USS WARBLER (MSC206)

Fleet Post Office

San Francisco, California 96601

Dear WARBLER Family,

It’s time for another note to keep the family posted. As before, I find quite a bit has happened in the interim and that there are many new members of the family.

Since last I wrote in December we have covered considerable "ground" and seen a lot of time at sea. On 3 January we left Sasebo for Vietnam and our "Market Time" coastal patrol work. Market Time is designed to deny the "VC" supply routes from the sea, preventing infiltration of arms and ammunition into South Vietnam. It was a long, arduous patrol conducted in the NE Monsoon which kept the weather and seas a little less than pleasant. We set a modern MSC record with 55 straight days at sea before we touched land at Kao-hsuing Formosa for a 3 day visit at the end of the cruise. As a sidelight we kept track and, true to Navy form, we averaged over 15 cups of coffee per man per day.

Back in Sasebo in March and April we had time for a little relaxation and some work on our "house" in preparation for the next trip. Much of our Sasebo time was spent practice Minesweeping, something we must stay proficient in despite our new patrol boat duties.

The last week in April we participated in a Minesweeping exercise with the Korean Navy at Chinhae, Korea. Afterwards we had a pleasant 4 day visit in Kure, Japan on the Inland Sea. It is a pretty city, seldom visited by U.S. Navy ships, and we were well received. During our stay most of the crew members had an opportunity to visit Hiroshima and the beautiful island shrine of Miajima.

May 20^th found us back at sea headed for Vietnam and Market Time again. We looked at quite a few junks and sampans and just returned to Sasebo on 30 July. We took the long way home and managed to stop at two of the more re-noun places in the Orient. 12-16 July in Singapore, a small tropical island country at the tip of Malaysia near the equator. It was the first time the ship had ever been there and we found it a fascinating place. After Singapore our next stop was the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong, bordering on the bamboo curtain of Red China. It was a full 3 days with sightseeing from Victoria Peak, to the junk city of Aberdean to the Chinese border, shopping and just generally enjoying ourselves.

Thus we finished our second Vietnam patrol. The hours have at times been long, the climate often bad and the days at sea long but our efforts have not gone unnoticed. All hands have been awarded the Vietnam Service Medal and the National Defense Medal. The Commander Mine Forces, Pacific in Long Beach, California commended us four our record setting Market Time patrol in Jan-Feb. Our boss in Vietnam, Admiral N. G. WARD, Commander Naval Forces, Vietnam commended the "sweeps" for their "exceptionally meritorious performance of duty". The man in charge of the Navy in the Far East, Vice Admiral John J. HYLAND noted our efforts and devotion to duty. So, you see that although we are small we have been doing our part.

More important than our commendations have been your continuing support and encouragement in the form of letters. Mail from home takes on tremendous importance while at sea for long periods of time. I have had inquires about our mail service and I feel some explanation is called for. While on station our mail is routed through the Philippines and then passed ship to ship to us. Sometimes it is flown from the Philippines to carriers in the South China Sea and then transferred to other ships. Our outgoing mail travels the same route. Everyone is deeply concerned with, and doing everything possible about the mail. So, bear with us, mail service will never match "stateside" mail. Letters average 10 days to 2 weeks each way.

As I mentioned earlier there are many additions to the Family. Let’s Welcome Aboard:

Larry G. BRENNER, Electricians Mate Fireman of Portland, Oregon reported from USS MITCHELL (TAP-114)

William C. RAGAN, Seaman of New Orleans, Louisiana reported from U.S. Naval Station, Long Beach, California

Dennis C. KELLEY, Seaman of Brownwood, Texas reported from U.S. Naval Station, Long Beach, California

James W. SPIEKER, Fireman of Sioux Falls, South Dakota reported from U.S. Naval Receiving Station, Treasure Island, California

John P. DABS, Gunners Mate Third Class of Aransas Pass, Texas and his wife Virginia reported from U.S. Naval Air Station, Memphis, Tennessee

Paul J. PETERSON, Damage Controlman Third Class of Hopkins, Minnesota reported from USS ADVANCE (MSO-510)

Terrance R. MILLER, Signalman Second Class of Santa Ana, California and his wife Beverly and their children Terrance R. Jr., Susan, reported from USS FORTIFY (MSO-446)

Ruben J. TANEGA, Steward of Labac, Naic Cavite, Philippines reported from USS EPPING FOREST (MCS-7)

Terry L. GIPSON, Electronics Technician Third Class of Ottumwa, Iowa reported from Inshore Undersea Warfare Group ONE, Long Beach, California

LTJG Floyd W. RATLIFF, Jr., of Gallup, New Mexico reported from Naval Air Basic Training Command, Pensacola, Florida

ENS Richard D. PARRISH, of Geneva, New York reported from U.S. Naval Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island

All this time at sea gave a lot of the men time to study and indicate their professional knowledge on Navy wide examinations for advancement. These men have proven themselves and taken a step upward:

Dale M. ABBOTT promoted to Chief Boatswain’s Mate

Larry G. BRENNER promoted to Electricians Mate Third Class

Ronald H. RHODES promoted to Electricians Mate Third Class

Ramon F. BRIONES promoted to Radioman Third Class

Leonard W. GARDINER promoted to Boatswain’s Mate Third Class

Anthony D MUSGROVE promoted to Engineman Second Class

Back in Sasebo now in preparation for our next trip, my last, I find myself very proud of the job we have done and the way the men performed – always ready, always willing and always on top.

Keep the letters from home coming. They mean more than I can tell you and forgive us if occasionally we don’t write back right away. The job demands a lot of time from everyone. I am always pleased to hear from a member of our WARBLER Family and answer any questions you might have.

Sincerely,

/s/

J. V. DIRKSEN

Commanding Officer