TOM WILLIAMS CWO4 ret. CRD-22
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TOM WILLIAMS CWO4 ret. CRD-22
When I reported to CRD-22 I ran into every River Rat
and SEAL I thought I knew in Vietnam plus some.
Anyway, we were in receipt of 3 Nasty Class PTFs
3-5-9 in addition to Mini- Armored Troop Carriers
(MATCs), Swift Boats and PBRs.
Coastal River Divison 22 (CRUD22) was developed to
provide Naval Reservists from 8th Naval District the
fine points of Riverine Warfare from our experiences
in Vietnam. You can well imagine the fine mix of
Texans, Okies, Arkies, and of course Cajuns.
I'm not slandering here, they are words of
endearment) A good majority of these men also had
their own time In-Country.
The Nasty PTF was a mahogany wood hull made in
Norway, switchboards in West Germany, Main and Aux
diesels from England, weapons from the U.S.A. I'm
not a expert but I believe they operated out of
Da-Nang and headed North. The T3718K Napier Deltic
engines were phenomenal. I had PTF-5 on a measured
mile speed run between Gulfport and Mobile at a
registered 57.54 knots.....wearing cutoffs, black
beret, and a PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon) in hand. Fuel
consumption would make Allan Greenspan blush and was
their demise, as they ended up in Little Creek at
the Amphib Base, on the skids rotting away. I do
have photo/slides of us changing out a engine in
Panama City Florida. We blew out a Bi/directional
gearbox in St Andrews Bay and affected the change
out at Naval Coastal Systems Lab. Ironically, it
took us just exactly as much time as our per-diem
lasted.
Could say allot more about CRD-22. It was a ball
for 2 years. If I'm ever diagnosed with PTSD. It
would have originated there. If you will and this is
a "no shitter" Sailors and Boats would go up the
Mississippi River up the Arkansas River and becoming
Honorary Members of Muskogee Okla..OKLA!!! Guys went
up got married returned divorced. Went up single and
returned married... and there was allot of MOVREPS
filed by women from out of state wanting to NO
More... Boy talk about Ambassadors of Good Will!
Of course, nowadays, Homeland Security may not
totally agree with That last statement!
HAGND, GUNNER
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