By 1971 I had exhausted all my student deferments. My draft number was one of the last ones to be taken and I was desperate to avoid going into the Army. I formulated a plan. I joined the Navy. After "A" school in Great Lakes I had the choice of duty stations and chose the USS Newport News, the flagship of the Atlantic Fleet. There was no way they would send the flagship to Vietnam. This plan had some flaws. It is generally known that the US dropped over twice as many tons of bombs on Vietnam than in the entire European Theater in WWII, and that with the advent of air mobile combat an infantry man in Vietnam spent 240 days in a year tour compared to a total forty days of combat for the average soldier in the four years of south Pacific campaign. I was not aware that we also fired 6 million large caliber naval artillery rounds twice as many as fired during WWII. When I reported to the ship in Norfolk ammunition was being loaded at the pier. The local news was saying that the ship was being deployed to an undisclosed Southeast Asia location.
The USS Newport News was a marvel of World War II technology. Since the battleship USS New Jersey had been decommissioned at the end of 1969, the Newport News was the largest gunship in the world. It had already been deployed once to Vietnam and it had been given the nickname Grey Ghost from the East Coast.
By 1972 President Nixon's Vietamization Program was well underway. By mid 1972 US ground troops had been drawn down to around 69,000 about the level in Afghanistan now. The strategy then was to rely heavily on navy and air support of South Vietnamese troops.
Our leaders thought highly of the ship and had plans.
Mr. Kissinger: Will more ships be coming on the line?
Adm. Moorer: Yes. It will end up looking like a Russian fishing fleet. All the ships we’ve ordered to Vietnam—including the Saratoga and the Newport News—have now left the U.S.
April 12, 1972 Minutes of a Washington Special Actions Group Meeting
The USS Newport News was first fully air conditioned ship. It was built with a dozen 3 inch guns, six dual 5" gun mounts, and the main armament was nine 8" guns. The eight inch guns were automatic with shells and brass powder cases fed from below by hoists. Each barrel could reload and fire in six seconds. Fire control radar gave the ship the ability to put 90 accurately aimed 260 pound high explosive or 320 pound armor piercing rounds in the air per minute. In the time the first ranging shell from an enemy ship hit the water these cruisers could have 12 tons of explosives raining down. Major modifications had been made, all two twin three inch mounts had been removed and a large antenna had been placed on the bow. The antenna allowed it to operate more effectively as a flagship, however it was necessary to prevent the guns from firing straight ahead so a shell would not take out communications.
Conversation between Chairman of Joint Chief of Staff Admiral Moore and National Security Advisor Alexander Haig.
CJCS:—Work up interdiction plan use something like between 300–400 a day. HAK wanted between that and 3 up there anyway. Additional 4 squadrons and Saratoga. Abrams is not going to lose anything compared to what he has had and I told HAK I am sure Mel will approve it. Last night I was talking to McCain about great question could send 3 cruisers up there at once, Newport News just arriving and to shelling while other thing going on. Main thing I am going to get Laird going on to do that. Two 6 inch cruisers and one 8 inch cruiser and the 8 inch can reach 3 of the SAM sites. Another thing, I told HAK actually turned out we had quite a discussion last night back and forth about the duration of the sterilization of the mines and 116 days is what it is instead of 180. In message we should not change it. If you open up mines would not have water tight integrity but it will be 4 months instead of 6.
Conversation between Secretary of State Rodgers, Henry Kissinger and President Nixon.
Nixon: But of course it won't be over. It's not going to be longer than 48 hours. But it'll be big. It'll be the biggest we've had. It'll be— Abrams has got it at a 100 minimum B–52s, and of course all of the naval gunfire we've got up there. The [U.S.S.] Newport News will be up there by the time with 8-inch guns. And, in addition to that, of course, about 400 TacAir. So, it'll be by far the biggest strike on the Hanoi– Haiphong area. It will be limited to military targets, of course, to the extent we can. It will hit some new things, like there's a big troop training area that Moorer and Abrams has selected; we'll try to clean it out. That's about where it stands. Now, that whole regime could change in the event—but only in the event there is something really done on this occasion. Henry's prepared to talk very directly. Is that right, Henry?
The ship went directly from the East Coast to an attack on the Do Son Peninsula in northern Vietnam. [Warning link to PDF file]. My General Quarters station was in the radar and plotting room on top of the ship behind the bridge. I stood behind a Plexiglas board writing down the ranges and bearing to contacts reported by radar scope operators. I have never found another use for the skill of being able to write numbers backwards with grease pencil. Coastal artillery is a kind weapon of war. It just sits there, doesn't go out looking to blow up things, it's pointed out to shoot at water. To not get hurt by it all you have to do is stay away. I had marched in anti war demonstrations. I had no ill will toward the Vietnamese people. As reports of splashes from incoming artillery came in it dawned on me that there were people trying to kill me. I was on top of a ship well above the armored decks with thin steel above me and large explosive projectiles were attempting to find me. If the room I was in was turned into flaming wreckage there were men who would cheer and be congratulated.
The attack on the Haiphong area ended at 0252 11 May, after that life settled into a routine. Most of the time the was spent on the gun line near the North South Vietnamese border in support of South Vietnamese ground forces, punctuated by night time General Quarters during missions against targets in North Vietnam. The command summary for the next week logs:
11 May
NEWPORT NEWS resumed firing again from 0318 to 0322; received nine rounds of hostile fire. At 0900 she departed the waters of North Vietnam to report to TU 70.8.9 [Task Unit designator to identify group of ships carrying out a specific mission] in Military Region I, where she supportedSourth Vietnamese ground forces in Quang Tri Province. Unleashing herguns for three missions at 1740 and concluding at 2115 she fired 246 8-inch rounds. The fire resulted in 18 secondary explosions, 13 fires, destruction of six structures and two artillery pieces.
12 May
NEWPORT NEWS fired two missions totaling 212 8-inch rounds and covering the period 0040 and 0853 until mid-morning....
13 May
NEWPORT NEWS participated in the first South Vietnamese counteroffensive since the invasion by the north Vietnamese Army. At 0900 the ship provided gunfire support for the South Vietnamese heloborne and amphibious assault in Operation SONG THANH. The action saw NEWPORT NEWS fire 263 8-inch and 243 5-inch rounds at enemy troop concentrations and other targets. The firing resulted in destruction of 10 structures, damage of 15 and five enemy troops killed in action. When firing near the DMZ [Demilitarized Zone] that night, 150 rounds of hostile fire were received, with no damage.
14 May
Firing three missions totaling 480 8-inch and 39 5-inch rounds NEWPORT NEWS operated in conjunction with air strikes to prepare positions for an offensive by the Republic of Vietnam's 369th Marine Corps Brigade. One secondary explosion was logged. While not firing in support of Operation SONG THANH NEWPORT NEWS rearmed from the USS VESUVIUS (AR 15), at 1516.
15 May
Support of Vietnamese Marine Corps (VNMC) units continued through the day as the ship fired six missions. Two-hundred four 8-inch and 247 5-inch rounds were expended as NEWPORT NEWS created one secondary explosion.
16 May
NEWPORT NEWS began the day by rearming from the USS VESUVIUS (AE 15) at 0728.. Upon completion of the rearming she vertrepped with the USS MOUND HOOD (AE 29) at 11159. NEWPORT NEWS returned to fire in support of VNMC units. While firing at enemy boats and personnel the ship caused one secondary explosion. NEWPORT NEWS fired 163 8-inch and four 5-inch rounds during the day's action.
17 May
Heavy action occurred during the day, the ship taking part in seven missions and firing 491 8-inch and 65 5-inch rounds. NEWPORT NEWS destroyed two bunkers and caused 12 secondary explosions on the day.
18 May
At 0616 NEWPORT NEWS rearmed from the USS VESUVIUS (AE 15). In the early afternoon (1334) she proceeded to transfer personnel to the USS PYRO (AE 24). Late that night she fired 20 8-inch rounds in ground support action. Hostile fire was received on three occasions, totaling 25 rounds.
So went the rest of the spring and summer. My normal duty station was in a small compartment in front of the aft turret with the electronic warfare gear. The two four hour shifts consisted of tuning what was essential a radio with a screen on it through frequencies looking for a non US radar signal. Mostly there was just US signals and noise. The screen would show the frequency and direction of the signal and we had flash cards to identify the probable source. There was another little oh shit device which was supposed to give an alarm if weapons control radar was detected. It never went off, praise be. Also a reel to reel tape recorder we only used once to record an enemy signal. During missions against North Vietnam, usually at night I went up to General Quarters duty behind the bridge writing ship plots backwards on a window with grease pencil. During rearming our section was assigned to assist Turret Two in receiving and stowing the 8 inch shells. Meals were eaten in less than a quarter hour to enable the 900+ crew members to eat in a less than a hundred seat mess deck. Sleep was had when available.
One evening in June while stowing the last of the ammunition there was some slack time, so we started singing. By 1972 the war was no longer the patriotic mission that it was in 1966. The song of choice was Country Joe and the Fish I Feel Like I'm Fixing to Die Rag. Everyone knew the fist verse and chorus which was sung with gusto. Someone would remember subsequent verses then all would join in on chorus. We were right below the bridge and the chorus was not well received.
And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.
A sailor came down and said the Captain said quit singing that song. We did. The song was less dark humor for the men of turret two than it was a prophecy.
On the 4th of July we rearmed from the USS KATMAI. Underway rearming is complicated and hazardous. Less than reassuring is the Navy's practice of naming ammunition ships after great explosive volcanos. First the receiving ship must approach the ammo ship from the rear a distance that would normally be described as a near collision. A line is shot over to pull the cables between the ship and pallets of shells and brass powder casings are transferred between the ships. While the cables are in place the receiving ship must exactly match the course and speed of the sender. Two ships traveling close together create a suction which tends to bring them closer to each other. The seas must be relatively smooth so the cables aren't excessively stretched or slackened. It is mostly hand work. The pallets are loaded, pulled across, the Newport News had a small forklift which took the ammo from where it was placed on the deck, sailors broke down the pallet and formed a chain to pass the brasses, and positioned the much heavier shells to the a hoist which lifted them up to be stowed inside the turret. The life lines on the edge of the deck were taken down so they won't become entangled with the cargo. Everyone on deck had to have life preservers on and there was a trail ship behind to pick up anyone who fell overboard. Those on the deck had to be aware of what everyone else was doing, glance out see if there might be an unusual wave, watch out for the tons of explosives were going to land deck and see if anything was laying around to trip over.
I was helping move and hold the eight inch shells on the small platform behind the turret while the gunners mate removed the dummy steel cap at the tip of the shell an replace it with an auxiliary fuse. The primary fuse was located encased at the bottom of the shell, while the auxiliary fuse was added for special purposes and to make sure it really really blew up when it hit. It worried me that while he unscrewed the dummy point of the shell exposing the grey explosive inside he was smoking a cigarette. He told me that there was nothing to worry about the explosive was very stable. It required the primers in the fuses to go off before it would explode and they were all encased in steel. He said he could actually put the cigarette out in it without a problem. I'm sure he was correct. I have never heard anyone tell me they put a lit cigarette into sixty pounds of high explosive and it went off.
Over on the port side of the ship a small Vietnamese fishing vessel appeared. A man on the boat appeared to be very agitated. He wild gesturing and pointing ahead of the ship. Ahead were red floats which must have marked his nets. The ships could not alter course and plowed right through his livelihood. There was no malice, just nothing could be done. The course was set and no deviation was possible. Only short looks around could be taken. Pallets swung in the air, landed on deck, were moved, as soon as one piece of cargo was handled the next one came. It was a stream of activity which could not be paused. It came as a shock when after one shell was passed to the turret another one did not come. From the deck below a stillness rippled out. Sailors finished their tasks looked for another one, then asked "What's happening?". There was a crowd around the forklift up by the first turret. Storekeeper Third Class Stephen Brumfield had picked up a pallet of powders and backed up with the load. His head was crushed between the forklift mast and the barrel.
I apologize. This is getting longer than I intended.
In spite of what it appears my intention is to make some points related to my title, but at this rate it is going to take me three more of slowly produced diaries to get there. I realize that the Vietnam War is not a popular subject. I do protest my goal isn't tell old war stories, and have some thoughts about the treatment of companies versus the treatment of individuals, but don't think I can be clear without providing background. Still the end of the Afghan War is beginning to feel like the end of the Vietnam War and it is worthwhile to consider history.
Raymond S. Kopp's 2004 book Thunder in the Night - A Sailor's Perspective on Vietnam is a good record of the ship's 1972 cruise. I was hoping to recommend it, but see that it is now out of print.
There is an excellent USS Newport News Association website. It includes a ship's history and some audio recordings taken from combat.
The USS Salem, a ship of the same class is a museum in Quincy, Massachusetts
If anyone is interested I will complete this story. Actually I'll do it if no one is.
7:14 PM PT: typo corrected