THE HISTORY OF A REAL BROWN WATER BOAT HERO IN THE VIETNAM ERA

[Bill Rutledge]

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT SEAWOLF DET FLEW THIS MISSION                                                              THE HISTORY OF A REAL BROWN WATER BOAT HERO IN THE VIETNAM ERA

After destroying one of two fleeting sampans in the Mekong Delta of South Vietnam on 31 October 1966, Patrol Officer BM1 James E. Williams in PBR-105 and the sister boat PBR-99 sped off in pursuit of the second sampan. But this target ducked into a narrow rivulet too small for the PBR's to follow.

Williams, who knew the area well from months of patrols, directed his two boats in a high-speed detour to a spot he knew the fleeing sampan would eventually emerge. Both threaded an alternative channel too narrow for the boats to reverse course. At nearly 35 knots they roared up the twisting passage--the heavily-jungled bank passing in a green blur. Then as they rounded a bend to an area of more open water, to the surprise of all aboard, they stumbled into a major staging area for the North Vietnamese Army. Thirty to forty sampans were crossing the channel, each loaded to the gunwales with NVA troops and supplies. The enemy was equally surprised and sprang to their guns. Along the shore the familiar "thonk" of mortars could be heard. Williams had no choice but to gun his engines straight at the enemy! Tracers streaked across the water. Williams ran his boat directly at several sampans, splitting them in half under the sharp bow of his rocketing speedboat. The PBR's twisted and jinked, blazed their weapons, and spilled hundreds of dead and dying NVA troops into the water. The speed and maneuverability of the Americans kept them ahead of the enemy return fire. They blasted through the enemy formation and back into the narrow channel beyond.

Momentarily safe, the PBR's sped onward. Williams called in Navy helicopter air support, but as his speedboats rounded another bend they found themselves smack in the middle of a second staging area as big as the first! Again the narrow channel determined their fate, and both PBR's sped boldly at the enemy. For a second time their machine guns blazed. For a second time splinters flew from enemy sampans and NVA soldiers spilled into the water. And for a second time the two American gunboats sliced through the enemy, blasting and ramming as they went. Secondary explosions from several of the larger junks confirmed Williams' suspicion that they were ammunition and supply vessels.
Overhead the Navy "Seawolf" gunships riddled the enemy, but rather than stand safely off Williams turned back. For the next three hours PBR's-105 and 99 cut through the assemblage, engaging shore guns and surface craft in a confusing tempest of gunfire. When the smoke finally cleared Williams' boats had destroyed over 65 sampans, killed 1000-1200 enemy troops, and disrupted a major marshalling of NVA forces. For his dedication and valor this day, Williams was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Despite three hours of intense combat, Williams' crew received only two casualties--one gunner was shot through the wrist, and Williams himself was wounded by shrapnel.

[Dan Arnes]

Don't know who it was Bill, but it had to be one of HC-1 Dets 29, 27, or 25 crews.

HC-1 Det 21 didn't arrive until 28 November, 1966. It also wasn't the Army Sea Wolves as the Navy took over Operation Game Warden in September 1966.

Dan

[Dan Arnes]

Bill found this action also described in the article "A History of HELATKLTRON THREE The Seawolves, by James D. Sprinkle"
from the Winter 1988 Journal American Aviation Historical Society.
I am attaching an excerpt of page 294 here:



This article shows that HC-1 Det 25 was involved with the action, so I have also attached an
HC-1 Det 25 List showing who may have been on the mission.
It would have been at least 8 of the 15 names here....(AO3 Roger Childers would not have been there)



Dan

[Bill Rutledge]

Dan, Talked to the Pilot and senior gunner that were on lead gunship on the above PBr mission and what a different Story they Have about the Not so heroic Mission