Old Guestbook
Feb 1998 - Sept 2000

My name is Vladimir Grigoriev and I am writing to you on behalf of the "Veterans of Last Wars - Together" Foundation, located in St. Petersburg, Russia. This foundation was created as an informative, as well as support group for the many Russian veterans of the Afghan War, Chechen War and the participants of other military actions within the local outlawing areas.

We has a foundation, have at present two web sites in the internet which we invite you to review. They are located at the following URL's: http://www.afghanwar.spb.ru/summary.htm and http://www.artofwar.spb.ru/english

These web sites were established by myself and co-veterans, to show the many trials and tribulations, we as soldiers of the Russian Military did face during these conflicts. Our many emotional problems and medical problems which we sustained are very much the same as those which your Vietnam, Korean and other war veterans have suffered and much like your Memorials in Washington D.C. which commemorate these veterans, our web site, so does ours. We have received many letters from your veterans who have visited our sites on the web and many have stated that they as American veterans and we as Russian veterans all share in a common social misunderstanding and the Emotional after effects from wars.

They also state that they are very interested in our military, together with the soldier, weapons politics and battles we fought during the Afghan and other conflicts of recent times. Most agree the comparison is a fine line which is the case in most wars which are fought and the final out come, is an emotional memory which stays embedded in the minds of all those who were involved.

This year, 1999, we the Russian veterans commemorate two anniversaries. The 20th anniversary of the start of the Russian involvement in the Afghan War and the 10th anniversary of the withdrawal of all Russian troops from the war torn land putting an end to our involvement. At the present time we have on tour approximately, 100 - 12"x16" and 10 larger, 20"x25" photos, that are part of our exhibition, which was created with the help of Mr. Alexej Karatetsky, who is Vice President of our foundation and a graduate of the Russian State Academy of Culture and who is also himself, a professional photographer, who served in the military during the Afghan War, from 1986 - 1988.

This exhibition has been on tour since 1989 at various libraries in Greece, Great Briton, The former Soviet Union (Russia), Sweden and the Royal Museum of Ethnography and Afghan Center. We would now, like to also offer this showing to the American People if there is a interest in this forgotten war of the Russian People. If you have an interest in this exhibition please advise by return mail of any hosting.

If you would like to host the exhibition in your community, let us know for we have the funding available at our disposal for travel, in presenting the showing. If your foundation or any other is interested please advise by return mail. On behalf of our Foundation: We thank you very much.

Sincerely, Vladimir Grigoriev
President - "Veterans of Last Wars - Together" Foundation, St Petersburg, Russia vova@dux.ru

14 September 1950: D -1 . Element of TG 90.6 formed column in the morning and proceeded again up Flying Fish channel to Inchon area. USS MANSFIELD DD728 is column leader of the Destroyers unit. About noon, Cruiser Element commenced bombardment of Inchon area. Air strikes are in progress on Wolmi-Do and Inchon area. MANSFIELD and the Destroyers are on station assigned for pre-arranged fire in the close vicinity North East of Inchon. As in the precedent action, destroyers were proceeding down Flying Fish channel in the afternoon and rejoined TG 90.6 main force to form A/S screen...

D DAY - 15 September 1950 : At midnight on the 14th, under a dark night with a new moon, FMS LA GRANDIÈRE F731 and her pontoon movement unit arrived off the Clifford islands. We progressed along the Flying Fish Channel which led to Inchon. All lights were switch off. The channel was narrow and subject to strong streams, the minesweepers went first and threaded their way between the groups of islands. A lot of warships took part in this precarious conditions. There was no accident... En route in the Salee River we were passed by element TE 90.67 USS MANSFIELD, DEHAVEN, SWENSON, HENDERSON, GURKE. USS SOUTHERLAND (DDR743) joined the column to replace USS COLLETT. At 05.20 with all hands at action stations the combined assault force entered the Inchon narrows and the final pre-landing bombardment commenced. Proceeding along the Salee River before dawn, pontoon units convoy of FMS LA GRANDIÈRE came within view of Wolmi-Do where the Marines were just preparing to land. Covering fire was given by all ships, first from the destroyers then the cruisers and the battleships as USS MISSOURI BB63 in the open sea firing salvos with all her nine 19" (406mm) guns ... Assault aircraft took off from the carriers. With our convoy we sailed ahead the bow of LSM'S(R) sendind volleys of rockets to the shores of Inchon... What a firework... The hell ...

TO BE CONTINUED, Soon in "Inchon Invasion-Léon Rochotte's page" Thanks to Karl Kristiansen "USS MANSFIELD DD728"

In 1958, the ship I was on, the USS Tortuga LSD-26 smacked a corral reef while conducting operations in the Marshall Islands. We were escorted by a Destroyer back to Oakland for drydock repairs. It must have been a long, boring trip back for the crew of the Destroyer. Because of the damage we sustained, we could only make about 12 to 13 knots. Shortly before we arrived at Oakland, the Destroyer pulled along side, and our crew gave them a great big hats off HIP HIP HOORAY as a thank you gesture, and then she broke off. Can not remember the Destroyers hull number or name. If by chance any of her crew read this, thanks for the escort home. Hope I dd not bore your other guests with this true sea story, thought it might be of some interest to someone.

Chuck Westbrook USS Tortuga LSD-26 1956-1960