U. S. Coast Guard Squadron Three - Third Deployment.

USCGC Bibb (WHEC 31

USCGC Owasco (WHEC 39)

USCGC Wachusett(WHEC 44)

USCGC Winnebago (WHEC 40)

By 1968 the fire control equipment of the 327' Secretary class cutters was obselete. However, this same equipment was ideal for Naval Gunfire Support (NGFS) in Vietnam. Developed to support troops ashore during World War II and Korea, this equipment served in good stead. Here BM2 Besecker, USCG, is the MK52 director operator and using the optical mode to lay the 5"/38 gun on target. To the right, on the starboard side, with binoculars is then Ensign D. L. "Boog" Powell, USCG, who was the fire control officer of USCGC Ingham (WHEC 35) during its Vietnam tour. Powell went on to serve a second tour in Vietnam as officer-in-charge of ELD4 in Da Nang during 1971. He also served with U. S. Coast Guard Port Security Unit 303B in Operation Desert Storm (see Desert Strom page.)

One round on the way! Ingham fires gunfire support in Area 9 near Song Ong Doc during Fall 1968.

The Coast Guard's High Endurance Cutters also served as mother ships to both the SWIFT boats of the Navy and the Coast Guard's WPBs. The Ingham supplies relief to her "brood of chicks" in the Gulf of Siam during Operation Sea Lords Fall 1968.

Coast Guard divers BM3 Dolph and Seaman England from Ingham (WHEC 35) make repairs to PCF 36. The SWIFT boat received a hit from a Viet Cong 57mm recoiless rifle in Area 9 during Operation Sea Lords. Note how Ingham used it the rigging from its boat davits to heel over PCF 36 so the hole could be exposed. INSET:close up of men making repairs.

This very rare patch of the Wachsuett's gun crew was contributed by LCDR James MacDonald, USCG (ret). Jim also contributed the Wachusett's patch above that was designed by one of the cutter's steward's mates and most likely made in the Phillippines..