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MANY SERVED BUT FEW REMEMBER There was a rumor of war in a far off land called VIETNAM and at the age of 19 I felt the sudden patriotic urge to serve. Yes, I felt I "owed" my country four years of service. Where did this feeling come from? Perhaps it was the fate of my birth. My dad (deceased) was a WWII and Korean War vet with 3 Silver Stars, 3 Bronze Stars and 3 Purple Hearts. Although he never spoke of the war, I suspect he instilled a certain degree of pride, integrity and sense of duty in his young son.
So, in April of 1963 I was off to United States Navy boot camp and an "adventure" with unknown destinations. I completed boot camp (as a part of the Honor Guard during graduation) and went off to special training in Dam Neck, Virginia. Then in April of 1964 I joined the crew of the U.S.S. Bausell DD-845. We were a part of Destroyer Squadron XV home ported at the 32nd Street Naval Base in San Diego, California. Within a few months, I was heading off for my first tour of Vietnam. This was early in the United States war effort in Vietnam. The NVA and Viet Cong were just learning that the United States military was a formidable power to deal with. There were many days and nights firing 5" shells into Northern areas of Vietnam in support of U.S. forces (I Corps). Our ports of call included Pearl Harbor, Manila and Olongapo (Philippines), Hong Kong, Tokyo, Yokosuka, Guam, Midway and Kaoshung (in Formosa). We returned to the U.S. in early 1965 and I had the feeling like I had yet to do my part. Whatever that was.
On one sortie (sic) we reached over 60 days on the line. Although we operated outside of visual range of other members of DESRON 5, I believe there were several ships of the squadron on the same patrol. After several weeks out, the Captain informed us that we were ordered to stay on station as long as possible for reasons we were never made aware of. Throughout this patrol, every department worked their butts off to assure no major systems failures occured that would force us in to port. It was a "CAN DO" crew with a total commitment to duty and country. We were expending fuel and armament at such a rate that a resupply ship came along side to replentish us with 5" shells, fuel oil or food stores about every 3 days. Morale was probably at an all time high. When we were finally informed that we were heading in, it was a real let down. I think most of the enlisted men were disappointed but the officers were ready for a port call. I don't recall where our next port of call was after that, but we had plenty of 'pay script' piled up to enjoy ourselves in that city.
By the time I came back to "The World", America had changed too. I started work in the military electronics industry in Palo Alto, California. Even in that environment, people took a step back when they found out I was a Vietnam vet. As early as 1967 we were developing a 'stigma' that would last for over a decade. The anti-war movement was coming into full swing with riots in Berkeley, Stanford, Kent State and all over America. I was asked on many occasions to march in anti-war events in San Fraoncisco and NEVER failed to decline without further comment. I saw the foolishness of our 'strategy' in Vietnam but it thoroughly "ticked" me off to feel and see the attitude of Americans toward US who were returning. You can question the government and the wisdom that put us in the line of fire, but NEVER hold in disrespect those who answered the call.
For many years I spoke little of being a vet. Certainly not in the corporate environment because it seemed to bring a negative impression into the eyes of those who hadn't served. But as time goes by it becomes more important to remember. We haven't addressed the issues faced by many seriously effected RVN vets who did return and the Vietnam issues have been buried behind the new 'Gulf War Syndrome' questions. Here we are, 23 years after the fall of Saigon and we have yet to resolve the issue of MIA's left behind in the "Republic of Vietnam" and other Southeast Asian country's.
Here's another reason for posting these pages. Since I upgraded my computer system to have all the bells and whistles, I've spent more time on the www. I see too many pages and comments were people still hold the individual Vietnam veteran in contempt for going to where we were called. I can see the majority of these comments are from a younger generation (and their teachers who stayed home) who don't have a clue as to what it means to serve when called and that's a shame.
Most of the anti-war people of the Vietnam generation and those who fought have resolved their differences (we even elected one) and made peace together. But I think the youth of this nation are being fed garbage by teachers and books as to what the war was all about and what the men who "SHOWED UP" were like. ENOUGH! Ask us.
Credit for the "welcome" and "brotherhood" images on this and other pages goes to-
It was the spring of 1963 and the Arizona desert was warming toward a hot summer. I had finished an unproductive semester at the University of Arizona studying geology and anthropology. I was inspired in this field from reading too many 'Life' and 'National Geographic' Magazines. Suddenly, it dawned on me that I was not the next Louis B. Leaky and I had no clue how I would earn a living in the future.
By April of 1966 I was ready to return. After some time on 'temporary assignment duty' at the "Silver Strand" in Coronado, CA. and Camp Pendelton Marine Base in Oceanside, Ca. (while the ship was in dry-dock in Vallejo, CA.) my shipmates and I were off to Nam again and Operations known as Market Time and Sea Dragon. We quickly learned that the intensity of the war and the pace of at sea operations had increased. We spent most of our time in the Tonkin Gulf at Yankee Station and all along the Vietnam coast North of Dan Nang. Or missions included shelling enemy positions, plane guard duty with the carriers and rescue ship station FAR to the North in the Tonkin Gulf. Our days and nights were spent interdicting coastal shipping and destroying enemy supply vessels. Our Northern operations included refueling Sea King choppers sent on rescue missions for downed pilots in the vacinity of Hanoi and disrupting VC supply routes to the south. Most patrols involved well over 30 days on station none stop and the 'Grayhound of the fleet' had some holes put in her by hostile gunfire.
I say to you all, if you have a friend or relative who served in Vietnam don't forget their service. If you haven't already, the next time you see them take a moment and simply say WELCOME HOME! That's all we ever wanted.
This guy is a Vietnam veteran, a gifted electronic artist with varied interests and thousands of original images. Click on the bar and pay a visit.
For more about life aboard a United States Navy man-a-war, click on the image or the South China Sea button below.
There are about eight more pages of pictures and discussion. I've included some links about Vietnam and related sights.
Or visit the Vietnam Veterans Web Ring by clicking on the banner farther down.
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NOTE: If you're not touring the ring, do not use the 'previous' and 'skip it' buttons. They ONLY relate to the RING. I provide a link to it because it lists over 500 sites to Vietnam War related information including personal home pages of veterans and organizations.
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Rick Broadhead
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Visitor since April 11, 1998
Last updated: 07/10/99
Web Author: Rick Broadhead