Fred N. Wright

Fred N. Wright - 1958-1961 - RD-3 - OI Div - Submitted 1/22/10

I emailed before that the ship's history is incorrect.
I know the information listed comes from the U.S. Naval Historical Society, but it is incomplete; perhaps because some of the information was & still is classified.

Examples:

• 1958 we left Canada , sailed for San Diego where we took on supplies & embarked for the Taiwan Straits. I remember going to Pearl Harbor, but another crew member is confident we sailed to the Straits where the PRC were shelling the Kinmen Islands.
• January 1959 we deployed to the Far East, also participating in Operation Handclasp to Taiwan, upon our return we went into dry dock in Long Beach.
• We spent 1960 cruising up & down the West Coast of the U.S.
• January 1961 we deployed to the Far East & for some reason (as in 1959) there are occasions in the ship's log where latitude & longitude are not listed according to Naval Regulations, including times when deployed through Taiwan Straits. After visiting several ports, we deployed to Singapore & Malaysia, where we were then supposed to sail to Australia & New Zealand. However, shortly after we departed for these destinations we received orders to reverse course. I was in CIC when the order came in, but we were allowed to cross the Equator, so polywogs could become shellbacks (it was evening & there was no ceremony or hazing). We arrived off Borneo for Seato Amphibious Operations before being deployed to Vietnam because of what was called "The Laotion Crisis."

I & another crew member both remember sailing up the Saigon River at one point. Though the ship is listed as being in Vietnam waters for a short period of time. I have a letter I wrote home telling my parents we were returning to Vietnam. From that point on it became classified.

I requested & was awarded the AFEM which I exchanged for the VSM as allowed. I am preparing papers (PS 180, I think) requesting AFEM for deployments to Taiwan in 1959 & 1961. I assure you the Estes did not spend 1961 sailing up & down the West Coast as we did in 1960. Upon our return to the states we once again went into dry dock in Long Beach.

Fred N. Wright, OI Division, 1958-1961

Fred N. Wright - 1958-1961 - RD-3 - OI Div - Submitted 2/11/10

Anyone aboard Estes these dates should request medals due them. One would be AFEM (Vietnam), which they can exchange for VSM.
Here are the dates the Estes and their eligibility to the AFEM for Vietnam. You keep working the drill for that AFEM for Taiwan and keep me posted. If you need help let me know.
ESTES AGC 12 AE
19-MAR-1961 20-MAR-1961 I
28-MAR-1961 29-MAR-1961 I
24-APR-1961 26-APR-1961 I
LLOYD

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For the website www.TaiwanVets.com
Then new UID and PW are:
UID: 823BOHAUSA
PW: democracy-freedom
Suggested is to print this and paste onto your PC.

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