Remembrance

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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ORAL HISTORIES

United States Navy Memorial Log – Matt Fash interview of Herrera at the May 2011 Swift Boat Sailors Association Reunion in San Antonio, Texas, a six-part series.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

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 ProgramVoces 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)

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For additional videos please visit SKUNK ALPHA YouTube Channel. 

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Coastal Squadron One

PCF Honor Crew – Swifties Still On Patrol

 

     David Joseph BoyleSNWoodland, CAPCF 4February 14, 1966
     Thomas Edward HillBM2Knoxville, TNPCF 4February 14, 1966
     Jack Charles RodriquezEN2Jackson Heights, NYPCF 4February 14, 1966
     Dayton Luther RudisillGMG2Greensburg, KSPCF 4February 14, 1966
     Raleigh Lee GodleyBM2Lawson, MOPCF 41May 22, 1966
     Gale Jackson HaysEN2Falling Rock, WVPCF 9October 18, 1966
     Eugene Lawrence SelfQM3Cateret, NJPCF 9October 18, 1966
     Hubert Tuck JrBM2Lenoir City, TNPCF 9October 18, 1966
     Alvin Lee LevanGMGSNCatawissa, PAPCF 87October 25, 1966
     Kemper Swanson BillingsBM1Burlington, NCPCF 56October 29, 1966
     Harry Giles BrockBM3Odessa, TXPCF 77November 15, 1966
     Bruce Allan TimmonsRM3Fort Lauderdale, FLPCF 77November 15, 1966
     Willy S. BakerMRCBuffalo, TNPCF 77November 15, 1966
(Non-crewmember – Diver being transported to Hue by PCF 77)
     Gary Wayne FriedmannSNLebanon, PAPCF 39March 11, 1967
     Dennis Ray PuckettSNIndependance, MOPCF 63March 29, 1967
     William Henry Murphy IIILTJGMadison, WI—–November 19, 1967
(Died in a Army helicopter crash outside Qui Nhon – never assigned to a boat/crew)
     Bobby Don CarverBM1Richmond, CAPCF 79December 6, 1967
     Carl Raymond GoodfellowEN2Waterproof, LAPCF 88December 23, 1967
     Billy Stanley ArmstrongGMG2West Helena, ARPCF 19June 16, 1968
     Frank BowmanQM2Waterboro, SCPCF 19June 16, 1968
     Anthony Gordon ChandlerBM2Warner Robins, GAPCF 19June 16, 1968
     Edward C. CruzEN2Inarajan, GuamPCF 19June 16, 1968
     Bui Quang ThiDa Nang, RVNPCF 19June 16, 1968
(RVN crewmember/interpreter on board PCF 19)
     Gerald Dever PochelRD3Otis, ORPCF 96September 4, 1968
     John Patrick McDermottBM2Pittsburg, KSPCF 98September 7, 1968
     Richard Charles SimonBM3Ellsworth, WINovember 3, 1968
     David Louis MerrillEN2South Bend, INPCF 70November 6, 1968
     Peter Paul BlaskoBM3Southern Pines, NCPCF 89November 8, 1968
     Stephan Thomas VolzBM3Lakewood, CAPCF 89November 8, 1968
     Richard Courtney WallaceLTJGNorfolk, VAPCF 89November 8, 1968
     Steven Ralph LukeBM2Provo, UTPCF 36December 6, 1968
     John Raymond HartkemeyerEN2Hamilton, OHPCF 51December 17, 1968
     Gerald Robert HorrellBM3North Hollywood, CAJanuary 5, 1969
     Donald G. DrozLTJGRich Hill, MOPCF 43April 12, 1969
     Thomas Eugene HollowayQM3New Castle, INPCF 51April 12, 1969
     Richard L. Baumberger JrBM3Mansfield, OHPCF 9May 5, 1969
     Dewey Russell DeckerEN3Ionia, MIPCF 51May 15, 1969
     Richard William StindlGMG3Beloit, WIPCF 51May 15, 1969
     Robert Alan ThompsonBM3Downey, CAPCF 51May 19, 1969
     Kenneth Peter WestRD2Butle, MTJune 22, 1969
     Albert Mark FransenEN3Las Vegas, NVPCF 87July 2, 1969
     Glen Cameron KeeneGMG3Fairhope, ALPCF 87July 2, 1969
     Stephen Joseph PentaGMG3Revere, MAPCF 57August 12, 1969
     Robert L. CrosbyLTJGSouth Hamilton, MA—–September 26, 1969
(CosDiv 12 staff, fatally wounded in an accidental discharge of a .50 caliber machine gun)
     Richard Laverne Wissler JrQM2Willow Street, PAPCF 27October 2, 1969
     Kenneth Dean NortonLTJGLady Lake, FLPCF 61October 7, 1969
     Martin Stephen DohertyRD3New York, NYPCF 42December 4, 1969
     Craig Ward HainesRD3Keyser, WVPCF 22February 17, 1970
     Frederick Don SnyderRD3Moab, UTPCF 64May 17, 1970
     Lanny Howard BuroffQM2Chicago, ILPCF 40July 6, 1970
     Joseph Peter JurgellaQM1Stevens Point, WIPCF 59October 25, 1970