USCGC Owasco (WHEC-39) - Vietnam War

Vietnam War

On 13 October 1967, Owasco was assigned to Coast Guard Squadron Three in Vietnam. Under the leadership of Commander William R. Fearn and with a crew of 160, Owasco took part in Operation Market Time, the attempt to interdict communist supply lines by sea.

Owasco departed New London 20 May 1968 for Guantanamo Bay, where her crew underwent refresher training. She then made ports stops at Hawaii, Guam and Subic Bay before arriving in theatre on 23 July of the same year.

Owasco's operational duties in this period were described by a contemporary Coast Guard press release:

Although her patrol areas may change from time to time during the next several months, her duties will not. Market Time units are assigned primarily to keep the Communists from sneaking men, arms and other supplies into the Republic of Vietnam. They include U.S. Navy aircraft, destroyer escort radar picket ships, ocean minesweepers and swift boats and Vietnamese Navy Junk Force craft, as well as 82-foot and high endurance Coast Guard cutters. Owasco is one of five of the latter group, which makes up Coast Guard Squadron Three on duty with the Seventh Fleet's Cruiser-Destroyer Group in Southeast Asia. In addition to keeping track of shipping in their patrol areas and inspecting and searching suspicious water craft and their occupants, Market Time units are often called upon to lend gunfire support to friendly forces ashore. Owasco's 5 inch, .38 caliber main battery is well suited to shore bombardment and she also carries 81 mm mortars and .50 caliber machine guns for close range engagements with the enemy.

Owasco's first Market Time patrol began on 10 August 1968 just south of the Demilitarized Zone in the South China Sea. From 13 September to 3 October 1968 the vessel operated as the SOPA Administrator for all U.S. Naval vessels in Hong Kong, maintaining the shore patrol for the fleet and handling all mail, communications, and matters concerning U.S. naval personnel there. On 1 October 1968, Owasco departed for Subic Bay for a regular upkeep.