Seawolf99 in Det 9 HA(L)-3 from Jan 71-Jan 72 and was on the YRBM21 until it was transferred to the RVN Navy. I am looking for a good picture of the YRBM21 with a HA(L)-3 helo shown on the flight deck to include in a book I have written about my flight experience there. Does anyone have one they would let me use for my commercial book. Does anyone have contact info for Skip Burns? I would like to use his picture of the YRBM20 that is on the website. I will provide full publishing acknowledgement for your contribution.
Thanks to y'all who served and helped us back then!
VR
Steve
Col, USMC(Ret)
Anthony (Tony) DiPrima
I've been a proud MRFA member for going on 15 yesrs now having served with Charlie Company, 3/47th, 9th Infantry Division from when it was first reactivated to train for combat at Fort Riley, Kansas, for the Vietnam War in May 1966. I served my tour of duty departing on or about may 1967
Seeking to find anyone who served with my dad. Watch the video from the link at the bottom of this post. Did you know him or do you recognize this place? My father, Newell Dolloff, was a Navy Corpsman in WWII, the Korean War, and he served in Vietnam. I believe he was in Da Nang, Quang Tri, and Quin Nohn areas. Several years ago my sister gave me an 8 mm film reel and she said she wasn't sure anymore what was on it, but it was from our father. I assumed it was probably Christmas or some family gathering. I had it digitized and when I started to watch it I was speechless. I do not know for sure but this appears to be in the Quin Nohn area. Maybe someone in this group can tell me more details. I had the music added just for affect. He died in May 1983. I am USMC retired. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ2PNhVLw84
Gentlemen,
Fantastic website you have developed.
I am currently finishing up a Book titled "Mekong Delta Yacht Club" Subtitled "Grandads Gators Call-Up the Reserves."
www.MDYClub.com You can see more about it here.
I want to use some of your Mekong Delta text and photos and will fully acknowledge your publishing efforts.
My Army Reserve Unit, the 231st Transportation from St. Petersburg, was suddenly called up in 1968 to support Operation Game Warden and converted from an Army Heavy Boat Reserve Company and immediately converted to a Med Boat with 19 LCM8 Live Abord Boats. Our claim to fame was a Presidential Citation for an outstanding unit, delivering the most beer to all the bases in the delta, supporting the Riverine forces, etc. If this is cool with you guys, please send me an e-mail back to my Personal TJTwitty@gmail.com Reference MDYClub.
Thanks, and I hope you got to drink some of our beer. As an Army Boat, our coolers were always stocked with the cold golden brew for all you Navy Guys that covered our ass. I will offer you our story for your website when it is finished.
TJT 727 421-1360 cell & text
Looking for qa Copy from the 9th Div. Octofoil Paper, stating the move by the A Co. 3/60th INF. from the Benewa to the Colleton THEY moved US whithout OUR knowledge.Some of My Brothers dispute the move. Both Ships looked like Twins exept for the# 35/36. There used to be Trust in Broderhood that went away in Civilianhood.
Vietnam creed "To those who have fought for it, Life has a flavor that the protected will never know." Patrolling Vietnam's rivers was extremely hazardous duty! My limited visit on one of your riverboats was unnerving. Courage was your badge of honor! Good Job! 25th Infantry Division -Tay Ninh 1969-70 "Courage on the Mountain" Amazon -courageonthemountain.com Captivating, true, 900 plus 5 star reviews and Free on Amazon Prime Glad you made it home!, Welcome Home Brother!
I am making this entry for my father William Houston (Bill). He has been talking about his time in Vietnam to my brother and I lately. Dad is in very poor health due to his exposure to that nasty Agent Orange that most of you were exposed to. All I know about the unit he was stationed with is from the back of a picture that we found in some of dad's things. U.S. Navy Inshore Undersea Warfare Group 1, Harbor Entrance Control Post (HECP) Naa Trang, Cauda Harbor. ROV. Dated March 1968. If anyone of you served with my father or were friends of his or just remember him please reach out to me if you would like to. I know that it would mean a lot to my dad. I want anyone who reads this and served in the Vietnam to know that you sailors, soldiers and marines were my hero's. I am thankful that y'all are finally getting the respect that this nation owed you when you came home so long ago. Steven Houston Sgt. U.S. Army 1978-1982
Served with the 9th Infantry Division D/4/47th May 1968 to April 1969. Was a RTO and Squad leader in the 1st Platoon.
1970 into 1972. Was attached to USS Kawishiwi AO146 off coast of Vietnam. Volunteered for duty in country. Received orders and sent to Naval Inshore Operations Training Center for Advisory duty. Was assigned to River Patrol Division (RPD) 57 in Nha Be. Escorted merchant ships up rivers and patrolled Rung Sat Special Zone. Then transferred to RPD 64 in Thuyen Nhon on the Vam Co Tay River. Embedded into Vietnamese navy. Never attached to a regular American unit.
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.
Received a Quilt of Valor yesterday and it was quite an honor. It's been 52 years since I left Vietnam but to be remembered this way is a humbling experience. Thank you MRFA so much.
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 am a Viet Nam vet. I served in a small outfit called Fleet Command. We were assigned to the South Viet Nam navy advisors. Our boats were surplus WW II LISLs. these were miniature LSTs. The well deck could hold 50 troops or one jeep. We were heavily armed: 1 50 canon, 1 twin 40mm canon on the bow, 2 MA2s, 2 80mm mortars, 1 60mm mortar, 2 .30 machine guns located on the bridge (1 for the CO; and 1 for the assigned advisor). 1 20mm aircraft canon that could be relocated to either the port side or starboard side. and one Honeywell hand-cranked grenade launcher that could be mounted on either port/starboard side. These were old boats, very primitive conditions. Spit and bailing wire held everything together. I googled Fleet Command and nothing was found. As far as history is concerned, we never existed!
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.
Howdy!
First of all I want to say “thank you”! To all our Vietnam Vets! Your sacrifices will always be remembered!
I am apart of a group of Vietnam Reenactors that is planning an event somewhere in north Idaho. Or possibly NE Washington. Still working out the details! We don’t have a PBR but we do have a Jet boat and will be recreating Operation Game Warden.
I came here to learn all I could about your mission and history. Thank you!
Anyone is more than welcome to reach out to me! Love you guys! Take care!
Wade
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
I am posting this in hopes of finding anyone who may have served with my brother, Garland B. Martin, Jr. He was on SEAL team 1, TF 116 Division 572 I believe. We believe he was there between 67 through 69.
I just wanted to find someone who may have known him or served with him and to let them know unfortunately we lost our brother 18 FEB 24.
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.
I still seek photos for my book: WAR SKETCHES FROM THE MEKONG; A Soldier's Reflections. My email is: geocopy@att.net. I have completed my manuscript and would like to illustrate the book with clear photos of the ships and boats of the MRF. I would prefer email so that I will know how to contact you for any permissions and credits.
Thanks! If any of the N4 or the S4 staff would like to contact me, I would be delighted.
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 am a Welfare Officer with the Ravenshoe Return Services League. An American Veteran and friend has passed away on the 14/01/2024 and we are going to conduct a Poppy Service for him.
I am finding it very difficult to get his Record of Service. Is there a website you can simply type in his name and Date of Birth and get his Service History.
His name is James Barry McLenson DOB 30/10/1944 he was born at the California Hospital, LA. He didn't talk much about Vietnam but he did mention he was in the Mekong Delta.
Jim meet an Australian Lady on RnR, they had 2 sons and he settled in Australia after he retired from the Los Angeles Police Force.
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.