CGC Point Dume (WPB 82325) commanding officer, Lt. Scott Rich takes a wild ride on a surfboard towed by the Point Dume. The sight was a shock to the local fishermen. Norden noted the sight "scared the hell out of the locals".
The CGC Point Caution (WPB 82301) departs Da Nang Harbor for a I Corps patrol area.
EN2 Keith Norden poses by the starboard amidships .50 caliber machine-gun mount on board CGC Point Dume (WPB 82325) in 1965 at Da Nang.
BM1 Eason with unidentified VNN liaision prepare to hoist call letters on the signal hoist. CGC Point Dume (WPB 82325) in 1965 at Da Nang.
Following a time honored tradition in combat areas, the Coast Guard
WPBs began giving themselves identities. Here Ltjg. Wroton, XO of the CGC
Point Dume(WPB 82325) paints his "Champange Girl" on the superstructure.
The logo would not remain for long. Shortly afterward the boats were painted
gray to make them less a target.This photo was
taken in the fall of 1966 shows seven WPBs nested next to YR 71(Headquarters
for Coast Guard Division 12) at the SVN Naval Base in Da Nang. The WPBs
in the after nest are Point Dume(WPB 82325), Point Welcome
(WPB 82329), Unknown (a cargo net obscures the name), and Point Ellis(WPB
82330). Also note that the words "Coast Guard" are painted on
the superstructure. They were moved from the hull to increase recognition
following the August 1966 attack by the U. S. Air Force on the Point
Welcome.
Photo by BMC Richard Patterson, USCG.
A good example of the weather conditions at sea faced by the WPBs. Taken from the CGC Point Dume (WPB 82325) as seen from the signal bride toward the port quarter. This weather was common during monsoon patrols which meant days of very uncomfortable life.
An I Corps Village to Adopt.
In 1965 (L-R) CS2 McGill, GM2 Nelon, unidentified VNN liaision,
and BM1 Eason from the CGC Point Dume (WPB 82325) visit a village
on a island (probably Cu Lao Cham) off the coast just east of Da Nang's
China Beach. Note BM1 Eason's "Jungle Jim" hat.
CS2 McGill (left) and EN2 Keith Nordan (right) depart the island in a Boston Whaler. This island, in later years, became a restricted zone where US intelligence forces established a prison camp and training site.