Photo Gallery

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The following images submitted by: John Rothfuss.

Tet'68 in My Tho (1-31-1968).
   

The following images submitted by: Erasmo "Doc" Riojas

Searching —I spent one week working with UDT connecting (using MK8 hose demo) a tee-tee canal to the French Dredged canals. Two nights I went out with two different PBR's just to break the monotony and to see how wide the canals were in that vicinity. IT was scary shit, they were very narrow. I would like to know what unit I went out with.

Thank you,
Tu Amigo,
Erasmo "Doc" Riojas
(SEAL) USN Ret.
AKA: El Ticitl
www.mi-vida-loca.com

   

The following images submitted by: Patrick "Sandy" Sandoval YNCS, USN (Ret)

MK I PBR
is brought aboard Garrett County (LST-786) for repairs after she was blown out of the water by VC. 19 year old GMG2 from RIVDIV 535 lost his life that day. They were ambushed by Viet Cong units in the Song Mang Thit Canal. PBR #6722 damaged.

   

The following images were submitted by: Ken Scott

Break Time - Phouc Xuyen Fill-in Crew on a STAB Looking for unexploded ordinance The last PACV - Ben Luc
Mail Call - Phouc Xuyen YRBM 21 - Mekong River
       
 

The following images submitted by: Al Sears

Nha Be -
Photo was taken Mar of 70 in Nha Be, Al Sears, Walt Thomas, and unsure of other PO1.

SN Carey carrying captured nurses stuff and RD 1 Sears leading one to Intel Officer

SN Carey No Shirt, Estes standing on engine cover, Dec of 69


The following images submitted by: CAPT John D. Sentz

PBR Burning, photo taken from a SeaWolf Helicopter.
   USS Harnett County, Gamewardens LST, underway. (Submitted by CAPT John D. Sentz, 04/67-04/68.)

The following images submitted by: Bruce Shewbrooks via Rich Ritz

Click for close-up image Click for close-up image Click for close-up image Click for close-up image
PBR Garage!!
A total of about 10 MKI PBRs were assembled and commissioned off the USS Belle Grove (LSD-2)
More...
First PBR coming off the
USS Belle Grove (LSD-2)
Christening
Christening of the very first PBR MKI coming out of the well-deck of the USS Belle Grove (LSD-2) 1966.
LCPLs
LCPLs alongside USS Belle Grove (LSD2) January to May 1966 time frame. USS Ranger in the background.
Click for close-up image Click for close-up image
Swift Boat
Swift Boat off of Vung Tau
First MKI
The first MKI PBR in Vietnam taken near Vung Tau as a part of "Operation Jackstay", April 1966. The USS Belle Brove (LSD-2) was acting as the Tactical Communications Center for boat operations in the Rung Sat Special Zone and operations on the Long Tau River.
MIGHTY MO (converted LCM) with five .50 caliber's, two 30 caliber's, recoilless rifle and mortar.
       

The following images submitted by: Sid Snook

Sidney "Sid" Snook, Commanding Officer PBR Mobase 2, May 1970 to May 1971 Tan Anh Town/Province, IV Corps (90 miles due south of Saigon) "Fighters, Feeders, and Support Leaders"

Hatch to my stateroom. Sid Snook (me)…CO at the tender age of 25…I'm now 61.
Another standard USN picture of the MoBase. Patrol Boat River Mobile Base standard issue US Navy photo. During my tour we were tied up along the Vam Co Tae river bank about 2 kilometers south of the Tan Anh bridge and right next to the Tan Anh town. The South Vietnamese province chief lived in Tan Anh. On the shore next to MoBase2 was a CIA compound and an Army fire support base. ~245 US and South Vietnamese men and officers. We did the following things: PBS and "heavies" repair, re-supply, berthing, feeding, operations command center, coordinating "things" with CIA and Army.
Early in my tour (in an effort to be "one of the guys") I organized a hunting expedition up river )(Vam Co Tae) to "VC Island"…a free fire zone. We took the "Mike" boat (LCVMP) and several PBS. Sitting right to left: Sid Snook (CO), kneeling GM6 Dobbs, Ltjg John Bellows (Supply Officer) Sid Snook (CO) acting crazy inside my stateroom.
Sid Snook (CO) still acting crazy inside my stateroom. Change of command ceremonies on the repair bay. I don't remember the name of the guy who relieved me.
Sid Snook (CO) giving my "AMF" speech (Adios Mother F_ _ ker) The welcome sign at the gangway land entrance to the base.
A picture across the river from the MoBase. Big gun 'heavies" tied up along side.
Sid Snook (CO) receiving award…a view up river (northwest)…towards the point of the "Parrots Beak" of Cambodia…the confluence of the Vam Co Tae and the Vam Co Dong rivers. Cookout…on the repair bay. We did this just about every other week.
Don Duncan, LT, LDO repair officer in his stateroom. A view down river towards the sea (south east).
A view down river (south east) and the MoBase flight/helo deck. US and Pennsylvania flag flying. (I was born in Middletown PA). We eventually were flying flags of about 8 different states. MoBase galley.
"Loch" helo landing. I went for a ride…
A view of the base as we took off in the "Loch"
A Huey landing on the MoBase.
We overhauled the 250 HP marine diesels, the jacuzzi water propulsion pumps, as well as patching the fiberglass hulls when they got battle damaged. The PBS repair bay of the MoBase.
A view of the MoBase from the land side. An example of what a VC B-40 rocket would do to a fiberglass hulled PBR.
An example of what a VC B-40 rocket would do to a fiberglass hulled PBR.
PBRs traveling "on step" drawing just a few inches of water draft.
The river "fleet" tied up along side the MoBase.
The MoBase had a deck mounted, trainable 81 mm mortar gun. This is a picture of one of the times we provided the Army troops and PBRs with "Star" shell illumination at night. Ltjg John Bellows, the supply officer.
Die Wei (Lt) Phan Ba Tiu my assigned South Vietnamese intrepreter and his family. A scene of beauty in a deadly dangerous place.
Two helos on the flight deck at the same time! A bit scary for the pilots and the flight deck crew! The floating logs and mooring buoy were part of an anti Vietnam063 sapper/swimmer razor wire net that we designed to discourage the VC "indians" from swimming in and planting charges. They still tried six times…all unsuccessfully. However, the CIA guys brought a VC "chu how" guy over one day and he described a successful "dry run" he had done. We "profilacitcally" threw ¼ pound TNT depth charges in the water from 2 ends of the base at a random rate of about 10 per hour. Needless to say there were not too many fishes around…. We went through about 10,000 depth charges each month. I went to sleep listening to the comforting sound of explosions.
Army guys doing their thing in tanks at Ben Luc near the MoBase. "Beautiful" downtown Saigon!!!
The South Vietnamese presidential palace in Saigon. "Beautiful" downtown Saigon!!!
The design originated by the men and officers of PBR Mobase 2 during my tour of duty…Jan 1971. PBR Mobase 2 NAVSUPPACT insignia.
NAVSUPPACT insignia. PBS Mobase 2 blue beret cap insignia.
Insignia of the various US and South Vietnamese river divisions assigned to the MoBase2 during tour of duty. Insignia of the various US and South Vietnamese river divisions assigned to the MoBase2 during tour of duty.
Insignia of the various US and South Vietnamese river divisions assigned to the MoBase2 during tour of duty. Insignia of the various US and South Vietnamese river divisions assigned to the MoBase2 during tour of duty.
Insignia of the various US and South Vietnamese river divisions assigned to the MoBase2 during tour of duty. Insignia of the various US and South Vietnamese river divisions assigned to the MoBase2 during tour of duty.
Insignia of the various US and South Vietnamese river divisions assigned to the MoBase2 during tour of duty. "Tran Hung Dao" "Giant Slingshot" campaign pin. The "Giant Slingshot" was roughly the north and south sides (rivers) that formed the part of Cambodia known as the "Parrots Beak". The PBS Mobase 2 was stationed about 17 miles south east of the river confluence…the point of the beak… during my tour of duty.
     

The following images submitted by: LT Matthew Tritle

 Special Warfare Combatant Crewman Pin Small Craft Insignia Pin
   

GMG2 "Crazy Joe" Vitale, My Tho-June/'68. River Division 532. Submitted by Joe Vitale.
   

The following images submitted by: Lee Wahler

       

The following images were submitted by: George Ward.

Riv Div 594 New boats at Nha Be. 123 Boat PBR 122 - My boat Riv Div 594 PBR 123 - Brand new. Time trial. My boat.
Fisherman at Vung Tau. Took pic because he was in late 50s - incredible shape. PBR 123 Nha Be Break-in Junks at Vung Tau My gunner checking san pan
PCF coming up shipping channel. I left him in my wake. PBR 123 Nha Be breaking-in PBR 122 Stopping San Pans Riv Div 594 New boats Nha Be
PBR 122 Riv Div 594 New boats at Nha Be My boat PBR 123 bottom of Vam Co Tay - XO asked to drive on way to Moc Hoa, I said OK, he ran into the jungle. Me on left. Riv Div 594 boats on the way to Iron Triangle, upper Saigon River
Lt. Chuck Metzler (Riv Div 594) Burning Bunkers Putting a new MK II 123 George is on the left. Anybody recognize the guy on the right??
       

The following images submitted by: Tom Wasson.

USN PBR Class of 1967 Vietnam Bound.
   

The following images submitted by: James "Larry" Weatherall, crewmember of the 105, River Section 531

MK I PBR-105 Identification Plate
Larry Weatherall was part of the second crew of the 105 boat in Vietnam and somehow the brass id plate found it's way into his seabag when he left.
Larry Weatherall,
River Section 531, After Gunner on PBR 105
   

The following images submitted by: Alan White.

PBR-49 — DEC.16, 1966 Baker with glasses
Vinh Long Compound Guard PBR School Certificate
River War Certificate Alan White
Vinh Long Shop Vinh Long Compound (front)
Vinh Long Pier Wayne Hicks, Slim, Metz
Peanut EN3 Brown
GMG Class - June 1966 523 Sailors - Slim in forward tub.
Ken Kalish after '68 TET - PBR 63 remains.
   

The following images submitted by: Mike Wilson.

PBR Crew - Most Wanted II I would rather be seeing my end than yours I bet mine's bigger than yours PBR Crew - Most Wanted
TT at Anchor Resting. USS Tortuga Patch Waiting
   
PBR Crew Coming Aboard PBR Crew - Do I have enough?    
       

Photos submitted by: Jim Woods, River Division 593.

NIOTC Class #76
   

Photos submitted by: Phil Yocum, River Division 513 at Sadec.

Phil Yocum River Division 513,Sadec.(67-68). PBR Crew
   

Photos submitted by: Phil Yocum and Frank Yusi, River Division 513 at Sadec.

Mekong Manor Officers Club Coupon Vietnam 1967 PBR 149 Tam Binh
Vietnam 1967 York, Tilman, Kievens My Tho – Sinking of PBR 160 Nov 68 Dyson & McLleland
Slay Vietnam 1967 Nolan - 1968 November Cousins & Chieu Hois – Vietnam 1967
PBR 149 – Vietnam 1967 SLAY AND YUSI OCANAS CHECKING OUT THE WATER Tam Binh - Vietnam 1967
LT Frank Yusi "PANCHO" OCANAS PETTY OFFICER SLAY BOAT CAPTAIN SLAY
SLAY AND MEADE MY THO TET '68 STEPHANCAVAGE AND GILBERT SWIFT BOAT W/B-40 DAMAGE
MY THO TET '68 TAM BIEN MY THO TET '68 PETTY OFFICER SLAY AT TAM BINH
CAPTURED WEAPONS MY THO TET '68 MY THO TET '68 HAM LONG RIVER ON THE MEKONG RIVER
PBR 112 MY THO TET '68 TAM BIEN TET '68 MY THO TET '68
MY THO TET '68 HOTEL PATOL W/PANCHO BOB MOIR AND FRANK YUSI TET '68 MY THO
ROAD TO SAIGON LT YUSI ROAD TO SAIGON SLAY, MULLEN, UNKNOWN, FASNACHT
A.J.SUMMA AND ATTACK GOAT MY THO AND EM LUENG CAPTURED WEAPONS MY THO TET '68 SHIPLEY AND "HOTEL"
H PATROL "PANCHO" OCANAS CANAL SOUTH OF NGU HIEP GURZYNSKI IN GUN TUB PBR 153 HOTEL PATROL PADDY POLL
CWO OLIN ROBEY AND "BEACHED" PBR FRANK YUSI CHANGE OF COMMAND PETTY OFFICER HEWITT
CHANGE OF COMMAND 1968 OFFICERS OF 533 CHANGE OF COMMAND HUNTERTON COUNTY 1968 AWARDS CEREMONY LT'S FRED, POPP, YUSI, PETTY OFFICER MULLIN
LT YUSI PETE RICHANDS AND FRANK YUSI BOBBI "THE WEATHER GIRL" USS HUNTERDON COUNTY 1968 RIVER DIVISION 533 CHANGE OF COMMAND
ON PATROL USS PRESTON GUNFIRE SUPPORT HOTEL PATROL SEA WOLF OPS USS HUNTERDON COUNTY
ROBEY AND FANTON AWARDS CEREMONY LT. BOB FRED AND XO B-40 SHRAPNEL
RESULTS OF ATTACK ON HUNTERDON
       

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