I served on the Koelsch from 1974 to 1978.

One of the first to stay at the base previously had been living on a transport worked with the Seabees chb 2 even before Naval support activity was formed it was crazy we offloaded 500 lb bombs for the air base downtown by the museum we still use greenbacks it was a while before they came out with funny money

The only person you could record was a grouchy old guy that wanted to bitch about his service?????

Tales of a "LIFER" should be, I was EM3 77'-80' LY Spear, R-3 division Submarine repair. got to run a shop as a LPO in 79'. 92-A. then , got NOS to CV-67 JFK & deployed out of shipyard, Norfolk to Med. Feb.80' -Jan 81 '

I was also there January 1968

I really wanted to listen and watch this video but the sound quality was so poor I couldn’t understand what he was saying. I wear hearing aids that connect to my phone but I couldn’t understand him so I changed to my AirPods because they sometimes solves the problem but it didn’t. I don ’t know if it was just me or ifit was your problem.

I served aboard the Hammerin' Hank from 1969 to October 1974. Made two WestPac cruises to Vietnam in 71 an 72. Greatest crew ever.

ARNF Thankyou America

I served aboard the U.S.S. Amphion AR-13 for 18 months just prior to my discharge in December 1964

The CO of Belknap was my CO aboard a 542 Class LST in 1959-60 and taught me a valuable lesson as OOD. (I was a fresh Ensign) He quizzed me about the courses "down the chute'' in San Diego. Needless to say, I knew them the next time I had the Con " heading to the barn." I was shocked when I heard about the Belknap\Kennedy tragedy. I felt he was firm and fair.

I was on board from 81 to 85, I thought she was a great ship..!!

I remember this event… being on the Saratoga, we had to modify our flight deck edge lights after this. I had a friend who was an electrician on the Kennedy…. We would talk about that from time to time.

My grandfather was on the Otterstetter during WWII, I don’t know exactly when

Hello shipmate. I servedaboard the Gus Boat Uss Conyngham DDG 17 from 1984 to 1887 as a Gunners Mate Missilemen. Love that old boat. Arrived when she was in Philly during an overhaul.

if you want a good interview why not ask someone who was actually there in harms way one of the flying squad members you might get alittle more

I was there when the first explosion happened, I was evacuee #15...the last casualty flown off the ship by HS-12 with 2 others. Thats not completely accurate on what happened. I had just left the 4th deck to the 3rd deck berthing above to change out my OBA canister that had been depleted just seconds before the first explosion ripped through the ship.

Was on this ship, 1969-1971. Hank, Tommy, myself. Troublemakers.

This just came up on my You Tube feed today. I was onboard during the same time and I remember you. I served in Admin and look back on those times as hard but worth it like every sailor who gave it their all. Thanks for sharing your story and cheers.

Hey Kevin, I was known as RMSN Bryan (Bruce) on the Kinkaid from 78-80. I do remember the good times we had and I thought doing the shellback initiation in 78 was fun as a pollywog. And then becoming a Golden Dragon before I got off the ship when we crossed the date line and equaitor. I deffinately had fond memories of my time in the Navy, thanks for your video and time and service!

The USS Sterett DLG-31 which I was a crew member of received Navy Unit Commendation Medal and Combat Action Ribbon for the Battle of Dong Hoi on 4-19-72! This was the first time North Vietnamese Migs came out after US Navy Ships! This coincided with the Communist Easter Offensive in 1972 on land which was beaten back!

I was a Signalman 3rd Class on USS Sterett DLG-31 during the battle of Dong Hoi! My station was on the highest manned deck of the USS Sterett! Had a great view of most of what occurred during that battle! We were part of a Naval Gunfire Support Group led by USS Oklahoma City a Cruiser, we were a Guided Missile Destroyer DLG-31, also with the group was a DD USS Lloyd Thomas and another DD USS Higbee! The Sterett was there to watch for air attacks on the 3 other ships that were doing shore bombardment as we had Terrier Guide Missile launchers to protect against MIGs! After the bombardment of the land we were all pulling away and a Mig came out! It dropped a bomb on Higbee resulting in an explosion in the Aft 5" Gun Mount as said above luckily no one was killed but some were injured who were working in the emptied mount! A Terrier was fired at it by us but do to how close it was the Terrier system could not lock on it! A second Terrier was then launched and blew up the Mig which we could see visually from the Sterett! A second Mig came out but turned around and went back to shore a Terrier was fired at it and as it disappeared into the Mountains the Missile and the Mig disappeared off the radar screens so it was thought to have been blown up also! The 4 ships then were leaving the area with OK City and the Thomas providing assistance to Higbee! At that time a Couple of Patrol Boats were picked up on radar moving at a fast pace towards us! The Steretts 5" 50 Gun Mounts open fired and the radar blips disappeared again showing they had been destroyed but a Styx Missile was believed to have been fired by one of the Patrol Boats and headed in our direction it was picked up on radar and another Terrier Missile was fired at it and it to disappeared along with our Terrier Missile ! Some so-called experts believe some of the radar blips were caused by other things then what I mentioned here! But we were there they were not! The North Vietnamese say both Migs returned safely to base which I believe from what we saw that day was just your usual communist propaganda! Thanks for Mr. Webbs version of events from a different vantage in CIC manning the Radar! When we all got back to the Subic Bay in the Philippines we couldn't buy a beer if Higbee Sailors were around!

I was a Signalman SM2 on Destroyers in the 60's. 12 on 12 off watches. It sucked. If GQ sounded during your time off you were SOL.

I was drafted in my senior year of high school Was at NTC from Aug72 to Sept 72 bootcamp company 163( Honorcompany.) Bootcamp was 7weeks Needed bodies for Vietnam A school 32nd street USS Dixie AD 14 DT3 Wilson

My dad and his twin brother were aboard when the forward gunmount was struck. My uncle had just left that gunmount a few minutes before it was hit and my dad was on the bridge.

Good/bad but memorial. The RMs were great people.

Good old yo yo!!

I was on the same cruise in 76. I remember we lost that tomcat because I was up on the flight deck and watch the whole thing and then we had a collision with The destroyer. That was a rough day. Then we went to Edinburgh, Wilhelms, Haven, Germany, Portsmouth, England, then breast France then we went home. It was like a three month cruise. I believe it was a NATO cruise.

My dad was a corpsman was on this ship during the Vietnam War in 1967. His name was Jack Nizamian

I was an MM aboard the mighty USS Henderson DD 785. We served on the gun line and plane guarding for carriers etc. in '72 & 'early '73. As an enlisted guy we used to <ahem> "borrow" the occasional cherry pie from the officers bakery pantry that just happened to be located on the port side of the main passageway up near the front. Fun times but I still think those were left there for the pilfering. Our Captain always managed to score a huge batch of steaks in foreign ports for those days we ran holiday routine. The cookout was was up forward on the area where the elevated second forward mount used to be. Those were glorious days. Only had to stand our two four hour watches and no workday PMS work. We all liked our Captain, he really looked out for us.

Welcome home Lt. Thank you for your service and time in the Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club!

Miss the Midway. 83-85

I taught with him in Paoli! He was a bright, shining star!

I was V-4

OYYY MOYY YOHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

OYYY MOYY YOGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!

OYYY MOYY YOKKHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

OYYY MOYY YOKK!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was a corpsman for this casualty. Most of the medevacs went off on prop planes. Our entire department spent the next day after the casualty was cleared on our hands and knees in 10 inches of water and filth looking for parts of the firemen lost in the fire.

I was a corpsman on duty in Medical when this happened. Most of our Division was at lunch but word of mouth spread so fast that we had a mass casualty response on the main mess deck within minutes. I remember pulling flash gloves off of a fireman so I could start IVs and most of his skin came with them.

I worked in 1st division with a BM2 who served on the Belknap. It's odd the Navy would double or triple down on aluminum ships.

Gary I don't know if you will remember me but I was on the YFU 58 with you as well I had forgotten the time on the boat until my grandson was doing a school paper on Vietnam and had me describe my time on the YFU 58 I saw the picture of you as a young man and recoganized you right away and the stories you told of us over there were spot on. I just wanted to say thank you for talking about our adventure. Glenn Stickney

Hello Mr Ward I too was on the YFU 58 from 1969 to 1970 and the times you mentioned were exactly as I had experienced as well thank you for publishing these pictures etc Glenn Stickney navy reserve E-3

You served with my late father Frank "the tank" Wakefield

James Norman Cutler served on USS Topeka CLG 8 passed away Nov 2023 from a hit and run, he was 82 years old.

I'd like to report an assault,... by the music at the end of this video

My Dad served on 3 APA's. Pickaway, George Clymer, and Henrico. '45-'65. Chief Radioman. Thomas Chisnell.

I was working on the flight deck when this crash occurred (VF-84). The only 'Machinist Mates' allowed on the 'roof' during flight ops were of the aviation variety (AD). While all hands were affected by this incident, interviews would have been better served by those who witnessed what happened before, during and after. RIP Alberto Colon and all my other shipmates.

I ate to aboard ship on night to lolll.....

I served on the Fulton 17a sheetmetal shop. 79 through 81 fine old ship!

Howdy YN3 Dale Dickerson aboard Epperson same time as you!