White Water Red Hot Lead: On Board U.S. Navy Swift Boats in Vietnam

by Dan Daly

Overview

A memoir of heroism, comradeship, danger, and laughter aboard a Vietnam patrol craft, as a small crew grew into a seasoned combat team. Includes photos.
 
During the Vietnam War, 3500 officers and men served in the Swift Boat program in a fleet of 130 boats with no armor plating. The boats patrolled the coast and rivers of South Vietnam, facing deadly combat, intense lightning firefights, storms, and many hidden dangers.
 
This action-packed account by the Officer in Charge of PCF 76 makes you part of the Swift Boat crew. The six-man crew of PCF 76 was made up of volunteers from all over the United States, eager to serve their country in a unique type of duty not seen since the PT boats of WWII. This inexperienced and disparate group of men would meld into a team that formed an unbreakable lifelong bond.
 
After training, they were plunged into a twelve-month tour of duty. Combat took place in the closest confines imaginable, where the enemy could be hidden behind a passing sand dune or a single sniper could be concealed in an onshore bunker. In many cases, the rivers became so narrow there was barely room to maneuver or turn around. The only way out might be into a deadly ambush.
 
This is not a Vietnam memoir filled with political discussions or apologies. It simply tells the stories of these young, valiant sailors with humor and heartfelt emotion—in a suspenseful, surprising book that pays tribute to these sailors who, upon returning home, asked little of their country and received less.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781612004792
Publisher:	Casemate Publishers
Publication date:	01/10/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	360
Sales rank:	893,349
File size:	53 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Dan Daly received his naval commission after graduation from Harvard College. After 18 months on a Navy destroyer, he volunteered for Swift Boat duty. After training, he and his crew served 12 months in Vietnam, 1967–68. He later founded several consulting firms and lives on Cape Cod with his family.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vii

Preface viii

Swift Boat Terminology x

Maps and Charts xvi

Section I Swift Boat School

1 Coronado Settling in 3

2 SERE: Survival Training 20

3 Shipping out from Coronado 33

Section II Da Nang Arrival, Coastal Div. 12

4 Moving into the Apple 51

5 First Patrol 61

6 Taking over PCF 76 77

7 Top Secret Call Signs 85

8 Beauty Sleep 95

9 Ball Cap Smithson 116

10 The Hospital Ship USS Repose 125

Section III Relocating South to Chu Lai

11 Chu Lai, the Base, Cos. Div. 16 141

12 The Firefight at Cap Batangan 153

13 Picking up Supplies 163

14 The Trawler, Skunk Alpha 170

15 Sampan Reconnaissance 197

16 Homemade Explosives 209

17 The Village Roundup 217

18 Return from the Southern Outpost 231

Section IV Da Nang to Cua Viet

19 Dinner on the USS Repose 243

20 Heading North to Cua Viet 252

21 Project Echo 267

22 Farewell Good Friend 271

Section V Operations at An Thoi, Coastal Div. 11

23 Bob Mack's River Insertion 295

24 The Return and Pick up 308

Section VI All in a Day's Work

25 A Tale to Tell back in Da Nang 327

26 New Job, Maintenance Management 336

27 Puff the Magic Dragon 340

28 Hawaiian Rendezvous 348

29 Tet in the Da Nang River 367

30 Tough Trip to North Vietnam 373

Section VII Homeward Bound

31 Final Orders. Packing up 389

32 Welcome Home? 398

Epilogue 408

The Crew of PCF 76: Current Locations 409

Swift Boat Skippers 2007 410

Appendix: Swift Boat Specifications 412

Editorial Reviews

A good story, very well told… All the adventure, drama, friendship and frustration of wartime military life are graphically presented as is even a bit of love life. His book is a good and valuable contribution to the history of naval activity in the Vietnam War.

Ausmarine

The Vietnam War has had some 'classic' books written about it…and this book will be up there with them…If you have an interest in small-scale naval actions, and the Vietnam War in particular, then this is a must-read!

Soldiers and Strategy Wargames

"White Water Red Hot Lead is an extraordinary story of heroism and love set against a backdrop of small boat operations in Vietnam. Above all, this is a book of leadership and deserves a close read from but historians and leaders in today's turbulent world."

Admiral James Stavridis USN

An impressively written and riveting history of what this particular area of lethal combat was like on a daily basis by a man who survived it, "White Water Red Hot Lead: On Board U.S. Navy Swift Boats in Vietnam" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to community, college, and university library 20th Century American Military History collections in general, and Vietnam War History supplemental studies reading lists in particular. The stuff from which block buster movies are made

Midwest Book Review

"I comment as a former Marine infantry platoon commander. Dan's book propels you, in seconds, from the laid-back and tranquil to the chaos of a firefight. If you are seeking a realistic portrayal of combat leadership in Vietnam, this is it!"

Beirne Lovely USMC

"This is a beautifully produced book...it’s one of those reads that you won’t put down once you get started...A great subject, well-written by someone who actually served."

Military Modelling

"Dan Daly's book captures the essence of the U.S. Navy small boats operations in Vietnam. Combat was never far away, we built the bonds of brotherhood, often with tears and laughter, where 'above and beyond' became the norm. You got it right. Bravo Zulu."

Thomas Kelly USN

"Skipper, each page brought me back to the time when we were young and strong, brave and fearless. The events from 48 years ago: Drag racing a Navy destroyer in San Diego and flying that 'last patrol, going home' flag in Vietnam. A cherished memory is being part of the crew aboard PCF 76. 'Thank you for remembering, Dan'."

Rev. Oscar E. Wells

"Another fine book from Casemate that reads like fiction - amazing accounts of daring and courage in one of the worst wars in living history."

Books Monthly

The author’s story of his and his crew’s progress, from training at Coronado, California, to combat in Vietnam, is well told. One gets a true feel for the experiences Lieutenant Daly and his men encountered during their time on the Swift Boats… Overall, the book is an enlightening read concerning Swift Boat operations in Vietnam, and the story should have relevance for those sailors currently engaged in Brown Water operations.

The Journal of America’s Military Past

The publishing standard is very high as one would expect from Casemate and this book is a great addition to anyone with an interest in naval operations of the Vietnam War and what leading a small team of young men into combat must have been like in such a unique and challenging assignment. I highly recommend this book.

Military Enthusiast Book Club

Daly holds a lasting fondness for his crewmen and fellow Swift Boat skippers. Through his eyes, his men saw themselves as elite sailors working hard to maintain that status. His book makes a strong case for an overwhelming sense of teamwork and dedication to duty among Swift Boat crews. Throughout the book, Daly has blended an excellent collection of photographs, most of which he shot, with the text.

The VVA Veteran Books in Review II

I have to say that it is one of the most pleasant books that I have read, and the comradeship and love that these warriors felt for themselves and others is a bright ray of sunshine in a war history...An excellent book about a little known area of an almost forgotten war and one I thoroughly enjoyed. 4.5 stars.

Army Rumour Service

The author’s story of his and his crew’s progress, from training at Coronado, California, to combat in Vietnam, is well told. One gets a true feel for the experiences Lieutenant Daly and his men encountered during their time on the Swift Boats… Overall, the book is an enlightening read concerning Swift Boat operations in Vietnam, and the story should have relevance for those sailors currently engaged in Brown Water operations.

The Journal of America’s Military Past

"This is a beautifully produced book...it’s one of those reads that you won’t put down once you get started...A great subject, well-written by someone who actually served."

Military Modelling.com

The author’s story of his and his crew’s progress, from training at Coronado, California, to combat in Vietnam, is well told. One gets a true feel for the experiences Lieutenant Daly and his men encountered during their time on the Swift Boats… Overall, the book is an enlightening read concerning Swift Boat operations in Vietnam, and the story should have relevance for those sailors currently engaged in Brown Water operations.

The Journal of America's Military Past

The Vietnam War has had some 'classic' books written about it…and this book will be up there with them…If you have an interest in small-scale naval actions, and the Vietnam War in particular, then this is a must-read!

Soldiers & Strategy Wargames

I have to say that it is one of the most pleasant books that I have read, and the comradeship and love that these warriors felt for themselves and others is a bright ray of sunshine in a war history...An excellent book about a little known area of an almost forgotten war and one I thoroughly enjoyed. 4.5 stars.

ARRSE (Army Rumour Service)