| Epilogue |
|
|
SWIFT AND DEADLY
Along the coasts of Vietnam, down murky waterways
When freedom is in jeopardy, there are those who choose to fight.
Their sleek, trim crafts were common sights wherever danger lay.
From I corps to the Delta, Swifts kept the noose pulled tight.
These brave young men pursued their foe, ignoring Charlie's might
With shrapnel flying all about as cordite filled the air,
The quest for freedom takes its toll, and many men were lost
Larry Dunn, USN Ret
|
 |
 |
Sadly, Bobby Don Carver, the man that fired the telling blow to Skunk Alpha, was fatally wounded in December 1967
while PCF 79 was conducting a Chieu Hoi operation near the entrance to the Song Tra Khuc river. Every sailor that knew
this outstanding leader and seaman has made at least one visit to The Wall in Washington D.C. to pay their respects to
not only this true friend, but to all the other Swift Boat Sailors that are still on patrol in South East Asia.
Ron Boulle obtained his Merchant Marine Third Officer's License after his tour on the boats. He rose through the
ranks of a shipping company to become the Captain of several large freighters and container ships. Along the way - "I fell in love with South America" - and he consequently took an early
retirement and now lives in Quito, Equidor.
John Willet remained in the navy and retired with the rank of Chief Petty Officer. His second career was with a
911 center in upstate New York. But his real treasure is his family. 4 children and 8 grand children:
"Grand children are really the best." John retired in Gloversville in June 2002
Ron Rinehart also completed a full career in the Navy and retired as an Engineman First Class. He now lives not far from
Houston, and spends most of his time teaching his grandson the finer points of hunting and fishing.
"Nub" Ketterman followed up his service in SEA with a tour on board a destroyer tender on the east coast of
the USA maintaining the Navy's five inch guns. He returned to his native Missouri and pursued a long career in the
sheet metal industry, including extended work on the massive new international airport on Chek Lop Kok Island in Hong
Kong. He is now retired in a small town southeast of Kansas City and also enjoys hunting and fishing.
Despite being raised in the northeast (Connecticut), Bob Middleton settled down in the deep south. He and his wife
managed a KOA Campground outside of Lafayette, Louisiana. They are currently on a vagabond tour of the United States with
their own trailer in tow. But they maintain their love and passion for traditional Cajun dancing.
Raul Herrera achieved his goal of entering the engineering profession, and works for a firm in Houston. He discovered
an interest in becoming an author and is active in several writer's organizations. His current project addresses his
experiences aboard Swift Boats.
Upon leaving the Navy, Ed Bergin first joined the IBM Corporation as a salesman. But when an opportunity arose to
enter the real estate business, he took it. With his wife, he now runs a successful independent agency in the Tampa Bay area.
Bob Shirley joined an aerospace company after his tour in Vietnam . On assignment, he spent another four years in
South East Asia as a civilian supporting ASA and the USAF in their operations against the re-supply activities in Laos and
Cambodia. He then was part of a start up company in the telecommunications industry and retired to the Dallas area in 1998.
|
So far, efforts to locate Pat Hall, Bob Stephenson, and Bob MacNamara have been lost in the fog of the intervening years. It is sincerely hoped that this web site will bring them out of the woodwork. If you guys are out there - let us hear from you ! Your shipmates and fellow Swift Boat sailors are very interested in making contact once again. |
| Acknowledgments |
Appreciation is extended to the following people who helped make this site possible Tom Cutler, Peg Wooldridge, Jaci Day, and Susan Struve for their assistance in granting permission to use the excerpts from the book and magazine article used on the site. The following individuals that were gracious enough to allow the use of their experiences, images and/or sounds from personal collections:
|
|
Charles Lloyd, Stu Levee, Neil Geis, Dave Moyer, Jim Leatherwood, Jim McDaniel Guy Gugliotta, Joe LaVoie, Ray Ponthieux, John Stevens, Mark Bell, Terry Jelcick John and Al Hajny, Walt Maxam, Ed Bergin, Dan Daly, Bill Bachstet, John Cavano Ken Turgeon, Tom Forrest, Barry Bogart, Tom Vento, Jim Schneider, Bob Johnson Steve Waterman, Russell Puppe, Doug Reglin, Tom Byrnes, Ed Lafebvre, Reg Ritter Warren Jenny, Robert Colceasure, Jim Deal, Larry Webb, Robert Burton, Fred Short Gary Carpenter, Dave Hansen, Virgil Erwin, Bill Wells, Ron Owensby, George Wendell Bud Hortt, Herb Blume, Terry Esler, Mickey Walker, Dale Duffield, JR Foster, Bob Yount John Branca, Dave Stevenson, Bob Bolger, J. D. Wiggins, Dan Odenweller, John Yeoman Ken Briggs, Bob Kreyer, Bill Rogers, Ray Ballew, Jerry Jones, Dr. Louis Letson, Tony Snesko Ivan Consiglio, Truman Richey, Arthur Hill, Tom Levour, Tony Ey, Sonny Barber, Gary Peterson Ron Braumfield, Bob Brown, Stew Harris, Jim Steffes, Raul Herrera, Terry Boone, James Sewart |
the meticulous reconstruction of the events of that dark and stormy night of July 14-15, 1967 And to Charlie Lloyd and Jerry Jones for the honor their stories give to their shipmates' sacrifice |
|
But most importantly. In remembrance ... Of all our shipmates still on patrol
They are and always will be |
And he carries the reminders of every glove that laid him down Or cut him til he cried out in his anger and his shame I am leaving, I am leaving .... But the fighter still remains Simon and Garfunkel © |
A time of innocence .... A time of con-fi-dences Long ago it must be .... I have a photograph Preserve your memories .... They're all that's left you Simon and Garfunkel © |
 |
This web site is Copyright © 2002 by Robert B. Shirley. All rights reserved. Click on image to return to the homepage
|
>