The Hairy Navy at its best; a nation at its best - even when it didn't want to hear it or believe it.
I highly encourage everyone to read the full story of the USS KIRK (then DE-1087 then FF-1087) during the fall of South Vietnam in '75.
"We looked up out on the horizon, and pretty soon all you could see were helicopters. And they came in and it was incredible. I don't think I'll ever see anything like it again," said Doyle, now retired and living in Rhode Island.Go here as well and see the video. These are the true Vietnam Veterans - not the cr@p fed to you by school books and Hollywierd. "Global Force For Good," something new? Child please; when has the USN not been a global force for good?
The South Vietnamese military helicopters were packed with people — pilots and their family and friends. And now, as some of the choppers were precariously low on fuel, the pilots were looking for a place to land. Dozens of UH-1 Huey helicopters flew past the Kirk heading for the larger aircraft carriers. The Kirk had only a small flight deck.
Be proud of your Navy, your nation - read the details at the same link on what these refugees did with their chance.
The 93rd Congress may have brought great shame on the USA - but in their way, the crew of the USS KIRK and ships like her gained a little back - and with this brought to our shores a great cohort of new Americans.
BZ.
The 93rd Congress may have brought great shame on the USA - but in their way, the crew of the USS KIRK and ships like her gained a little back - and with this brought to our shores a great cohort of new Americans.
BZ.
23 comments:
It is amongst the classic examples of putting military to humanitarian use, from the Berlin airlift, to the SE Asia Christmas Tsunami relief. It is a shining ray of light in the dark days of that cruel April.
BZ to the Kirk and other boats that were out there to close the book on Vietnam.
Those were demoralizing times, and they put this country into a position of weakness that was exploited by forces with which we are still in conflict today.
I feel like I'm back in 1975...
Though Boomer I may be, its not a case of altered states either.
Nope. Its way more scary than that.
We are witnessing the engineering of yet another defeat by the Democratic War Machine as we speak...
Sid, you got that right. Every bit of it. I was a part of that "hairy Navy" and it was a proud time of my life. It was also important because we had folks with combat experience who were now in leadership and instructor billets, passing along lessons learned.
But I despair of the truth about our military's service in Vietnam ever being told. The lies of the left, of Hollywood and others has so permeated and distorted the historical record, that folks refuse to believe the truth of what was accomplished, even when presented with hard evidence.
Ah well. I need some more coffee.
King O is leading us into some mighty interesting times...
"Hope" we survive.
What comes round goes round... how many of those "babies" are now amazing and productive members of our own country... doctors and pharmacists and engineers. And their children now are in high school and college and putting many others to shame by their academic excellence... and going on to become more doctors and pharmacists and engineers.
We did ourselves a favor whether we knew it or not at the time. God bless the US Navy for its role in saving people who deserved to be saved.
that we survive the "CHANGE!"
The only time the terms "victory" and "defeat" are used by this cabal is when discussing elections and domestic political opposition. All of America's enemies must be somehow accommodated.
Reading that brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for bringing it to us, CDR.
<span>The protection of American citizens in China has been most difficult and has required the greatest amount of tact, patience, and calm judgment in the face of tremendous provocation and insult by the various local authorities, as well as actual assault and attack by mobs of frenzied zealots. That the loss of American life has not been greater can be ascribed in large measure to the efficient and devoted manner in which the naval personnel have performed their arduous duty.</span>
<span>The principle role of protection has been the actual transporting in many cases, and always the guarding and convoying of refugees from the interior during the period of evacuation, their concentration in certain centers, and protection therein until the storm of lawlessness had swept on, or on their final evacuation from the war-torn country. Although the protection of American lives was the paramount duty, such measures of protection as were practicable were afforded American property, but due to the isolation of much of this property and the necessity of avoiding actual war, the same success in protecting property was not attained as in the case of American lives.</span>
<span>While occasions for the employment of actual force have fortunately been few, yet when used force has been prompt and effective, and sufficient only to accomplish the object of protecting American lives. The principal clash occurred at Nanking on March 24, 1927. There can be no doubt that this attack on foreigners, including Americans, was premeditated, carefully planned, well organized, and efficiently executed by organized troops. Nor can there be any doubt that the energetic and prompt action of the naval forces of America and Great Britain in laying down a barrage around Socony Hill, where our consul general and other Americans were congregated, and later in the firm stand demanding the safe evacuation of other foreigners in the city, prevented a possible wholesale massacre.</span>
<span>Practically the entire Asiatic Fleet was assembled in Chinese waters toward the end of the fiscal year 1927. The regularly assigned forces of the Asiatic Fleet were augmented by the temporary assignment of Light Cruiser Division 3 to the Asiatic Fleet. Marines were transported to Shanghai by the USS Chaumont and USS Henderson, these vessels remaining in Chinese waters under orders of the commander in chef, Asiatic Fleet. The USS Gold Star was used to transport marines and equipment from Guam to Manila.</span>
<span>In order to transport additional marines to the Asiatic Station it became necessary to use the steamship President Grant, of the Dollar Line.</span>
<span>The following aircraft were made available for service with the United States Marine Corps expeditionary force sent to China: 9 fighting planes, 6 observation planes, 5 amphibian planes. This aircraft force has been held at Olongapo.</span>
<span>VT Squadron 20 was established as a cruising unit attached to the USS Jason and is now operating independently of the shore establishment.</span>
<span>Source</span><span>: Annual Reports of the Navy Department for the Fiscal Year (Including Operations to November 15, 1927) 1927. (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1927): 5-6.</span>
Because they believe that by placating them, our enemies will never want to hurt them. Such cowards the left breeds.
But allow them victory at home, and the want thier victories to be total, preferably with the humuliation of the defeated. The '60's generation produced as fine a crop of power mad bullies as the world has ever seen.
Well, at least since there won't be any cruisers or transports, a the funding for those is better spent on social programs, that part of the problem is easily solved.
Whoops. Guest is me.
Pick up "Dereliction of Duty", the similarities are scary.
Well there is that skipper of a the USS Lassen.
An excellent post as is the NPR story at the link.
I was at SMS school in Dam Neck enroute to my 1st DH tour when this occurred but had several friends who were there. My junior year roommate was a Marine Corps officer embarked in one of the amphibious ships and liked to tell the story about when a Vietnamese General arrived by helo with several aides. The Marines took their weapons (the Marines had a CONEX box filled with all sorts of weapons that they later stripped for parts) and my friend asked to see the contents of the briefcases that the aides were carrying. They initially refused until he pointed to a rather large Lance Corporal and gave them the option of opening the briefcases or having LCpl Blank take them and toss them (the briefcases) overboard. To nobody's surprise, they were filled with gold bars.
I'm surprised that KIRK's story has been forgotten as it was pretty well publicized at the time (especially the film of the helo pilot jumping clear as he banked his aircraft into the water). The big story in the Surface Force however (although not mentioned here) was how KIRK's crew managed to get 4 "Hueys" and their own LAMPS helo on to their flight deck. They eventually offloaded them in Subic. There were several photos of this although I couldn't locate any (perhaps sid will have better luck).
My future XO on the FFG was one of the officers who assumed command of a Vietnamese Navy ship so they could enter Subic Bay. He listed his command of that LSSI on his bio for the rest of the time he was in the service. The refugees were transferred to a camp on Grande Island until they were relocated to Guam and Camp Pendelton.
Who said "global force for good" was something new? It's just the latest crappy branding in an attempt to overcome false negative perceptions that are arrived at by piss poor PR by a Navy that has a difficult time presenting itself to the public because it's too busy filling in for a failing Army.
A friend and former city councilmember in Coronado has some great stories. He was working for Pacific A&E and was at the airbase (Trong Su Nuoc - sp?) that week. Says he also helped push helos over the side (from the USS Vancouver? I really need to get a tape recorder and buy him a dinner).
We are witnessing the engineering of yet another defeat by the <span>Democratic War Machine </span>as we speak...
Yes! We ARE...
Ain't Hope and Change Grand?
KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN -- To the U.S. Army soldiers and Marines serving here, some things seem so obviously true that they are beyond debate. Among those perceived truths: Tthe restrictive rules of engagement that they have to fight under have made serving in combat far more dangerous for them, while allowing the Taliban to return to a position of strength.
"If they use rockets to hit the [forward operating base] we can't shoot back because they were within 500 meters of the village. If they shoot at us and drop their weapon in the process we can't shoot back," said Spc. Charles Brooks, 26, a U.S. Army medic with 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, in Zabul province.
Word had come down the morning Brooks spoke to this reporter that watch towers surrounding the base were going to be dismantled because Afghan village elders, some sympathetic to the Taliban, complained they were invading their village privacy. "We have to take down our towers because it offends them and now the Taliban can set up mortars and we can't see them," Brooks added, with disgust
The Democratic Party Way of War....
I'm just surprised Gates and Petraeus want to live with this.
Almost brought a tear to my eye...almost. Punched myself in the face to stop it.
Tough to be victorious when there isn't a clear definition of victory.
<span>"The '60's generation produced as fine a crop of power mad bullies as the world has ever seen"</span>
Please make that "Half of the...etc".
The other half kept the faith, defended the right, and (was a great portion of the coalition which) elected Reagan, who ended the cold war. Which Team USA WON.
As for those who stayed in the service, they toughed out the long slog that restored discipline and pride, cleaned out the drug addled, improved tactics, replaced the worn out gear, improved training, successfully dealt with a new crisis every year or so, deterred the Soviets until they collapsed, and lead the tactical successes in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Not bad.
Had they been consistently supported, funded and respected (as in paid heed to)... Al Queda would have been remembered, to borrow a phrase from Churchhill, as a "monster throttled in its cradle".
The generation will remain divided to the grave. But a little respect for the good guys, please.
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