The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The Gulf of Tonkin Incident (8/2/64) - Aug. 3rd, 2003

Military History Magazine ^ | 28 July, 1997 | Captain Ronnie E. Ford, U.S. Army

[SAMWolf]

[SAMWolf]

OK. Snippy and I have decided to allow you to brew your coffe but you have to post this warning label near the pot.

[snippy_about_it]

LOL. We are having fun with his coffee now!!

[SAMWolf]

[snippy_about_it]

[SAMWolf]

The USS de Haven (DD-727) provides anti-aircraft and anti-submarine protection for the carrier USS Coral Sea (CVA-64) while on Yankee Station, an operational staging area just off the coast of North Vietnam. The winter monsoon in that region is characterized by consistent heavy clouds and rainfall that make operations difficult.

[snippy_about_it]

Very nice painting. Thanks.

[SAMWolf]

A pair of Navy F-4 Phantoms of VF-84 prepare to recover aboard the carrier U.S.S. Independence, after a combat mission in 1965.

[Samwise]

Many times I heard the Gaffer say that Democrats start wars and the Republicans win them.

I never understood. I'm beginning to.

[Samwise]

Here are the doughnuts. I'll pass on the coffee. Thanks, though. LOL

[snippy_about_it]

Good afternoon. Thanks for the doughnuts. Wise move on the coffee. ;)

[snippy_about_it]

[Victoria Delsoul]

Happy Sunday, everyone! Hope you have a nice trip, Sam.

click on the graphic

[SAMWolf]

I got dibs on the chocolate one!!

[snippy_about_it]

I left out that post 52 is of the USS Maddox.

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Victoria. Where'd you find my baby picture? John Denver did Mr. BoJangles?

[Diver Dave]

Mornin' SAM.

I read Valin's calendar yesterday and saw the USS MADDOX anniversary listed.

We were in Yokosuka when that incident occurred or didn't occur. There were probably 20 plus ships in port at the time. Mid-day, all liberty was cancelled. By nightfall, all ships save about 5 had weighed anchor and headed for what would later be known as Yankee Station. The next day, we were underway for Subic Bay, PI. Subic was closer to Vietnam than Yokosuka, so we set up shop there offering tender availabilities (repairs) to the fleet from our new digs.

The MADDOX and C. TURNER JOY came along side for a tender availability within the next few weeks. Scuttlebutt at the time stated that you could see areas where they had taken enemy fire but I never saw any of it. All the talk going around was scuttlebutt. No one was talking with any authority. Nonetheless, the subsequent build-up of ships to the area over time, meant more work and longer hours for us in the repair dept. on the tender while ship's company on the tin cans were able to take advantage of the R&R period in Subic.

Our later WESTPAC cruises ('65 and '66-67) would place us in Subic and Kaoshiung, Taiwan for most of the tender services. Yokosuka and Sasebo Japan became R&R ports-of-call for us as was Hong Kong.

Thanks for the Tonkin Gulf thread. Another trip down memory lane. What amounted to a peacetime enlistment became a wartime enlistment for me. Not complaining at all. I'd do it all again.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Oh, you look adorable in that picture so I had to post it. Yeah, Denver did BoJangles, I didn't know that either until a little while ago, LOL.

[snippy_about_it]

Good afternoon Victoria, there's that cute baby again.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the Tonkin Gulf thread. Another trip down memory lane. What amounted to a peacetime enlistment became a wartime enlistment for me. Not complaining at all. I'd do it all again.

You're Welcome DD. In case I never said it before, thanks for your service.