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U. S. Coast Guard. Vietnam 1965 - 1966
The Second Shift
Photos contributed by ENCM Raymond O. Weitzel, USCG (ret).
All photos unless designated USCG are copyrighted 1999 		 

The CGC Point Slocum (WPB 82313) on her arrival at Subic Bay in March 1966. She was one of nine additional Point Class 82-foot cutters sent to Vietnam to supplement the seventeen already on patrol. Note she is already painted in her war gray unlike the first WPBs that went to Vietnam in their innocent white paint.
Photo of unidentified WPB taken from aboard CGC Point White (WPB 82308) in February 1966 during transit to Vietnam from Subic Bay. She is low in the bow because of the additional weight from weapons and ammunition. 		The additional WPBs at Cat Lo on 22 February 1966 and given a warm welcome. This was the last group of Coast Guardsmen to get laied this way on their arrival in Vietnam. From this time to the end of the Coast Guard's involvement in Vietnam they came and went virtually unnoticed.

Action came quickly. The Viet Cong had been virtually unchallenged on the rivers near Cat Lo and the cutters of new Division 13 took on the challenge in Operation Jackstay. The Point White crew poses with enemy weapons taken from an enemy junk taken about 9 March 1966. Back row L-R: LCDR Axel J. Hagstrom, USCG, Division 13 commander; Captain Robert J. LaForte, USCG, RONONE commander; Lt. Eugene J. Hickey, USCG, Point White commanding officer; BMC Archie D. French; EN3 Karl V. Anderson; S. A. Lessor, Point White executive officer.

Front Row L-R: CS1 W. C. Clifton; GM2 Lester Gates; SN Leland B. Buzzelle; BM1 Ernest V. Watson; EN2 J. E. Moody; ET(?) Gerald M. Samport; ENC Raymond O. Weitzel.
(USCG Photo. PHC F. Borzage. 9 March 1966).


Not exactly the Good, the Bad and the Ugly but all sorts of hats became popular with different crews and individuals. Back row L-R: SN Leland B. Buzzelle; GM2 Lester Gates; ENC Raymond O. Weitzel: ET(?) Gerald M. Samport; BM1 Ernest V. Watson .

Front Row L-R: EN1 J. E. Moody; BMC Archie D. French

(USCG Photo. PHC F. Borzage. 9 March 1966).


Cam Ranh Bay --Division 13's first home. ENC Raymond O. Weitzel stands in front of a bunker on the beach at the internationally known Cam Ranh Bay in early 1966. This site was the initial one of Division 13 and ENC Weitzel was sent to inventory engineering spare parts. Living on the beach would have been interesting.