US Navy duty stations - picture gallery

[UtahPete]

This was my home for almost a year - YRBM-20 near Chau Doc, on the Bassac River, a tributary of the Mekong. I ran the electronics shop and was one of the senior NCO's on board so stood watch at the 'bridge' as OOD. The greatest threat to the barge was sappers or IEDs hidden in flotsam on the river, so the OOD and roving guard would shoot at any large piece of debris (usually branches and other foliage) coming down river toward us, using M-16 and Colt 45 mostly. Got pretty good at it.

During the monsoon season, which lasted several weeks, there was a constant stream of flotsam coming downriver so I got a lot of practice. Didn't blow up any IEDs, but it was a great excuse for hours of target practice. Before I was sent out to the YRBM-20, during the Tet offensive, the barge had come under intense rocket fire and several sailors were killed or wounded, so we also had an LCM constantly patrolling the river banks on either side, 24/7.

We supported (refuel and re-arm) two choppers at a time, plus an array of PBR's, LCMs and other watercraft. Sometimes we would take a Boston Whaler 50 miles up the Vinh The canal to the forward support base to repair radios and radars on station so the boats could keep operating.

Interesting time for a 21-year-old.

 

[RinconRyder]

This was my home for almost a year - YRBM-20 near Chau Doc, on the Bassac River, a tributary of the Mekong. I ran the electronics shop and was one of the senior NCO's on board so stood watch at the 'bridge' as OOD. The greatest threat to the barge was IEDs hidden in flotsam on the river, so the OOD and roving guard would shoot at any large piece of debris (usually branches and other foliage) coming down river toward us, using M-16 and Colt 45 mostly. Got pretty good at it.

During the monsoon season, which lasted several weeks, there was a constant stream of flotsam coming downriver so I got a lot of practice. Didn't blow up any IEDs, but it was a great excuse for hours of target practice. Before I was sent out to the YRBM-20, during the Tet offensive, the barge had come under intense rocket fire and several sailors were killed or wounded, so we also had an LCM constantly patrolling the river banks on either side, 24/7.

We supported (refuel and re-arm) two choppers at a time, plus an array of PBR's, LCMs and other watercraft. Sometimes we would take a Boston Whaler 50 miles up the Vinh The canal to the forward support base to repair radios and radars on station so the boats could keep operating.

Interesting time for a 21-year-old.

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Very dangerous duty! I was out of there by spring of '66 so missed much of the riverene fun happening later.

 

[ARtraveler]

Thank you for your service. And thank you for the pictures. :firstplace::firstplace:

 

[LeftCoast]

Thank you for your service. And thank you for the pictures. :firstplace::firstplace:

Ditto this. I can’t imagine what that was like at 21.

 

[RinconRyder]

Got any pics of duty stations?

My only duty station was USS Orleck, a destroyer. We traveled up and down the coast providing rescue duty for the various aircraft carriers, shore bombardment supporting the marines and army troops ashore and interdiction of enemy smuggling operations.

First photo is me showing off my short timer chain in Subic. Next one is in my favorite hangout in Yokosuka - the San Diego Bar. Both taken in 1965. I've got some more photos but they are on paper in an album. I'll have to scan them and put them in a digital folder.

https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=uss+orleck+firing&fr=chr-greentree_ff&imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vetfriends.com%2Fmilitarypics%2Fimages%2Flarge%2F1648092-USS-ORLECK-DD886-Wallace--23945.jpg#id=0&iurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vetfriends.com%2Fmilitarypics%2Fimages%2Flarge%2F1648092-USS-ORLECK-DD886-Wallace--23945.jpg&action=click

Fired over 10,000 rounds of 5"38 during my time aboard. I reported aboard the ship when it was in Long Beach undergoing FRAM in 1963 and was aboard for 3 years during which time I went from an RMSN to an RM2.

I got unofficial TAD to a marine company in 1965 when I was left behind as my ship pulled out unexpectedly. Spent six weeks with them in and around Danang. I packed a PRC-10 around the jungle when the marines went out on patrol and learned later that radiomen and corpsmen (medics) were the primary targets of snipers. That PRC-10 saved my ass twice: once when I got hit in the battery pack with AK-37 rounds and a second time when a shell landed on the engine of my whaleboat. Damned thing liked to drown me when I landed in the water because the webbing got wet and was very difficult to get loose. With two battery packs that radio weighed about half what I did way back then. I bought an Instamatic camera while in Danang and took some photos while with the marines but my pack was lost when the whale boat was hit.

We'll have to get together one day and swap some sea stories.

 

[Joe T.]

UP,

Thank you for your service.

Joe T.

 

[Snowbelt Spyder]

Just one of my duty stations. One of the "41 For Freedom". It's a lawn ornament now, in Port Canaveral Florida, after running aground in the Irish Sea. Too expensive to fix, plus it was going to be decommissioned due to the Salt II treaty anyway.

 

[UtahPete]

Just one of my duty stations. One of the "41 For Freedom". It's a lawn ornament now, in Port Canaveral Florida, after running aground in the Irish Sea. Too expensive to fix, plus it was going to be decommissioned due to the Salt II treaty anyway.

Run silent, run deep (except in the Irish Sea!). Thank you for your service!

 

[RinconRyder]

Great stories. We repaired many a PRC-21 for the boat crews.
After I got out, my recurring nightmare was to wake up and discover I was 'MSM' ... missing ship's movement. After college, my recurring nightmare was waking up to realize I'd overslept and missed the final exam. I know, no comparison right, but who can account for the subconscious mind.

I've also had that MSM dream a time or two.

There were four sailors and five marines on the whaleboat. We lost one sailor and four marines. I was the only RM aboard but the rest of the guys were also put to work by the navy installations in Danang while we were ashore. Gave me a new respect for Marines which I passed along to my middle son who spent 8 years in the Corps. The other three sailors took a Willy Fud out to a birdfarm and highlined back aboard the ship. I was in the field and missed the trip which was good because they all got dunked highlining. Got a new set of dungo's and clodbusters out of the deal. Still got my Aussie hat from that adventure which the captain noted when I reported aboard but he didn't take it away from me.

There was a Marine there who carried some sort of shotgun. It was short barreled and had a magazine. His dad sent it to him and also sent "care" packages with rounds every so often. That thing would take all the leaves off trees.

While I was there I slept with the company in one of their big hootches and remember the smell well. When my marine son was sent out to 29 Palms in SoCal for some training his company was in that same type of tent and I told him I could never forget that smell. He just laughed and said some things never change.

And speaking of MSM....after I got out I went home to Marin County, CA and several months later the ship returned to the States. They made a Navy Week visit to S.F. and I met up with one of my RM buddies who was still aboard. We had a great visit but he apparently didn't know exactly when the ship was to depart. I drove him down to Treasure Island and got there just as the ship singled up all lines. He tossed his ditty bag onto the fantail and shimmied across that hawser like a wharf rat just as the ship began to back away. He was also the guy who came back to the ship three sheets to the wind one night, got sick and hurled his dental plate into the crapper. He scrambled up on deck and peered over the side and there it came. He was about to jump into the water to grab his plate until I convinced him the navy would replace it and that water was very cold and dirty and he wouldn't want to put it back in his mouth.

Got many more stories. Makes me want to re-up......almost.

 

[UtahPete]

I've also had that MSM dream a time or two.

There were four sailors and five marines on the whaleboat. We lost one sailor and four marines. I was the only RM aboard but the rest of the guys were also put to work by the navy installations in Danang while we were ashore. Gave me a new respect for Marines which I passed along to my middle son who spent 8 years in the Corps. The other three sailors took a Willy Fud out to a birdfarm and highlined back aboard the ship. I was in the field and missed the trip which was good because they all got dunked highlining. Got a new set of dungo's and clodbusters out of the deal. Still got my Aussie hat from that adventure which the captain noted when I reported aboard but he didn't take it away from me.

There was a Marine there who carried some sort of shotgun. It was short barreled and had a magazine. His dad sent it to him and also sent "care" packages with rounds every so often. That thing would take all the leaves off trees.

While I was there I slept with the company in one of their big hootches and remember the smell well. When my marine son was sent out to 29 Palms in SoCal for some training his company was in that same type of tent and I told him I could never forget that smell. He just laughed and said some things never change.

And speaking of MSM....after I got out I went home to Marin County, CA and several months later the ship returned to the States. They made a Navy Week visit to S.F. and I met up with one of my RM buddies who was still aboard. We had a great visit but he apparently didn't know exactly when the ship was to depart. I drove him down to Treasure Island and got there just as the ship singled up all lines. He tossed his ditty bag onto the fantail and shimmied across that hawser like a wharf rat just as the ship began to back away. He was also the guy who came back to the ship three sheets to the wind one night, got sick and hurled his dental plate into the crapper. He scrambled up on deck and peered over the side and there it came. He was about to jump into the water to grab his plate until I convinced him the navy would replace it and that water was very cold and dirty and he wouldn't want to put it back in his mouth.

Got many more stories. Makes me want to re-up......almost.

Too funny! We had a contingent of Marines aboard the Long Beach and Bainbridge, both nuclear missile carrying ships. When they had a nuclear intrusion drill, you didn't want to be caught in the passageways because they thoroughly enjoyed knocking the swabs out of their way. Later, I was MAA and had to visit the brig now and then to make sure the Marines weren't abusing the swabbies. They were just kids - the Marines and the swabbies - doing their jobs the best they could - probably only 2 years or less out of high school.

 

[johnsimion]

With all that service to our country, doesn't it just warm your heart to be called unpatriotic and a "so-called" veteran over stuff as inconsequential as mere politics? And to hear that from people who didn't serve a single day. Well, I for one say actions speak louder than words. We served to protect their right to say disgusting crap, whether they appreciate it or not. I say thank you to you and all who served, and especially those who served in dangerous places. I served my own time in the military but my service can't hold a candle to yours or that of the other posters in this thread ... I was in safe places in the "Chair Force."

 

[Grandpot]

With all that service to our country, doesn't it just warm your heart to be called unpatriotic and a "so-called" veteran over stuff as inconsequential as mere politics? And to hear that from people who didn't serve a single day. Well, I for one say actions speak louder than words. We served to protect their right to say disgusting crap, whether they appreciate it or not. I say thank you to you and all who served, and especially those who served in dangerous places. I served my own time in the military but my service can't hold a candle to yours or that of the other posters in this thread ... I was in safe places in the "Chair Force."

When you are in the military, there is no safe place. You did your part.

 

[LeftCoast]

With all that service to our country, doesn't it just warm your heart to be called unpatriotic and a "so-called" veteran over stuff as inconsequential as mere politics? And to hear that from people who didn't serve a single day. Well, I for one say actions speak louder than words. We served to protect their right to say disgusting crap, whether they appreciate it or not. I say thank you to you and all who served, and especially those who served in dangerous places. I served my own time in the military but my service can't hold a candle to yours or that of the other posters in this thread ... I was in safe places in the "Chair Force."

This is one area no matter what your politics that I will always be greatful for your service and “unpatriotic” isn’t even a thought to be considered. You all deserve my respect for your service, men and women.

 

[UtahPete]

World's first nuclear-powered task force

The USS Bainbridge, USS Long Beach and USS Enterprise were the first 3 nuclear-powered surface ships in the US Navy. This picture is of the three as they made their around the world cruise (without refueling) in 1964. The advantage of nuclear powered ships is their unlimited range at full speed (conventional ships burn too much fuel to sustain top speed for long).

I had the honor of serving on two of them; the Bainbridge and the Long Beach. I was trained as a radar technician and as a nuclear reactor operator and sent to Subic Bay (Philippines) to join the USS Bainbridge in 1966. At that time, she was on station in the Tonkin Gulf, so I boarded an oiler which met up with the fleet and I was hi-lined aboard the Bainbridge as the two ships steamed side-by-side. Pretty exciting at the time. It was while in the Tonkin Gulf that the USS Long Beach used its powerful fixed-array radar to detect and track two MIGs leaving an air base in North Vietnam and traveling at low altitude through a coastal valley; when they popped up over the coastal mountain range to attack our fleet, the Long Beach had two Talos missiles waiting for them. The dots disappeared from the radar.

I was on board the USS Long Beach in 1974 (I think) when we had to cut short our visit to Australia and steam north at top speed. We were to intercept the Russian fleet that was conducting exercises in the Bering Sea. The Long Beach carried some of the most sophisticated electronic surveillance and radar available at that time, plus had tremendous speed and long-range capability. As we left the South Pacific and steamed north, the ocean and air got noticeably colder and we had to break out our woolen blues and blankets from sea lockers. When we arrived on station, the seas were running 80-100 feet and the Russians had canceled their exercises, so we were ordered back to the South Pacific. That meant doing a 180 in a fierce northern storm, which meant at some point being broadside to those waves. We had two hours to prepare; everything loose was secured, both on the weather decks and below decks and then we began our turn. I had managed to secure a vantage point high in the superstructure to witness this rare occurrence. It was pretty exciting; as we turned into the waves, our 300-foot bow buried itself as the wave roared toward us. Then, the bow attained positive buoyancy and shed a tremendous amount of sea water as it shuddered through and over the wave. As we continued our turn, broadside to the waves, the ship leaned over 30 degrees off vertical, finally righted itself and then we ran at top speed before the waves. Beat anything Seven Flags has to offer!

These are stock photos - I'll dig through my old photos and slides and post some of my own once I get them scanned.
Nuclear-powered task force in 1964 round-the-world cruise; USS Bainbridge is the smallest one (top of picture). All run in excess of 30 knots. The Enterprise was fastest, reputed at over 40 knots. When it had the disastrous fire in 1969, the Enterprise was on station in the Tonkin Gulf; it headed at top speed for Subic Bay and outran all its escort vessels in getting there.
Talos missile launchers similar to those on the USS Long Beach that shot down 2 MIGs over North Vietnam.

The USS Long Beach launching Terrier missile.

 

[Saluda]

Thanks to all our vets.

 

[johnsimion]

When you are in the military, there is no safe place. You did your part.

As a JAG, I wrote a lot of wills for guys getting deployed. Sure hope none of them were ever needed.

 

[RinconRyder]

It was pretty exciting; as we turned into the waves, our 300-foot bow buried itself as the wave roared toward us. Then, the bow attained positive buoyancy and shed a tremendous amount of sea water as it shuddered through and over the wave. As we continued our turn, broadside to the waves, the ship leaned over 30 degrees off vertical, finally righted itself and then we ran at top speed before the waves.

30 degrees......HA! FRAM'd Gearing DD's tended to be top heavy due to the ASROC and DASH equipment on the 01 level. Their capsize point is right around 60 degrees. Orleck did two that were pretty close - one at 58 degrees as we raced away from a typhoon off Hong Kong. Had a bunch of senior sailors heading for the ladders on that one. Had to travel slowly as the shafts would vibrate violently when the props came out of the water when we were overtaken by huge rollers. I think the snipes spent the night hammering in replacement packing to keep the shafts from leaking.

 

[UtahPete]

30 degrees......HA! FRAM'd Gearing DD's tended to be top heavy due to the ASROC and DASH equipment on the 01 level. Their capsize point is right around 60 degrees. Orleck did two that were pretty close - one at 58 degrees as we raced away from a typhoon off Hong Kong. Had a bunch of senior sailors heading for the ladders on that one. Had to travel slowly as the shafts would vibrate violently when the props came out of the water when we were overtaken by huge rollers. I think the snipes spent the night hammering in replacement packing to keep the shafts from leaking.

I knew I was being conservative, but didn't want to over-dramatize and I honestly didn't remember exactly. I'm pretty sure it was more like 45 degrees now that you've brought that up. Our two heavy reactors provided a lot of ballast, but the square, flat superstructure that accommodated the fixed array radar also caught the wind pretty well.

The tin can sailors have my utmost respect; our ship would have been a luxury cruise compared to those living and operating conditions.

 

[UtahPete]

Just one of my duty stations. One of the "41 For Freedom". It's a lawn ornament now, in Port Canaveral Florida, after running aground in the Irish Sea. Too expensive to fix, plus it was going to be decommissioned due to the Salt II treaty anyway.

That was the USS Nathanael Greene SSBN-636, one of the Freedom 41 nuclear-powered ballistic missile armed submarines. They were designed, built and operated to act as a deterrent to Soviet aggression in the early years of the Cold War. You must be proud to have served on her.

 

[RinconRyder]

I knew I was being conservative, but didn't want to over-dramatize and I honestly didn't remember exactly. I'm pretty sure it was more like 45 degrees now that you've brought that up. Our four heavy reactors provided a lot of ballast, but the square, flat superstructure that accommodated the fixed array radar also caught the wind pretty well.

The tin can sailors have my utmost respect; our ship would have been a luxury cruise compared to those living and operating conditions.
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Great pics! I had not seen the FRAM version before but think it was after I had left the ship in '66. You can see quite the comparison between pre-FRAM and post-FRAM by looking at these two photos. A ton more windage and weight topside on the FRAM cans. DD's were definitely an E-ticket ride. Now destroyers are the size of WWII cruisers (12,000 tons). Orleck was 2,200 tons.

BTW, Orleck is one of 3 or 4 museum ships still afloat around the nation. She is tied up in the river in Lake Charles, LA not far from her birthplace in Orange, TX. Worth visiting if you travel that way.