Coast Guard Air Station Washington hosts Coast Guard Cutter Owasco Vietnam veterans
Bill Leggett, a Coast Guard Vietnam veteran, poses for a photo during a tour given to Coast Guard Vietnam veterans from the Coast Guard Cutter Owasco at Coast Guard Air Station Washington, Nov. 5, 2021. A Lexington, Ky., native, Leggett is a former 3rd class boatswain's mate aboard the cutter and was one of several veterans who was presented with an official lapel pin commemorating their service and for the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Tara Molle-Carr/Released)
Coast Guard Air Station Washington hosts Coast Guard Cutter Owasco Vietnam veterans
Bill Leggett, a Coast Guard Vietnam veteran from the Coast Guard Cutter Owasco (WHEC-39), a 255-foot high endurance cutter, poses for a photo in front of an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter during a tour at Air Station Washington, Nov. 5, 2021. Several Vietnam veterans from the Cutter Owasco were given an air station tour and were presented with official lapel pins commemorating their service and for the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Tara Molle-Carr/Released)
Coast Guard Air Station Washington hosts Coast Guard Cutter Owasco Vietnam veterans
Lt. Cmdr. Jose Mercado, the commemorations program manager at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., reads a certificate to Vietnam veterans from the Coast Guard Cutter Owasco (WHEC-39), a 255-foot high endurance cutter, before presenting them official lapel pins pins commemorating their service and for the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at Air Station Washington, Nov. 5, 2021. The veterans were given a tour and spoke with air station personnel about their previous service. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Tara Molle-Carr/Released)
Coast Guard Air Station Washington hosts Coast Guard Cutter Owasco Vietnam veterans
Chief Petty Officer Timothy Willis, a crewmember at the Coast Guard National Capital Region Air Defense Facility, shows an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter to Vietnam veterans from the Coast Guard Cutter Owasco (WHEC-39), a 255-foot high endurance cutter, during a tour of Coast Guard Air Station Washington, Nov. 5, 2021. The veterans were given an air station tour and were presented with official lapel pins commemorating their service and for the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Tara Molle-Carr/Released)
Coast Guard Air Station Washington hosts Coast Guard Cutter Owasco Vietnam veterans
Coast Guard crewmembers and Vietnam veterans from the Coast Guard Cutter Owasco (WHEC-39), a 255-foot high endurance cutter, pose for a photo at Coast Guard Air Station Washington, Nov. 5, 2021. The veterans were given an air station tour and were presented with official lapel pins commemorating their service and for the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Tara Molle-Carr/Released)
By MyCG Staff / Published Nov. 9, 2021
The U.S. Coast Guard recently welcomed 17 Vietnam veterans for unit tours of Air Station Washington and the Coast Guard National Capital Region Air Defense Facility.
During their tour, each veteran also received their commemorative Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin.
The veterans had all served on the Coast Guard Cutter Owasco, which was attached to Coast Guard Squadron Three in Vietnam from Aug. 10, 1968 to March 6, 1969. The cutter participated in “Operation Market Time,” keeping Communists from sneaking men, arms, and other supplies into the Republic of Vietnam.
During the war, six Owasco crewman were cited for meritorious service as a result of direct action with the enemy while the ship was patrolling Market Time Area Two on Nov. 6, 1968.
The six men had just completed a medcap mission ashore in Phouctan. Embarked in Navy Swift Boat PCF-75 for rendezvous with the Owasco, the boat, in company with the ill-fated PCF-70, received hostile gunfire during which PCF-70 personnel were hit from a surprise recoilless rifle ambush on the beach.
Two men were killed, and four others wounded. U.S. Public Health Service Lt. Cmdr Spott, the medical officer, and Seaman Maison, corpsman assistant rendered medical aid in the midst of the enemy attack.
Four other Owasco men, Lt. J.g. Mack, Petty Officer 2nd Class Scheyer, a boatswain's mate, DC3 Petty Officer 3rd Class Bane, a damage controlman, Petty Officer 3rd Class Switlik, an electrician’s mate, all assisted in rescue and salvage operations to the battle-damaged Navy craft.
For their achievement under fire, Doctor Spott and seaman Maison received Navy Commendation medals, while the other four were cited in Letters of Commendation by Commander, 7th Fleet. On June 19, 1969, U.S. Navy Lt. J.g. Warren Hudson , the PCF-70 skipper who was wounded in the action, visited the Owasco in New London to express his thanks to the commanding officer.
Learn more about the Coast Guard Cutter Owasco at the Coast Guard Historian's page.
