U.S. COAST GUARD IN VIETNAM:
A GALLERY OF HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS
COAST GUARD SQUADRON THREE (Part
1 of 3)
U.S. Coast Guard Squadron Three, commissioned 24 April 1967.
Early in 1967, the Navy forces assigned to MARKET TIME and other operations were being stretched thin. As a result, the Navy requested that the Coast Guard provide five high endurance cutters (WHEC) for duty with the Coastal Surveillance Forces. On April 24, 1967, Coast Guard Squadron Three was formed at Pearl Harbor. Two days later the squadron sailed from Pearl Harbor and arrived at Subic Bay on May 10. [Eugene Tulich, The United States Coast Guard in South East Asia During the Vietnam Conflict.]
Ultimately 30 high endurance cutters served in Squadron Three during its existence from April, 1967 through January, 1972. The Navy assigned the cutters to the Gulf of Thailand for 5"/38 gunfire support of Ong Doc as well as logistic support to patrol boats. Squadron Three operated from bases in Da Nang, Cat Lo and An Thoi. [A. Lainge Bailey, Silent Partners in Vietnam.]
|
Photos (Click on image to see full-size) | Original caption; Description; Date; Photographer (if known). Unless otherwise stated all are official U.S. Coast Guard photographs. |
|---|---|
| "USCGC GRESHAM ON MARKET TIME: As
flagship of the newly-formed Coast Guard Squadron Three, Gresham
leads the five-ship convoy west from Pearl Harbor to the
Philippines. From Subic Bay, after last minute briefings and
additional training, the cutters sailed on to Vietnam and Market
Time patrols."
Coast Guard Photo Number Gresham-050867-1 (#1 of 10); M.E. Beach, SN, USCG, photographer |
| "Crossing the Equator: The shellbacks initiate the polywogs [sic] into the kingdom of Neptunus Rex." USCGC Campbell Cruise Book, Vietnam, 1967-1968, page 77. |
| "[Initiation into the Realm of the] Golden Dragon: The Royal Family." Minnie Log USCGC Minnetonka Whec-67 on Marketime patrol; Viet Nam Deployment with Coast Guard Squadron Three [Cruise Book]; December 17, 1967 to October 17, 1968, page 27. |
| "COAST GUARD IN VIETNAM: Five
white 311-foot cutters of the recently established Coast Guard
Squadron Three assigned to "Market Time" coastal
surveillance in South Vietnam are tied up alongside Navy repair ship
USS JASON (AR-8) after arriving at Subic Bay, P.I. From the
left are the USCGC HALF MOON, USCGC YAKUTAT, USCGC GRESHAM, USCGC
BARATARIA, and USCGC BERING STRAIT."
Coast Guard Photo Rel. No. 6201; 4 August 1967; photo by CDR Richard Morse, USCG, commanding officer of Barataria. |
| "Underway replenishment soon
becomes a way of life for ships on Market Time. Navy supply
ships bringing fuel, ammunition, food, mail and personnel sail up
and down the Vietnamese coast by day and night. The cutter
pulls alongside about 100 to 120 feet from the ship and the cargo is
passed via highline while the ships maintain constant speed.
At times the supply ships are passing provisions to two ships at
once; one on either side. Here an oiler sends a crewman to
Gresham."
Coast Guard Photo Number Gresham-061967-11 (#3 of 10); M.E. Beach, SN, USCG, photographer |
| "RM2 WILLIAM ROSSANO FEATURE
STORY: One of Bill's inport duties is acting as a Shore Patrol Petty
Officer for a day's duty. GRESHAM has visited Hong Kong;
Sattahip (Thailand); Sasebo (Japan); Singapore; Kaohsiung (Taiwan);
and Subic Bay, (R.P.) during her 10 months in WESTPAC. Here
Petty Officer Rossano salutes the Officer of the Day prior to
departing on his assigned S.P. duty."
Coast Guard Photo Number Gresham-121867-1 (#5 of 5); photographer unknown. |
| "RM2 WILLIAM ROSSANO FEATURE
STORY: Radioman Second Class Rossano listening on the international
distress frequency 500 Kcs. His alertness may well intercept
an SOS that will spring his ship, the USCGC GRESHAM, to a quick
response resulting in the saving of lives on the high seas for which
the service is noted."
Coast Guard Photo Number Gresham-120167-1 (#1 of 5); photographer unknown. |
| "USCGC GRESHAM ON MARKET TIME: 'VERTREPS'
(vertical replenishment) are a less common means of receiving
supplies aboard ship off the coast of Vietnam. Cargo deposited
on Gresham's fantail by the CH-46A Sea Knight must be moved
quickly to make room for the next load."
Coast Guard Photo Number Gresham-091767-1 (#5 of 10); M. E. Beach, SN, USCG, photographer |
| "USCGC GRESHAM ON MARKET TIME:
While one man stands guard with an M-16 rifle, other members of Gresham's
boarding party inspect a fishing junk's documents and search its
cargo for contraband. Although this duty is tiresome and
boring, it can also be dangerous; and it is very important to the
ultimate goal of Market Time."
Coast Guard Photo Number Gresham-081567-2 (#7 of 10); M. E. Beach, SN, USCG, photographer |
| "USCGC GRESHAM ON MARKET TIME: Gresham's
five-incher provides gunfire support for friendly forces ashore in
South Vietnam. On at least 10 occasions during the past few
months, she has been called upon to bombard enemy staging areas,
supply points, or troop concentrations several miles inland, and in
each instance the accuracy of her fire has been sufficient to
accomplish the intended objective. She is also equipped with
several .50 caliber machine guns and 81mm mortars for use in short
range combat."
Coast Guard Photo Number Gresham-111767-1 (#8 of 10); M. E. Beach, SN, USCG, photographer |
| "WHILE EMPTY BRASS SHELL CASINGS
PILE UP. . . . .on Minnetonka's deck, the mount captain,
Chief Boatswain's Mate Mondel N. Watkins of Picayune, Miss. leans
from the turret to watch the shell burst. Gunfire support
missions, such as this one, are hot and tiresome jobs not only for
the men above decks, but also for the ammunition handlers in the
cutter's magazines."
Coast Guard Photo No. 062968 (5 of 5); Release No. 57-68; photographer unknown. |
| "USCGC GRESHAM ON MARKET TIME:
Two of her 'charges' approach Gresham to receive food,
ammunition and fresh crews. The speedy little swift boats help
cover the Market Time patrol areas in closer to shore, but depend
upon the larger ships for support. Normally the six-man swift
boat crews spend 24 hours on patrol, then switch crews for the next
24. On many Market Time stations the relief crews actually
live aboard the cutters while waiting for their next patrol."
Coast Guard Photo Number Gresham-091367-1 (#9 of 10); M. E. Beach, SN, USCG, photographer |
| "USCGC GRESHAM ON MARKET TIME:
The 82-foot Coast Guard Cutter Point Banks comes alongside
Gresham to take on supplies. The 26 82-footers which comprise
Coast Guard Squadron One in Vietnam work hand-in-hand with the five
high endurance cutters of Coast Guard Squadron Three on Market
Time. Although both squadrons operate under the Navy's Seventh
Fleet, to a man they don't forget they are Coast Guard."
Coast Guard Photo Number Gresham-062367-1 (#10 of 10); M. E. Beach, SN, USCG, photographer |
| "'MEDCAP' AT SONG ONG DOC
DISPENSARY - CIVIC ACTION PROGRAM: Song Ong Doc is about 60 miles
south of An Thoi in South Vietnam. A coastal hamlet of some
2,300 people, its primary industry is fish, a commodity which is
both a dietary staple and a valuable bartering item for other
goods." (1 of 6 photos)
USCGRONTHREE REL. NO. 84-68; 22 November 1968; L.D. Worth, JOC, USCG, photographer |
| 'MEDCAP' AT SONG ONG DOC DISPENSARY -
CIVIC ACTION PROGRAM: While the doctor worked, Coast Guardsmen
mingle with the crowd. Here, candy being distributed failed to
detract from the children's fondness for the camera." (4 of 6
photos)
USCGRONTHREE REL. NO. 84-68; 22 November 1968; L.D. Worth, JOC, USCG, photographer |
| "MATHEMATICS THE INTERNATIONAL
LANGUAGE: Lieutenant (junior grade) Verrilo and his students take a
break from their mathematics class. Mr. Verrilo, besides
teaching the knowledge hungry children arithmetic, also supervised
the construction of two wells that were built for the inhabitants of
two island in the Gulf of Thailand."
Release No: VN21-68 (VN 6-6-68-01); 8 June 1968; E.M. Conlon, JO2, USCG, photographer |
| "A boarding party comprised of a
Boarding Officer, Boarding Petty Officer, Medical Representative,
and boat crew departs the YAKUTAT to examine contents of cargo and
validity of registration on board a Vietnamese motorized junk in the
South China Sea."
Coast Guard Photo YAKUTAT-1CGD-060967-7; 9 June 1967; photographer unknown. |
| "Inspection of junk successfully
completed, the YAK'S small boat with boarding crew departs the
fishing vessel and heads for the YAKUTAT."
Coast Guard Photo YAKUTAT 1CGD-060967-14; 9 June 1967; photographer unknown. |
| "CUTTER HALF MOON RECEIVING
STORES: While on Market Time patrol in South Vietnam, the 311-foot
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter HALF MOON is replenished with stores by high
line transfer from the Navy cargo ship USS CASTOR. The cutter
receives four replenishments a week while underway from various Navy
vessels of the 7th Fleet. In exchange here the HALF MOON
passed a Coast Guard birthday cake (celebrating the Coast Guard's
177th anniversary, August 4, 1967) by high line to the CASTOR."
Coast Guard Photo Rel No. 6212 (HALF MOON-090567 (01)) [EAS?]; photographer unknown. |
| "Crewmen cart high explosive
projectiles across the deck of the 311-foot U.S. Coast Guard Cutter
HALF MOON for the ship's five-inch gun to hurl at a Viet Cong
emplacement near a U.S. Special Forces Camp in the Song on Doc area,
South Vietnam. The HALF MOON provides gunfire support when
needed by U.S. Shore forces in addition to her Market Time patrol
duties of preventing contraband materials from being supplied the
Viet Cong from the sea."
Coast Guard Photo Rel. No. 6215; 12/67; photographer unknown. |
| "Battle Station -- The five-inch
gun on board the 311-ft. U.S. Coast Guard Cutter HALF MOON blasts at
a Viet Cong stronghold in the Song Ong Doc area in South
Vietnam."
Coast Guard Photo Rel. No. 6218; EAS/bjh; photographer unknown. |
| "CUTTER HALF MOON REFUELING JUNK
FORCE: The 311-foot U.S. Coast Guard Cutter HALF MOON, assigned to
Area 8 Market Time, refuels vessels of the Vietnamese junk force at
Hon Khoai Island, South Vietnam. From 6,000 to 8,000 gallons
of diesel fuel, contained in 55 gallon oil drums, must be furnished
periodically by the cutter to this inshore Vietnamese junk force
which patrols the canals and inland waterways of South
Vietnam."
Coast Guard Photo Rel. No. 6213; (HALF MOON 09-05-67 (02)); EAS; photographer unknown. |
|
| No caption [explosion of VC trawler, 1
March 1968, destroyed by Androscoggin]
US Coast Guard Cutter ANDROSCOGGIN Deployment in Viet-Nam; Nov. 1967--Sept. 1968 [Cruise Book], page 65. |
| No caption [explosion of VC trawler, 1
March 1968, destroyed by Androscoggin]
US Coast Guard Cutter ANDROSCOGGIN Deployment in Viet-Nam; Nov. 1967--Sept. 1968 [Cruise Book], page 65. |
| "A captured Viet Cong from the
morning's raid by the junk force and 82 footer is guarded while his
companion is undergoing surgery aboard the Andy in a futile attempt
to save his life for further interrogation."
US Coast Guard Cutter ANDROSCOGGIN Deployment in Viet-Nam; Nov. 1967--Sept. 1968 [Cruise Book], page 86. |
| "LTJG Jones is stampeded by
village children when someone yelled that he had candy to give
away! The candy and a sack-race were a part of the party we
held for the youngsters. The village reciprocated by throwing
a special native food and drink party for us. The school
children put on a dance and song program. One point we noticed
was that their songs were not happy songs, but then their whole life
has been lived during constant conflict."
US Coast Guard Cutter ANDROSCOGGIN Deployment in Viet-Nam; Nov. 1967--Sept. 1968 [Cruise Book], page 61. |
| "We even made it to one of
Viet-Nam's sandy white beaches at An Thoi on Phu Quoc Island in the
Gulf of Siam near the Cambodian border. This was an afternoon
of swimming in the clear, warm 90 degree water and a chance to watch
a USO Show complete with Hollywood movie starlets. The
afternoon's fun over we went back to the Andy's anchorage in the
harbor in a Navy landing craft. Soon we were back on our
patrol routine."
US Coast Guard Cutter ANDROSCOGGIN Deployment in Viet-Nam; Nov. 1967--Sept. 1968 [Cruise Book], page 68. |
| "and now . . . Full Speed Ahead
To Our Next Assignment--SEMPER PARATUS!"
US Coast Guard Cutter ANDROSCOGGIN Deployment in Viet-Nam; Nov. 1967--Sept. 1968 [Cruise Book], page 96. |
| "W O W . . . . . .The initials of
these three high endurance cutters spell out that expression of
surprise as the nest alongside Riviera Pier at the U.S. Naval Base,
Subic Bay, R.P. The three, Winnebago, Owasco,
and Winona, along with a fourth unit of Coast Guard Squadron
Three, the Bibb, were in Subic Bay for inchop, outchop, and
upkeep, marking the first time that this many ships of the
five-cutter squadron had visited there since it was formed 18 months
ago. The squadron is a part of the Seventh Fleet's Cruiser
Destroyer Group and the cutters serve on the Coastal Surveillance
Force's Operation Market Time in Vietnam."
COMCOGARDRONTHREE PHOTO NO. 101068-01; 18 October 1968; Dale Cross,JOC, USCG, photographer. |
| "While assigned to U.S. Coast
Guard Squadron Three at South Vietnam, the 255-ft. Cutter OWASCO
(WHEC-39) is seen unrepping with the USS GUADALUPE (AO-32) after
refueling from the Navy tanker during Market Time patrol."
Coast Guard Photo No. 6309; EAS; photographer unknown. |
| "COAST GUARD CUTTER STANDS BY
while boarding party completes its task of checking suspicious
junk. Poles above the junk's decks are used by the Vietnamese
fishermen for drying their catch. The stakes with their
colorful flags are used as fish net markers."
Click here for a 300 dpi image. Coast Guard Photo No. 022268-08 (#8 of 8); Release No. 32-68; Contact: JOC Cross |
| "The 311-foot high endurance
Cutter GRESHAM (WHEC 387)."
No number listed; date unknown; M.E. Beach, SN, USCG, photographer. |
