known official message traffic combat unit formed united_states_coast_guard service vietnam war placed operational control united_states_navy assigned duties operation market time formation marked time world war personnel extensively combat environment squadron operated divisions separate areas period point class crews squadron support staff assigned mission movement arms supplies operators squadron provided naval gunfire support nearby friendly units operating south vietnamese coastline assisted direct involvement combat operations wound squadron crews began training republic sailors operation deployment later turned war effort turnover south vietnamese navy crews began completed august squadron cutter squadron awarded unit service south vietnamese government years unit active serving aboard squadron support staff squadron members killed action time unit commissioned squadron american south vietnamese naval units assigned task force assumed market time mission successful north vietnamese personnel equipment entering south vietnamese waters success blockade served change dynamics vietnam war forcing north vietnamese use costly time consuming route trail supply forces south background united_states military involvement shifted advisory role combat operations advisors vietnam south vietnamese military noticed increase military supplies weapons smuggled country way north vietnamese small craft extent february helicopter crew spotted north vietnamese look like island event later known named small bay destination helicopter crew called air strikes sunk captured day action conducted elements investigators found million rounds small arms ammunition stick grenades pounds prepared tnt charges rounds mortar ammunition anti tank grenades rounds rifle ammunition rifles sub machine guns pounds medical supplies labels captured equipment supplies papers found wreckage indicated shipment concern advisors task shipments originating led request general commanding general assistance request initially filled radar picket destroyer escorts der march started vessels great draft operate effectively shallow coastal waters april ordered swift boats foot aluminum boats draft feet capable knots mph time lead agency time availability suitable vessels minor role combat operations korean war commandant coast guard admiral responded request offering use foot point class foot utility boats fearing left role vietnam status nation armed services decision use point class cutter logistics foot cape class cutter initially considered option greater speed main drive engines point class cutter main drive engines consistent class cape class easier supply spare parts maintain engines additional factors favoring point class cutter engine room controls bridge air living spaces big factor tropical climate crews expected live boat duty foot utility boats rejected lacked radar mess facilities extended patrols offshore april representatives signed memorandum understanding stating supply point class crews navy provide transport logistical support tank landing ships converted repair ships sourced stations atlantic gulf coasts seven sourced pacific_coast stations removal cannon bow place cutter fitted combination mount consisting mortar drop fired trigger fired mounted caliber machine gun mortar fired indirect direct modes equipped cylinder loaded merchant ships shipment naval base bay philippines april president authorized units operate navy command vietnam provide surveillance assistance vessels aircraft effort stop troops weapons ammunition forces crew training unit commissioning shipped crew members started reporting california overseas processing training cutter crews received week small arms training naval amphibious base camp training received warfare training center near california sierra nevada mountains island naval air station washington returning underwent damage control training navy treasure island naval base additional weapons qualifications live fire exercises held california training radar navigation radio procedures visual signaling gun crews received mortar machine gun training camp personnel assigned unit present squadron commissioning ceremony held remainder crews process completing training service vietnam officers added normal crew complement add crew mission vessels sea officers assigned command required previously commanded cape class cutter volunteer assignment executive officer lieutenant junior grade ensign naval base bay divisions crews arrived bay june squadron office established june squadron came operational control commander administrative control personnel actions pay personnel records retained arrived bay june water hull inspected repaired necessary painted waterline mechanical ordnance electrical electronic maintenance checks completed modifications duty vietnam attempted modifications completed bay included new radio gunner platforms ammunition ready boxes mortar addition night installation small arms mess deck addition sound powered telephone circuits additional added increase patrol station time modifications bow mounted machine gun mortar combination allowing depressed horizon close range firing additional machine guns ready boxes added cutter crews arrived united_states began required modification work shipyard sorties effort systems working night training exercises gunnery drills held day underway drills training completed stores loaded july day survival training course conducted natives completion compulsory squadron personnel known operating widely separated locations squadron divided divisions operating operating near port close division consisted consisted july got underway harbor formed uss county permanently assigned support division division division support ship left bound july division reviewing study overall threat requested additional aircraft patrol vessels operation market time request additional division point class added squadron august preparations deploying additional started late october new division patrol boats named division staff repair personnel arrived bay december division boat crews received weapons undertook survival training california crews started arriving bay december additional survival weapons training given division personnel sent divisions exchanged crewmen experience division began arriving deck cargo transport ships bay january crews commenced painting deck gray accomplished shipment time devoted training crews gunnery procedure division scheduled departure vietnam february training exercise february main engine alarm sounded bridge checking cause alarm determined complete overhaul engines required division shipped complete kit repair parts overnight way flight flight met division personnel repairs commenced divided shifts crews worked clock repairs completed hours partial load break morning departure rest procedure completed division route vietnam february left company arriving base february patrol work division began following morning covering area miles north miles south operations arrival south vietnam division arrived port city july unit stationed morning arrival division prepared underway patrol accompanied navy destroyer uss savage coordinated market time assets area division arrived july taking shelter heavy seas monsoon rains developed transit point banks cutter engine problems transit repairs cramped engine room underway time lost division transit lay con son minor repairs completed hulls partially stripped paint storm liaison officers reported aboard division departed started patrol work rest division harbor july july operational control elements transferred commander task force market time operational theory planners patrol areas numbered order north border south areas varied size measuring miles wide running miles sea outer thirds area covered der fleet identified area number high endurance assisted outer patrol areas inner patrol area usually shallow water covered navy shallow drafts smaller patrol areas identified letter higher patrol area covering waters near bay outer thirds designated waters nearer shore designated area navy patrol aircraft flew assigned tracks reporting traffic stationed operated jointly reports movements suspicious vessels relayed nearest patrol craft duty board search material persons board proper identification rules engagement forces operated allowed vessel warships stopped boarded searched miles coastline area miles miles shore identification declaration intent demanded vessel warship outside mile limit vessels south vietnamese origin stopped boarded searched patrol operated orders operational commander division commander assigned division responsible seeing cutter ready perform assignments properly supplied trained personnel supplies equipment division staff performed regular readiness reviews assigned cutter riding crews judge effectiveness september vice admiral assumed command naval forces vietnam focus operations conducted areas nearer ocean river delta strategy result division transferred divisions shallower draft patrol duties patrol canals rivers major cutter operations soon patrol operations started area responsibility point orient encountered machine gun mortar fire shore south river attempting board early morning hours july returned fire unit vietnam engage enemy result incident obvious paint scheme visible night shortly white paint replaced deck gray squadron assuming control commander changed way patrols conducted future patrols concentrated assets placed area assets concentrated vessel traffic encountered traffic near area sea fewer shallow draft assets needed september busy day division encountering fired unable escape tried ram cutter crew jumped overboard disabled engine machine gun fire boarding party boarded sinking quick search vessel finding arms ammunition unable stop sinking beached shallow water point clear point went searching missing crew crew member captured later night point attempted stop near coastal town ignored warning shot bow attempted evade boarding firing cutter throwing hand grenades point nearby assisted point engaging machine gun fire caught fire started sinking unable afloat cutter crews marked let sink shallow water salvage operations conducted later found rifles ammunition hand grenades documents money killed action badly wounded captured ashore division arrival cat february operations started nearby area tidal swamp southeast long river main shipping channel port point white patrolling night march intercepted small attempting supplies river receiving automatic weapons fire reply cutter returned fire killed continued fire point white ordered ram amidships speed crew killed survivors turned key leader sat infrastructure march point engaged damaged shallow water allowed escape march drew fire river battle followed estimated killed conjunction joint operation designated division ordered patrol lower portion rap river effort deny food water ammunition operating sat special zone start patrols march ships amphibious ready group marines ashore peninsula march taken fire shore night patrol operations intense combat operations squadron encountered occurred month march support operation joint operation ended april withdrawal decided continue patrols operation ended night patrols point engaged received fire shore night patrolling coast peninsula late evening hours reported sighting large shore near mouth river unusual activity decided monitor area remainder night shortly midnight steel spotted challenged point grey received answer continued course headed beach area near ran aground yards shore attempted board encountered heavy fire shore requesting assistance point grey stood destroyer escort arrived scene standing deeper water south vietnamese air force aircraft bombing beach nearby attempted boarding received heavy small arms fire positions beach heavily damaged bridge wounded crew manning mortar bow evening approaching decided destroy point grey assisted point began explosion board broke pieces caused sink shallow waters salvage operations began morning included recovery crew served weapons short tons ammunition chinese manufacture destruction marked instance capture assets patrol near mouth river early hours june noted large radar contact investigation found running navigation lights informing situation cutter went general quarters incoming ignored hail bursts machine gun fire bow returned heavy machine gun fire hitting cutter bridge wounding executive officer manning mortar forecastle dropped line towed picked speed effort beach shore commanding officer noticed headed water near mouth river let run aground yards shore moved position yards away keeping target illuminated mortar rounds came fire elements operating shoreline assistance poured machine gun fire grounded dawn sunk probably charge resulting large fire destroyer escort arrived scene assumed control operation assistance super sabre aircraft providing close air support resistance shoreline finally controlled decided commanding officer salvage attempted order learn origins cargo board crews joined dock landing ship uss fighting fire beginning salvage operations hull eventually towed shipyard foot yielded valuable information capabilities particular class carrying short tons small arms ammunition recent manufacture china north_korea surviving log navigation charts helped determine origin possible destinations point welcome incident point welcome patrolling area immediately south early morning hours august cutter illuminated forward air controller enemy vessel called canberra tactical bomber phantom fighter bomber aircraft proceeded cutter hour making seven passes point welcome turned running docking lights illuminated aircraft contacted radio telling illuminated aircraft pass crew bridge wounded commanding officer lieutenant junior grade killed class signaling equipment electronics radios knocked pass point welcome began maneuvers direction assumed command executive officer seriously injured attempted avoid illumination lights attacking aircraft way aircraft decided best course action beach cutter wounded ashore attempted crew came fire unknown sources shoreline point orient point caution arrived scene started rescue proceedings addition commanding officer killed crewmen injured liaison officer civilian freelance journalist bridge cutter severely damaged despite inch wide holes main deck hull undamaged point welcome escorted power required months repair damage saved cutter surviving crew great risk awarded combat device actions days testimony findings board investigation conducted result investigation lines communication set navy air_force air_force knew routinely communicate vietnam avoid repetition incident aircraft patrolling near instructed attack vessels contacting clearance late evening hours january vessels intercepted attempting land supplies running aground managed hit mortar rounds kept illuminated secondary explosions occurred disappeared investigations later concluded successfully escaped nearby river heavily damaged successful action fought early morning hours march patrol aircraft spotted near island miles southeast closed forced aground near village patrol elements continued exchange heavy gunfire land based units dawn scuttled massive explosion investigators later discovered heavy machine gun rifle sub machine guns rifles thousands rounds ammunition wreckage complete surgical kit field hospital medical supplies similar conclusion result capture steel hull july days tracking patrol aircraft radar picket playing cat mouse game days units headed mouth late july directed point orient hail answered gunfire cutter returned fire uss destroyer uss walker july boxed ran aground yards shore south korean marines directed artillery fire shore apparently abandoned expert walker boarded pounds tnt charges designed craft found board thousand rounds rifle machine gun ammunition mortar rocket rounds anti personnel mines grenades thousand pounds plastic explosive tnt weapons found included machine guns rifles rifles rocket launchers occasions months october november december point grace called assist naval gunfire support missions near missions resulted destruction structures morning hours january combined forces personnel initiated coordinated attacks military installations later referred offensive monsoon weather northern provinces general imposed traffic routine squadron vessels february far normal requests naval gunfire support land based units increased significantly point involved multiple naval gunfire support missions month february use squadron blocking force forces operating coastline increased time action march early morning squadron involved destruction north vietnamese attempting arms ammunition different locations attempt north vietnamese met elements including aircraft vessels aircraft helicopters addition class cutter point welcome squadron result action north vietnamese destroyed fourth turned reach coast action smuggling decreased communist forces resort shipments trail port patrol south early morning hours june point reported seeing rockets fired unidentified source hit sank quickly loss crew shortly point came fire unidentified aircraft heavy cruiser uss boston destroyer duration attack hour little damage cutter boston considerable damage sailors killed wounded evidence board inquiry later showed friendly fire incident involving aircraft ships enemy targets incident august friendly fire incident involving point welcome caused procedures identification naval vessels marine change operations conducted south vietnamese regional force troops september assisted assets assisted naval gunfire support september destroyed killing wounding captured september point assisted troops ambushed forces lending naval gunfire support arrived shortly action started joined gunfire support small boats helped evacuate wounded troops heavy weather form northern half south vietnam reduced indigenous coastal traffic october support limited heavy seas units including squadron fired record number naval gunfire missions sixth month row missions conducted october percent higher previous record december crewmen operating small boat point small stream peninsula ambushed severely wounding killing awarded device posthumously heroic actions saving fellow crewmen lives february squadron personnel began training engineers maintenance repair point class eventually turned south vietnamese government program march routine operations involving inspection fishing craft arms supplies chief engineer chief morris killed ambush fire shore positions attempting board near march notified unit unit located village miles north requested perform blocking patrol brigade troops conducted sweep assisted naval gunfire support additionally aftermath landing party helped destroy transport supplies turnover squadron occurred transfer plan elaborate ceremony held base dignitaries area naval activities witnessing turnover june division transferred division need squadron supplanted shallower draft concentrated delta region use better foul weather abilities craft point class squadron shifted use northeast monsoon season northern half country august conducting harassment mission aboard occurred mortar killing lieutenant junior grade cutter executive officer class growing dissatisfaction american electorate vietnam high officials sought way united_states war strategy public opinion termed included plans remove combat troops vietnam turnover supplies equipment south vietnamese military parts plan referred vietnamese included training vietnamese use equipment turned gradual phase responsibilities conduct war south vietnamese government assets turned vietnamese occurred february smaller vessels transferred supporting admiral commander august naval assets portion plan consisted parts small craft assets training vietnamese engineering capability training ratings trained vietnamese replacement crews patrol boats squadron trained prepared vietnamese repair personnel maintain background patrol boats squadron essential blockade war supplies entering decided transferred south vietnamese navy crews trained operate effectively november commander naval forces vietnam presented plan general commander turn resources june approved navy plan equipment turned vietnamese class condition properly trained use navy plan called enlisted vietnamese personnel report aboard vessels training officers finally reporting aboard crews trained recommendation january commander vietnam captain suggested english speaking vietnamese officers report aboard given chance receive extensive procedural training crews junior personnel report aboard cited cultural required seniors subordinates difficult officers accept instruction junior personnel losing face agreed plan enthusiastically ordered implemented immediately february officers reported aboard week pilot training program cutter executive officer relieved assigned staff duties ashore commanding officer assuming duties spare cutter utilized new vietnamese personnel reporting board experience gained vietnamese crew members new junior personnel reported pairs replacing assigned ashore assist phase training transfer squadron occurred base joint commissioning ceremonies held transferred plan problems training easy trainers cultural differences language barriers breached english vietnamese extensively vietnamese sailors spoke broken english pressed service help translate training job cutter maintained pride understand vietnamese sailors lack care orders dictated cutter entering ready turnover months return patrol duties vietnamese sailors leave cutter soon reached leaving maintenance cleanup rates vietnamese sailors interfered training schedules patrol operations morale coast charged training replacement vietnamese crew low caused friction parts crew political pressures united_states end involvement war soon possible program training accelerated week program eventually week program caused problems mixed crews squadron eventually completed training vietnamese crews transferred division size consolidated divisions division june remaining division moving division consolidated cat march patrols point grey point orient turned july point left division day remaining given orders report lower provide support operations secret zone july crews consisted complement sailors coast including commanding officers embarked making decks crowded scouts ashore search destroy mission backed gunfire decks cutter small boats raid successful captured troops boxes documents week later australian_army explosive ordnance disposal soldiers aboard cruised river destroyed fortifications august coincidentally pair set prove combat patrol cutter embarked patrol river following narrow canal leading main channel target command detonated blast killed sailors instantly injured explosion listed starboard managed underway point laid suppressing fire escorted damaged cutter base suffered holes starboard waterline extensive damage bridge windows damage watertight door mess deck forward space deck aft bridge covered inches mud painting prepared final operational readiness inspection check crew readiness pending turnover point turnover turnover point point south vietnamese navy august squadron remaining division division decommissioned served squadron vietnam administrative liaison functions carried squadron staff turned vietnam officers squadron assigned temporary duties advisors squadron assist new commanding officers new duties continued provide technical assistance training programs squadron formation technical assistance groups group composed officer engineers reporting groups located assigned bay tours duty coast ended personnel gradually took training duties civic action personnel stationed vietnam encouraged commands donate duty time assist civic action programs supporting vietnamese people squadron personnel participated time permitted island adoption program designed provide educational materials medical treatment inhabitants coastal islands area operation program offered counter propaganda promote better understanding south vietnamese government rural development programs medical personnel normally squadron patrol boat crews medical borrowed squadron nearby units division crews constructed fresh water distribution system addition constructing voting division helped evacuate refugees vicinity military operations intensified division personnel spent hours duty time children ward gave games toys clothing candy injured vietnamese children christmas holidays local squadron personnel distributed gifts candy toys clothing soap donated families united_states brought vietnam commandant airplane squadron crews arranged transportation small girl helicopter uss sanctuary eye surgery squadron commander personally delivered legacy impact squadron significant contribution success operation market time forcing north vietnamese forces rely difficult trail supplies reinforcements period august squadron cruised miles boarded vessels persons naval gunfire missions damaged destroyed enemy vessels killed wounded enemy personnel unit service awards presidential unit citation awarded extraordinary heroism outstanding performance units participating period october december included squadron point grace point young point navy unit navy unit awarded exceptionally service united_states navy coastal surveillance force task force included administrative staff squadron service period january march january february division january navy unit navy unit awarded service units united_states navy coastal surveillance force task force included following squadron point white point caution point welcome point orient point vietnam service medal vietnam service medal personal service award customary regulations display service awards port starboard bridge wings squadron entitled display virtue having served vietnam thirty days eligibility period november april republic palm units serving awarded palm units serving vietnam subordinate included republic vietnam campaign medal vietnam campaign medal award individuals served vietnam period months personal award regulations permitted display cutter port starboard bridge wings squadron served eligibility period march march cutter assignment disposition information legend denotes initial assignment initial assignment initial assignment
Coast Guard Squadron One