"An action packed year. Joined her on the Co Chien. Steamed all night xxx 67 to the Ham Luong to replaced the mined YRBM-(16 I think). We were on the Ham Luong when TET 68 hit all over Viet Nam. We steamed up the river to support the Army post at Ben Tre which was in deep trouble. Seawolves made many runs, and all available PBR’s ran fire support missions up the Ben Tri canal. Army begged for fire support, and as we could not see the compound around a curve in the canal, fired our 40MM’s blind. We took fire from some brick kilns just upriver from the police station. Destroyed it. We were mined a few weeks later. Three tin boxes stuffed with explosives (American made) placed by swimmers at night and command detonated from the shore. One had a low order detonation, other two did not explode. LUCKLY US. After a voyage to Sasebo for overhaul, we took station on the Bassac River. There we lost one of our H-1B Seawolves during an evening strike. Shot down by a VC 50cal MG. All four lost. A busy 12 month tour." Jim Swank