From: “Striking Eight Bells: A Vietnam Memoir.” “Another story on what most Americans don’t know about the Navy’s role in the Vietnam War?” My ship, the USS Rich (DD 820), was on deployment from our home-port of Norfolk, Virginia to the Western Pacific (WESTPAC). We had originally been assigned to the gun line just south … Continue reading Cua Viet River and the DMZ
Category: Navy Destroyer Operations in Vietnam
Operations with CTU 71.1.1.
Excerpts From: “Striking Eight Bells: A Vietnam Memoir.” “Another story on what most Americans don’t know about the Navy’s role in the Vietnam War?” Many Americans probably believed that by 1972, the war in Vietnam was essentially winding down. However, for the U.S. Navy in Vietnam, 1972 would prove to be a busy year of … Continue reading Operations with CTU 71.1.1.
Final Summer for USS Warrington.
Expanded story from “Striking Eight Bells: A Vietnam Memoir.” USS Warrington, Her Final Fate. A Stark Reminder of What Could Happen! “Another story about the Navy’s role in the Vietnam War?” Many Americans probably believed that by 1972, the war in Vietnam was essentially winding down. However, for the U.S. Navy in Vietnam, 1972 would prove … Continue reading Final Summer for USS Warrington.
Passage to Vietnam in 1972
Excerpts From: “Striking Eight Bells: A Vietnam Memoir.” October 1972. Atlantic Fleet Navy destroyers deployed to Vietnam in time to take part in combat operations during the Vietnam Cease Fire Campaign 1972-1973. On the morning of October 17, 1972, my ship USS Rich (DD 820) departed our homeport in Norfolk, Virginia beginning the long passage to … Continue reading Passage to Vietnam in 1972
NGFS at MR1
Excerpt From “Striking Eight Bells: A Vietnam Memoir.” “Another story on what most Americans don’t know about the Navy’s role in the Vietnam War?” Many Americans probably believed that by 1972, the war in Vietnam was essentially winding down. However, for the U.S. Navy in Vietnam, 1972 would prove to be a busy year of … Continue reading NGFS at MR1
“This is Blackbeard.”
Expanded story from: “Striking Eight Bells: A Vietnam Memoir.” “Another story on what most Americans don’t know about the Navy’s role in the Vietnam War?” Many Americans probably believed that by 1972, the war in Vietnam was essentially winding down. However, for the U.S. Navy in Vietnam, 1972 would prove to be a busy year … Continue reading “This is Blackbeard.”
“Linebacker II at Hon La”
Excerpts From “Striking Eight Bells: A Vietnam Memoir.” "Hit and Run at Hon La." It was December 2, 1972. Our ship USS Rich (DD 820) was attached to the Commander Task Unit (CTU) 71.1.1, embarked on board USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG 7). CTU 71.1.1 was made up of our ship, USS Wilson (DDG 7) and … Continue reading “Linebacker II at Hon La”
On the Vietnam gun line.
Excerpts From “Striking Eight Bells: A Vietnam Memoir.” "Reality of life in Vietnam hits." Just off the coast of Quang Tri Province in the area of MR1, but very close to the DMZ, was a gun line position designated as, “Point Allison.” Naval gunfire in South Vietnam was under the control of the U.S. Marine … Continue reading On the Vietnam gun line.
Bound for Vietnam
Excerpts From: “Striking Eight Bells: A Vietnam Memoir.” “Transit to Vietnam via the Panama Canal in 1972.” The week after our ship USS Rich (DD 820) returned to Norfolk from six weeks of Refresher Training (REFTRA) in Guantanamo Bay (GITMO) preparations began for the deployment to the Western Pacific (WESPAC) and Vietnam, with a departure … Continue reading Bound for Vietnam
TU 71.1.1 – “The Battle of Brandon Bay.”
Expanded story from: “Striking Eight Bells: A Vietnam Memoir.” “Another story on what most Americans don’t know about the Navy’s role in the Vietnam War.” Attack on Vinh by Task Unit 71.1.1 On 11 January 1973, another combat action occurred involving USS Cochrane (DDG 21), USS McCaffery (DD 860), and USS Turner Joy (DD 951) … Continue reading TU 71.1.1 – “The Battle of Brandon Bay.”
Striking Eight Bells: A Vietnam Memoir 