USS Clarion River LSMR 409
Vietnam Service
The USS Clarion River was just one of a few LSMR’s (Landing Ship Medium Rocket) involved in Vietnam, but was well respected because of it's fire-power. It was called back into service in 1965. The photos below were taken of the ship as it prepared for Vietnam and was in the area of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Photo's Courtesy: Ray Harvey, former PAO
Photos courtesy: Ray Harvey, former PAO
Photo courtesy Richard Carlsen
The Clarion River like most LSMR’s carried both the shorter range guns and also 8 (eight) rocket launchers able to propel 380 5-inch rockets a minute up to 10,000 yards. The LSMR’s were shallow-draft vessels, especially useful off the Mekong Delta shore during the Vietnam era.
The LSMR was one of the smallest U.S Naval ships serving off the coast of Vietnam from 1965 until decommissioned in the early 1970's. Although small in size, the LSMR's had more fire power per cubic foot than any other United States Naval Vessel deployed during the Vietnam War .
An LSMR firing BOMROC in 1966. The BOMROC 5-inch bombardment rocket and loader/launcher system, saw effective service in Vietnam, and evolved from earlier China Lake spin-stabilized bombardment rockets, the first of which were used in WWII.
Night shot courtesy Richard Carlsen
Choppers Arrive - Courtesy Richard Carlsen
Other LSMR's active in Vietnam during my time of service included:
St. Francis River (LSMR 525) and White River (LSMR 536)
Looking Aft 8 5" Rocket Launchers
Tied Up In Vietnam Underway
Vietnam Currency
Vietnam Currency
10 Cent Military Payment Certificate
VC propaganda material
Courtesy Richard Carlsen
John Santopietro came aboard the Clarion River in late 1967, just as I was departing. He stayed with the ship until it's scrapping in 1970 in Japan. He was then the leading gunnersmate as a GMG2. John went on to continue with the Navy and retired as a Senior Chief with his last tour in Mechanicsburg, PA where he currently works for the Navy as a Program Manager. Married with four children he still has two teens at home. Thanks to John for keeping track of the "Family Grams" that charted the ships activities.
Night Combat - John says was shot by a photo journalist aboard the ship.
The pictures appeared later in an edition of the Altoona, PA Mirror
Day Fire by the same newspaper reporter
This is a copy of a ship's patch that was made up at the Diamond Patch Company in Japan after John came aboard. Also during that time John says they put rocket can cover lids on the launcher tubes with eyeballs painted on them and make the launchers dance when they pulled into port! Caught quite a lot of attention!
US Navy Photo by PH1 Jon Sagester
Although he appears to be launching his own personal rocket, GM2 John B. Santgopietro, 25, of Altoona, PA is actually discarding a "dud" ... a rocket which misfired.
John says if the Clarion River would have been three feet shorter the Navy would have classified the "ship" as a "boat". He says the LSMR's were the smallest ship to have a 5" 38 caliber gun mount. He says most of the time reduced charges were fired in the mount. Every time they tried to put full charges in the mount cracks would appear across the main deck from the recoil! On several occasions, John remembers covering the 5" rockets stored under the main deck with tarps while welders went to work on repairing the cracks!
There were also twin 40mm guns fore and aft of the LSMR 409. Some called them pompom guns.
John can be contacted at: John B Santopietro@icpmech.navy.mil
Navy Photo By: PH1 Jon Sagester
Navy helo about 8 feet hovering above the Clarion River vertrep area.
Ray Harvey was PAO Officer aboard the LSMR-409 at the time the Clarion River was decommissioned and has been very helpful in putting together this website. He managed to save a lot of photos and memories from the Clarion River. Thanks Ray! Keep watching for more photo's and updates on the LSMR 409 in Vietnam.
U.S.S. Clarion River in Dry Dock at Subic Bay - Courtesy Ray Harvey
What a surprise tonight! For the last couple of years on and off, I've been looking to see what happened to one of my old ships, the Clarion River. Tonight I tried a new search engine and Bingo!
I put the Clarion River back in commission in 1965 and took her through training and to her new homeport in Yokosuka. I served on her until January of 1967 and then returned to the states for duty at RTC, Great Lakes.
I was acting XO at Hunters Point and then revert to Comm Officer when we got our full crew. And what a crew they were! I would like to hear from some of the others who were on the Clarion.
Regards,
Richard Carlsen 19 March 2000 rac@avci.net
My e-mail address is Bmartin@JenkinsCo.Com and my mailing address is William D. Martin, CPA; 626 Colony Drive #5; Troy, MI 48083. I was known by a nickname - "Beaver" - aboard the Clarion River and would enjoy hearing from any crew members.
To all the marvelous Sailors of our great USS Clarion River (LSMR-409)
Back on the 6th of September I e-mailed Leo the message below. In explanation, as the re-commissioning Commanding Officer of Clarion River in 1965, I had truly looked forward to meeting my old shipmates once more. Unfortunately, my continuing obligation to our Navy and the Sailors who might have to fight with our emerging weapons and combat systems have put a class-one interrupt into my plan to join you in Gettysburg. When I retired from the Navy in 1993, I began consulting to help many of those I worked with and mentored in my many years of active duty as the responsible Program Manager that brought the PHALANX Close-In-Weapon-System (CIWS) and later the Aegis Combat System into our Navy. That work has intensified with the national effort to create an effective ballistic missile defense capability to protect our country, U.S. and allied forces abroad, and our country’s allies around the world. A key element of that effort is the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System program, because only our Navy has the mobility that is so important to an effective defense. Today, that Aegis BMD System is operational in two Aegis cruisers and several Aegis destroyers – it is the nation’s only operational system, it is at sea today, and is manned by the world’s finest Sailors. Meanwhile, the other ground based and air based elements of the national system are years away from initial readiness. Thus, our next test in November is of major importance because it stretches the capability of our system in ways not yet tested at sea. As the Senior Advisor to that effort, I am committed to doing what I can to make the test successful.
I greatly appreciate the efforts of Leo, Don Barnes, and others to keep me in the loop. In my 39 years wearing a Navy uniform, the highlight of my career was being with you in our Clarion River. She wasn’t very comfortable, and few besides us could see her beauty, but she was the finest, shootingest ship in the Pacific and her war record was second to none. Memories of sharpshooter Lindsey on the forward 40mm director, Doc Hutchinson leading our softball team to the Subic Bay championship against ships and shore stations ten times our size, and many more are still near and dear. One thing I never doubted – we had the best Sailors and best crew in the Pacific. To you folks I will be eternally grateful – for your service to our great country and for making my two years with you the highlight of my Navy career.
George Meinig GMeinig@Anteon.com
It was just great to find your site on the Clarion
River. That ship was an important part of my life and you did a great job showing some of
that pride that I am sure we all have for her. I arrived on the ship in Subic Bay in
August of 1969 and went right to First Division under a real squared away First Class by
the name of Young, if my memory serves me right. I then became a storekeeper striker and
soon enough a 3 class storekeeper under Chief Carman.
It really put a smile on my face when I saw E-mail from John Santopietro and William
Martin as they were both on board when I was. The best part is I had pictures of them
both. The world can be small sometimes.
If you ever get any word about a reunion please do post it on your site or drop me an
e-mail. Again thanks for a great job.
Phil Adamson - lois@warwick.net
64 Abrahamson Road, Middletown, NY 10940 -
1 November 2000
I was 17 years of age when we commissioned the Boat and served on it the entire time it was in commissioned. I re-enlisted in 1969 at Cahm Rahm Bay. I remember LTJG. Carlsen, Dowdy, Pullen, Lt. Larguier, and many more. I have many memories of the most capable crew ever sailing the pacific ocean. I was in the gunnery dept. I spent my entire youth 17-21 serving on board the Clarion River and saw good times as well as bad. But I am thankful for it all. I would love to correspond with my old shipmates and even meet if possible. My traveling is limited as I am now a Minister and sort of tied down to the area. Again, thanks for reserving some of what I called my life and if I can help with the history or answer any question please contact me.
Robert C Lindsey robert-c-lindsey@eudoramail.com 6403 Dakota Drive Brooksville, Fl. 34602
My team leader, Gunnery Sergeant Melvin R. Gutherie and I used the Clarion River, the White River and the St. Francis River as support ships many times during our 54 days on this operation. In particular during the early phases of the operation, Naval Gunfire was the support weapon of choice and our ARTY had not arrived in sufficient quantity as yet and close air support was twenty minutes away. In an ever changing ground situation, the LSMRs were able to change rapidly with ever changing needs and situations.
An example of this was during one incident where we were directing a fire mission and the LSMR we were using radioed us that they could see uniformed men setting something up on the beach. We were a bit closer and could see that they were not Marines, but NVA who were setting up a recoilless rifle. From our perch on Nui Cua we watched as the LSMR gunners engaged the enemy with 40 mm and watched as the recoilless' three-man crew died in the sand. I have personally benefited from the massive fire power that the LSMRs could project.
During DeSoto we used the LSMR's suppressive fire capabilities to their fullest using two
rocket barrages to extricate ourselves from a pitched fire fight against a numerically
superior NVA/VC force. The advantage of the barrage was realized after the first barrage
suppressed their fire which was erratic at best. The affects of the first barrage allowed
us to gain fire superiority, withdraw, establish our position and then by dropping on our
observer target line, repeat the barrage. Though not fully covered, a mention of this can
be found in the after action report at this website: http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/2689/desoto/page04.html
I, too, want to thank you for putting up this site. I think of the Clarion River very often and remember so many of the crew. There are eighteen or nineteen in my memory, but I can still see them clearly in my mind. I remember Santo very well; I remember Lindsey . I was Weapons Officer, Supply Officer before Harden came aboard, and First Lieutenant, although of course it was guys like Santo, Albrecht, BM1 Young and many others who made things go.
When I left, on December 22, 1969, the First Division guys gave me an engraved bosn's pipe on a fancywork lanyard. I was unbelievably touched. Within thirty-six hours it was stolen at Chicago O'Hare. I've regretted that loss all these years. I have been watching this site for some months now, and have wanted to write, but never had the nerve, I suppose, until now.
I would also like to hear from anyone who cares to talk about those days when all of us, really, gave our youth to our country (and a fat lot the country appreciated it.)
Kenneth J Benson e-mail Macnubbit@aol.com
Hello;
My name is Robert (Bob) Lowman and I served on board the USS CLARION RIVER from Sep 1967 to about Aug 1968. I was so pleased to see a website in dedication of the little rocket ship. If anyone remembers 'Yeoman Lowman' please contact me at robertlowman408@msn.com or rlowman600@aol.com. I have a lot of memories of my time aboard the little 'DragonShip'. I was assigned to the Clarion River right out of boot camp at San Diego after first attending Assault Boat Coxswain School, Coronado, CA.
I flew from Travis AFB to Japan to pick up the ship at Yokosuka. Was assigned to the deck force but was eventually asked to work in the ship's office. Hence, the Yeoman Lowman name. I have some slides that I took while onboard, they are being held by father in Colorado. Will try to get hold of them and submit them. Would love to hear from anyone that served at the same time I did.
Again, this is really a great site.
Bob Lowman
Webmaster: Fred Pfeiffer RM 3 E-Mail our409@att.net
Updated: March 1, 2008
