army historian Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 I'm working on a Vietnam period Navy medal group. I have a question on the normal length of a Vietnam period deployment. He served 1966-1970 and in 1967 was an Apprentice Sailor Gunner's field. He was on the USS Hancock. Thanks George
E Williams Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) Can't speak for the Navy aboard ships, I would think it would be the same...it was 12 months exactly (one tour) for in-country assigned. It was not considered a hardship tour as Korea was (13 months) but was a combat tour of one year. One could ask for additional time. One received a 30 day paid trip to anywhere in the free world for extending their tour by 6 months (per extension) and there was 15 days travel allowance added on.If you were a career soldier/sailor, you didn't get off with just one tour. Edited February 13, 2014 by E Williams
IrishGunner Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 I would have thought it would depend on how long the ship was on station in waters supporting combat operations. Deployments for ships are usually less than a year before returning to home port. If you look up the history of the HANCOCK, that might give you some idea of how long she was on station off Vietnam. Maybe our swabbies will chime in soon...
E Williams Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 The Navy had two navies in Vietnam, bluewater and brownwater. Bluewater, which is what I guess your fellow was, could have spent is whole enlistment on one ship off the coast of Nam, and his tours could have been counted in 12 month increments. If he spent three years on the ship and it was deployed all three years of the coast, he would have served three tours. Brown water was like everyone else, one year.
IrishGunner Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) According to wiki: USS HANCOCK on patrol off Vietnam - Nov 64 - Spring 65 Nov 65 - Aug 66 Early 67 - Jul 67 68 onward it isn't very specific; but from what it does say, the HANCOCK never spent a whole year on station. Looks like multiple deployments of several months to me... Edited February 13, 2014 by IrishGunner
E Williams Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 Send me his name and I can find out more, maybe even find him.
E Williams Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 There are 759 members on the USS Hancock unit page on military.com. Not all are Vietnam vets but many are.
IrishGunner Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 Send me his name and I can find out more, maybe even find him. Great idea! You da man.
Hugh Posted February 14, 2014 Posted February 14, 2014 From my experience, Irish Gunner seems to have the right answer (as usual). A deployment in the combat zone (as opposed toWestPac) of a year would be unheard of. Best, Hugh
army historian Posted February 15, 2014 Author Posted February 15, 2014 Thanks guys, I know the man and a little of his service - tried to contact him - but no answer. I do have 2 pictures of him, one a verified 1967 cruise book photo on the Hancock. I manged to pick up 2 privately named medals to him thus my interest. George
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