I served as a deck-ape on the USS Benewah from '67 - '68. My general quarters station was mount 42 and my on-watch assignment was either of the two 3-inch guns on the flight deck. During one rocket attack a second-class petty officer--serving as JOOD at the gangplank--sounded G.Q. He was "rewarded" at Captain's Mask by being reduced in rank to petty officer 3rd class. I too was at Captain's mask the same day for an offense much worse than his. I was--justifiably--also reduced in rank. In my case the reduction was from seaman to seaman deuce. The former 2nd-class P.O. was "reminded" at that Mast that he did not have sufficient authority to sound general quarters. I thought he got a raw deal. I still believe that.

I was a USMC Radio Relay operator (7 Comm Bn)it was in Spring of 1969 when another Marine and I were assigned to Bring a Radio Van to Vandergrift Combat Base in Northern I Corps.We were to Hitch a ride on a YFU to Dong Ha and Convoy The Rest of the Way.We Boarded the Boat in Da Nang in The early evening. The Crew were Great Guys and treated us great.They Fed US and I Couldn't believe the Ship was so nice .One of the Crew told me to Take a rack and I remember I slept Real Good.I woke in the early Morning when The boat Unloaded some Ammo to a Ship ,I remember it was the St.Paul. We Returned about a week later and I don't remember too Much about the Boat returning to Danang except I know I did not get a "rack' and i slept on a bench in the Galley area.It was a diferant Boat than The one We went North with. To end The story it was 51 yrs ago and I still remember The trip on The YFU going to Dong Ha.It was one Of The Good things I remember about My 13 Months in Country.

Reading the emails and came across William Mack who was at Dong Tam the same time as I was. Hard to put a name to a face after all these years. if you think you know me, try and get in touch. Also, I have an older brother who lives in the same city you do. Sort of a coincidence. Hope to hear from you.

I was a boat coxswain on uss bexar,APA237 we spent 6 months as a repair barge at vungtau , I spent many a night running around and around the bexar on lookout in a lcm (Mike boat), I'm trying to locate a source to get the cruise book for that era,. I paid for one but never got it. God bless all who served

M-111-1 spent 4 months away from the Delta along with Division 112 to try to secure the river from the NVA. Had a whole different type of experience in Cua Viet and Dong Ha working with the 3rd Marine Corps.

I have a copy of the poster by Tom Neilson. I found a veteran Mr. Brenner who was on the boat in the lower right corner. The poster was given to me by a veteran and hung in my wife's bar until we closed it a few years ago. It has been in my garage since. I am moving and felt it deserved to go to someone who was there. I posted a picture of it to a Facebook forum and was put in contact with Mr. Brenner a Vietnam Veteran who was there and I believe is a member of this group. I will be sending the poster to him. I had a nice chat with Mr. Brenner and when I was done my wife asked why I was teary eyed. I told her I felt I was returning a piece of history to it's rightful owner. Tony R. Diller (USN 1970-80 USS California CGN-36)

9th Infantry, 9th Signal Bn & then 53rd Signal Bn attached to 199th Infantry Cat Lai. I took one ride upriver out of Cat Lai to deliver supplies to a small unit. Was Team Chief of "Redcatcher Forward" at Cat Lai from July 67 until Nov 67 handling communications signal to "Limestone". Were any of you there at Cat Lai during that same time frame as me?

I served in river division 153, river squadron 15, Monitor-6 from 6/70-11/70 and then in Rid 47 as an adviser, 1/71-6/71. And the USS Colleton 3/69-6/69. Guys I have recently been diagnosed with something called Lupus. Since it is not one of 17 approved agent orange diseases associated with the brown water navy I am wondering if anyone else has been diagnosed with it? I am headed to the local VA Fort for the rubber glove exam next week to look into my rising PSA number's. Lupus has given me a "extensive" blood clot in my left leg and I have a wonderful civilian doctor/hematologist who found the disease and is treating it. We are very lucky this doctor lives here in Helena, Montana. So if anyone knows of other's with this auto immune disease that is not common in males, I would be interested in hearing from you. Thanks, Dave M.

I was on Uss Krishna ARL-38 from Jan.69 to Dec.69. Worked on barge repairing Swift Boats and plenty of them. Before that I was on USS Surfbird ADG-383 out of Sasebo Japan. We was in Nam a lot We searched junks and deguassed and depermed MSB mine boats. That was 1967 -68. It was on Surfbird That I met Willie R. Wiggins SF1 I understand that he went to Veitnam on the rivers. If anyone of you happen on SF1 Wiggins please let him know I am looking for him. I am in the phone directory in Decorah Iowa. Harold S. Lee DC1 U.S.N. Ret. Thank you For any assist you can give me.

I was on the Sedgwick County from 1/69-8-69. We operated out of Vung Tau from 4/69 - 8/69. We also were one of the first boats to start removing the Marines by landing in the Cau Viet area and bringing them to Okinawa, we made 2 complete trips. Needless to say those guys were really happy ! After finishing that we went to Guam, I left shortly after for separation @ Treasure Island. Kenny Nunez, EN2

"To those who have fought for it, Life has a flavor that the protected will never know!" Between mortars, rockets, RPGs, booby traps and bullets, there was no safe place in for a soldier in Vietnam. Remember your Christmas in the Nam? Mine was spent on an ambush patrol near the Cambodian border. 25th Infantry Division-3/22nd Battalion, Tay Ninh, Vietnam-We may have served in different units in different AOs but our mission was the same! -Courage on the Mountain- Free to Amazon Prime members- Over one hundred 5 star reviews- courageonthemountain.com Glad that you made it home brother! George Reischling courageonthemountain.com greischling@hotmail.com

I served on the St. Francis River LSMR 525 from 9/68 to 7/69. After a couple TDY assignments I finished my enlistment on the Midway 12/69 to 4/72.