When we first got to Nam, as I recall, we seemed to hang around for almost a month as nobody knew us or what we could do, so
the brass didn't really know how to best use us. We were in Da Nang at one point and were just more or less "lurking" as we
called it. At the time, if you were in a combat area you didn't have to pay any taxes on your pay and if you were involved in
actual combat you received an additional $65.00 a month tax-free. Well, we were all beginning to get a little antsy about it as it
was almost to the end of the month and still no combat! No $65.00!!
Well, Afterburner 26 Charlie saved our bacon. He was the local spotter and he found five charlies sitting on the beach taking
turns shooting at us with a rifle. I believe that I saw one or two rounds splashing into the water just short of us. The Captain
unlimbered the port side bridge ,50 caliber and fired a couple of rounds to spot. After a couple of adjustments he was given the
direction to "fire for effect". After he had fired for a few seconds, the spotter radioed that one was down and the rest took off into
the brush. At that point, AB26C made like a fighter and stood the plane on one wing and fired two rockets, killing two of the
runners and then he did it again, getting the last two. This is what we were told he had radioed to us. In the 5" gun we were able
to see the plane do its wing-stands and see the rockets firing so we had no reason to doubt him. This was how the crew of the
Carronade received their first month's combat pay for action in Vietnam. After that, it seemed like we were kept busy much of
the time.
We made a total of five combat cruises to Nam while I was aboard and re-armed in country at Cam Rah Bay, Qui Nhon, Nha
Trang and Vung Tau. We also received ammunition at Subic Bay in the Phillipines and by highlining while underway at sea. On
one of our cruises, we shot up a beachside village 14 times in twenty-one days. We were informed of this feat when the Captain
announced it over the 1-MC. The way it worked was this... in the early morning a helicopter would fly over the village and
announce the impending attack. This was supposed to let the friendly's know to get out of town. Meanwhile, the VC, being
extremely stupid, would wait around the village to get shot up and/or killed!!! We would then come steaming down the coast and
commence firing and destroying the thatch-hut village, as much as it could be done. We shot the hell out of a two-story brick
building, the only one in town, and tried to level the huts. Only one problem... if the 40mm shell didn't hit a bamboo
framemember, the round would not detonate and would pass through the hut. The five inch rounds did the same thing. We
could see the tracers of the 40mm shells pass right through the huts so we knew we were on target. The only thing that seemed
to have any effect on the huts were the rockets and when they exploded, you could see the shrapnel pass through them when
the bamboo leaves were moved around. After shooting up the village with five inch shells, 40mm and .50 calber machine guns,
we would cease fire and friendly ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) troops would come in and "mop up". The troops would
finish what they were doing and move out and we could sail back up the coast to do it all again another day. Wasn't life grand
back then?
On Mother's Day in 1967, I was watching the action on the beach through the sights of the five inch gun and saw this obviously
pregnant woman running down the beach parallel to the shoreline when she ran right into a rocket blast. I saw nothing of the
woman after this and assumed that she had been killed. There is no question that I imagined this because there was talk
around the ship about the incident for days after. Observers on the bridge looking through the "big eyes" also saw the blast.
Ike, I don't remember his last name, even wrote a rather gruesome poem about the woman's death. Something about it not
being healthy to run down the beach on Mother's Day when you're pregnant, something along those lines. I don't remember
anyone expressing any feelings about the incident other than some said it was a shame but, oh well. When we were firing on the
village, we were only about a half-mile to a mile from the shore line so we had a clear view.
On another occasion we went up the Ham Luong and the Co Chien Rivers south of Vung Tau and did some shooting there. As
we were on port and starbord watches while on the rivers, I spent a lot of time sitting on the fuse box just inside the five inch gun
mount. At night while at anchor we had a roving deck watch for swimmers. As the designated Gunnersmate in the mount at the
time, I had to take a concussion grenade and fuse it then walk around the deck with my M-1 rifle and randomly toss the grenade
into the water to discourage swimmers. This was done at staggered intervals throughout the night so I didn't get a lot of sleep
then. The first grenade I threw, I almost sank the ship!!! I didn't throw it very far from the side of the ship and got it too close to
an outboard discharge line. It caused a small leak but nothing serious as it was JUST far enough away. BIG OOPS! Of course, I
didn't think it was so funny at the time.
Page 2
GMGSN Howlett on swimmer watch on the fantail of the Carronade in Da Nang harbor.
Combat Pay
Vung Tau street scene
A hillside overlooking town. I believe
the grey buildings are a Buddhist
monastery
the grey buildings are a Buddhist
monastery
Downtown bar
Vung Tau was a trip... what a way to run a war!!!
Liberty would commence at 1200 hours and you landed right at the edge of town. You could have some drinks, sightsee a
little, stretch your sea legs and "find a woman" if you were so inclined. Liberty was up at 1900 hours and we got a good nights
sleep, except for the watches of course. Next morning, bright and early, reveille!!! Have a nice breakfast, check out the ship's
weaponry and weigh anchor.. We would go out to sea and sail around the point of land and circle around off of a seaward
beach about ten or so miles from Vung Tau, as the crow fles. Or, we would cruise up the river from our anchorage and drop
the hook about five miles from good old Vung Tau. Either way, we would commence firing one or two rounds of five inch an
hour for " H and I" (harrassment and interdiction) against the enemy who, because of their location, probably took liberty in the
same town we did!!!
At 1100 or 1200 hours, we would cease fire and police all brass and raise the hook, if necessary, and head back to our
anchorage in Vung Tau harbor, Then, guess what, liberty call?!!! I don't know how many times we did this but, I usually stayed
on board after awhile. One afternoon while I was walking the deck with my M-1, the painter to the motor whaleboat parted and
the boat started drifting away from the ship. I notified the bridge and gave my wallet, rifle and ammo belt to a shipmate and
dove into the muddy water and started swimming over to the boat. It was hard to get into because of the swells but, I made it
and tried to start the engine. Of course, my luck, that day the starter switch had a short in it that hadn't been repaired yet and
every time I tried to start the engine, the thing shocked the hell out of me (soaking wet, remember)!!!. Luckily, the current
wasn't running fast (it could flow at up to 14 knots) and someone was able to throw me a line before I got to far away. The only
thought going throgh my mind as I dove into the river was, "Gee, I hope I don't dive into one of those damn jellyfish floating by".
As it was, I got chewed out for leaving my post and was told that I should have let the boat go as it could have been recovered
later. There went my "atta boy", hahaha. I mean, really!!! That was the LIBERTY BOAT for gosh sakes!!!
I remember getting a haircut and a shave while in Vung Tau and being concerned about whether the barber was a VC or not.
Especially when he was shaving my throat with his straight razor, brrrrr. I remember that the ship traffic past the town, going to
and from Saigon was very heavy. As I mentioned before, the current could be quite strong and when at anchor in the harbor
we had to keep a sharp eye on the bearings of various landmarks to be sure that we weren't dragging our anchor. A couple of
times we had to raise the hook and re-anchor in our mooring space.
Liberty would commence at 1200 hours and you landed right at the edge of town. You could have some drinks, sightsee a
little, stretch your sea legs and "find a woman" if you were so inclined. Liberty was up at 1900 hours and we got a good nights
sleep, except for the watches of course. Next morning, bright and early, reveille!!! Have a nice breakfast, check out the ship's
weaponry and weigh anchor.. We would go out to sea and sail around the point of land and circle around off of a seaward
beach about ten or so miles from Vung Tau, as the crow fles. Or, we would cruise up the river from our anchorage and drop
the hook about five miles from good old Vung Tau. Either way, we would commence firing one or two rounds of five inch an
hour for " H and I" (harrassment and interdiction) against the enemy who, because of their location, probably took liberty in the
same town we did!!!
At 1100 or 1200 hours, we would cease fire and police all brass and raise the hook, if necessary, and head back to our
anchorage in Vung Tau harbor, Then, guess what, liberty call?!!! I don't know how many times we did this but, I usually stayed
on board after awhile. One afternoon while I was walking the deck with my M-1, the painter to the motor whaleboat parted and
the boat started drifting away from the ship. I notified the bridge and gave my wallet, rifle and ammo belt to a shipmate and
dove into the muddy water and started swimming over to the boat. It was hard to get into because of the swells but, I made it
and tried to start the engine. Of course, my luck, that day the starter switch had a short in it that hadn't been repaired yet and
every time I tried to start the engine, the thing shocked the hell out of me (soaking wet, remember)!!!. Luckily, the current
wasn't running fast (it could flow at up to 14 knots) and someone was able to throw me a line before I got to far away. The only
thought going throgh my mind as I dove into the river was, "Gee, I hope I don't dive into one of those damn jellyfish floating by".
As it was, I got chewed out for leaving my post and was told that I should have let the boat go as it could have been recovered
later. There went my "atta boy", hahaha. I mean, really!!! That was the LIBERTY BOAT for gosh sakes!!!
I remember getting a haircut and a shave while in Vung Tau and being concerned about whether the barber was a VC or not.
Especially when he was shaving my throat with his straight razor, brrrrr. I remember that the ship traffic past the town, going to
and from Saigon was very heavy. As I mentioned before, the current could be quite strong and when at anchor in the harbor
we had to keep a sharp eye on the bearings of various landmarks to be sure that we weren't dragging our anchor. A couple of
times we had to raise the hook and re-anchor in our mooring space.
Our 26-foor motor Whaleboat
This was our Captain's Gig, Liberty Boat, Medical Evacuation Boat and whatever else we could think of boat. This is what
I went into the river to rescue off of Vung Tau...
I went into the river to rescue off of Vung Tau...
Starboard side, Gunnery Division berthing spaces.
The rack above SN Joe Francavlla's head was my
rack, right alongside frame 19. I remember it so
well because when I was in the rack, the frame
number was right in front of my eyes. In rough
seas I had to use the mattress straps to keep
myself fastened securely in the rack
The rack above SN Joe Francavlla's head was my
rack, right alongside frame 19. I remember it so
well because when I was in the rack, the frame
number was right in front of my eyes. In rough
seas I had to use the mattress straps to keep
myself fastened securely in the rack