Seadogs - 2001-2003 Chief Engineer LCM 8607, Deployed during Operation Enduring Freedom as an engineer aboard the LCU-2027 Mechanicsville!! I miss my days on the boats!!!
She used to be the fastest boat in the fleet! Belonged to 2nd Plt. the blue stripe on the wheel house designated this, and 1st Plt was a white stipe if I am not mistaken. I was part of the crew of guys that helped design that overhead cover behind the wheelhouse on the stern deck! My crew and I also developed a wooden board to go under the forward windows in the wheelhouse, not sure if its still in there or not. SPC-P Clark 88L10Y2 (AASLT)
This looks like the James River just above Ft Eustis. I was in the T school there in early 1967. Did the 61A10 -> 61B20 -> 61B30 sequence and then most of my class were sent to Ft Story to train on the LARC-Vs. Ended up spending most of 68 at the munitions port at Camp Vayama Thailand working as a 57H with the 233 TC TS 9th LC.
A lot of people don't know that. Also, the Army is in charge of running a port in wartime. (I spent 23 years in the Navy, the last 15 was with spent mostly on amphibious ships).
Been there.....did that.....then Mobile Riverine Force out of Dong Tam.....FDC boat.....God Bless those that didn't return....a real eye opener......the Benewah is a sunken reef now
Lived on it with crew of 4....plus 2 in lazeret hooch and 24 radiomen working 12 hr shifts in well deck with a Colonel aboard.....towed helicopter barge n 2 artillery barges with crews
ARMY, ARMY, ARMY! Guys, RESPECT for your SERVICE, but what your doing is a JOB for NAVY BEACHMASTERS, or SEA BEE'S to help you guys out. Never the less, RESPECT you ARMY TYPES! Sincerely PETTY OFFICER MADISON, VETERAN, BMU-2 LITTLE CREEK, and NMCB-23 LITTLE CREEK. OPERATION RESTORE HOPE VETERAN. RESPECT to the ARMY, but GO NAVY!
Glad these were not combat conditions! The boat would have been destroyed by now if it was. They had better get the Navy to train them on landing craft procedures!
