Its been 42 since we (HMM-165) were operating from the USS Tripoli in the Gulf of Tonkin. I must be getting old. 62 in November. I remember hearing armed forces radio and seeing copies of Stars and Stripes both saying the NVA had come over the DMZ in large numbers and were invading the south. While off shore near the DMZ at night we could see tracer rounds and see and hear explosions. I remember hearing on the radio Nixon warning them of massive bombing raids on the north if they did withdraw from south Vietnam. After some weeks we went up north off of the coast of north Vietnam near the port of Hai Phong. SEALs mined the harbor at that time. We were told we were 40 miles from Hanoi. I havent looked at a map in a long time but I think its more like 80 miles. Our job was to rescue downed fixed wing pilots and crew. We were told everything that could fly in west pac bombed Hanoi and Hai Phong. A major told us there had not been as much tonnage dropped in one night by the US since WW2. After some hours of them dropping incendiaries and HEs to arc light Hai Phong we could see the fires on shore and feel the concussion of the HEs in our lungs. Through the grace of God I dont think anyone got shot down who it was possible to rescue because no birds took off from the Tripoli and none of us had to fly in there.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Mar 2014 15:45:51 +0000
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