SwiftVets.com

[LimaCharlie]

I was a Seaman (E-3) Electronics Technician assigned to an LCM-8 (Mike Boat) during amphibious operations. My primary duty on the boat was to man the port .50 cal and my secondary duty was to repair radios and other electronics equipment on all of the boats.

I had just completed electronics technician school and flown over from San Francisco to catch my ship. My formal training on the .50 cal was on the way in to land Marines at Camp Tien Sha - Da Nang in 1965. It consisted of “Here is how to load it. When you want to shoot, push here with both thumbs. Hang on tight because it will rise on you. Aim low to start and it will come up on target. Sweep it left or right for effect. Don‘t shoot across the boat, leave that to the starboard .50. If you have a problem, yell. Got it?” I said yes, but I was scared sh..less looking over the 150 Marines in combat gear in the well of that boat.

I later met all of the qualifications as a boat coxswain which allowed you to proudly wear the symbol on your uniform. I was told that that was not a qualification that an electronics technician could hold because it was not part of my rate qualifications. I was told if I wanted to wear a coxswain symbol, I had to change from electronics technician to boatswains mate. None of this was documented because it was not on my rate qualification sheet. It was noted in my quarterly report that “During this period, ETSN XYZ was assigned to the landing boats for radio repair during amphibious operations.” However, it was documented and initialed off on my rate qualification sheet during this same time that I properly demonstrated how to clean up a broken radioactive vacuum tube. I had to demonstrate that skill every six months.

I don’t know how it is in the Navy now, but that is how it was when the Viet Nam buildup started. They really didn't document small-arms qualifications unless someone mentioned it in your quarterly report evaluation.
_________________
I was going to become an anarchist, but they had too many rules.

[rbshirley]

[Dane]

I was a Gunnery Officer aboard an LST, responsible for the training of the Ship´s Defense Force. I don´t remember any special records that would have ended up in the service jackets of the troops that documented any weapons quals. The quals would have been included as a mention in the enlisted performance evaluations - but only as an aside. It is expected that someone assigned to a shooting position be qualified as a shooter.

I was then assigned to Special Boats - the modern version of Swift boats. We fired every weapon imaginable. I dont´t show any special mention of these quals in my records. From .22-cal "Hushpuppies" to 9mm, .45ACP, M-16, scoped Remington 760´s, M-60s, M-79s, .50-cals, 20mm MG , 60mm mortars and 80mm naval mortars, there is nothing in my records to show qualification on these weapons. But I know that I did it. I had blisters on my trigger finger after a det to Niland, CA. I spent more than six hours each day in the Kill House at Niland firing a 9mm (SIG/Saur P225, I believe, or perhaps a P235). Killed a lot of virtual hostages !!

Given all of that, if someone is familiar with an M-79, he is not going to unload one close enough to shore so that the back-splash can arrive to the firing area. In the heat of a perceived battle, someone can be forgiven for this sort of error. I don´t believe, though, that a tiny splinter should have been parlayed into a Purple Heart. As an aside, we used ours only for illum rounds but, as an anecdote, I fired an HE on Saipan at line-of-sight at about fifty yards against a 1/2" metal plate with no back-splash. Therefore, Kerry must have fired into the rocks at about twenty yards. Pretty damned stupid.



The 1650 states that a Purple Heart is justified if the wound requires immediate medical attention. Kerry waited until the following day to present himself in medical facilitities. And the treatment was a Band-Aid. Hardly deserving of an award.

Dane

[Dane]

I was a Gunnery Officer aboard an LST, responsible for the training of the Ship´s Defense Force. I don´t remember any special records that would have ended up in the service jackets of the troops that documented any weapons quals. The quals would have been included as a mention in the enlisted performance evaluations - but only as an aside. It is expected that someone assigned to a shooting position be qualified as a shooter.

I was then assigned to Special Boats - the modern version of Swift boats. We fired every weapon imaginable. I dont´t show any special mention of these quals in my records. From .22-cal "Hushpuppies" to 9mm, .45ACP, M-16, scoped Remington 760´s, M-60s, M-79s, .50-cals, 20mm MG , 60mm mortars and 80mm naval mortars, there is nothing in my records to show qualification on these weapons. But I know that I did it. I had blisters on my trigger finger after a det to Niland, CA. I spent more than six hours each day in the Kill House at Niland firing a 9mm (SIG/Saur P225, I believe, or perhaps a P235). Killed a lot of virtual hostages !!

Given all of that, if someone is familiar with an M-79, he is not going to unload one close enough to shore so that the back-splash can arrive to the firing area. In the heat of a perceived battle, someone can be forgiven for this sort of error. I don´t believe, though, that a tiny splinter should have been parlayed into a Purple Heart. As an aside, we used ours only for illum rounds but, as an anecdote, I fired an HE on Saipan at line-of-sight at about fifty yards against a 1/2" metal plate with no back-splash. Therefore, Kerry must have fired into the rocks at about twenty yards. Pretty damned stupid.



The 1650 states that a Purple Heart is justified if the wound requires immediate medical attention. Kerry waited until the following day to present himself in medical facilitities. And the treatment was a Band-Aid. Hardly deserving of an award.

Dane

[Dane]

Belay my last. Weapon cuals were entered on Page 13 (Admin remarks)of the service record. I seem to remember that quals resulting in a marksmanship ribbon were also entered on Page 6 but my memory is really fuzzy on this.

Dane

[Porsche944]

Dane:

Page 13 and Page 6 sound right.
_________________
Cliff Hipsher
ICC USN (Ret.)
7/70-6/92

[Dane]

That being said, I don´t remember any specific quals for the M-79 such as "15 rounds at a distance of X with 90% arriving to target". We just went out and started playing with them under supervision and instruction and called it "Fam Fire".

Dane

[Wing Wiper]

[Hueygunner]

An M-60's barrel will glow red when fired for a long time -- on the ground. But this is not the case with a M-60 mounted on a Huey. I learned this fact the hard way.

I was firing my M-60 and it jammed. In the haste of the moment, I grabbed the barrel and released the lock. My right palm was on fire. I couldn't let go of the barrel because we were flying over a jungle. I latched the barrel back and then cleared the jam. I felt so stupid. I didn't even complain about it over the intercom. And I didn't go to the doctor the next day. My palm scabbed over and finally healed.