COMMANDER TASK FORCE CLEARWATER

Naval Support Activity Det., Cua Viet

FPO San Francisco, California 96362

 

CTF CLEARWATER/gg

1560

Ser 1

20 April 1968

 

From:   Commander Task Force CLEARWATER

To:       All  Hands    Task Force CLEARWATER

 

Subj:    Letter of Commendation

 

Ref:      (a) CG III MAF DNG 281102Z Feb 1968

            (b) CG PV PHU BAI  141100Z Mar 1968

            (c) CG FMFPAC 100042Z Apr 1968

            (d) CCMNAVFORV 140730Z Apr 1968

            (e) CNO 152329Z Apr 1968

 

  1. References (a) through (e), are quoted below as received:

 

THE OUTSTANDING MANNER IN WHICH BADLY NEEDED SUPPLIES ARE TRANSPORTED THROUGH HOSTILE FIRE TO DONG HA THROUGH THE CUA VIET WATERWAY, AND TO HUE VIA THE PERFUME RIVER IS INDICATIVE OF THE BRAVERY AND SUPERB LEADERSHIP OF THE BOAT CREWS INVOLVED IN THIS CRITICAL COMBAT OPERATION.  THE BATTLE AT HUE DEPENDED HEAVILY ON THIS EFFORT, AS DOES THE SUPPORT OF THE LARGE FORCES IN THE DONG HA AREA.  DESPITE CONTINUAL HARRASSMENT BY THE ENEMY AND IN THE FACE OF GRAVE DANGER, YOU PERFORMED MAGNIFICENTLY.  TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED I EXTEND A SINCERE “WELL DONE”.

LTGEN CUSHMAN SENDS.

 

THE CG, III MAF HAS ASKE ME TO EXTEND HIS SINCERE APPRECIATION AND A “WELL DONE” FOR THE PTROMPT AND FORTHRIGHT ACTION TAKEN BY MEMBERS OF YOUR COMMAND FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF CUA VIET TRANSHIPMENT CAPABILITY DUE TO ENEMY ACTION ON 10 MAR 68.

I WISH TO ADD MY CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE AND THE “CAN DO” ATTITUDE OF ALL CONCERNED.  “LTGEN ROSSEN CG PCV”

 

AS WE LOOK ON THE TACTICAL SUCCESS OF THE PAST FOUR WEEKS IN VIETNAM, IT IS IMPORTANT TO GIVE FULL CREDIT OF THE RESOLUTE CONDUCT OF THE U.S. NAVY FORCES – ALL OF THEM – THAT KEPT THE LOGISTIC PIPELINE ALIVE. 

THE CUA VIET AND PERFUME RIVERS ARE CRITICAL TO THE OPERATIONAL SURVIVAL OF OUR FORCES.  THE ENEMY KNEW THIS AND, FROM THE START OF THE TET OFFENSIVE, WAS DETERMINED TO CUT THEM BOTH.  THAT THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IS LARGELY DUE TO THE GALLANT DETERMINATION OF THE NAVY FORCES OPERATING THE LANDING SHIP’S, LANDING CRAFT AND RIVER FIRE SUPPORT CRAFTS.  DESPITE THE MOST DETERMINED ENEMY RESISTANCE, AND IN THE FACE OF CONTINUING CASUALTIES, THEY KEPT THE SUPPLIES MOVING.  IN DOING SO, THEY ONCE AGAIN EARNED THE GRATITUDE OF THEIR BROTHERS IN THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS TEAM.  LTGEN KRULAK

 

IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I NOTE YOUR SUCCESS IN KEEPING THE LOGISTIC SUPPORT ROUTES OPEN AND KEEPING TRAFFIC MOVING DURING THE PAST MONTH.  THIS COULD BE ACHIEVED ONLY BY APPLYING THE HIGHEST DETERMINATION.

THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR FORCE IN CONTINUING THEIR MISSION AGAINST SUCH STRONG OPPOSTITION IS TRULY OUTSTANDING.  WELL DONE.  RADM VETH

 

IT WAS A PLEASURE TO READ LTGEN KRULAK’S COMMENDATORY COMMENTS IN REF A.  THE GALLANT DETERMINATION OF OUR PERSONNEL IN KEEPING THE VITAL LOGISTIC ROUTES OPEN IN THE QUA VIET AND PERFUME RIVERS IS SOURCE OF GREAT PRIDE TO ME.  PLEASE EXPRESS MY PERSONAL APPRECIATION TO ALL HANDS FOR A JOB WELL DONE.  T. H. MOORER, ADMIRAL, U.S. NAVY.

 

  1. The service for which this Letter of Commendation is awarded signifies your courage and devotion to duty.  Your professional performance greatly contributed to the successful support of the United States and Free World Military Forces engaged in maintaining control of the Cua Viet and Perfume Rivers Line of Communications (LOC’S).

 

  1. Subordinate Commanding Officers of Task Force CLEARWATER units, and Naval Support Activity, Danang units, participating in the operations of Cua Viet and the Perfume Rivers LOC’S, are requested to append a copy of this letter to all officer fitness reports and all enlisted service records.

 

 

/s/      G. W. SMITH

         G. W. SMITH

 

Copy to:

COMNAVFORV

NSA DNG

NSA SGN

NSA CAM RAHN BAY

CTF 116

CTF 117

COMRIVDIV FIVE FIVE