SwiftVets.com

scraper3 · Seaman Recruit Joined: 21 Aug 2004 Posts: 13

how does an electrical officer from a DDG get a PCF command in the first place?

Navy_Navy_Navy · Admin Joined: 07 May 2004 Posts: 5777

Kerry was a line officer and command Swifts would have helped him get a ticket punched on the way to a Navy career.

He requested to go to Swifts after only a year on the USS Gridley and it was approved.
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Altering course to starboard - On Fire, Keep Clear
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scraper3 · Seaman Recruit Joined: 21 Aug 2004 Posts: 13

Navy3

My best to you and all associated with SBVT!

I'm listening to John O'neil on KSFO right now.

He must have had a minder. It's incredulous that the Navy would give a command to an officer with marginal fitreps and little or no ship handling experience or combat fleet ops other than plane guard duty.

PhuCat to Phu Quoc · Lt.Jg. Joined: 24 May 2004 Posts: 110 Location: California

ASPB · Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 3:59 am Post subject:

In TF-116 River Patrol Boat Boat Captains were generally P02 (E-5) Boatswain's Mates, Quartermasters, Gunners Mates....Blackshoe deck ratings. Patrol officers were deck rating CPOs (E-7,8,9) and Junior Officers like Kerry and occassionaly an experienced PO1 (E-6). They would be in charge of two-boat patrols. Larger group acitivities would generally have a LT (0-3) as OTC (officer in tactical command)

In TF-117 Rivererine the Boat Captains were deck rating Petty Officer's (E-5,6). The OTC could be as high as a LCDR (O-4) Division Commander on large missions enploying a CCB (Command and Control Boat)

There was one Bastard Division in 1969-70 which was my 2nd division, 595/153 Delta Destroyers, which served in both TF116 and TF117. You'll see its first shoulder patch below.

It had mainly E-6 and E-7 Patrol Officers and E-5 Boat Captains. Patrol officers were in charge of 2 50 foot heavily armed ASPBs and performed missions similar to those performed by PBR's. I was a plankowner and Patrol Officer RivDiv 595/153.

One reason Swifts had O-type OinCs was that their original mission included operating as much as 50 NM offshore. This required coastal navigation skills that many (not all) E-types didn't possess.
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On Sale! Order in lots of 100 now at velero@rcn.com Free for the cost of shipping All profits (if any, especially now) go to Swiftvets. The author of "Sink Kerry Swiftly" ---ASPB

PhuCat to Phu Quoc · Lt.Jg. Joined: 24 May 2004 Posts: 110 Location: California

ASPB · Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:32 am Post subject:

EN3 and sometimes even EN2s on Riverine boats.

A typical ASPB, where my experience was, would include.

1 BM, GM, SM QM, etc 2nd class as boat captain
1 ENSN, EN3, EN2 as engineer and stern .50 Cal gunner
1 RD3 or RM3 as radar/radio operator
2 GMGSN or GMG3 Turret gunners to handle the .20MM cannon and M-18 40MM coffee-grinder grenade launchers.

A two boat Patrol in 595/153 would carry 1 E-6 or E-7 deck rated Patrol Officer.

That's what I did for last 7 months of my tour as a BM1. The first 5 months were spent as a Boat Captain in RIVDIV 92. A short stint on an ATC but most of the time as BC of ASPB 92-8.
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On Sale! Order in lots of 100 now at velero@rcn.com Free for the cost of shipping All profits (if any, especially now) go to Swiftvets. The author of "Sink Kerry Swiftly" ---ASPB

scraper3 · Seaman Recruit Joined: 21 Aug 2004 Posts: 13

PHUCAT & ASPB

My point is this,: Kerry spent about 4months total on the Gridley. 3 of those months in the war zone. A guided missle frigate in operation with a task force would operate at a radius of approx. 20 miles from the carrier on a threat axis. Little steaming say at 1500 yds from a carrier. Kerry didn't make OOD{F} while on the Gridley. Kerry strengths according to the fitreps was as PAO & deck crew chief, no mention of shiphandling or performance in combat. Space was limited in the PCF program.

The Gridley was temporarily decomissioned for 2 years after Kerry's first
cruise. Could it be that the Navy simply needed to put him somewhere and that he had requested swift boats?

ASPB · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 4:20 am Post subject:

All I know is that he requested Swift Duty on his first day at sea on his 1st Westpac on the Gridley. He'd been aboard in Long Beach since about July of 67. When they left Long Beach for a Westpac he wanted out. Seasick?

And yes, Swift duty was in demand at the time because it was a "command" billet with little risk compared to what was going on in the Brown Water Navy.
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On Sale! Order in lots of 100 now at velero@rcn.com Free for the cost of shipping All profits (if any, especially now) go to Swiftvets. The author of "Sink Kerry Swiftly" ---ASPB

scraper3 · Seaman Recruit Joined: 21 Aug 2004 Posts: 13

ASPB

Kerry: 11/17/66 BUPERS orders, assigned 10 weeks DCAC. Gridley 1/3/67 left Subic for South China Sea, 6/8/67 arrive Long Beach after stop over in Australia, then to Maine for retrofit--temp decommission 2yrs. Kerry was not on the Gridley very long.

Unfortunate quirk of fate that he ended up where he did, maybe? I wonder if Kerry's detailer could be located?

Check out http://home.nycap.rr.com/pwcarter and see what the XO and shipmates on the Gridley have to say. Needless to say ...he lied.

(fixed the link)