What Vietnam campaign did the USS Eversole DD-789 earn the Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star
What Vietnam campaign did the USS Eversole DD-789 earn the Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star
Dear DennisCurrie ,
Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!
According to the Code of Federal Regulations, the Vietnam Service Medal is awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States serving in Vietnam and contiguous waters or airspace thereover, after July 3, 1965 through March 28, 1973. Members of the Armed Forces of the United States in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia, or the airspace thereover, during the same period and serving in direct support of operations in Vietnam are also eligible for this award.
We searched the National Archives Catalog and located the Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships and Stations, 1941 - 1983 in the Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel (Record Group 24) that include the deck logs of the USS Eversole (DD-789) during the Vietnam War. Some of these records have been digitized and may be viewed online using the Catalog. Please keep in mind that the Catalog does not always display results in chronological order. For more information about any non-digitized deck logs, please contact the National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference (RR2R) via email at archives2reference@nara.gov.
In addition, the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) provides this information about the Vietnam Service Medal and bronze campaign stars: There are a total of 17 campaign stars authorized for the Vietnam Service Medal. Personnel are authorized one bronze campaign star for each qualifying campaign with a silver star worn in lieu of five bronze stars. The NHHC also offers multiple resources related to the USS Eversole on their website, including this Command History Report from 1968 and this Command History Report from 1969 that may include the information you are looking for. We suggest that you contact the NHHC directly for additional assistance.
We hope this is helpful.
Thank you so much for your response. This was very helpful. 1970 seems to be the end of the digitized chronology, so I have
sent an email to your Textual Reference center. Again, I appreciate all of the help.
Dennis
An additional source for VSM information is the attached OPNAV 1650 MASTER LIST OF UNIT AWARDS AND CAMPAIGN MEDALS. Eversole is found on document pages 148-149 (pdf pages 169-170) in AWARDS category "VS" and with dates from 1965-1972.
NOTE - if your inquiry is relative to agent orange exposure, the VSM would not be relevant as the boundaries for eligibility are very different. If that is the case and you will post the approximate years of interest, we may be able to considerably shorten your log search
Yes, I was looking specifically at 1971. The chro ology that was available was to December 1970. The Navy Veteran earned the VSM with Bronze Star and was on board the Eversole I'm March of 71 when 29 Naval Gunfire Missions were conducted.
Looked through the following data sources for Eversole 1971:
1.VA ship locator database of vessels in AO eligible waters of RVN - no entries
2. NARA AAD "Conga" NGFS database - no entries seen for 1971?? (did I miss something - if so, please advise)
3. USS Eversole 1971 Cruise Book - No specific references to NGFS BUT -
Reference to port visit in Samoa on page 17 and a photo of Eversole moored there on pg 20.
Sounds like you might be a VSO so you would already be aware that a documented port call to Pago Pago would be AO eligible of the NGFS deck logs don't pan out. If you need copies please let me know.
Best of luck to you and your Vet.
SecNav 1650 shows the Naval Gunfire Missions the Eversole participated in. I stumbled upon it quite by accident. I have submitted a request to the National Archives for the veterans personnel records. While the crew list shows him on board in 71, we need an absolute date when he boarded. He was discharged from the Navy in Februay of 72 from the Eversole.
However, what I have found is that what used to take about 8 weeks for receipt of records, now takes nearly a year. The pandemic really had an impact.
Thank you so much for your assistance.
Dennis
While you are waiting for the personnel records you might want to order the Muster Rolls and Personnel Diaries for Eversole 1971. They should contain details of your Veteran's arrival and departure dates as well as other personnel matters. Be aware they are also subject to the redaction of personal information (SS#) so may also be a bit slow in coming. Also they might be a bit expensive. Attached are extracted examples of documents I ordered.
Thank you again! I would like to take you up on your offer of the Pago Pago port call. I appreciate that so much!
Dennis
Attached is the cover page of the USS Eversole 1971 Cruise Book and two pages referencing visitation at Pago Pago. You might want to ask your Veteran if he recall stopping there. It is a memorable port as it is an idyllic tropical island. I know because I stopped thereon the USS Brinkley Bass a month or two after Eversole on the way home from Vietnam.
Amazing, he did mention traveling to Australia after Vietnam. I'll share this with him an get his reaction. Thank you!