THE RECOGNITION TO BE GIVEN THESE MEN IS WELL EARNED. THROUGH THEIR EFFORTS AND BY EFFECTIVE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES BETWEEN 25 JUNE 1966 AND 9 JUNE 1968, USS MANSFIELD INFLICTED TREMENDOUS DAMAGE UPON THE ENEMY IN VIETNAM. AS A RESULT OF THE WORK OF THESE MEN AND THEIR SHIPMATES THE DESTROYER MANSFIELD WAS ABLE TO MEET ALL COMMITMENTS IN AN OUTSTANDING MANNER, COMPILING AN ENVIABLE COMBAT RECORD. A LIST OF THE GUN DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS COVERING A SMALL PORTION OF THE GUNNERY REFLECTS SOME OF USS MANSFIELD'S CONTRIBUTION TO OUR NATIONS EFFORT IN VIETNAM.
| TOTAL ROUNDS FIRED |
40,001 |
MOST OF ANY DESTROYER |
| ROUNDS FIRED THIS DEPLOYMENT |
36,653 |
MOST OF ANY DESRON9 SHIP |
| DAYS ON GUNLINE & SEA DRAGON |
220 |
MOST OF ANY DESRON9 SHIP |
| TIMES UNDER HOSTILE FIRE |
8 |
|
| STRUCTURES DESTROYED/DAMAGED |
495 |
|
| WATER BORNE LOGISTIC CRAFT DESTROYED/DAMAGED |
224 |
MOST OF ANY DESRON9 SHIP |
| ENEMY KIA |
187 |
|
| BUNKERS DESTROYED/DAMAGED |
56 |
|
| ACTIVE ARTILLERY SITES SILENCED |
30 |
MOST OF ANY DESRON9 SHIP |
| ROADS CRATERED |
25 |
|
| TRUCKS DESTROYED |
3 |
MOST OF ANY DESRON9 SHIP |
| PACK ANIMALS KILLED |
19 |
MOST OF ANY DESRON9 SHIP |
| SECONDARY EXPLOSIONS |
59 |
MOST OF ANY DESRON9 SHIP |
GUN DAMAGE ASSESSMENT WOULD SURELY HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE EXTENSIVE EXCEPT THAT MANY MANY MISSIONS WERE UNOBSERVED OR VEGETATION AND DISTANCE PRECLUDED OBSERVATION. DURING THE TWO YEAR PERIOD SPENT COMPILING THIS RECORD, THE SHIP INVOKED MANY HEARTENING RESPONSES FROM OUR FORCES ASHORE. SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FOLLOW: - "LAST NIGHT TWO MARINES WERE TAKEN PRISONERS BY THE NVA. USS MANSFIELD OPENED FIRE ON THESE UNITS. THE MARINES ESCAPED BUT BEFORE THEY GOT AWAY THEY OBSERVED MANY, MANY NORTH VIETNAMESE ARMY DEAD." (SINCE THE KILLED IN ACTION WERE ONLY ESTIMATED NONE APPEAR IN THE TOTAL KIA LISTED ABOVE.)
- "AS IN THE PAST, THE PERFORMANCE OF MANSFIELD AND ITS CRACK CREW WAS MARKED BY THE INTREPITY AND AGGRESSIVE APPLICATION OF NAVAL POWER WHICH CAN BE EXECUTED ONLY BY TRULY KNOWLEDGABLE PROFESSIONALS."
- "WE REALIZE WE HAVE WORKED YOU HARD, YOUR LABORS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED BY EVERYONE ASHORE, EXCEPT OUR VC AND NV NEIGHBORS.."
- "...IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOUR HELP TONIGHT WE WOULD BE IN PRETTY HOT WATER."
- "YOUR PERFORMANCE AND REACTION THIS AFTERNOON TO HOSTILE FIRE RATES ANYONE'S PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL RESPECT. COUNTER BATTERY FIRE WAS ACCURATE AND DELIBERATE AS ATTESTED BY APPARENT SECONDARY EXPLOSIONS AND SUBSEQUENT FIRES IN TARGET AREAS. MANEUVERS AND TACTICS TO FRUSTRATE ENEMY FIRE WERE OUTSTANDING. WELL DONE TO ALL HANDS."
- "ONE THING YOUR DID, YOU SAVED A LOT OF PEOPLES SKINS."
- "IN ADDITION TO YOUR EFFORT, THIS TEAM HAS ACCOUNTED FOR 3 NVA KIA AND 3 WIA BY HAND TO HAND COMBAT. SO YOU SEE, WE DO NOT LET YOU HAVE ALL THE ACTION."
- "THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE LAST NIGHT. WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF USS MANSFIELD."
- "SO FAR, IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH YOUR UNIT. YOUR AGGRESSIVENESS AND TENACITY IN FIGHTING GIVE YOU THE APPEARANCE OF A CRUISER. A REAL SHOOTING TIN-CAN. I GET THE IMPRESSION IF YOU HAD WHEELS YOU WOULD CRAWL OUT ONTO LAND. KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK, IT IS GOOD HAVING YOU AROUND."
- "IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE CONTROLLING YOUR FIRE. BELIEVE IT HAS EXCEDED ANYTHING WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR IN THIS AREA. IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO STAND IN THE RAIN AND ADJUST YOUR FIRE."
- HOWEVER, ON 25 SEPTEMBER 1967, THE TABLES WERE TURNED AND MANSFIELD WAS HIT BY ENEMY SHORE BATTERY. THE SHIP WAS FIRING ON WATER BORNE LOGISTIC CRAFT OFF THE COAST OF NORTH VIETNAM. AS A RESULT OF THIS THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE WAS SADLY RECEIVED FROM THE COMMANDER OF THE SEVENTH FLEET:
"PLEASE CONVEY MY DEEP CONDOLENCES TO THE SHIPMATES OF PETTY OFFICER RECHARD C. ARCHER, ALONG WITH MY CONCERN FOR THE WELFARE OF THE WOUNDED." - PETTY OFFICER ARCHER HAD BEEN KILLED INSTANTLY AND SEVERAL OTHER MANSFIELD SAILORS HAD BEEN WOUNDED. A MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM A SHORE ESTABLISHMENT AFTER A FINAL FIRING MISSION SUMS UP OUR ENTIRE DEPLOYMENT:
"A HEARTY WELL DONE. YOU WILL BE MISSED."
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