Sailors Get Sneak Peek of "Combat Zone, PBR Rescue"
Items in red are corrections to the original article below. The Article appeared in two Navy papers--- The Northwest Navigator and the Navy News Stand.
Story Number: NNS070321-16
Release Date: 3/21/2007 5:42:00 PM
By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Jon J. Baker, Fleet Public Affairs Center Det Northwest
EVERETT, Wash. (NNS) -- Naval Station (NAVSTA) Everett Sailors were provided a sneak preview of "Combat Zone, PBR Rescue" at the installation's auditorium March 16.
The "Discovery Channel" portrayed the events of a conflict during the Vietnam War in 13 episodes, for its series called "Combat Zone." This reenactment is the only one depicting a Navy unit in combat.
The reenactment was filmed along the river banks of Everett last October, using an authentic PBR (River Patrol Boat) stored at Naval Radio Station Jim Creek.
The episodes were based on an August 2, 1969, conflict involving six Army soldiers who were taken to the Saigon River banks by the PBR for an early morning reconnaissance patrol. During that patrol, they were ambushed by more than 50 Vietcong, leaving three fatally wounded and seriously injuring the others. Sailors of the PBR Division 593 responded and held off enemy fire until help arrived.
The premier was attended by almost a dozen brown water Vietnam veterans who call themselves the "Game Wardens." Also in attendance was Brenda White, from U.S. Congressman Rick Larson’s office and Mike Gregoire, husband to Washington State Governor, Chris Gregoire.
"I am so honored to be here and be part of this," said Gregoire. "I am a Vietnam veteran myself and am always interested in activities of other veterans."
David Larsen, then a petty officer 3rd class, received the Navy Cross for his heroics during that early morning rescue. He said he was proud to have their story told and was grateful for the opportunity to see some of his shipmates come together for the event.
"Showing this documentary here means a lot to us, especially the older guys," said Larson. "It was a chance to bring us all together once again."
Division 593 Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Larry Bissonnette, started the event by reading David Larsen’s and Patrick Ford’s Navy Cross citations. He said Ford died in Vietnam and he is the reason for having the event at NAVSTA Everett.
"Petty Officer Ford is important from my point of view because we have a ship homeported here at Naval Station Everett which bears its namesake from him," said Bissonnette referring to USS Ford (FFG 54).
"Today is also very important for us, because we got David Larsen to come out here from Kansas and Charlie Vance from Portland," said Bissonnette. "They were two of the prime people depicted in the documentary."
The episode of "Combat Zone" is scheduled to air March 26 on the Military Channel and April 21 on the Discovery Channel.
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