Patches Courtesy Ray Harvey, Former 409 PAO

     From Treasure Island, San Francisco, I was flown to Clark Air Force Base in PI and assigned to the USS Clarion River LSMR-409. We departed Subic Bay in December and headed for the area of II Corps Vietnam, where we relieved the USS White River LSMR-536 as Naval Gunfire Ship on Station.

Webmaster Fred Pfeiffer's RM3 & Ships Patch

     While in this area we supported allied troops in combined operations with the Vietnamese regular forces by firing many direct fire support missions as well as harassment and interdiction (H&I) almost every night.

     Heavy seas were encountered in January of 1968 during the monsoon season. I found quickly what rough seas can do to a flat bottomed ship!  We were able to tie up at Cam Rahn Bay and Qui Nhon where we took on rockets, fuel and water to continue the operation.

     During this particular trip the Clarion River had two events that helped make January of 1968 a special month in the ships history. The Clarion River fired her 50,000th rocket in support of the war for peace in Vietnam since being assigned to the area in 1965.  Second, the Secretary of the Navy issued a commendation for Inshore Fire Support Division Ninety-Three consisting of the USS Clarion River LSMR-409, USS Saint Francis River LSMR-525, USS White River LSMR-536 and USS Carronade IFS-1.

     Dubbed the "Rocket Rainmakers" by Rear Admiral F.J. Blouin, the ships that made up the IFS 93 were called ..."pound for pound the finest fighting ships the Navy has produced in the Vietnam conflict.  Your impressive record in Gunfire Support Operations is unparalleled, and dispute problems of age, lack of speed and a tight operating schedule, the little rocket ships have done a giant sized job" the Rear Admiral said.

     On the 16th of January we were relieved of our duties and departed Vietnam for Subic for a short upkeep period. Arriving on the 20th, crews began painting, making necessary repairs and getting ready for another return to the Gun Line. During the stay in Subic Bay many of us had a chance to visit Grade Island in the bay and relax.

     About 20 of us departed the Clarion River for duty elsewhere while another 20 were welcomed aboard, including GMG2 John B. Santopietro, Jr. who I have to thank for much of the information about my tour. Also you will find several photo’s he took while on tour after the ship departed for Vietnam January 30th, 1968. Thanks John for all your help in keeping the memory of the USS Clarion River alive!  You will find some photographs elsewhere on this site that he has submitted.

     John tells me the ship was decomissioned May 8, 1970 after the Vietnam conflict in 1970 at Yokosuka, Japan. He was the leading Gunners Mate GMG2 at the time. The ship was sold for scrap that November to the Nissho-Iwai American Corporation in Sasebo, Japan.  .

     John later retired from the Navy as a Senior Chief and is currently a Program Manager for the Navy in Mechanicsburg, PA and resides in St. Thomas, PA.  You can read more about his story on the Vietnam link below. 

Updated: March 16, 2008    Webmaster:     Fred Pfeiffer RM3                                      E-Mail    our409@att.net

   Visits since March 24, 2002