Sharon,
Thank you so much for taking this on, I know it's a big job. Jim Meyer and I just got to talking again after all these yrs. and that is great. We were good friends on the cruise in 72 when we got hit. I was in the forward repair party with Dog man EM3 when we got hit. He got sent back first to assist, then I got sent back right after. I remember getting almost to the top of the ladder going down into the after compartments when ammo started blowing up, I got knocked back down the passageway, got back up and headed back to the ladder just as they were helping Rick Rowe up the ladder away from the explosions. Wow, I hadn't thought of that in years. I have a feeling this site is going to be a main source in a lot of healing going on. Jim brother I am so glad you found me. I'm sorry to say that Jim Martinez passed away last Tuesday. Long history of health problems all starting over there, and the V.A. helping the way they always.

Absolutely Clinton. I either read the facts online or saw it on one of the many Military History Channel programs. Vietnam: On the Frontlines - America Enters the War Part 1 examines the US entry into the war in 1965 also has two quick clips (at 32 minutes into documentary) of Higbee's Mount 52 firing.

Sharon there use to be dates on the site that the Higbee was in brown waters and lets us apply for more benefits. There was 3 different years that we went into the rivers. Can you post the dates

Thank you Tom Bouwens

Sharon: Just a short note on today's internet stories. Seems China is intending to build another Island on Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. The U.S.S. Higbee was there on or about Sept. 1, 1965 when we rescued 30 French sailors from a grounded French vessel, the "Arsinoe". The article about the rescue is in the 1964-1966 Cruise book.

I had the honor of serving aboard the Higbee in the summer of 66 for maybe 5 hours, as an Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd class. ;>
Previously I had served aboard the Oriskany and the Kitty Hawk with the North Island N.A.S. E-2 squadron VAW-11. Upon the Kitty Hawk's return to San Diego in June of 66 I was too "short" to be of use to the squadron and so was assigned to "baby sit" some maybe 13 year old science fair or some such winners that were being shown around interesting military sites in the San Diego area for a week. This included setting to sea for 5 hours aboard the Higbee.
As we were exiting the bay and approaching Point Loma I was on the bow with a few of the kids and looked out to sea and then told them it looked fairly calm. I had done so on the bows of the two carriers and that sea state had no affect on the ships so I was shocked and amazed as we rounded the point. It was quite bumpy.
My hat is off to you tin can sailors. Thank you for the experience.

Sharon Thanks for doing all you do!

I was on the Higbee in the years 1948 1949 1950 am interested in the evacuation of nuns in the early part of June 1950 from NO KOREA conducted by the HIGBEE---five came aboard but two decided they didn't want to leave the children---later in Sept the march northward there were two NUNS executed for being accused as spies

I was looking at the ships roster and didn't see Radioman Poteet, I believe is how his name was spelled. I assume he isn't there because he needs to contact this site to be placed on roster which isn't the names of ALL Higbee sailors, but just the ones who've contacted you.
Also, how can information be changed? Is there a separate contact form available whereby I or others can submit residence etc., changes so the list is more accurate?
Thanks.

I remember Bob Poteet and thought you were already gone when he came aboard. He at some point left Radio and wound up in Deck or with the GM's. He was a big boy.

This is actually Peg, Earl's wife. I spent some time reading through the comments....thought I'd pass along some information that may prove helpful. Earl had to prove the Higbee was moored in DaNang after the battle in 1972. We have pictures, letters, newspaper articles, etc., that we had to use to provide proof to the VA. It was accepted and the VA gave him 100% disability. If anyone else needs this documentation, PLEASE either call me at 931.259.2831 or email me at [email protected] and I can send it to you. I don't think they approved the whole ship for that time....at least not at first...maybe they have done so since then. You guys are welcome to call Earl at 407.952.2935. Hoping to get to the reunion in Texas this year...depending on how Earl is doing.

I am assisting a veteran who served aboard the Higbee on 19 April 1972 in filing a claim for Agent Orange exposure. He claims that following the air attack, the ship tied up at Da Nang and that he went ashore as part of a working party. That meets the VA definition for a Category III exposure to Agent Orange. Curiously your ship is not listed there. I understand that the VA frequently adds ships to the list but only after a veteran files a claim and the ship's location at that time is verified. Could it be possible that none of you aboard at that time, are suffering any of the presumptives for Agent Orange (AO)exposure? And my veteran (your shipmate) is the only one with Diabetes II?
So, I am requesting someone contact me and confirm that the ship did spend some amount of time pier-side Da Nang prior to arriving Subic Bay. And if proven to be the case, I would suggest that all of you who went ashore (even for the most brief time) and are suffering from presumptive conditions for AO to contact the VA or your veteran service office.
Cheers,

My husband, Earl Aldrich, was on the Higbee during this time. Yes, the Higbee was tied up at the pier. Sometimes it was to another ship between the Higbee and the dock, and there was at least one night when the Higbee stayed tied up at the dock at night. My husband has pictures....and other information...which the DAV used to get the Higbee sailors put on the list for Agent Orange disability.

It was good to see the Navy has a new destroyer being built named after Lenah. It is hard to keep a good ship down, be it more than twice the size of the earlier Tincan. looking forward to see those that are coming to San Antonio. Just me this trip as Emily passed away in January 2017.

My uncle Homer Richards passed away on June 3 2017. He served on the USS Higbee from 1951-1954. If anyone can share some memories of Homer, I would love to hear from you. What a fine man to ever grace this earth.

Seems like yesterday I was on the Higbee 1970 to 1974 starting out in Long Beach our first cruise was all work and second was all play it evened out still remember Schiro stealing the ships truck and driving it to the harbor light and he got busted from E-5 to E-2 those were the days like to be there in San Antonio.

Sharon-

Although I have yet to attend a reunion I have a thought. When pictures/articles are posted it would be most helpful if the person would put their rate/rank when they were on the HIGBEE and also the rate/rank they retired as...that would trigger our brains as we try to remember our shipmates. Again just a thought!

STG1/(CWO4 USN RET.)

Sharon: There is not much information of what Higbee did in Vietnam during 1968-1970. I was a member of the Higbee crew during those years and we were quite active in Vietnam. We spent many months on Fire Support in those years and we were also sent up either the Saigon or Mekong Rivers during those years. Maybe some of my crew members during those years can send in some of their memories of 1968-1970.
Let's fill in the blanks Higbee men!

Sharon,
A Federal Court ruled today in favor of veterans seeking VA benefits for Agent Orange exposure in waters around Vietnam (blue water), not just the rivers (brown water). Here is a link to the story: https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/01/29/court-rules-va-must-pay-disability-benefits-to-blue-water-vietnam-veterans/?fbclid=IwAR24JWYUfb5ctZ3oHMk0cifnyQwqaXVtX_pvWzg9Z9bj7wsPlBa53qFK09A. Navigator/CIC Off, 71-74.

We are interested. Please post any updates you get.
Earl and Peg Aldrich
[email protected]

This is a somewhat negative post, but I really felt like writing it. I served in Higbee for 4 and 1/2 years. As I got older, I realized that the 5 years I was on active duty were some of the worst years of my life. I have countless stories, but this one comes to mind. We were in San Diego and I remember walking with OS2 Barrera to someplace on the 32nd Street Base. We were moored at the part of the base closer to where the Amphibs tied up. Just a short while earlier, I had received a phone call from my brother telling me that my Father had passed. As I was walking behind Barrera, in a kind of fog, I noticed him making a motion. I became aware that we were passing a punk junior officer. I saluted belatedly, but the punk still lit into me. I tried to show the least respect possible and told him my ship's name. It sounds minor, but I remember it to this day, trust me there was a lot worse. Like the time OS2 Johnson came back drunk and took a swing at me while I was in my rack. The senior enlisted didn't intervene until I had Johnson down and the upper hand. He was never written up for that. In closing I want to say that I took many pictures over those years. We had no Cruise books, so the pictures I took are among the few from that time. I will destroy those pictures. If someone writes me that I have decent memories of, I might provide a copy or two.

I must change my email address. How are I do that?