U. S. Coast Guard -
WARFARE BEHIND THE SCENES.

January 24, 2000.

The popular refrain of the 1960s was "Vietnam, everybody has been there" but over three decaded removed many do not know where these Coast Guardsmen served.

Lloyd's Memories (Photos donated by former CS2 Lloyd Rodgers, USCG)

CS2 Lloyd Rodgers at Tan My Loran Station just east of famous Hue City. Tan My was on the historic Perfume River and subject to much interest by the communists forces in South Vietnam.	SK2 Mike Lawter, USCG seemingly enjoying his steak. Mike (a former shipmate of the web author) is wearing some interesting name and service tags. Each has his name and service in English and probably in Thai. Mike is also wearing the very popular Coast Guard "Puzzle" ring he acquired in Bankok.	DC2 Bill Dunn enjoying his meal -- I guess. We can hope he did not injure his hand hunting down the cow.
HM2 "Doc" Nelson, USCG, visits the villa of the former South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem. Diem was assassianted in a CIA supported plot.	U. S. Air Force personnel provided security for the Tan My LORAN station up to the day it feel in 1975. It was rumored that some of the Air Force troops were not allowed to use a knife and a fork but this rumor has not been declassified to this day. :)	Living in a compound can bring people closer together. As can be seen this was sparce living. L-R: Seaman Murphy, DC2 Bill Dunn, Seaman Hubbard, CS2 Lloyd Rodgers, Seaman Brock.

This is an excellent example of the amount of rain generated by the monsoon rains. The Tan My crew checks the perimeter lighting in a Boston Whaler. This was evidently a new boat. It is has not yet been painted the dull gray of the Squadron One small boats.	Tan My The Station
This photo shows the Tan My station under construction.	This is a very large target. The guard tower in any compound in Vietnam was a good point of reference for enemy mortar, rocket or artillery fire.

The commissioning of Tan My Loran Station, RVN, August 1969. In the forground is the Coast Guard detachment and in the rear is the U. S. Air Force detachment assigned to protect the site.	Names of the plankowners. Lt. Walter C. Parker CWO3 Glendon F. Pert ETC Junius S. Clemmons ET1 James W. Long ET1 Felito L. Feria EN1 Joseph P. Bonner EM1 Luther D. Davis CS1 Harry E. Wolff DC2 Billy J. Dunn SK2 Gerald J. Balara HM2 Heber D. Nelson ET2 Richardo T. Putiyon EN3 Patrick M. Murphy EN3 Richard J. Prout	EM3 David A. Bisson ET3 James (N) Hodges ET3 Steven S. Ritchie ET3 Gary F. Smolka ET3 James H. Pletsch CS3 Lloyd W. Rodgers SN Edward J. Tamagini, III SN John A. Kimball SN Thomas P. Orr, III SN Keith W. Brock FN William H. MacDonald FN Jamie L. Montgomery, Jr. SA Ted J. Hubbard
Construction of the warehouse. Notice workers under Air Force guard. Also note watertanks in back of ware house.	This scene shows the fuel bladders in July 1969-- a favorite target of North Vietnames and Viet Cong rockets.	Tom Orr makes a good pun when he titled this photo "Skid Row." His quarters were first door on right. This housing was luxury in Vietnam with its air-conditioning.
, This guard post, mounting a .50 caliber machine gun, is in the antenna field -- a very lonely and isolated position.	Why they were there. The tower in August 1969.	Tom Orr stands with the antenna in the backgound in July 1969. Further west the mountains can be seen. This area was full of combat operations by the Army and Marine Corps.
New Year's Eve party 1969. (L-R FN MacDonald, ET3 Pletsch, SN Montgomery, EN3 Murphy, ET3 Smolka, ET3 Hodges (in rear).	(L-R)SN Orr, FN MacDonald and ET3 Hodges.	Tan My Tigers following a football game in the antenna field during Decemeber 1969.

	Dave gives us some unusual views of the station. Taken from atop the 625 foot LORAN tower the station layout is readily available.	NW over Tan My toward village of Quy Lai Northward toward village of Tan My. West and North toward mountains . Eastward toward South China Sea. Village of Thai Duong Ha. Note 'V' shaped fish trap.
Barracks, galley and generators in the foreground		Good view of compound with LST ramp in background.	The road toward Hue.
Air Force security at Station front gate. In the background is the villa of the former South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem.	The enemy? Or friend?	Next two scenes illustrate the way the enemy viewed the compound
Two unidentied Coast Guardsmen walking away from generator shed.	To keep morale up the Tan My Tigers, during tea time in their lounge, discussed American Pop Art as seen in the next frame.	.

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