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USS Quapaw underway
All hands,
I just received these notes regarding USS Quapaw’s involvement in Operation Frequent Wind:
Hi: Thanks for your email. I have forwarded this email on to Hugh Doyle.
Yes, I can confirm that your ship was in Operation Frequent Wind 29 & 30 April 1975 but was involved with the rescue of the Vietnam Navy and about 30,000 refugees 1-7 May 1975Paul H. Jacobs
Captain USN Retired
CO USS KIRK1087 {74-76}
I read the Captain’s note to you (above) and I think he omitted one word. USS QUAPAW was most certainly a part of the 50+ fleet of ships gathered for Operation Frequent Wind, but your good ship QUAPAW was not one of the ships that escorted the remnants of the Vietnamese Navy from Con Son Island to Subic Bay. The ships were KIRK (with CDS-23 embarked), COOK, TUSCALOOSA, ABNAKI, DELIVER, and LIPAN. In addition, we received logistic support from time to time during the transit from a number of ships, such as MOBILE, FLINT, and a couple others.
A few years back, we had to pester the Navy to review their own records (and correct them) so that KIRK would be recognized as one of the Frequent Wind units. It took them a while, but we were finally successful (Captain Jacobs was the key “mover and shaker” in untangling that administrative and bureaucratic mess.) As a result of that effort, our KIRK Frequent Wind shipmates were finally recognized and authorized the award of the “Vietnam Service Medal.” You might want to have someone in your USS QUAPAW Association double check with the Navy’s “Awards Manual” (it’s online) and confirm that your good ship is on the list as a part of that large force back in 1975. And if you need some help rattling the Navy’s cage, please let us know and we’ll give you our “lessons learned” when we had to do it.
Hugh Doyle
Vice President, Secretary, Historian (and Jack of the Dust!)
USS KIRK (DE/FF-1087) Association
What I find interesting is the strong rescue/salvage support in the immediate group mentioned above:
USS Lipan ATF-85
USS Abnaki ATF-96
USS Deliver ARS-23
Bravo Zulu to all involved in Operation Frequent Wind.
And many thanks to Paul Jacobs and Hugh Doyle for the information!
~Boats
________________________
Thor Hansen BM 2/c
Webmaster
http://www.ussquapaw.com
I received this e-mail:
Yes the tug that sank at Richmond, Calif. She is now back up. Still looks proud.
She is now owned by the City of Richmond, Richmond Harbor as the old owners from Turkey walked away. The Harbor-master Michael Williams said both Quapaw and Moctobi are going to be scrapped. He can be reached at Michael_Williams@ci.richmond.ca.us
I wanted one or both to make static displays out of, putting one in Mare Island, and one maybe in SF. The Harbor will not let them go, they want the scrap money.
How can we force the City Harbor to stop the scrap plans of such historic vessels? Some kind of injunction or law suit, a *cease and desist* order or request to halt activity? I don’t know law, I was a CM.
This must be stopped, this is an outrage to destroy such historic items. I love these ships and would like to find a way.
–
Kindest regards,
Ken
NMCB 18
Any ideas shipmates?
I received the following e-mail regarding “Operation Frequent Wind” and “The Lucky Few”:
Dear USS Navy veterans,
As your ship was involved in “Operation Frequent Wind” in 1975, I wanted to let you know of an event taking place on April 21, 2012, at the Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, California. It’s called “Vietnamese Americans, The Lucky Few”, and it will pay tribute to the US and Vietnamese Navy personnel who were a part of the fleet of Navy ships during “Operation Frequent Wind” in 1975, saving the lives of two hundred thousands of Vietnamese refugees.
This event expands upon the
success of a 2011 event which included a screening of the Navy documentary, “The Lucky Few”.
http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=57186
Amongst the speakers will be Vice Admiral Adam M. Robinson, Jr. (Ret) (36th Surgeon General of the Navy), Capt. Paul Jacobs (Ret) (USS Kirk, DE/FF 1087), along with entertainment (see flyer).
Please forward this information to your shipmates who may be interested.
We are looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Best Regards,
Sharon Nicholas
FAPACSW CEO
Can anyone confirm the Quapaw’s involvement in Operation Frequent Wind?
The latest on the Quapaw from Al Anderson:
The ship has been refloated and all the holes in the hull have been plugged. The Richmond California Port Authority (Which now owns the ship) has issued this statement:
The ships (Quapaw and Moctobi) will be slated for immediate destruction by the awarded contractor.
This is all the information we have. We do not know when, where, or by whom the Quapaw will be dismantled. We will keep you posted on any changes as we become aware of them.
Quapaw Afloat
To the former crew of the USS Quapaw,
I am a United States Coast Guard Chief currently tasked to remove all of the oil and hazardous materials from the USS Quapaw after she sank 11DEC11 at the old shipyard in the Port of Richmond, California. I have attached a few photos of the vessel as she currently sits firmly grounded inside the dry dock. As the situation develops I will send more photos to you if you would like.
Chief Kyle Chapman
United States Coast Guard
Dear Webmaster,
… From what I have been able to determine, the tug that sank at Richmond, Calif., today (12-12-11) that is called “Tiger” is the Quapaw. It began sinking this morning, after springing a leak, and apparently now is under water. U.S. Coast Guard and a cleanup company are working to contain the oil and other fluids. It was described as being cleaned in richmond before being taken to a salvage yard where it would be broken up and recycled. From what I’ve heard, it will be pulled from the bottom of San pablo Bay and demolished. At this time, that’s all I know.
Thanks for any help you can give. I got its history from your site and others.
Yours truly,
Donna Beth Weilenman
Staff reporter
–
Benicia Herald
USS Quapaw Wall Plaque
The USS Quapaw ship’s plaque (pictured above) was added to the US Navy memorial in a dedication ceremony held at the Arleigh and Roberta Burke Theatre, US Navy Memorial Foundation on 29 March 2007.
Thanks to all who were able to attend the ceremony!
For more information about the memorial, please visit the US Navy Memorial website at lonesailor.org
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