ships in VN - The Firearms Forum

02-23-2003, 10:23 PM

Rons Toys
Moderator
Posts: 103
(5/7/01 3:43:51 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del All ships in VN
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This link was posted by TShooter over at the VNBB site

www.fatherryan.org/navyvi...ceango.htm

some pretty good pictures.
Ron

polishshooter
Senior Chief Moderator Staff
Posts: 417
(5/7/01 7:37:49 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: ships in VN
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Great site again, Ron.

See if you can dredge one up about the Riverine Navy, though...I really like to read about the "Brown Water Navy."

And that combined .50M2/81mm mortar mount intrigues me, I've seen pictures, but never any accounts of gunners who used it.

The PBRs and Monitors saw some heavy stuff...

Rons Toys
Moderator
Posts: 105
(5/8/01 9:11:39 am)
Reply | Edit | Del Gotta a few - links
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www.mrfa.org/
www.mrfa.org/navy_index.htm
www.war-stories.com/riverine.htm
www.vietvet.org/rbruder.htm
hawley.hispeed.com/vietnam/vietnam.htm
www.militaryworld.com/dir...ine_Force/

Ron

Edited by: Rons Toys at: 5/8/01 10:45:29 am

polishshooter
Senior Chief Moderator Staff
Posts: 435
(5/8/01 9:23:43 am)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: Gotta a few - links
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Thanks again, Ron. Geez, you get an automatic "A." I don't even have to check your work.

Hell, you are so darn efficient I may not have TIME to check all your work!!!

Rons Toys
Moderator
Posts: 116
(5/10/01 8:42:16 am)
Reply | Edit | Del poem for the Men of the Boats
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Posted on the VNBB
Ron

Our friends at the Mobile Riverine Force Association have sent me yet another
poem to share.

The Men In The Boats was written by Major Johnnie CORNS (Now LT/GEN, Ret)from
the 9th Infantry Division.

Stan Lambert St. Clair Shores, Michigan

-----------------------------------------------
www.mrfa.org/menboats.htm
THE MEN IN THE BOATS

The mist of the morning cools and softens the air As the last of the soldiers
heads down the steel stair. He crossed the barge tied alongside the ship And
boarded the craft, making sure not to slip.

The assault craft and boats are now well under way Executing the plan which was
briefed yesterday The boats flow out smoothly, moving into the line From the air
their formation looks dark, serpentine.

Up the brown, muddy river they move with the tide Some enjoying the scenery on
this their first ride. Others seem not to care, unaware of the beauty Their
thoughts are focused on performing their duty.

These are the veterans who have been here before Who've lived through the fire
fights, not anxious for more. But should one occur, these brave men are good
Their valor and skill is well understood.

The likes of this force is seldom seen They fight from the water and are called
riverine Grant used them at Vicksburg in the great Civil War And the French
proved the concept on the Red River shore.

When the power was combined of Army and Navy The first thoughts generated were
just short of cagey. But these didn't prevail when it came to a fight Both
soldiers and sailors knew what was right.

Soldiers saw water like moats 'round a castle An unwelcome obstacle when it came
to a battle. But sailors saw water like the Daytona track A way to get in and a
way to get back.

Attacks from the water were new to their foe Who aimed at the highways where
troops usually go. But for riverine troopers, this was the way To attack with
surprise at the first light of day.

And this was the plan they would follow today To spring their attack, the
riverine way. Some early doubts for the plan soon arose When they learned
they'd be running right by Snoopy's Nose

An elaborate plan that would probably work well But for boat crews and platoons
it was difficult to tell. Artillery was firing, of this they'd been told A
battalion in choppers found the first LZ cold..

But what was that pounding on the side of the craft Shaking the boat from
forward to aft. An antitank rocket had exploded top side But in spite of hot
shrapnel, the platoon has survived.

There's a monitor turning to a stream up ahead No one at the wheel, the helmsman
is dead. The assault craft turns wildly , rams into the bank A split-second
decision before the craft sank.

The infantry platoon along with the crew Scramble ashore where the artillery
blew. Their foe is retreating, crawling over a dike That's getting chewed up by
a boat's forty mike

There's plenty of action, new troops have their fill The artillery's pounding,
the jets screaming shrill. The time is at hand, it's good against evil Death
goes ashore through cordite and diesel.

But the noise of the battle slowly passes away There are men to be cared for,
there's time now to pray. The enemy is pursued by chopper and boat. Medics
work wonders with lumps in their throats

It seems like forever, but they're back on the ship Some slightly wounded -
broken finger, bruised hip. But thoughts are of Willy who made them all laugh
And of Jose and Bob who did not make it back.

They laugh at Frank's letter that he got from back home The candy from his wife
has been missent to Nome. The box will be forwarded, though mangled and
tattered But Frank didn't care, it's the letter that mattered.

They laughed and they joked and played lots of pranks And made a few jokes about
those with some rank. And every face beamed as the brass just announced It was
a main force enemy that they had just trounced.

That kind of news would be in their letters But what mattered most was they had
fought even better. There was a deep sense of pride when facing great danger Of
meeting a test, risking life for a stranger.

Most pictured the stranger as a small Asian child. Who'd suffered so much in
such a short while. And the main thing, of course, that most of them feared Was
continuing to live being homeless and scared.

Many years have passed since the days of these battles For each old Raider and
Rat the memories still rattle. A few of these warriors have even gone back In
search of something they feel that they lack.

Not to recall the carnage or view the rubble But to see once again, those they
helped when in trouble. They're warmed by the smiles of kids three or four But
in the old U S A they have even more.

And the main experience that gives them a chill Is to fly over the land, lush,
green and now still. To feel tears sting their eyes looking down at the moats
And feel their chests swell for the Men in the Boats.
poem

Edited by: Rons Toys at: 5/10/01 2:52:26 pm

02-23-2003, 10:23 PM	#1
Guest Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	ships in VN Rons Toys Moderator Posts: 103 (5/7/01 3:43:51 pm) Reply \| Edit \| Del All ships in VN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This link was posted by TShooter over at the VNBB site www.fatherryan.org/navyvi...ceango.htm some pretty good pictures. Ron polishshooter Senior Chief Moderator Staff Posts: 417 (5/7/01 7:37:49 pm) Reply \| Edit \| Del Re: ships in VN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great site again, Ron. See if you can dredge one up about the Riverine Navy, though...I really like to read about the "Brown Water Navy." And that combined .50M2/81mm mortar mount intrigues me, I've seen pictures, but never any accounts of gunners who used it. The PBRs and Monitors saw some heavy stuff... Rons Toys Moderator Posts: 105 (5/8/01 9:11:39 am) Reply \| Edit \| Del Gotta a few - links -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.mrfa.org/ www.mrfa.org/navy_index.htm www.war-stories.com/riverine.htm www.vietvet.org/rbruder.htm hawley.hispeed.com/vietnam/vietnam.htm www.militaryworld.com/dir...ine_Force/ Ron Edited by: Rons Toys at: 5/8/01 10:45:29 am polishshooter Senior Chief Moderator Staff Posts: 435 (5/8/01 9:23:43 am) Reply \| Edit \| Del Re: Gotta a few - links -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks again, Ron. Geez, you get an automatic "A." I don't even have to check your work. Hell, you are so darn efficient I may not have TIME to check all your work!!! Rons Toys Moderator Posts: 116 (5/10/01 8:42:16 am) Reply \| Edit \| Del poem for the Men of the Boats -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted on the VNBB Ron Our friends at the Mobile Riverine Force Association have sent me yet another poem to share. The Men In The Boats was written by Major Johnnie CORNS (Now LT/GEN, Ret)from the 9th Infantry Division. Stan Lambert St. Clair Shores, Michigan ----------------------------------------------- www.mrfa.org/menboats.htm THE MEN IN THE BOATS The mist of the morning cools and softens the air As the last of the soldiers heads down the steel stair. He crossed the barge tied alongside the ship And boarded the craft, making sure not to slip. The assault craft and boats are now well under way Executing the plan which was briefed yesterday The boats flow out smoothly, moving into the line From the air their formation looks dark, serpentine. Up the brown, muddy river they move with the tide Some enjoying the scenery on this their first ride. Others seem not to care, unaware of the beauty Their thoughts are focused on performing their duty. These are the veterans who have been here before Who've lived through the fire fights, not anxious for more. But should one occur, these brave men are good Their valor and skill is well understood. The likes of this force is seldom seen They fight from the water and are called riverine Grant used them at Vicksburg in the great Civil War And the French proved the concept on the Red River shore. When the power was combined of Army and Navy The first thoughts generated were just short of cagey. But these didn't prevail when it came to a fight Both soldiers and sailors knew what was right. Soldiers saw water like moats 'round a castle An unwelcome obstacle when it came to a battle. But sailors saw water like the Daytona track A way to get in and a way to get back. Attacks from the water were new to their foe Who aimed at the highways where troops usually go. But for riverine troopers, this was the way To attack with surprise at the first light of day. And this was the plan they would follow today To spring their attack, the riverine way. Some early doubts for the plan soon arose When they learned they'd be running right by Snoopy's Nose An elaborate plan that would probably work well But for boat crews and platoons it was difficult to tell. Artillery was firing, of this they'd been told A battalion in choppers found the first LZ cold.. But what was that pounding on the side of the craft Shaking the boat from forward to aft. An antitank rocket had exploded top side But in spite of hot shrapnel, the platoon has survived. There's a monitor turning to a stream up ahead No one at the wheel, the helmsman is dead. The assault craft turns wildly , rams into the bank A split-second decision before the craft sank. The infantry platoon along with the crew Scramble ashore where the artillery blew. Their foe is retreating, crawling over a dike That's getting chewed up by a boat's forty mike There's plenty of action, new troops have their fill The artillery's pounding, the jets screaming shrill. The time is at hand, it's good against evil Death goes ashore through cordite and diesel. But the noise of the battle slowly passes away There are men to be cared for, there's time now to pray. The enemy is pursued by chopper and boat. Medics work wonders with lumps in their throats It seems like forever, but they're back on the ship Some slightly wounded - broken finger, bruised hip. But thoughts are of Willy who made them all laugh And of Jose and Bob who did not make it back. They laugh at Frank's letter that he got from back home The candy from his wife has been missent to Nome. The box will be forwarded, though mangled and tattered But Frank didn't care, it's the letter that mattered. They laughed and they joked and played lots of pranks And made a few jokes about those with some rank. And every face beamed as the brass just announced It was a main force enemy that they had just trounced. That kind of news would be in their letters But what mattered most was they had fought even better. There was a deep sense of pride when facing great danger Of meeting a test, risking life for a stranger. Most pictured the stranger as a small Asian child. Who'd suffered so much in such a short while. And the main thing, of course, that most of them feared Was continuing to live being homeless and scared. Many years have passed since the days of these battles For each old Raider and Rat the memories still rattle. A few of these warriors have even gone back In search of something they feel that they lack. Not to recall the carnage or view the rubble But to see once again, those they helped when in trouble. They're warmed by the smiles of kids three or four But in the old U S A they have even more. And the main experience that gives them a chill Is to fly over the land, lush, green and now still. To feel tears sting their eyes looking down at the moats And feel their chests swell for the Men in the Boats. poem Edited by: Rons Toys at: 5/10/01 2:52:26 pm -->