Destroyers In The Vietnam War

Go to militaryvideo.... to purchase the entire 65 minutes. This video provides an overview of the role played by destroyers and their sailors during the Vietnam War. Includes excellent scenes shot above and below deck depicting day-to-day activities while off the coast of Vietnam. There are scenes of sailors performing numerous duties such as loading and firing the 5-inch guns and performing routine maintenance throughout the ships. There are excellent aerial views of destroyers operating in open seas. The video includes numerous scenes of sailors working at various stations - engine room, sonar, plotting, etc. and tending to the wounded.

[@johnkies5343]

Served on USS Hollister DD-788 AND USS Halsey DLG-23 during the 1960's. 4 WesPac tours with multiple gun support missions and we also picked up pilots who made to South China Sea. Twice we picked up wounded and dead from helicopters who were shot-up. Proud to have had the opportunity to serve. BZ!

[@usmc9127]

Good stuff. I did two tours. 67-68 and 68-69. USS Richard S. Edwards, DD 950. And, here it comes, USS New Jersey. BB 62. Very proud !!!

[@robertschaeffer5861]

Jersey gave my unit fire support in I corp 68/69 Pin point accuracy...27 miles...

[@dogsense3773]

Edward 1973 77

[@edwardpate6128]

I was in from 80-86 and spent 81-85 on USS Preble DDG-46. Brings back a lot of memories doing NGFS support in Lebanon in 1983.

[@rp9035]

DDG-13. 75-78. The only hazardous duty I seen was in Olangapo.

[@williamrlujan4955]

Lol

[@francisbusa1074]

Unusual story: My wife and I moved to Long Beach in August '67 right after being married. My ship, USS Gridley DLG 21, was in drydock after a Westpac cruise. Before deploying to Westpac in Feb '68, my wife expressed worry for my safety. A neighbor who was on a destroyer assured her that I would be in the safest place in the war zone, i.e., on a ship. Four years later his ship was attacked by a Mig 17, and took a bomb hit on its after 5" gun mount (which fortunately was unmanned), as well as a damaging near miss close aboard. Four crewmen were injured and the vessel sustained significant damage. His ship: USS Higbee DD 806, shown in the beginning of this video. Other naval personnel on other ships also sustained injuries in combat with enemy forces ashore, as well as fatalities. Being in a war zone is never something to take lightly. Anything can happen at anytime.

[@timshea1599]

Francis Busa I was onboard the Oklahoma City when the Higbee was attacked, we also was attacked but only suffered minor damage.

[@lionelburns6317]

@@timshea1599 The OK city? You mean the 'love boat'?

[@AdamosDad]

I was there. I liked the guy standing shark watch while they swam.

[@louismartinez7040]

Its interesting to see that the Navy had a bigger role than I had previously heard about. I only heard of naval air power, so I had no idea the US Navy also used its surface fleet for more things. It's more than I am used to since the ground war is covered more intimately.

[@testaklese]

They even brought back a couple of Iowas for Vietnam. A couple of my favorite Vietnam anecdotes are something about how NJ "sank an island" and a story from a marine who radioed for support after finding a fortified enemy position. Supposedly, they gave the enemy coordinates expecting mortar fire or air support but got a response confirming the enemy position and telling them that shells were in bound and to move 1000m back. Not sure what kind of weapon would require them to move 1000m away, he asked them to confirm "1000m?" and the other end confirmed and identified as one of the Iowas (I have crap memory and I read this ages ago, so I can't remember which one). Then, while running like hell, they could *feel* the shells flying overhead and and the ground shook violently as the enemies (and a massive area around them) were completely annihilated from miles away. He then said something about a new found respect for the navy boys after that lol

[@flubesmith3751]

USS Benjamin Stoddert DDG-22 (1972) Mount 51 blew up, killing four shipmates. Another day a NVA 155mm shell put an 8 foot hole in our port side right over the ship's number. Yet again, 3 Styx missiles were shot at us April 17/18, 1972 off of Vinh the day before Dong Hoi, as noted in the ship's log. One just missed the gun director.

[@davidsoule1252]

I was an FTG aboard USS Joseph Strauss DDG-16 during 1970 and 1972 deployments. I later served aboard Benjamin Stoddert, 75-78. 72 was scary after the Easter Offensive started. Strauss was along Stoddert on many occasions in 72. On June 4 while making a run on targets in North Vietnam, a huge underwater explosion picked up the front 1/3 of Strauss, then the ship slammed back down into the water. Strauss lost fire in the boilers and was disabled and dead in the water. While dead in the water, there was another huge underwater explosion off the port side. Strauss rolled to starboard about 40 degrees before uprighting. Strauss was towed farther out to sea by another destroyer. Boilers were relit and the engines refired. Strauss remained on station. Divers went into the water in the morning and found no major structural damage. USS Warrington and USS Hollister also had a couple of underwater explosions in the same area. A later investigation determined that these were mislayed MK 36 U.S. mines.

[@foots-qt4pk]

My dad was a gunners mate on the Stoddert back in the day. He retired in 1970 after 28 years or so.

[@markheiligenthal1280]

I served on DD 807, DD 806, and DD 725. Also a year at deep water piers.

[@robrtash3812]

US Strauss DDG 16, 66-70. 4 west pacs and thousands of rounds of 5". A great ship and crew.

[@lionelburns6317]

DESON 3, Higbee DD 806, 64-66. Orleck and Leonard Mason too. J. Strauss must have been luxurious duty.

[@lionelburns6317]

@@SSN515 And here all along I thought the Strauss was a Forest Sherman class. I guess to me and all my shipmates anything newer than a Gearing with a hurricane bow was all the same. When were in the yards at Yoke they installed Carrier AC units in the aft berthing compartments that only worked in port or when it was freaking cold at sea!

[@jillybeenerw1165]

My Dads ships USS Agerholm 828 55-58 USS Mullany 528 62-64 USS Boyd 544 64 - 65 USS Preble Dlg-15 65-68 USS Cleveland LPD - 7 75-79 Retired 79 Proud Retired Korea and VN Vet

[@francisbusa1074]

My friend, Bob Gimlin (yes him), served aboard Agerholm during the Korean war, and remembers the gun duels they had with the North Koreans.

[@ronbooth8467]

Brings it all home. I was on USS Fechteler DD870 a clone of the Higbeen shown in this video. Yes guys were killed & wounded on the blue water navy ships.

[@jimshelton3448]

My father was Corpsman on the Fechteler, you may have known him.

[@bobellis2026]

I served on the destroyer USS FLOYD B Parks DD-884

[@lionelburns6317]

Higbee, '64-'66. Must have been later and some heavy NGFS because we seldom ever fired both 5" guns, one mount simultaneously. Also, has to be a different ship because we never let the spud coxswain out of the spud locker! Also must be either a Fletcher or a Allen M Sumner class can because I can see depth charge racks and depth charges just aft of the sailors hosing down the deck. Gearing FRAM's had them removed.

[@dickdale6222]

I was transferred from the aircraft carrier Ticonderoga..to the Higbee... Main engine operator

[@thomasherman3265]

Cheers......from Herman , BT1 on Higbee from Dec. 1959 - June 1964 , FFR . West Pac with Desron 3 Yokosuka from 60 - 62 & 1/2 . Drank a few Asahi & Sapporo , but nuthin' compares with San Magill.... Psst , Psst .😮😂😅

[@thomasherman3265]

3:00 3:00

[@thomasherman3265]

3:00 3:00 3:00 3:00

[@steelcurtainsteeler2249]

I had a friend who was on the Ticonderoga in 69/70, his name was Michael Ross 3rd class PO.

[@domitype]

We repaired a lot of them, also replaced many of their gun barrels on my first ship USS Ajax, AR-6. On my second ship, we sent food and supplies - USS San Jose AFS-7

[@williamrlujan4955]

Wow!! I was a FN (BR Shop 41a) on the USS Ajax AR6 & BT2 on The USS San Jose AFS7

[@francisbusa1074]

There you go Tim. My point. We could have been toast if we had allowed the migs to get inside our minimum missile range. Our ship had no armor whatsoever. Okie City had at least some. But being on a ship in a war zone is not a light thing, nor a guarantee of safety by any means. One doesn't need to be in the rice paddies or in the jungles to get wounded or killed by the enemy. Just ask the Brits in the Falklands War. BTW Tim, thank you for serving. I still remember the Okie City. My dad served aboard the Cleveland class USS Birmingham CL 62 during WW II. THAT cruiser went through hell in the Pacific. Dad was one of nearly 700 aboard who received the Purple Heart during Birmingham's service. He almost didn't make it home.

[@AlaskaBushratJohn-st7sm]

John Weidman SM3 5 Tours Vietnam U.S.S. Ozbourn DD 846...Jan. 1965-1968 U.S.S. Sterett DLG 31...1968-1970

[@lindamattson6281]

Westpacs John, NOT tours, unless you're John Kerry.

[@AlaskaBushratJohn-st7sm]

@@lindamattson6281 excuse me, not sure what you mean?

[@chuckdavis6951]

God Bless your husband..... I Didnt know your husband..but I served on the Higbee....in 74 and 75...the Higbee....was one of the best Destroyers in the fleet during the Vietnam War.... Lady Higbee served massive shore bombardments to Charlie and the N.v.a......Her aft turrent was hit by a missle from a mig during the april offensive in 1972.... What a great ship and a valiant crew.......Hoo yaaaa........Im in the process of getting agent orange claims for Blue water sailors.. I've been fighting the V.A. for over 3 years now... If they o.k. my claim for Agent Orange exposure..... Then I'm going to notify the press...To announce to every blue water sailor that has a disease caused from agent orange...to file a claim...as it stands now.....if you were "In" country".... or in the brown water navy ...you will receive monthly monetary benefits ....But Blue water sailors have not received anything but denials.... stay tuned.... Mame..thank you for your support of us Nam Vets.. God Bless you...

[@braintrusts]

Higbee after mount was hit by a dud 250 lb bomb dropped by a MIG. We served with Higbee in Tonkin Gulf after she got repaired. They removed the after mount and went back to the Gun Line with only the forward mount. See: mylescfoxdd829.net/john_cavallaro.htm at top of page. Thanks for your service and hope your VA claim works out.

[@lindamattson6281]

The Higbee went reserve Dec. 1973. 73 Westpac was the last one.

[@Drfullerable]

On the gun line most of ‘68 on USS Harwood DD-861. Took a NVA 155mm in the aft mount when it was unmanned. Two injured and no deaths. Went to Subic and had replacement installed and back on the line in two weeks.

[@user-nc3pt7zc3c]

Served on DDE-446, DD-745, DD-717 in the 60's. 100pct disabled fm agent orange, also hearing loss fm the fwd 5" Gun Mounts firing. Was a SM2, Signalman. I would do it again.

[@merlemorrison482]

USS Southerland (DD-743) two tours 69~ 70

[@jhnsnzman]

DDG- 20, Uss Goldsborough, 73-75

[@robertschaeffer5861]

Heard youall took a direct hit and lost one man below deck...

[@ctlancearrowlarson8237]

It was around Christmas of '72 when the USS Goldsborough was hit off of Haiphong Harbor. There were three destroyers up in that area at the time. I heard the air burst from the costal defense site we were targeting. After the USS Goldsborough was hit, they pulled us out of the area (USS Floyd B Parks). This was operation Linebacker . I think they lost two sailors that night. Wasn't fun being off North Vietnam, trying to take out a costal defense site.

[@cowboyandhorse7]

Served on board the USS Wadell DDG-24....Gun line, Vietnam, 72-'-73' US Navy, Qua Viet, South of the DMZ, Quang Tri Providence.

[@carlellis3007]

I was in the Edson DD-946 67/8 cruise, we took fire where they shot over the top of us with .57mm and ,76 mm(3 in) I picked up pieces of them off the signal bridge

[@stevengoodman2818]

I served on board the USS Brinkley Bass DD 887 as a Sonar Tech ⚓️Tonkin Gulf 1965-1966

[@davideakin8855]

Steven Goodman, My father, Dennis Eakin served on the DD887 as SK. He was from Iowa. Any chance you remember him?. David Eakin. son

[@grantlinscott]

My grandpa was the Commander of the USS Brinkley Bass, William Ed Lassiter. He just passed away at the age of 91 two years ago.

[@francisbusa1074]

I remember the story of a couple of drunken junior officers (so I was told) that one night in port, crept over the stern to paint out the two "B's" in the ship's name. Can't actually swear it happened though..

[@francisbusa1074]

I remember several of these destroyers from the '60's. We operated with some of 'em.

[@bobellis2026]

I was on the destroyer USS FLOYD B PARKS DD-884, 71 to 73 Boiler man

[@bobcashin4719]

Served aboard USS Taylor DD 468 in Vietnam. Any views of TAYLOR in the video? Lots of Gunline time, Yankee Station, etc.

[@francissqueen]

Served on board USS ROWAN DD-782,74+75.DES RON-15,YoKOSUKA JAPAN.MIDWAY task group when SIAGON fell.

[@matthewrobinson4323]

Da Nang RVN, 1966, HECP, USS John R. Craig DD 885 Westpac 1968. QM 3

[@nowthatsjustducky]

My dad served aboard the John R. Craig after the Erban, and was on board during the April 1972 incident. Then a few months later, he was riding the USS Kirk through the Panama Canal on its way to San Diego for the first time. I need to see if all his old 8mm footage has been digitized yet soon.

[@matthewrobinson4323]

@@nowthatsjustducky I'm sorry I didn't see your reply before this. If you ever did get those films digitalized, I'd like to buy one from you to show my grandkids & great grandkids. Merry Christmas to you & yours.

[@jackw2342]

USS McKean DD - 784... FTG aboard for Vietnam tours in 1968 and 1970

[@oldhendy785]

+Jack W ....Hello shipmate. You were our sister ship. I was aboard the USS Henderson DD-785. 1965-1968.

[@dannyesparza4030]

I'm trying to gather information about my good friend Marlin Lamar White. Duty sta. One of the 5 in. mounts. And shipmates last name Barnhill and Stokes. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[@willieduke5155]

I served on the US Gurkee 783 as a Quartermaster. Racism was evident with few avenues to combat it. I'm glad that race relations and the opportunity to achieve have improved.

[@EarlofChadwick]

Father was on USS Bigelow DD-942

[@porkchop5678]

was on the uss turner joy dd951 1968-70 also on board uss southerland dd743 70-71

[@tonyt1794]

daniel morgan my brother greg Tumbaga was on the southerland same time

[@porkchop5678]

I know him he was one of my best buddies.

[@robertmanssen5261]

USS Turner Joy 1959-1961 RD3

[@billknoop8185]

Served on the USS sarsfield DD 837 1 year red skies at night guys.

[@garandguy101]

My dad was on DD-725 USS Obrien during Vietnam. Is there any footage of that ship on this DVD?

[@oldhendy785]

USS Henderson DD-785 1965-'68. Three West Pacs.

[@georgebardell7459]

I was on the Mac lean DD 784 1973 tell 1978 Home ported pier 91 Seattle after Nam

[@thomasottey854]

Two tours with USS Bainbridge DLG 25 Tonkin Gulf with the Big E.

[@ralphrinaldi8649]

On board DD882 as SM3 Mike Grealy Capt. We were hit by shore fire 1968 get book "school of hard knots" by 1st lt Hank Abernathy tell the whole story.

[@georgesykes394]

The Real Navy!

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

Nice vid man! Thanks for sharing. T.

[@elchristoffersen5009]

USS McKean 64 to 67

[@Mikey-mike]

I was there. Operation Linebacker 1&2

[@johnwright37]

Has anyone seen pictures of the Henry B. Wilson DDG-7 in the Vietnamese waters? I was on board 69-70 and other than my photos I don't see any mention of he in the various videos.

[@pastorart1974]

John Wright I served on DDG-7 from 1971 to June 1972 and can point you to several places. Send me your regular E-Mail address and or phone.

[@francisbusa1074]

I remember Henry B Wilson DDG 7 with us on the way to Pearl from our home port in Long Beach in Feb. '68, enroute to Westpac. I remember her firing her 5"/54 at a weather balloon while in formation with us, USS Gridley DLG 21. Haven't seen many pix of her. Nice looking ship.

[@michaellarsen9518]

HIGBEE sunk alongside Pier 90 in Seattle...true story. terrible condition. 1982

[@ryanmarrs8938]

My late husband [ died 1974] malignant melanoma [ agent orange. He served 2 tours in Vietnam. First tour 1967-68 Uss Vernon County. 2nd tour USS Higbee JAMES David KELLY {Jim } anyone remember Jim ? I would appreciate any info. Thanks ! Kathy

[@jhnsnzman]

Thank you Jim ,for your service,and you, Ryan, for your support, from a fellow dixiecup.

[@49woodie]

Battle of Dong Hoi on DD764 Lloyd Thomas along with Higbee.

[@hassell61]

Me too! Shark watch a getmo Cuba

[@michaellarsen9518]

USS MCKEAN 1982 FTG SDIEGO RM1(SW)

[@ronbooth8467]

BTW,in '72 USS Higbee DD806,the one shown in the opening here(at least) had a 200#bomb dropped on her fantail by a NVA MiG.Google it, lotsa fotos of the damage.

[@lindamattson6281]

It was a 250 kilogram, 500 pound bomb.

[@lionelburns6317]

@@lindamattson6281 You're on top of it Linda, what's your connection?

[@lionelburns6317]

@@lindamattson6281 BTW Linda, I've got a picture of the Higbee tied up in the Napa river starboard side too at Mare Is with a big broad long white band on the port side with black lettering that read "stand clear target ship".

[@49woodie]

DD764 came along side and provided assistance. Mig missed us. Thankfully MT 52 was not manned

[@militaryvideocom]

The full video includes some narration as well as film footage with captions and a music soundtrack.

[@gilbertgarcia8934]

militaryvideocom DD869 USS ARNOLD J ISABELL 1968-1970,OPERATION SEA DRAGON VIET NAM.

[@Dominicaislandmon]

USS Blue DD744...… 69/70

[@militaryvideocom]

Yes, there is film footage of that destroyer on this DVD. For information, call 1-800-277-1977.

[@boywjc4evr]

This is the Higbee homeported S.D.

[@fz10rider26]

USS New DD 818, USS Bausell DD 845

[@mestreroberto1234]

O SELO PSICOSE RIO GB 1969 MESTRE ROBERTO CABOTAGEM MCB MM

[@joeblow3117]

She looked funny without an after gun mount USS Gurke DD-783 forever!!

[@cjdavis2684]

The Framed type B Gearings had their after gun mounts removed. As did the USS Carpenter, which also had a higher bridge than the standard Gearings. I have to admit I totally agree with you that they looked odd without their after five inch gun mount. I love the Sumner class Fram's who kept all three of their five inch mounts. And their VDS winch's on the fan tails.

[@Xander_Zimmermann]

What class are those destroyers?

[@frankhall7005]

Gearing class they were frammed in the 50s to add a flight deck and a ASROC launcher. Torpedo tubes were also installed. They removed a 5 inch gun mount forward.

[@SSN515]

@@frankhall7005 And added aluminum superstructure.

[@frankhall7005]

DD763 peel them spuds swab.

[@tamergokay]

Come on uss bowen 1079

[@jmc4181]

Whats with those huge “Spaceballs” helmets on those Squids? “Ensign Rick Moranis reporting for duty sir!”

[@texascclp1445]

when wearing sound powered headphones you needed the extra room for ear speakers. we called them 'salad bowls'. Tin Can Sailor DD878 69-73

[@topgeardel]

A lot of veterans piss, moan and groan about the Media's depiction of the war. The truth is the Media was much, much more objective than it is today. The more I study the war, the more I realize the Media wasn't far off in it's reporting of Vietnam. What I do wonder now is how truthful THE MILITARY was in its reporting. I was a Vietnam/Draft resistor who stayed on top of the war for years on a daily basis. A lot of the events, and esp. defeats that I have learned by studying the war I never recall being told about back then. Interesting. Personally I've concluded that if you took away all the air support and air mobility the US had to reinforce ground forces, the US might have seriously gotten its ass kicked....soldier and battlefield alone.

[@mark-ib7sz]

Coward.