CAPTURING SKUNK ALPHA is dedicated to the memory of BM1 Bobby Don Carver, lead petty officer of PCF-79 and to the fifty Swift Boat sailors who bravely gave their all during the Vietnam War. In honor of these courageous sailors’ call to duty and service to our country, the following is a salute to their memory. WE REMEMBER
Tribute to Bobby Don Carver – BM1 Bobby Don Carver was killed in action on December 6, 1967 when Swift Boat PCF-79 was taken under fire, from three bunker positions on the beach, during a Psychological Warfare Operation along the My Lai coastline in Quang Ngai Province, Republic of Vietnam. On July 15, 1967, Carver fired the fatal 81mm white phosphorous round into Skunk Alpha’s pilot house, forcing the 120-ft ammo-laden trawler to run aground. WE REMEMBER. Video created by Sue Edwards Irvin.
Swift Boat Sailors Memorial Video – The web site is a collective effort to build a central repository for all things Swift Boat Sailor related. The information contained within this website has been collected mainly from Swift Boat Sailors themselves to ensure their history is never forgotten. We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for your cherished mementos, your efforts in making this website a part of history and for your service. WE REMEMBER. Bravo Zulu! Site created by Sue Edwards Irvin.
SWIFT BOAT LINKS
Vietnam Unit Memorial Monument – The monument was built by veterans to honor those Navy and Coast Guard sailors who died in Vietnam, in the air, at sea, on inland waters, ashore and in POW camps during the Vietnam War.
PCF-45 – Patrol Craft Fast Web Site, created by boat officer Robert B. Shirley. He dedicated the site to all the officers and sailors who were assigned to Swift Boats during the Vietnam War. It is an in depth look at all things Swift Boats, excellent research site.
Coastal Squadron One – Swift Boat Crew Directory. Swift Boat Sailor Veteran Larry Wasikowski created the site. It contains the history of each Swift Boat and the names of the officers and sailors that served on them during the Vietnam War. A great deal of appreciation is given to Larry Wasikowski (RIP) for keeping the Swift Boat Legacy alive.
Swift Boat Sailors Memorial
The website is a collective effort to build a central repository for all things Swift Boat Sailor related. The information contained within this website has been collected mainly from Swift Boat Sailors themselves to ensure their history is never forgotten. We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for your cherished mementos, your efforts in making this website a part of history and for your service. Bravo Zulu! Site created by Sue Edwards Irvin.
ORAL HISTORIES
Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument
Raúl Herrera — Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument, March 9, 2012; Texan Raúl Herrera recounts his U.S. Navy Swift Boat service during the Vietnam War. The Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument honors all Texans who served.
50th Anniversary of the U.S. Government’s Vietnam War Commemoration Campaign – “The Vietnam War Commemoration Oral History Project collects and preserves video-recorded interviews of Vietnam veterans and their family members. Their stories provide the public with a clearer picture of military service and the effect of that service on the people waiting back home.”
Voces Oral History Program – Voces Oral History Center is dedicated to recording and disseminating the stories of US Latinas and Latinos and weaving the many perspectives into our historical narrative at the national, state and local levels. The University of Texas, Austin, Texas.
StoryCorps – Anthony Herrera interview of his father, Raúl Herrera (Voice recording)
For additional videos please visit SKUNK ALPHA YouTube Channel.
Coastal Squadron One
PCF Honor Crew – Swifties Still On Patrol
| David Joseph Boyle | SN | Woodland, CA | PCF 4 | February 14, 1966 |
| Thomas Edward Hill | BM2 | Knoxville, TN | PCF 4 | February 14, 1966 |
| Jack Charles Rodriquez | EN2 | Jackson Heights, NY | PCF 4 | February 14, 1966 |
| Dayton Luther Rudisill | GMG2 | Greensburg, KS | PCF 4 | February 14, 1966 |
| Raleigh Lee Godley | BM2 | Lawson, MO | PCF 41 | May 22, 1966 |
| Gale Jackson Hays | EN2 | Falling Rock, WV | PCF 9 | October 18, 1966 |
| Eugene Lawrence Self | QM3 | Cateret, NJ | PCF 9 | October 18, 1966 |
| Hubert Tuck Jr | BM2 | Lenoir City, TN | PCF 9 | October 18, 1966 |
| Alvin Lee Levan | GMGSN | Catawissa, PA | PCF 87 | October 25, 1966 |
| Kemper Swanson Billings | BM1 | Burlington, NC | PCF 56 | October 29, 1966 |
| Harry Giles Brock | BM3 | Odessa, TX | PCF 77 | November 15, 1966 |
| Bruce Allan Timmons | RM3 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | PCF 77 | November 15, 1966 |
| Willy S. Baker | MRC | Buffalo, TN | PCF 77 | November 15, 1966 |
| (Non-crewmember – Diver being transported to Hue by PCF 77) | ||||
| Gary Wayne Friedmann | SN | Lebanon, PA | PCF 39 | March 11, 1967 |
| Dennis Ray Puckett | SN | Independance, MO | PCF 63 | March 29, 1967 |
| William Henry Murphy III | LTJG | Madison, WI | —– | November 19, 1967 |
| (Died in a Army helicopter crash outside Qui Nhon – never assigned to a boat/crew) | ||||
| Bobby Don Carver | BM1 | Richmond, CA | PCF 79 | December 6, 1967 |
| Carl Raymond Goodfellow | EN2 | Waterproof, LA | PCF 88 | December 23, 1967 |
| Billy Stanley Armstrong | GMG2 | West Helena, AR | PCF 19 | June 16, 1968 |
| Frank Bowman | QM2 | Waterboro, SC | PCF 19 | June 16, 1968 |
| Anthony Gordon Chandler | BM2 | Warner Robins, GA | PCF 19 | June 16, 1968 |
| Edward C. Cruz | EN2 | Inarajan, Guam | PCF 19 | June 16, 1968 |
| Bui Quang Thi | Da Nang, RVN | PCF 19 | June 16, 1968 | |
| (RVN crewmember/interpreter on board PCF 19) | ||||
| Gerald Dever Pochel | RD3 | Otis, OR | PCF 96 | September 4, 1968 |
| John Patrick McDermott | BM2 | Pittsburg, KS | PCF 98 | September 7, 1968 |
| Richard Charles Simon | BM3 | Ellsworth, WI | November 3, 1968 | |
| David Louis Merrill | EN2 | South Bend, IN | PCF 70 | November 6, 1968 |
| Peter Paul Blasko | BM3 | Southern Pines, NC | PCF 89 | November 8, 1968 |
| Stephan Thomas Volz | BM3 | Lakewood, CA | PCF 89 | November 8, 1968 |
| Richard Courtney Wallace | LTJG | Norfolk, VA | PCF 89 | November 8, 1968 |
| Steven Ralph Luke | BM2 | Provo, UT | PCF 36 | December 6, 1968 |
| John Raymond Hartkemeyer | EN2 | Hamilton, OH | PCF 51 | December 17, 1968 |
| Gerald Robert Horrell | BM3 | North Hollywood, CA | January 5, 1969 | |
| Donald G. Droz | LTJG | Rich Hill, MO | PCF 43 | April 12, 1969 |
| Thomas Eugene Holloway | QM3 | New Castle, IN | PCF 51 | April 12, 1969 |
| Richard L. Baumberger Jr | BM3 | Mansfield, OH | PCF 9 | May 5, 1969 |
| Dewey Russell Decker | EN3 | Ionia, MI | PCF 51 | May 15, 1969 |
| Richard William Stindl | GMG3 | Beloit, WI | PCF 51 | May 15, 1969 |
| Robert Alan Thompson | BM3 | Downey, CA | PCF 51 | May 19, 1969 |
| Kenneth Peter West | RD2 | Butle, MT | June 22, 1969 | |
| Albert Mark Fransen | EN3 | Las Vegas, NV | PCF 87 | July 2, 1969 |
| Glen Cameron Keene | GMG3 | Fairhope, AL | PCF 87 | July 2, 1969 |
| Stephen Joseph Penta | GMG3 | Revere, MA | PCF 57 | August 12, 1969 |
| Robert L. Crosby | LTJG | South Hamilton, MA | —– | September 26, 1969 |
| (CosDiv 12 staff, fatally wounded in an accidental discharge of a .50 caliber machine gun) | ||||
| Richard Laverne Wissler Jr | QM2 | Willow Street, PA | PCF 27 | October 2, 1969 |
| Kenneth Dean Norton | LTJG | Lady Lake, FL | PCF 61 | October 7, 1969 |
| Martin Stephen Doherty | RD3 | New York, NY | PCF 42 | December 4, 1969 |
| Craig Ward Haines | RD3 | Keyser, WV | PCF 22 | February 17, 1970 |
| Frederick Don Snyder | RD3 | Moab, UT | PCF 64 | May 17, 1970 |
| Lanny Howard Buroff | QM2 | Chicago, IL | PCF 40 | July 6, 1970 |
| Joseph Peter Jurgella | QM1 | Stevens Point, WI | PCF 59 | October 25, 1970 |