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Share pictures of your favorite Gamewardens
memorabilia here by sending your photos and captions to
Larry
Bissonnette.
Lighters [click image for close-up/additional
pictures]
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DUCEMUS - Mine
Squadron Eleven
This Rare, M.I.B. 1966 Zippo
Lighter is from US Navy Mine Squadron 11, Detachment Alpha, Nha Be, Vietnam
Mine Squadron 11 was essential to the security of Vietnam's
waterways. Nowhere was this more crucial than on the rivers near Saigon, the
country's most vital port. Viet Cong mining of the main shipping channel, the
Long Tau River, which wound its way through the Rung Sat Special Zone south of
the capital, could have had a devastating effect on the war effort.
Consequently, on 20 May 1966, the Navy established Mine Squadron 11, Detachment
Alpha (Mine Division 112 after May 1968) at Nha Be, under Commander Task Force
116. From 1966 until mid-1968, the minesweeping detachment operated
minesweeping boats (MSB) reactivated in the United States and shipped to
Southeast Asia. The 57-foot, fiberglass-hulled vessels were armed with machine
guns and grenade launchers and carried surface radars and minesweeping gear for
clearing explosives from the key waterways. The Navy also deployed three-boat
subordinate units to Danan g and Cam Ranh Bay. Detachment Alpha's strength
increased in July 1967 when the first of six mechanized landing craft (LCM(M))
that were specially configured to sweep mines arrived at Nha Be.
Respectfully Submitted by
John A. Altfeltis,
USN-Retired |
River Section 533 |
River Section 523 |
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| PBR
Mobile Base Mekong Delta |
USS Benewah APB-35 |
River Division 532 |
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USCGC BIBB, WHEC-31 - Vietnam Tour - 04 July 1968 - 28
February 1969 The USCGC Bibb provided logistical support to U.S. Navy "Swift"
boats and Coast Guard 82-foot patrol boats of Coast Guard Squadron One. The
support included providing fuel, food, water, ammunition, maintenance repair,
battle damage repair, and medical services. Frequently one, two or three boats
were alongside and on one occasion there were as many as nine boats alongside
at the same time.
The Bibb completed her
deployment in February of 1969 and was relieved by Spencer. As Bibb departed
the western Pacific for her return to Boston, the commander of the
Cruiser-Destroyer Group, U.S. Seventh Fleet, RADM Rudden, send her a message:
"As you depart the Cruiser-Destroyer Group, Seventh Fleet, your performance is
noted with pleasure. In the various areas of Coast Guard Cutter operations
which included Market Time Patrol and Naval Gunfire Support, you leave behind
an impressive record of operational excellence. All hands can be justifiably
proud of this accomplishment and of the fact that they have contributed
significantly to the mission of the Seventh Fleet and to the United States
efforts in Southeast Asia. Well done." Respectfully Submitted, John Altfeltis,
USN-Retired |
A M.I.B. Zippo from 1969, made for Operation Seafloat which consisted
of eleven barges chained together and anchored in the Song Cao Lon River next
to Old Nam Can City, which was hit hard in 1968, during the Tet Offensive.
Seafloat was a Brown Water Navy Base, which supported an attack helicopter
squadron with every type of River Assault Group Boat of that era; PBR's, Swift
Boats, Zippos and Monitors. In 1969 there was some added protection when the
USS Gallup, PG-85 arrived with her 3 inch rapid fire gun for support.
Respectfully Submitted, John A. Altfeltis, USN-Retired |
USS
Marathon (PG-89)
USS MARATHON, PG-89 off the
Coast of Vietnam. USS MARATHON (PG-89) is last PG to engage in SEAFLOAT
operations when she departs the Song Bo De on 5 Oct 1970.
Originally
built for the Cuban Missile Crisis era, MARATHON was constructed at Tacoma Boat
Building in Tacoma, Washington. She was commissioned on 11 MAY 1968 and was
intended to see service in the Caribbean Sea and other littoral areas. At the
time, this class was the largest patrol craft built by the U.S. since WWII and
was the first class of U.S. Navy warship to utilize Gas Turbine propulsion. On
5 SEP 69, the USS Marathon was awarded the green "E" and "C" for efficiency in
operations and communications. Marathon was the first patrol gunboat to earn
these awards. During her commissioning, the MARATHON was home ported in Guam
assigned to COMPHIBPAC and saw 3 tours of duty in Vietnam assigned to CTF-115
conducting Riverine Warfare Operations.
Respectfully Submitted, John A.
Altfeltis, USN-Retired |
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A
Mint in the Box Zippo from Coastal Division 15 Naval Patch/Crest, We Can Hack
It, their motto and a picture of a US Navy Swift Boat on the reverse side of
the lighter. Zippo is from 1969 and Coastal Division 15 was out of Qui Nhon,
Vietnam.
Respectfully Submitted,
John A. Altfeltis,
USN-Retired |
This rare
Zippo was especially recreated for the Gamewardens of Vietnam 1992 Reunion.
The Zippo Company used the original artwork and colors that they used on
lighters during the Vietnam War to recreate this two sided rare piece of Zippo
history. Zippo only did a very limited run of these lighters and they were sold
out in just a few hours, the first day of the reunion. No additional Game
Warden lighters were ever produced by Zippo even though there was a large
demand by members, attending the reunion. This was a true limited edition.
Submitted by: John A.Altfeltis, USN-Retired |
River Division 531 |
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| River Division 571 |
Binh Thuy |
USS Tutuila
[click for
history] |
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RivDiv 593 from
68-69
Extremely rare in that it is polished chrome.
Submitted by John Altfeltis, USN, Retired. |
PBR River Division 592, Go
Dau Ha, Vietnam - 1969
Submitted by John A. Altfeltis,
USN (Ret) |
APL 55 –
Submitted by Michael Knowlton |
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USCGC
Gresham
Ultimately 30 high endurance cutters served in
Coast Guard Squadron Three during its existence from April, 1967 through
January, 1972. The Navy assigned the cutters to the Gulf of Thailand for 5"/38
gunfire support of Ong Doc as well as logistic support to patrol boats.
Squadron Three operated from bases in Da Nang, Cat Lo and An Thoi. Submitted by
John A. Altfeltis, USN-Retired
Photos here
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Fear No Evil |
Gamewardens of
Vietnam
Association, Inc. |
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PBR River Patrol Section
513, Vinh Long, Vietnam - 1966
Submitted by John A.
Altfeltis, USN (Ret) |
YRBM-20
This was one of the first lighters handed out to those of us who put
the YRBM-20 in-service around 2/69. This is before the YRBM-20 became known as
the Delta Hilton. I had just stopped smoking, so the lighter has remained in
the original box for 36 years! Submitted by Greg Wilkey |
1st known, Vietnam M.I.B.
Zippo
Showing a WWII type P.T. Boat and entitled Peter
Tare, the phonetic words for the letters, P. T. - Submitted by John Altfeltis,
USN, Retired. |
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| Guy Arrans |
River Division 543 |
USCGC Squadron 1, Division 11,
Gulf of Thailand - 1967
Submitted by John A. Altfeltis,
USN (Ret) |
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| River Squadron 55 |
River Division 553 |
River Patrol
Section 541 |
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| River Patrol
Force |
River Division 511 |
River Riders 594 |
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| Coastal Squadron - Swift
1 |
River Division 554 |
River Division
574
Submitted by Ian Griffin, Australia |
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| RIVPATFLOT V |
US Naval Forces -
Vietnam
Submitted by Ian Griffin, Australia |
River Section 511 |
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RPD 59
Submitted by Ian Griffin, Australia |
River Division 593 |
River Patrol 541 |
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| USS Jerome County |
YRBM 20 |
NAVSUPPACT DET
YRBM-18 |
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| CTF 115 |
River Division 521 |
SeaWolves |
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| River Section 512 |
River Division 542 |
River Division 515 |
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| PBR Mobile Base
II |
River Division 532 |
YRBM 21 |
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| River Division 511 |
PBR Navy Training |
River Section 543 |
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| River Section 541 |
River Division 535 |
River Division 571 |
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| Vietnamese LLDN 212 |
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Questionable
The photos shown below are suspected
fakes — seen on eBay and other sites. (click on image for close-up)
Also view our other collectible
galleries:
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