Thursday, June 20, 1968
At Sea, SAR Station. AAW Station, 19th Parallel. Condition III Set. Warm, Sunny. 0900 — Catholic Divine Services. 1000 — Refuel from USS Kennebec (AO-46) 3rd Class Mail Received. 1 Package. 1030 — Vert. Rep. from USS Niagra Falls (AFS-3).
Original Logbook Page
Meanwhile on Market Time — Given's letter, 20 June 1968: Mike's FTG "A" school classmate W.F. "Giv" Given (FTG-3, SN 7942408) wrote from a DER (radar picket escort ship) on Operation Market Time patrol. His ship served as mother ship to 4 Swift boats, carrying ammo, fuel, spare parts, and spare crews: "Once each day, each boat, comes alongside for a spare crew and re-supply." He'd been doing river supply runs and had no laundry or fresh water showers since Taiwan. Turning 20 and celebrating his 1st anniversary, Given was getting orders to USS Tulare (AKA-112) out of San Diego in September — a ship with 6x 3"/50 gun mounts relevant to his FTG rate. He planned to be in Subic July 3–25, then Guam for 5 weeks: "Just think Duc — pretty soon we're half way." [Given's letter to Mike]
Letters
WF Given to MikeGiven to Mike
Thurs. 20 Jun
Greetings Duc,
Well ol' buddy whats it like
in the real Navy?
I haven't heard from you
recently so I decided to write.
We just finished up making river
supply runs. We now are on market
time patrol. You may know exactly
what I'm talking about. In case
you don't - I explain a little.
We carry ammo, fuel, and spare
parts along with a spare crew
for 4 swift boats. Once each
day, each boat, comes alongside
for a spare crew and re-supply.
You've read enough about swifts
to know they check all junks
and watch the coast line.
Well ol' buddy do you
remember in school when we were
told about type desks. I wrote
to the Ft Branch and to a
senator about wanting a one year
tour because I'm married.
Guess what - I am leaving here
in Sept for 30 days leave and
then reporting to the USS
Tulare AKA 112. It has 6-3"50's
and quite a bit of FT gear -
I have a lot to learn before
I get there.
#2
I've been searching for info
on 3" mounts but no luck so far.
I hope they have patience with
me. Maybe I can learn
some electronics while I'm
there.
Well are you going for
second class this fall? I
think I'll take the test but
if I do pass I'm not extending
for second. (in Navy)
Well I'm over 3 now, celebrated
my 20th birthday, 1st anniversary
and decided the Navy's not
for me - how about you. I've
been getting nothing but
screwed over. We have had
laundry or fresh water showers
since we left Taiwan. I've
spent so much time on watch
on this thing - I almost
live in the pilot house or
after-steering.
Well not much else is
happening. I don't have any
Purple Heart or Navy Cross
yet. We've got the
usual 3 ribbons & we're up
for unit citation.
#3.
My new ship is out of Diego
so maybe I'll see you.
Just think Duc - pretty
soon we're half way.
Well I best go.
Take care & write,
Sincerely
Giv
P.S. Plan to be in Subic from
3 July to 25th then Guam
for 5 weeks just in case
you are
Original Scans
Documents
Jouett JargonShip Pubs
June 20, 1968 "Jouett Jargon"
SAVE
HOBART
MANILA (UPI)--THE AUSTRALIAN DESTROYER HMAS HOBART STEAMED INTO THE BIG U.S. NAVAL BASE OF SUBIC BAY IN THE PHILLIPINES TODAY FOR REPAIRS FOLLOWING A ROCKET ATTACK OFF THE VIETNAM COAST.
HOBART WAS HIT SUNDAY BY AN "AIR-TO-AIR ROCKET POSSIBLY FIRED BY FRIENDLY AIRCRAFT," ACCORDING TO AN AUSTRALIAN SPOKESMAN IN SAIGON. THE ATTACK WHICH COST THE LIVES OF TWO AUSTRALIAN SAILORS, OCCURRED IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA NEAR THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE DIVIDING THE TWO VIETNAMS.
A U.S. NAVAL SPOKESMAN SAID THE AUSTRALIAN SHIP ARRIVED ABOUT 8 A.M. (2400 GMT) AND TIED UP AT ONE OF THE BASE'S MAIN DOCKS. THE BASE, ON THE WESTERN COAST OF LUZON, IS ABOUT 60 AIR MILES FROM MANILA BUT TAKES SIX HOURS TO REACH BY ROAD.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID HE HAD NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
THE AUSTRALIAN SPOKESMAN IN SAIGON DECLINED TO GIVE THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE TO THE DESTROYER WHICH HAS BEEN IN VIETNAM WATERS SINCE MARCH. THAT THE SHIP SAILED FOR SUBIC BAY MAY HAVE INDICATED THE ROCKET RIPPED INTO SOME VITAL GEAR.
DETAILS OF THE ATTACK WERE SKETCHY. IT OCCURRED ABOUT THE SAME TIME THAT AMERICAN PLANES WERE SHOOTING DOWN SEVEN COMMUNIST HELICOPTERS OPERATING OVER SOUTH VIETNAM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE WAR.
[Handwritten annotation: "This gave us a scare!"]
---
[Top of page 2 — partial fragment from preceding article:]
...WHOLE RANGE OF WEAPONS SUCH AS MACHINE GUNS, BAZOOKAS, MORTARS AND ANTI-TANK GUNS.
VIOLENCE
WASHINGTON (UPI)--CHAIRMAN MILTON EISENHOWER SAID TUESDAY THE PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION ON VIOLENCE WOULD INVESTIGATE THREE MAJOR AREAS OF LAWLESSNESS--POLITICAL ASSASSINATION, CRIMINAL ATTACKS ON INDIVIDUALS AND CIVIL DISORDERS SUCH AS RIOTS.
IN A STATEMENT AFTER THE FIRST MEETING OF THE 10-MEMBER COMMISSION NAMED BY PRESIDENT JOHNSON AFTER THE SLAYING OF SEN. ROBERT F. KENNEDY, EISENHOWER SAID:
"WE ARE TODAY A FREE AND PROGRESSIVE SOCIETY. WE SHALL REMAIN SO BY FINDING WAYS TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS WITHOUT VIOLENCE. WE HOPE OUR COMMISSION CAN HELP TO ILLUMINATE THE PATH... WE EXPRESS OUR CONFIDENCE THAT LIBERTY, PROGRESS AND ORDER ARE NOT IRRECONCILABLE."
EISENHOWER SAID THAT IN ADDITION TO THE THREE MAJOR AREAS OF INVESTIGATION THE COMMISSION ALSO WOULD STUDY THE SALE AND CONTROL OF GUNS, THE STRUCTURE OF LAW AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THEORETICAL, CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS AND OTHER FACTORS RELATING TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF VIOLENCE.
EISENHOWER SAID THE COMMISSION WOULD FIRST SEEK TO MEASURE THE EXTENT OF VIOLENCE AND UNDERSTAND ITS CAUSES AND "DEVELOP CONCRETE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONTROL AND REDUCE THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHICH SEEMS TO BE SCOURGING THIS NATION."
"WE STARTED WORK WITH OPEN MINDS," EISENHOWER ADDED. "BUT WE DO NOT BEGIN OUR EFFORT AT DEAD CENTER."