Vietnam War
I was part of the original recommisioning crew at Tod Shipyard in San Padro CA 1966. served my first tour in Vietnam on her Hampshire County recommissioned on 9 July 1966 for use in the Vietnam War. By 9 September she had completed shakedown training and on 24 September left Del Mar, California for Da Nang, Vietnam, arriving on 8 November. After debarking marines and cargo there, she returned to Guam, anchoring on 19 December. Hampshire County then participated in "Operation Market Time" During this operation I was exposed to Agent Orange while handling the leaky barrels for loading and off-loading. After that she continued into 1967 in her important combat support missions.
Hampshire County received the Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm, RVN Civil Action Medal First Class with Palm, RVN Campaign Medal with 60's device, and the Vietnam Service Medal with 10 battle stars. The Hampshire County was awarded 10 battle stars during her Vietnam deployment. Most of them while I was serving on her 1966-1968.
Read more about this topic: USS Hampshire County (LST-819)
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“No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now.”
—Richard M. Nixon (b. 1913)
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