SUGGESTIONS, IDEAS AND THOUGHTS YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH OTHER USS HIGBEE VETERANS

4/17/2017

Updated September, 2020 - anyone listening, let us know what your thoughts are. We are listening!!

Hey Veterans! You have probably noticed our page gets some posts that are not pertinent to the USS Higbee comments. I have addressed this problem to the spam techs and to prevent this we would have to use a filter called capcha. This filter requires all bloggers to type in letters and numbers in a unconventional format. Also it could give you a gallery of pictures and you have to pick out all the pictures that have a store front or something else in common. This filter is challenging even if you have 20/20 vision. The techs suggested this could be challenging for some of our veterans. I decided not to add this filter and I have the ability to delete posts that are inappropriate. Will monitor this page periodically.

It has been fairly quiet on our blog page!! Remember you can add your comments any time.

Also, I will be deleting some of the earlier comments to manage the amount of information. Thank you for all your input and I sincerely hope to see some new comments.

Sharon Wilson,
USS Higbee WebMaster

47 Comments

Tom Stookey

2/17/2016 10:52:16 pm

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.

Clinton H. Kammerer

2/22/2016 01:12:08 am

March 8, 1965: U.S.S. Higbee

Sharon: Just a short note, to remind everyone, who cares to remember, that on March 8, 1965, The U.S.S. Higbee was the guard ship, steaming across the harbor entrance, where the U.S. Marines landed. The Leaping Lenah was there. Although I may not be accurate in my recollections, this was the first landing of offensive troops. Up to that time, the United States only had advisers in South Vietnam. If someone, probably everyone, has better and more accurate information then I do, this would be a good time and place to share your recollections with the association.
Regards: Clint

Terry Scannell ETN3

4/8/2016 11:15:11 pm

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.

Tom Bouwens

3/26/2016 02:09:43 am

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 link

3/28/2016 05:16:41 am

I found this document on brown water ships. I hope it is what you
are looking for. If not I will check with John Hawkins to see if he can post it.

Subject: Brown Water Ships

Hey Guys:

It now appears to be official that HIGBEE has been officially added to the Brown Water Navy ships list, which qualifies the crew aboard her at that time to be covered under the provisions of Agent Orange. My son-in-law, who is the American Legion State Veterans Service Officer for the State of Nebraska has confirmed that he has received notification from DVA that Higbee has been added to the list with the following notation: "USS Higbee (DD-806) operated on Vung Ganh Rai area of Mekong River Delta during March 1-12, 1969." There should be no question as to our eligibility from this point forward.

Please spread the word on this to all of our shipmates who were on board HIGBEE at that time. I am personally aware that several of our shipmates have disabilities which may be service connected, and which may be attributable to Agent Orange exposure. Please keep in mind that Agent Orange exposure doesn't necessarily have to come from having the stuff sprayed on us. It can come from contamination of the water, both in the Mekong river basin, and from the coastal waters we operated in for prolonged periods of time.

Within the next few days, I will have copies of the deck logs covering the entire 1969 West Pac deployment. If anyone has need of the hard copies of these logs, I will be able to provide them on CD. Please feel free to give my name and email address to any shipmate that needs information or help in filing claims, or who might have additional questions about the cruise or who might need some additional documentation to verify their claim.

A special thanks to Richard (Benny) Benavides for sending me information, names, dates, and documents which helped us get HIGBEE on the Brown Water list. Bravo Zulu, Benny.

Bob
(Robert Bethel, CDR, USN (Ret))
520-578-0652 email: [email protected]

Sharon Wilson link

4/4/2016 05:54:51 am

Please go to the new page "USS Higbee Current News" for the 3 different years dates. Thank you Tom for sending those dates.

Sharon Wilson link

4/4/2016 06:01:30 am

When finishing the "Comments" section and you hit the submit button you get a message in RED that it did not submit. Ignore the message and don't hit submit again. It did submit your message.
Leave this page and then come back. You will see your message
has posted.

Terry Scannell ETN3

4/8/2016 10:52:09 pm

Great work Sharon. I am back and now on the right page. Just beginning to explore your great new website. Sailors, Now hear this:
Came across information that one of the newest Cans DDG-123 scheduled to be built in Mississippi and Commissioned in 2022 will be named after Lenah H. Sutcliffe HIGBEE. I have not been able to find any official confirmation about this yet as the Can is listed as "unnamed". It is rumored that all Higbee sailors will be invited to the Commissioning, all expenses paid by the standing President of these great United States of America. So hang in there sailors.

Sharon Wilson link

4/14/2016 02:00:46 am

The idea of a new Can DDG-123 is good news. If any of you out there hear of any more information please submit it here.

Terry Scannell ETN3 thanks for your informative input!!

Rob Boysen

7/6/2017 03:04:13 pm

Terry, go to Google. Com and Type in DDG123. you will see the USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee in all her glory. I am going to go to Mississippi in 2024 when she launches.

Clinton Kammerer link

5/13/2016 01:34:51 am

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.

Clint Kammerer

6/6/2016 04:37:55 am

To all shipmates: We are getting some directions and instructions on attending the 2016 Higbee reunion in Sacramento, Calif. this September. I hope all will attend.

Over the years I have encouraged all attendees at our previous reunions to see if they can get someone who has never graced us with their presence, to attend. I for one know how difficult a task this is. It is unfortunate, at least from my perspective, that many of our prior shipmates had such an uneventful time with their shipboard experience that they see no reason to attend. Apparently there is no one they wish to see. It might surprise you if you just sat down and thought about the one or two people you would like to see again. I'm betting they also have the same thoughts. Why don't you track them down, and suggest the two of you meet at the next reunion. You might surprise yourself and actually enjoy the experience. There is only one thing better then making a new friend, and that is keeping an old one. Elmer G. Letterman

It takes a long time to grow an old friend. Reach out, and give it a shot. You won't regret it, and neither will your old friend.
"Forsake not an old friend, for the new is not comparable to him. A new friend is a new wine: when it is old, thou shalt drink it with pleasure." Bible.

If this note to the Higbee website reaches only one person and motivates this person to call some almost forgotten old friend, then it will be worth it.

I have numerous times told the folks attending the ship meeting, that our destiny is clear. We, as an organization, is doomed. We have a finite membership. I calculated roughly that our total potential membership was about 3,300. I figured it this way. A crew of about 300, and a full change-over every three years. So eleven total changeovers for a total of 3,300.
Every year we lose a few more members of our crew, and by that I mean folks who have actually attended. Dave Wilson and I attended our first reunion in St. Louis in about 1994 or 95. There were 13 plank owners attending. The last reunion we had none. A sobering thought if you take a moment to think about it. Any of you folks out there who haven't attended, but do log on to the website: Take note of that. I hope to see you in Sacramento. Best regards: Clint Kammerer 63-66

Donald Safer link

6/18/2016 06:42:20 am

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 Wilson link

6/28/2016 06:46:57 am

Added a link on the USS Higbee Current News page to the information available on the new USS Higbee ship. Check it
out.

Michael Hutson

8/9/2016 11:16:38 am

Sharon Thanks for doing all you do!

Dean Blunk

8/26/2016 05:50:26 am

I was on the Higbee from 1946 to 1948 I was a Radarman and received an honorable discharge at Treasure Island in San Fransisco.As I remember it was Destroyer division 72 Our radio call letter was NHLL We spent a good deal of our time in the south Pacific and China. I don't suppose to many of my crew members are still alive as I in 2016 am 87 years old. Those were happy memories aboard the Higbee and I saw a lot of the pacific cities and islands

Wilbert J Sauerdutchcreekbill link

12/29/2020 11:01:57 am

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

Ronald H Sevier

8/27/2016 03:06:17 am

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.

Sharon Wilson link

9/9/2016 10:44:10 am

Ron,
I sent you an email regarding updates. I should have posted this answer for all. You can email any changes to the roster ([email protected]). The data file is large and I keep it
in an Excel Format. I will also try to create a space on the Higbee website where changes to the roster can be entered and I will change them as needed.

Jon Campbell

6/9/2020 09:03:45 pm

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.

Earl L Aldrich

1/11/2017 10:04:22 pm

Hoping to see everyone in Texas in September. Peggy and I are back in Florida.

Earl L Aldrich

1/11/2017 10:38:19 pm

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.

Peggy L Aldrich

1/11/2017 11:01:45 pm

Quick note. The ship is on the blue water list for 66-67. What we're talking about is from the 71-72 cruise.

Bob Key

4/19/2017 06:34:51 am

Check this out
https://www.usni.org/magazines/navalhistory/2017-04/lenah-sutcliffe-higbee-navy-nurse-corps-pioneer

Veteran Service Officer Nemaha County NE

5/10/2017 02:28:57 am

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,

Peggy Aldrich

1/4/2020 04:35:22 pm

I don't go on this site very often, but I just saw your comment from 2017. Have you been able to resolve this problem? My husband, Earl, is the one who provided the VA with photos, first-person narratives, and newspaper articles regarding the Higbee's ordeal in April, 1972. He has 100% disability due to Agent Orange. I believe many of the other sailors who were on the Higbee at the same time should also be covered. Feel free to call me 931-259-2831 if you need to.

JACK JANSSEN

5/10/2017 02:56:23 am

Sharon---that last post from a VA officer from Nebraska about a shipmate circa 1972. We were never tied up at a pier during the April incident. When we limped toward Danang---we were told that they had problems with enemy frogmen at times conducting sabotage in the harbor at night. We were told to come in at dawn and anchor out. Emergency underwater welding was to be done to strengthen our weakened hull, and close up our holes. We had to leave at dusk each day and go around in circles all nite long. Then we were to re-enter the harbor each morning for continued welding. They were afraid that we would be sunk if we stayed in the harbor at nite. I. don't recall exactly how long we did this---but I believe that it was about 5 or 6 days. It is possible that some of our crew went ashore by boat for a time. I am not knowledgeable about that part. I was in engineering, so we had enough issues of our own going on. After they had scabbed our hull with a ton of bandaids---we left for Subic Bay at an extreme slow speed, for a floating dry dock and extensive, lengthy repair.

Peggy L Aldrich

1/4/2020 04:39:25 pm

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.

Ron Blevins

5/19/2017 11:50:02 am

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.

Rob Boysen

5/19/2017 12:48:30 pm

Looking forward to the 2017 Higbee reunion. I hope some of my shipmates (1968-1970) will be there too. If you haven't checked out the new U.S.S. Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123) just go to google and type USS Higbee. She'll be there. She's set for commissioning in 2024.

Charles Ferguson

6/10/2017 12:26:11 pm

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.

Sharon Wilson link

6/15/2017 10:42:36 pm

Hi Charles,
The Higbee Association was sorry to hear of your Uncle Homer's passing. We send our sympathy and thank him for his service. As webmaster I will make a change on the master roster to reflect this.
Thank you for letting the Association know and I hope there is someone out there with some memories.

pure green coffee bean supplement link

7/11/2017 08:18:50 am

Thank you so much for sharing. Your content was very helpful. You are a marvelous writer. Good work!

Don L. Jordan link

8/3/2017 06:07:17 am

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 Wilson link

8/5/2017 09:27:40 am

Hi Don,
Thanks for the short story. My husband, Dave Wilson and his buddies also got into some mischief while serving on the Higbee. Never demoted but quite the stories they tell at the reunions. Hope to meet you in San Antonio. Welcome!!

ron Mahaffey

10/30/2017 01:41:16 pm

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 Wilson link

11/9/2017 09:29:23 pm

Ron,
That is a great idea. I do try to get as much info as possible from the attendees. Next year when veterans register for the reunion I will put a place where attendees can put their rate/rank when they retired. Their information is voluntary so it is up to the individual if they wish to add it. Thanks for your suggestion.

Ron Blevijns

12/12/2017 07:40:17 am

Great pictures of the 2017 reunion.

Rob Boysen

1/21/2018 03:31:47 pm

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 Wilson link

1/25/2018 09:42:25 am

Rob, hope the Higbee veterans are checking this page out. They can respond to your post and help fill in the experiences in the Vietnam experience.

Sharon Wilson link

4/14/2018 09:51:15 am

Looking for news from all you veterans. I know everyone is busy a lot but hear of veterans visiting other veterans. Would be nice to hear where you are visiting and any fun, informative stories you may have. Let's keep this page active with news from veterans, Thank you

Phil Eakin

1/29/2019 10:36:19 pm

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.

Sharon Wilson link

1/31/2019 12:21:07 pm

The link that Phil Eakin listed above is on the USS Higbee web site. It is the page that has news from the veterans. The link works.

Thanks Phil for keeping the guys updated.

Ron Blevins

11/20/2019 08:47:48 am

Just a note on the USS Higbee DDG 123 Commissioning date. It is planned for 2024 according to web site navycommissionings.org
If anyone is interested.

Peg Aldrich

1/4/2020 04:41:24 pm

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

OS2 74-79

8/21/2020 02:12:54 pm

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.

Robert Crotty

11/17/2021 10:34:20 pm

I have numerous digital scans from my father's Kodachrome slides of his time aboard the USS Higbee in the early '60s. I'd be happy to provide these.

SUGGESTIONS, IDEAS AND THOUGHTS YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH OTHER USS HIGBEE VETERANS

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