Comments

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  Michael Austin May 23, 2018 at 9:16am

  My comment two notches down was meant for James E. Flore but I wrote Greg.  Apparently I have trouble with names these days as I've already abused Mike Ayars name and probably others.  Couldn't be an age-related problem ... could it?
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  Michael Austin May 22, 2018 at 9:15pm

  For anyone interested, my congressman's L.A. for Vets Affairs turned up some correspondence showing that Admiral McCauley put some notable effort into establishing a campaign medal for Operation End Sweep.  No such luck.  CNO, SecNav and Com7thFlt casually dismissed his request without explanation. 

  As I've said to others, this was the first as time in modern history of American warfare that awarding of campaign medals was stopped on the day the cease-fire was officially in effect.  Others, including WWII and Korea granted medals for up to a year, recognizing that follow-up operations such as our End Sweep were ongoing.  I believe the public, media and most importantly the top brass were so sick of Vietnam by March 1973 they couldn't wait to slap a lid on and forget about it.  Then, when someone comes along later to point out the discrepancy, they simply can't be bothered to acknowledge the oversight.  Such is politics.
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  Michael Austin May 22, 2018 at 8:52pm

  Thanks for the offer, Greg.  Anyone who sailed into the combat zone of Vietnam on or before 23 March 1973 was already eligible for the VSM.  Some of us didn't join Operation End Sweep or visit the combat zone until after that date, and that is primarily what this whole legislative effort was all about.  If you hit the combat zone for the first time after 23 March and yet were granted the VSM, it would be interesting and maybe helpful for us to learn the background.

  Two exceptions: Operation Frequent Wind (evacuation of Saigon Embassy) and Operation Eagle Pull (evacuation of Phnom Pen) were granted VSM much later after going through pretty much the same process we're pursuing.
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  James H. Flore May 22, 2018 at 6:14pm

  Thanks everybody for the comments and keeping us all up to date.  I was the first enlisted assigned and accompanied RADM McCauley and his initial Staff of 6 to Pearl and on to Cubi Point to plan Operation End Sweep.  I was originally assigned to the COMINEWARFOR staff in Charleston and the only enlisted out of 200 asked to go.   I stayed with the group onto the USS New Orleans and then the Tripoli.  I just pulled out my DD-214 and noted that it IS checked for Indochina service and I was awarded the VSM as well as the NAVY Commendation medal.  I don't know if I can be of any help but would love to help out where possible..
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  Michael Austin May 22, 2018 at 5:04pm

  Greg, I've sent some information that may be of help.  First time I've used the NavyVets site's messaging system, so please let me know if you didn't receive it.
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  Greg E Allen May 22, 2018 at 4:10pm

  Thanks Mike for the reply. Yes I have read all the comments concerning the efforts being made. I was recently trying through a local veterans rep to find something out about this and was told I needed to apply for the deck logs of Conquest during that time period. Navigating that system was a nightmare and low and behold Conquest did not exist. So I now reside in Florida and I will make the contact that you suggested with political powers that be. 
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  Michael Austin May 22, 2018 at 10:35am

  Welcome, Greg. E. Allen,

  Thanks for pointing out that those of us who came to the party during the Operation End Sweep phase do not have Indochina Service marked on the DD214.  To be honest, I have ignored this on my own DD214, perhaps because I assumed correctly or not that Indochina Service and VSM were the same.  Mine is also marked "no".

  If you read the other comments, you'll know that we've tried for at least the past two years to have VSM for Op. End Sweep included in the National Defense Appropriate Act. Mike Ayars has graciously contacted his congressman.  Perhaps others in this group have done the same.

  My Congressman and his staff have been vigourously pursuing the issue.  Last year was looking good until the chairman of the Senate committee killed the amendment because "every other little operation will want it (VSM) also".  Not a persuasive argument, but I guess when you have the veto power, persuasion is unnecessary.  However, with all due respect to the Senator, he may not be involved again this year.

  The effort isn't dead.  There's a new Legislative Coordinator for Veterans Affairs in my congressman's offce who tells me they're giving it another try this year.  It's a bit early to put much emphasis on the the NDAA route, but I've been told other methods are being explored.

  If you would like to be actively involved, and I sincerely hope you do, please call your congressman and senator and ask for their support.  Perhaps it would be efficient if they contact Congressman Garret Graves' office for the latest update.  The current LA for Veterans Affairs is Mr. Dustin Davidson. Dustin's email is dustin.davidson@mail.house.gov.  Congressman Graves' phone number is 202-225-3901.  It doesn't hurt for anyone to call or send Mr. Davidson a message in support of this, even if you're not in Congressman Graves state or district.  Any support only helps.

  I'll contact you through this site's messaging system about some extra information.
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  Mike Ayars May 21, 2018 at 10:08pm

  Welcome aboard! I was part of Mobile Mine Countermeasures Command (MOMCOM), also based in Charleston. I have wondered why some of us got the Vietnam Service award but those on the support ships mostly did not.  
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  Greg E Allen May 21, 2018 at 9:27pm

  Just got approved for membership to the site. Found this page while searching commands. I was aboard Conquest T.A.D. from Exploit. Flew to Pearl with Mike Cosgrove and the rest of the bunch from Charleston. I have always questioned this issue too. More important to me than the ribbon is that no is checked in the box for having Indochina service on my DD214 considering that this country was involved there untill '75 we should at least get that. I have spoke with another shipmate from Conquest who also was T.A.D. from Charleston and he said indochina service is marked on his 214. There are several others in the minesweeper group on facebook too. Any way glad to be here.
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  Michael Austin January 16, 2018 at 4:49pm

  Nothing new as of mid-January, Commander.  I think we have a good sponsor in my congressman (Graves - LA), as well as a few others in the House and Senate he brought into the issue.  We got the amendment passed through the House this past year and would have made it all the way through the NDAA process but for one unexpected nay vote from a Senator who really should be on our side.

  We try again through the NDAA 2019 process. I intend to do just as you suggested and keep up the pressure.  Last year my congressman's Legislative Assistant for Veterans Affairs worked very hard to guide the amendment through the House and much of the Senate.  Unfortunately he has taken another job, so I hope I can inspire his replacement to do as well as he.  It will help immensely if anyone who reads this would continue to put polite pressure on their own senators and congressmen.

  I hope the guys you contacted thirty years ago have moved on to their greater reward (lobbying, I mean, not necessarily the other place) so their replacements get the chance to view our request favorably and without the blinders and prejudices of previous generations.