Operation Market Time: the U.S. Coast Guard in Vietnam

The contributions of the U.S. Coast Guard seem often to be forgotten compared to the other services. One example is the service of the Coast Guard in the Vietnam war, including the largest surface naval engagement in that war. It is history that deserves to be remembered.

This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.

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Script by THG

#ushistory #thehistoryguy #vietnamwar

[TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Somehow in the introduction I say "October 4" when, of course, I meant to say August 4. I sincerely apologize for the error.

[justintillman]

I'm a coastguardsman who served on a high endurance cutter. An old HEC 378 that constantly needed the rust around it's bullet hole patches painted. Everytime we painted over them we'd say, "Dang Vietcong!"

[DonaldWMeyers-dwm]

One year, I was attending the community band's 9/11 commemoration concert and they played the "Armed Forces Medley" inviting veterans to stand when their service's song was played, and people would applaud. When they played "Semper Paratus, " I saw one man stand, but people didn't notice him. So I told my kids to start clapping like their lives depended on it, and before the song was over, the whole audience was applauding this man.

[jasonwcoleman]

The best way to compare the USCG is to call it the "red-headed step child of the military". We got the Navy's old, worn out ships and we're expected to make use of them with 1/4 of the budget the other branches would get. And when we outperformed the Navy regardless of the CG's shortcomings, they would flip it and find a way to take credit for it.
Semper Paratus brothers, we know what we did.

[WaitWhat-jyck]

As a former Coast Guardsman, thanks to THG for recognizing the contribution the USCG made to the war effort.
I was a search and rescue air crewman on the HH-52A helicopter. And long before private helicopter services were used to transport the injured from vehicle crashes the Coast Guard was doing it.

[jliller]

A few years ago, I interviewed the widow of a Coast Guardsman who had served locally and learned her husband had died because of Operation Market Time, but not until several decades later. He had also served on USCGC Campbell in Vietnam which, to quote Wikipedia, "was assigned to combat duty in Vietnam from January to July 1968. During Operation Market Time, Campbell destroyed or damaged 105 Viet Cong structures and steamed over 32, 000 miles (51, 000 km) in the Vietnamese War Zone."

Some of the cutter's crew from that deployment developed rare forms of cancer - too many to be coincidental and ultimately determined to have been caused by Agent Orange exposure. While patrolling off the coast of Vietnam, the affected Coast Guardsmen had been on deck watching American aircraft spray Agent Orange onshore. The wind had carried some of the chemical out to the cutter.

RIP BMC Kit Carson Campbell

[WarThunder-ztxw]

Retired CG here; thank you so much for posting! Happy Coast Guard Day, Semper Paratus!

[stevenstone]

Semper Paratus indeed. Thank you for this history short. Yes, we Coasties do often feel forgotton.

[greganderson]

This old Coastie that served during Operation Market Time (but not actually in Vietnam, but knew many that were) thanks you for your acknowledgement of our contribution. The Coast Guard is seldom mentioned when talking about any war or conflict the US has been in, but has been involved in every one of them, from landing Marines on the beaches of the Pacific Islands in WWII to patrolling the Persian Gulf during the Iraqi War. We have always been there, silently doing the job that needs to be done without all the fanfare.

Thank You again for making this video.

[dogstar]

Semper Paratus! I served on the Hamilton Class USCG Cutter Midgett and the LORAN terrestrial navigation network (forerunner to orbital GPS) Happy Birthday US Coast Guard

[buknekkit]

As an old Navy man, we used to rib our little brothers, the Coasties, by calling 'em "harbor ducks" and "puddle jumpers", but as someone with a broad historical background, I was well aware of their sacrifices during all of our wars but especially WW2 convoy escorts and invasion landings. It is to my chagrin that I wasn't aware of their contributions during 'Nam, especially in light of my Brown Water Navy knowledge. So, KUDOS once again for making my day with this little gem of a Story. Always enjoy your content. 👍👍

[constitutionalUSA]

My oldest son, three years in the CG, enjoys his service and is proud to serve the people of the United States Of America. And we are very proud of all the men and women who serve

[SurfBigg]

Thanks for bringing light to the coast guard service in Vietnam!

My uncle Bob was a deck gunner. He had about a dozen bullet wounds in his arms up to his shoulders. He manned the deck machine gun and only had a steel plate in front of him for protection.

He was shot multiple times in the arms and continued to man his position and provide surpessive fire. His arms were hit as they stuck out wider then the steel plate on his gun.

As a coast guard Veteran he was told on more then one occasion that he was not a Vietnam veteran.His battle scars begged to differ.

My Uncle Bob was a class act and rarely spoke about his service.

8 of my uncles went to Vietnam and 7 came back.

[DTavona]

Semper Paratus indeed. Coasties are often wrong derided by the other services, but whether in wartime or in stormy seas, year after year they continue to show the mettle of their character and the measure of their bravery. Thank you again for illuminating another dusty corner of the oft-neglected historical record.

[dlaw]

The 82s were good boats. Rough riders, I often said that they would roll 5 degrees at the pier if a duck swam by. However, the boats could really take a beating. I spent a little over 3 years on Point Martin WPB 82379. She was the last one built by the Coast Guard Yard. The hulls were steel, but the superstructures were aluminum. Rumor was that the wheelhouse off of the Point Martin was removed and sent to Viet Nam in order to replace the wheelhouse destroyed by the USAF on the Point Welcome. A new wheelhouse was constructed for Point Martin.

[michaelhines]

The Quote about combat is true for everyone in combat. I was a Marine Rifleman in country from April 22nd, 1968 until I was MediVac'd in April 1969. I can attest to the trueness of that statement from many times.

[PaulfromChicago]

In WWII, whenever there was something hard to do, the USN got the Coast Guard to do it. Guess not much had changed by Vietnam.

[keithweiss]

It seems like the Coast Guard is usually overlooked. My uncle served in the Coast Guard in WWII. In the Pacific he transferred off of a ship only a month before it was lost with all hands to the Japanese. It was used as bait to lure the enemy out of a port. God bless the Coast Guard! Semper Paratus!
Thanks History Guy!

[mantis_surf]

Happy Coast Guard Day! 231 years old. Semper Paratus!🇺🇸

[TheHylianBatman]

Nobody ever thinks about the Coast Guard, and that makes me sad. I really like the Coast Guard.