50 years ago today, May 27, in sunny Vietnam-land - Where were you?

2015-05-27T09:25:35-04:00

Augmenting the vital role now being played by U.S. aircraft carriers, whose planes participated in many of the raids over South and North Vietnam, U.S. warships from the 7th Fleet begin to fire on Viet Cong targets in the central area of South Vietnam.

At first, this gunfire was limited to 5-inch-gun destroyers, but other ships would eventually be used in the mission. Organized into Task Group 70.8, the ships were assigned from the fleet’s cruiser-destroyer command, from the carrier escort units and amphibious units, from the Navy-Coast Guard Coastal Surveillance Force, and from the Royal Australian Navy. Ships and weapons included the battleship New Jersey, with 16-inch guns; cruisers with 8-inch and 5-inch guns; destroyers with 5-inch guns, and inshore fire support ships and landing ships.

Naval gunfire support and shore bombardment ranged the entire coast of Vietnam, but most of the operations took place off the coast of the northernmost region of South Vietnam, just south of the Demilitarized Zone. During the 1968 Tet Offensive, Task Group 70.8 had as many as 22 ships at a time on the gun line, offering invaluable naval gunfire support to ground forces.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2015 9:26 AM

2015-05-27T09:26:26-04:00

Not thought of LOL!

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made May 27 at 2015 9:55 AM

2015-05-27T09:55:51-04:00

Fighting with chemistry classes - it would be 2.5 years before I entered the Air Force.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made May 27 at 2015 10:09 AM

2015-05-27T10:09:04-04:00

2.5 years old, and with my dad who was stationed in Taiwan, I wouldn't get to see the United States until I was 4.

Response by SSG Donald Mceuen made May 27 at 2015 10:10 AM

2015-05-27T10:10:28-04:00

2yrs old

Response by MSG Brad Sand made May 27 at 2015 10:14 AM

2015-05-27T10:14:02-04:00

Playing in the backyard. Happy that I was a big boy and could pee pee in the potty?

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made May 27 at 2015 12:17 PM

2015-05-27T12:17:15-04:00

I was 1!

Response by MAJ John Lavin made Aug 6 at 2020 6:17 PM

2020-08-06T18:17:15-04:00

I was at Fort Belvoir, VA in my Engineer Officer Advanced Course. I left Vietnam in march 1970, took a months leave, reported to the Facilities Office, Fort Meade on May 2 or 3 where I was TDY monitoring the construction start of the first set of buildings for the then Defense Security Agency until July 29 when I reported to Fort Belvoir for the start of my Advanced Course.

Response by LTC John Griscom made Aug 1 at 2021 3:11 PM

2021-08-01T15:11:53-04:00

On May 27, 1971. I was a student in the AMMD Officers Advanced Course at Fort Sam Houston with orders sending me to Vietnam in September.

Response by 1LT Vance Titus made Oct 12 at 2022 6:38 PM

2022-10-12T18:38:15-04:00

I'd been home from Nam for almost two years and was about to graduate from college using the GI bill. I worked hard and literally bled for the opportunity to have the government pay for my education. Now the government wants to pay off student loans and get nothing in return, how is that a successful business model?