Ernie Hunter PBR Sailor and NW Chapter supporter

ENS Ernest Lynn Hunter reported to River Division 593 for duty as Patrol Officer on 18 September 1969 and served with this unit until it was turned over to the Vietnamese Navy on 30 June 1970.   In his capacity as Patrol Officer he completed 144 patrols and engaged the enemy 5 times.  On  12 March 1970, during one of these contacts with the enemy, Ernie Hunter received wounds which resulted in the award of the Purple Heart Medal.   During this action, LTJG Hunter was the Patrol Officer of a three boat patrol proceeding along the Upper Saigon River when they received heavy automatic fire and B-40 rockets.  LTJG Hunter was wounded in the lower back and after taking care of the other wounded he permitted himself to be medically evacuated.  He later returned to full duty with River Division 593.

In July 1970, LTJG Hunter was selected to be Assistant Advisor to River Assault and Interdiction Division (RAID) 74.  He left Vietnam on completion of his duty in September 1970.

Ernie Hunters original Black Beret  worn by him in Vietnam

In 2007, while working for Royal Upholstery in Spokane, WA  Ernie readily agreed to providing two MK II PBR canopy covers when asked.  One cover was to be for the operational MK II PBR and the other for the static display MK II PBR then being readied for transportation to Washington DC for installation in the new Navy Cold War Museum being installed there.  During several email exchanges in one week of March 2007, one email to Ernie was responded to by Troy Morgan of Royal Upholstery which advised that Ernie Hunter had unexpectedly died the previous morning, March 29 2007,  at his home. 

The men of River Division remember Ernie with a wreath

 

Troy Morgan, took over and manufactured and provided the two canopy covers to Gamewardens of Vietnam Association North West Chapter for the two MK II PBR's as a Memorial to Ernest Lynn Hunter.

Troy Morgan recieves a framed PBR picture from Heinz Hickethier as appreciation from the northwest Chapter to honor Ernie Hunter and Royal Upholstery. The inscription on the brass plate reads

" In Memory of Ernie Hunter Boats of Glass Balls of Brass PBR's forever Gamewardens Northwest Chapter"

Leigh Hunter, Ernie's wife and soul mate receives a certificate of apperception from the Northwest chapter of Gamewardens

L to R: Larry Bissonnette River Division 593, Troy Morgan  Royal Upholstery, Tom Anderson River Division 531, Barb of Royal Upholstery, Theresa Leigh Hunter's daughter , Tom Restemayer River Section 512, Leigh Hunter, Claire Anderson, Heinz Hickethier River Division 551.