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The following are stories from ET1 Bruce Garrett who was one the three former sailors that rode the USS Vireo (MSC 205) and the USS Warbler (MSC 206) to the Fiji Island. They are very interesting, and wanted to share it with all.

Bruce was a ET1 on the Vireo when he took her back to Fiji. Found the email stored. Will send it in this note... Good to hear from someone who remembers the sweeps. The Vireo became the HMFS Kula and the Warbler became the HMFS Kiro. I have the picture of the Vireo and Fijian hatbands with the new names hanging above my computer. The Woodpecker became the HMFS Kikau. The Woodpecker was turned over about a year after the first two and I had a chance to talk with some of the sailors who came back to Seattle to get her. They said the first two ships were on active duty on fishing patrol in the Fiji Islands. They were a bit slow to be very effective though. 14 knots flank as I remember. Since they couldn't catch much and the only armament was the 50 cal. I believe mounted forward, they used them more for diving platforms doing research. On the Kula we had a black Fijian captain and a British Exec. The food wasn't too good so the exec invited Smitty, the EN US sailor, to his stateroom for Dinty Moore beef stew quite often. He had quite a bit brought on board. The beer locker was opened each night at 1800 hours underway and many of the crew was feeling pretty good as the sun set. The captain wasn't too interested in setting up drills for fire or damage control so we got sort of concerned with a drunk crew with no training. Smitty and I could have sailed on the Fiji but because of our concerns go off at Pearl. I have plenty of stories about sailing with the Fijians.

Great to hear from you. Visited your web site and am really impressed. With your pic of the 206 on the screen and the picture of the 205 hanging over my computer along with the Fijian hatbands for the Kula and the Kiro, I really had a flashback. Here's another quick story you can feel free to use.

Shortly before the Fijians took the Vireo and Warbler, I was transferred to the Naval Reserve Center in Seattle to work with the MIUW 2122 reserve unit. I lived in Magnolia, about a mile from the ship, and after the Fijians arrived I often visited the ship after work. I became a regular and the Captain of the Kula contacted my CO to request that I be assigned to his ship to train his sailors. I became TAD to the Fijian navy.
The Fijians were an interesting lot, mostly dark skinned sailors, most of whom were tall and muscular. There was one sailor of Russian decent, the XO was British, and there were a couple of Indian sailors. Most wore traditional Fijian garb for special occasions and it was quite a sight on Sunday morning to see them leave the ships to board a bus for church, dressed in their sulus (like a skirt), boola shirts (very colorful shirts), and sandals.
I was there the day the ships officially became Fijian ships and have the program and some pictures. After the ceremonies, all were invited on board and I joined the enlisted men on the mess deck. One of the Fijian Chiefs handed me a cup of what appeared to be coffee with milk and when I took the cup he clapped 3 times. I thanked him and took a sip. Damuni, the radioman who I worked with and who was a firewalker in Fiji in his civilian life, informed me that I was supposed to drink the contents of the cup straight down which I did. Applause followed. Over the next couple of hours, I was given a couple more cups of the same liquid from a large mess pot, followed each time by three claps, I chugged, they applauded. As I was getting ready to leave, feeling no pain, the XO took me aside and informed me that I had been drinking kava, a traditional Fijian ceremonial drink that had a slight narcotic effect! Luckily I lived close by.