From "Striking Eight Bells: A Vietnam Memoir." “Bound for Vietnam and the Western Pacific Typhoon.” “Another story on what most Americans don’t know about the Navy’s role in the Vietnam War.” My ship’s passage, USS Rich (DD 820) from Norfolk, Virginia to Vietnam was making progress as we arrived early morning in Apra Harbor, Guam … Continue reading Big Ass Waves and Green Water →

From "Striking Eight Bells: A Vietnam Memoir." “A story on what most Americans don’t know about the Navy’s role in the Vietnam War.” During early December 1972, my ship USS Rich (DD 820) had spent the previous five days attached to Commander Task Unit (CTU) 71.1.1 comprised of three ships, the USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG … Continue reading Some Relief at Watch Condition II →

Excerpts From: “Striking Eight Bells: A Vietnam Memoir.” A story about Navy destroyers being deployed from the U.S. Second Fleet, bound for Vietnam in 1972. My ship’s passage, USS Rich (DD 820) from Norfolk, Virginia to Vietnam was making progress, after our day spent transiting the Panama Canal our ship would be back underway the … Continue reading From the Panama Canal to Pearl Harbor. →

Excerpts from: "Striking Eight Bells: A Vietnam Memoir. U.S. Navy Atlantic Fleet destroyers make the long passage to Vietnam during late 1972. On November 15, after refueling the ship in Apra Harbor, Guam, USS Rich (DD 820) got underway at 1400 that afternoon and steamed back out to sea. Once the ship was in open … Continue reading Passage from Guam to Subic Bay →

Excerpts From: “Striking Eight Bells: A Vietnam Memoir.” A story about Navy destroyers being deployed from the U.S. Second Fleet, bound for Vietnam in 1972. My ship’s passage, USS Rich (DD 820) from Norfolk, Virginia to Vietnam was making progress as we arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. During the early morning hours of November 3, … Continue reading Stopover at Midway →