For anyone reading the history of our military it becomes clear that there
are characteristics that attach to each specific conflict that
differentiates it from others. During the past week I have read two books
written by two sailors on different ships in different parts of the world
during times that we do not read or hear much about. Truthfully these are
not books that I would ordinarily recommend but for that distinction. For
those who have read countless books about the US Navy during WWII and Korea
these books offer a view of a different time. This is one of those books
Raymond S. Kopp was a key member of the communications engineering crew on
the heavy cruiser USS Newport News (CA 148) AKA Thunder during the closing
months of the Viet Nam War. A Task Unit had been formed with two smaller
cruisers and two destroyers to deploy to an area around Haiphong to begin
heavy off shore bombardment of North Viet Nam installations. Previously
their mission had been to support the troops on the ground in their
engagements.
From early May 1972 until December the unit conducted 68 strike raids
against North Viet Nam expending more than 50,000 rounds of eight and five
inch artillery and hundreds of support missions in the south.
Ray gives us a first hand account of the toll that this experience took on
the crew and himself. While receiving incoming rounds during each of the
raids in North Viet Nam the "Thunder" and her crew were spared any losses
from this threat. As they occasionally took shrapnel they began to wonder
when the big one might hit. They knew that a direct hit could destroy the
ship and at best leave the survivors in shark and snake infested waters a
couple of miles off the coast of North Viet Nam. The continued at risk
situations had an impact on the crew and following an explosion in turret
two resulting in the loss of twenty men the Captain persuaded Command that
the crew was so demoralized as to question their operational readiness. They
were sent home.
What sets this book apart is the fact that it this was the first major naval
engagement of its kind in more than two decades. Also it clearly expedited
the end of the war as it drove the North Viet Namese to the bargaining table
and peace talks resumed resulting in the peace accords ending the conflict.
Ray's knowledge of his engineering crews' role and the equipment that they
operated was impressive. His stories of shore leave in Subic Bay and in Hong
Kong will certainly resonate with veterans of Korea if not with those of
WWII. He is correct when he suggests that some will not appreciate the
politics of the time or the views held by some of his crew.
As he personalizes the book with accounts of his involvements with B girls
in Subic Bay and the reunion with his fiancé he gives us perhaps more
information than we might want.
I am pleased that he has found his life again.
Availability:
Personalized copies of this book may be ordered from the author's web site:
http://hometown.aol.com/rskopp/index.html
Also available from:
Thunder Enterprises
PO Box 531
Cape May, NJ 08204
