In 1975 as Saigon fell, the U.S.S. Okinawa assisted in the evacuation of fleeing Vietnamese. To make room on deck, abandoned aircraft were thrown overboard.

U.S.S. Okinawa on station in Vietnamese waters.

Tank Landing Ship ARL- 23, U.S.S. Satyr on station in Vietnamese waters.

The MRF operated variety of boats such as the ATC (Attack Troop Carrier), ASPV (Assault Support Patrol Boat), and the Monitor pictured here with a flamethrower.

Jim on the bow gun of an Alpha boat. Long Xuyen in the background.

Jim at the forward turret of a Vietnamese Navy Alpha boat.

Jim served aboard the U.S.S. Okinawa in 1969 with Task Force 117 and in 1971 with the "Brown-water" Navy's Mobile Riverine Force (MRF) patrolling the Mekong Delta with Vietnamese Navy.

Getting ready to ship out from Oakland, CA, 1968

Greg served with the 56th Transportation Company in BearCat in 1968 - 69

Gary Hutchison Memorial Chapter 1028

Vietnam Veterans of America

THEN

NOW

Jim Schmelz

It's been decades since we served. But to many of us, it seems like only yesterday.  Today we are old and slow; but once we were young and swift.  For those who never knew us then; and for those who can't remember when, take a look back at​  the way we were:

The Way We Were