!!! Alpha Boats !!!
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Left Vallejo late 66,assigned temp. duty on swifts out of DaNang.
We had to wait for the alphas to be delivered. We picked them up in Vung tau. We were stationed at Dong Tam. Stayed 2 tours ,finally left in May68. Don't know why I even e-mailed you. I guess I didn't like you calling alphas minesweepers. No big deal-we did that.But
In the beginning,it was the alphas that led the way for all the tangos, monitors ,and zippos. At the time ,we were the only boat,that could provoke the ambush, and lay down heavy fire, so the tangos could drop troops.
Well ,its been fun-I sure miss being 19 and bullit proof. It was the best time of my life. Thanks for listening
They should have built them out of something other than aluminum, or given them more speed to get out of the way of those B-40 rockets.
Dragonfly A-3 , Dec 67- Dec 68
I was with the Mobile Riverine Force Rivron 13, River Divison 131 T-131-5 from march 1969 to August 69. Thats when our div was beginning to be turned over rvn navy I was then transferred to Mine Div 113
We did a lot of ops on the Vinh Te out of Chou Doc and Long Xuyen. I remember one morning after braking ambush on the Vinh Te our alpha boat was mined there was little damage done but what an explosion! And a fire fight.
If you could give me some history on Mine Div113 I would really be happy as at the time I didn't even know I was in Mine Div113. I also was on top of Nui Sam what a view. I was then transferred to Naval Advisory Group as an advisor to RVN Navy. I also remember the USS Askari anchored in Bassic River.
I have attached some Vietnam photos of my wife's uncle, GMG3 Thomas E. Copp, who was KIA on Feb. 13, 1970 on the Giang Thanh river near Ha Tien, the last base out of which he operated. His memorial service (and that of David Hoffman, also of Mine Division 113, KIA 02/26/70) was held on March 11, 1970 at Ha Tien, with Lt. Robert Aurin presiding and Chaplain L.L. Westling leading the service.
As you may know from my postings, I'm trying to learn more about Tom's time in Vietnam and to hear from crewmates or others who knew him. I thought that these could perhaps be posted in the Ha Tien section of your site?
Tom's boat, MSR 4, came under fire at about 3:45 P.M. on that 02/13/70, and he was killed while manning his guns at the stern of the boat. I have corresponded with Woody Arnell, who was on the cover boat (MSR-6) accompanying MSR-4 and recalls the fight.
Two weeks earlier, on Jan. 30, 1970, Tom and his crew rescued the crew of MSR-7 (including two or three men stranded on the beach) under heavy fire, when MSR-4 and MSR-7 both came under attack on the Vinh Te (French?) Canal, resulting in the sinking of the MSR-7. I have also corresponded with Rulon Young, a crewmember of the MSR-7 on that day. He wrote me the following about the Jan. 30, 1970 battle:
"As you can see, my citation and Copp's citation go hand in hand...[W]e were indeed in trouble...There were only a few of us guys fighting fire, the enemy and fighting to retrieve weapons and get back out of the kill zone. I do not remember who was working next to me to fight the fire and retrieve the guns and provide fire cover in our escape but I remember my appreciation, admiration and respect for those who came to our aid from the backup boat, and know what, they were heroes, I was impressed with their presence of mind and courage, and you know what, I don't remember thanking them.
I've always remembered Copp as the kid who got killed. I didn't remember that he was one of those who came to my aid in the heat of battle, putting themselves in harm's way. Now I'll also remember him for that and send my appreciation to those who mourn his loss, which occurred two weeks later when he once again leaped to action at the first sign of danger. And that's how I remember those who came to my aid, men of bravery and action, they were good men."
Tom is on the left (with mustache) in the first photo, which I assume was taken on the MSR-4. I can't identify his crewmate, but perhaps one of your readers will be able to.
Rich Dickerson said that the sunken Alpha or minesweeper picture on the Vihn Te Canal was one of the boats in his Mine Division 113. He said that the # of the minesweeper was MSR-7 and that his very good friend (Charlie Brown) was the boat's captain. My brother, Charles (Charlie) P. Geisert was the Boat Captain of the Minesweeper MSR-7 and he was in Mine Div 113. He was killed on November 4, 1969. Now, I wrote to Mr. Dickerson and he said he knew of my brother, but this was not the Charlie Brown that he was speaking of.
Is there anyway that you can find out what day that Alpha or Minesweeper in that picture was made. One of the men on my brother's boat said they were within so many feet of a Viet Nameese (sp) Army base and so is that picture. Can you help me find out anything about that picture? I'm thanking you very much for any help that you can give me. I am Mary Geisert Welborn. my e-mail is mlw[ at ]wf.quik.com
One of the crew members on my brothers boat explained to me (in an e-mail) that the MSR-7 was patroling that night in the French Canal. They were ambushed from both sides of the canal. The boat was made of aluminum. They were hit by B40 rocket fire on both sides. It got both engines and the steering capability was gone. The boat was just going around in circles as there were no waves to help them float away. After being hit and with no help being able to get to them, a helicopter finally came down low enough to swish over them & the wind took them close enough to the land. They got out on the land.
My brother had already died, and the others were all hurt but did not die. It threw the interpreter out, and I have recently heard that he died too. The base that was so near was of no help. I think that a Patrol Boat picked the rest of the crew up.
I have legal papers saying that his boat was the MSR-7 and that was a part of his address along with Mine Division 113. Now, I believe he was in TF116, but that has been debated, & I cannot find out for sure. The letter that I received from Charlie in Aug. of '69 was written in Nhe Be, and the last letter written in Sept. '69 was written in Tan Chau. My brother said they were to keep the enemy out of S. Viet Nam. They did more patroling than sweeping, but they did have the Drone boat (remote control) to use some going up into the canals and rivers within a short distance of Cambodia.
My question is (mostly) could a boat with that kind of damage be back into operation that soon after the attack. I have almost finished a scrapbook for my brothers children who were so young at the time of his death. I have had sooooo much help (through your Web) from the Brown Water Sailors. Mr. Dickerson even sent me the original paper for my brother's Memorial Service. Now it was held on the YRBM-21. I have not been able to find anything on the Web about that attack.
One member of the crew came to visit our family and I have a tape of him telling all kinds of things. He is the one that told me about the Vietnamese Army Base being so near them. Thank you so much for anything that you might find out. I thank the Lord for your website as it has helped me with some closure of my brother's death. I have a few pictures of my brother on his boat, but they are close up to where I really don't know how large his boat was in comparison to a River Patrol Boat.
I was originally on M-7, Rivdiv 152 until the turnover to the Vn in 1970. Being a GMG3 and needed for the guns on the boats, I was transferred to Rid45 as an advisor. We went to Seafloat just before the construction on Solid Anchor.
I remember running operations during the day and circle patrol around the pontoons during the night. We lost a number of boats and Vietnamese sailors. We suffered a great deal of damage to the boats still running. I enjoyed working with the Seals, UDT, EOD units. Even occasionally with a Navy Sniper. I was on old M-2 with the Rid. The advisors with me were the best.
I am continually asked the fate of other alphas
Contact the Webmaster with your Info
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BROWNWATER NAVY
ALPHA BOATS PHOTO ALBUM |
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ALPHA BOATS
ALPHA BOATS
AT THE YRBM 20
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THE FOLLOWING
PHOTOS
ARE THE COURTESY OF TOM LEFAVOUR
EMAIL: THOMASL374[ at ]AOL.COM |
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THE FOLLOWING
PHOTOS
ARE THE COURTESY OF ROD KING
EMAIL: rking66555[ at ]aol.com |
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Rod King was my Supervisor on the YRBM 20 in 1970 |
THE FOLLOWING
PHOTOS
ARE THE COURTESY OF SAM CRAWFORD
EMAIL: samispoor[ at ]aol.com |
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PLEASE EMAIL ME
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