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Allan Levin | all galleries >> Galleries >> Bob Hope and Vietnam > USNS General William O. Darby (T-AP-127)
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Nov 17, 1966

USNS General William O. Darby (T-AP-127)

Okinawa, Japan view map

Troop Ship I went to Vietnam on along with my outfit. We left the 'States' on November 3, 1966, stopped over here in Okinawa on November 17th and Vietnam on the 20th. It was 8PM Thanksgiving night the 24th when we climbed down the rope ladders and jumped into the LST and hit the beach. You can see a submarine docked to the left of the ship. A submarine hunter aircraft can be seen above the bow of the ship.


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Franklin Davis 19-Dec-2017 15:10
I left Brooklyn early Feb. 1962 for Germany and returned Sept. 28, 1963 on this same ship.
Guest 03-Aug-2017 20:50
I went to Germany the last week of December 1964 on this ship. I remember the canned water and the emergency drills on deck in freezing weather.
JP OConnor 07-Sep-2015 20:55
I went from MP school ft Gordon Ga to NY and the Darby to Germany in 1964
john manning 11-Sep-2014 17:57
I was on that ship also with the 527th psc. worked on the ship filling up the vending machines. Had a good meal thanksgiving day on shore. John Manning
Walter F Maybaum Jr 26-Feb-2014 16:51
I was with the 100th Eng Co (FB). Left Ft Belvoir, Va. by bus. The first stop after leaving port, was Long Beach, Ca. Next stops Okinawa, Qui Nhon. Next over the side. Short ride to the beach. Plane ride to Bien Hoa, trucked to Long Binh. From there to are new home Vhu Loei (not sure of spelling, could not find on map).
Guest 14-Nov-2011 22:15
I too was on the ship that trip. We stopped in Okinawa and Qui Nhon, before debarking and a road trip to Long Binh. One of the finest Thanksgiving meals I ever had was on that ship.

I don't remember the debark date, but I have always recalled that we spent 26 days on that boat. And everyone of them, from cool to very hot, counted against the tour in Nam.

I was one of the few to get off the boat in Qui Nhon. The purpose was to get salt tabs for my unit. Another reason may have been because, a very dear friend was a nurse with the 85th Evac hospital there.

That picture brings back a lot of memories for sure.

1st Lt. Robert L. Laman
US Army 1964-1967
rlaman@swbell.net
wayne franks 31-Aug-2011 17:44
i was aboard that ship,we left from fort lewis washington
Long Bach Nguyen14-Jun-2008 14:16
That is a very nice old image with the clouds rising toward the right with the shadow on the water and the troop ship and P-3 in the scene. I was finally visited Vietnam after leaving in 75s...very cool to see these old photo. This was my impression of Vietnam now www.pbase.com/longbachnguyen/vietnam