HOM: Precommissioning details

I took 30 days leave when I left the Crockett and went home. I don't remember any details of the visit. My orders were to report to COSRON3, which had been transferred from Cam Ranh to San Diego, as part of the pre-commisioning detail -- the crew-to-be -- for the USS Grand Rapids, PG-98. I checked in there the end of May. ----------

Coastal Squadron THREE (COMCOSRON3) was established at Cam Ranh Bay, Republic of Vietnam, October 1968 under the command of CDR A. G. Hodge. The next Squadron Commander was CDR Charles F. Horne, who served until 1 July 1969 when he was relieved at Cam Ranh Bay by CDR Charles A. Dodd. Cdr Dodd immediately returned to San Diego, California as the home port of the Squadron shifted from Cam Ranh Bay to San Diego on 1 July 1969 concurrent with the change of command. The three Patrol Gunboats in Vietnam, USS ASHEVILLE (PG-84), USS GALLUP (PG-85), USS CROCKETT (PG-88) came under the Administrative Command of Coastal Division THIRTY-TWO, established on 1 July 1969 at Cam Ranh Bay with a homeport of Guam, Marianna Islands, LCDR John R. Swain Commanding. LCDR Swain was the former Chief Staff Officer of Coastal Squadron THREE. The Patrol Gunboats in San Diego, USS ANTELOPE (PG-86), USS READY (PG-87), USS MARATHON (PG-89) and USS CANON (PG-90) are assigned CCR-3 ---------- The insignia above, by the way, was painted on the 88 and replicated on the badges that we wore on our berets. ----------

I was traveling light when I reported for duty. I hadn't seen my sea bag since I checked it in for the flight to Kalispell so one of the first items on my agenda was to replace the stuff I needed.

Being back in SD was like a homecoming. I ran into old Crockett crew members, renewed my friendships in Ocean beach, and made some new friends. I was back with Chief Wright, who was assigned to COSRON3. We got along a lot better there than we had in Nam, I suppose because of the lack of stress. He was under a lot less pressure in the states. I also ran into an old high school classmate, Niles Gee. I had last seen him when I was in EM "A" school in '68 and he was waiting for his USN discharge, having enlisted right after HS graduation. This time, he had just re-enlisted after a failed marriage. I haven't seen him since, and often wonder how he has fared since.

The officers and the senior crew members of the 98 were in Tacoma and the rest of us were in San Diego while the finishing touches were applied to the boat. Once it was commissioned it would be ported in San Diego. The 98 was a PG like the Crockett, but the layout differed in some details. The 98 was a Tacoma-class PG while the 88 was an Asheville-class boat. The 98's hull, like all of the PG's, had been laid down at Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. in Tacoma, WA and was launched 4 April 1970. The next five months were spent completing it and getting it ready for use. San Diego was great duty! I had a couple of months to kill before I would be sent to Tacoma so I relaxed and really enjoyed life as a semi-civilian while I puttered about at COSRON3, until Mr. P's comment in my service record caught the attention of Cdr Dodd. He called me into his office and talked to me about my thoughts and feelings on PG's. He said he didn't want anyone to serve on one unwillingly and would be happy to send me to one of my "dream sheet" choices. I explained (lied, actually -- I didn't want to give up the cushy billet I was in!) that I had been advised the 98 was heading back to RVN waters as soon as it was commissioned, but now that I knew it was to stay in the states for the forseeable future I had no objection to PG duty. I convinced him that I was sincere (and I REALLY was!) in wanting to stick with the 98 and he decided to let me stay in the program. I liked him. Officers that really cared were rare. Life got back to normal for a while. TBC (Me) (Home)