A Trip Through Vietnam Tango 13 "River Rats"

[corkycondon]

Thanks for posting - My dad was KIA in VN, I beleive somewere on the Mekong - He also helped blow an ocean going channel into the Cua Viet - UDT/SEAL and I believe Riverine TF 113

[3865ron]

Thanks for posting! I was on Tango-3, 1970-71. worked in cambodia, the "Ditch", and Song Ong Doc. Following that we took the boat back to Dong Tam for turn over.

I've never really understood why the PBRs got all the press and very few people have heard or seen a RAG boat. It's really too bad there are none left.

[tgarrison25]

Thanks. I'm trying to find out more about the Brown Water Navy because my dad served and doesn't really talk much about it. Every once in a while he'll spit out another piece of info, but I don't know much. Just that he was a radio operator on the boat towards the end.

[rva1945]

The song, the song, which is the song¿? And by whom? Thanks

[lonedove1981]

If I can remember right the guys on the PBR's had, statistically, the shortest life span of any (U.S.) military personal in country.

[OrthodoxDarwinist]

Were these the guys who had to learn to swim like 100m under-water without breathing apparatus to blow up bridges? My old trumpet teacher was one of those and he was seriously messed up in the head from it. We had an Asian kid in our class and he kept on calling him "gook", so he nearly got fired (this was like in the year 1999 so very unacceptable), but then ended dying of a stroke anyway.

[frankdrebin]

My father served in the Riverine force in Vietnam. He'd of loved this. Thanks for posting.

[mekongmaddog13]

I am in the process of trying to make a HD quality copy of this video.... hopefully you guys will check it out and like it

[mekongmaddog13]

I am glad so many are getting to enjoy this small bit of life. The Brown Water Navy reunion is the first weekend of Sept. in Indianapolis, only happens every two years and is good to get to meet up with fellow soldiers who chewed up some of the same dirt

[sagicorn62]

first of all; To you and all men and women vets, Thank you for serving!

my stepfather was on a riverboat. not sure of year. he didn't like to talk about it. with what little he told me, i kind of understand (i wasn't there, so i know i'll never fully understand). i remember his beret had a 13 inside an up-turned horseshoe. could this be the same outfit? any info?

[mekongmaddog13]

@sagicorn62 The beret is from squadron 131 and anyone that had this beret belonged to our group.

[calbroker]

@sagicorn62

Actually the beret signifies River Assault Squadron 13, There were two river divisions in the squadron, 131 and 132. I served on a tango boat in RivDiv 132 in 1968-69'. I wish I still had my beret.

[cobraristein]

Hey.. I went thru SERE around June/july 1970. Oh yea... Warner Springs....all the prickly pears and snake had already been eaten by former groups. Waterboarding, black boxes. Man what an experience.

[demotttb]

Yea wasn't Warner Springs Great ! SERE. Most memorable training I had in 23 years in the Navy. Almost had to go through it twice prior to going back for my 2nd tour after I got out for 90 days. Back in those days (70-72) After the reception I received coming home, I volunteered on reinlisting and went right back to Vietnam where I felt safe and at least understood what was going on!

Didnt come back to the states for 8 years.

[zoelogjz]

I was a gunnersmate on ATC-111-13, Jan 69 to June 69, then to Riv Div 131 from July 69 to Jan 70, mostly out of Dong Tam.. Great to see a glimpse of "the good old days" (above video). Completed my whole 365 and a wake up . Many people don't know that riverine sailors also had 3 months of riverwarfare training at NIOTC, Villejo, Calif, which included 7 days of Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape, (SERE) at Warner Springs, in the desert east of San Diego.

[SgtMcCullin]

ATC Tango is so fucking beautiful.

[sbcron]

I didn't realize youtube had so many "River Rat" videos! I spent my time on T-3 in Cambodia, setting ambush in the Ditch and was at song Ong Doc when it blew up.

[bricmpt]

Love you, dad. Miss you. Thanks.

[imallpissedoff]

Too bad that wars are run by fat, lazy, traitors with Ph.D.'s sitting behind desks in air conditioned offices, and not by the people who really know what's going on, what needs to be done, and how to do it.

The fight against communism and islam is a righteous one; if you don't think so, move to a communist or muslim country, and shut your mouth.

We American citizens can never thank U.S. military enough for what they do.

God bless them all.

[joeland1972]

My brother, David A. Land, was killed when T-151-5 was mined on Jan.14,1969. God bless Dave, God bless the Riverines, and God bless America. little bro Joey.

[TheHashBot]

My uncle was a river rat... He only talked about it once... willy pete..

[cozener1]

Terrible war, brave men!

[SatanicAnimal666X]

they called phill crazy brady by the way

[SatanicAnimal666X]

theres so many comments my step dad was Dean McGinnis and there was norm and phill anyone know anything more?

[SatanicAnimal666X]

my step dad is in that unit has the tattoo and everything his friend has a permanent whole in his arm from a rpg Thank you for your service

[roadglide002]

My uncle was there. Ralph Christopher wrote a very good book called River Rats. They were on the Mekong River YRBM 21, Task Force 116. Thank You to all the VETS.

[freightdog140]

So was my dad..... April 68 - Mar 69. USS Benewah.

[a8005005]

@freightdog140 really, Vietnamese people are very peaceful, absolutely more than thailand

[Tronddenstore]

@freightdog140 So was my dad in ..68 USS Benewah

[widgeonslayer]

My dad was over there ,68,69 and, 70 part of it as a River rat off of the USS Benewah.