Denver (LPD 9) - Naval Cruise Book

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A FLASH TO THE PAST. . . COPTERS ENFORCE BLOCKADE Lo$ Angeles Times, l )72 SAIGON (UPI) U.S. Marine helicopters plugged holes in the blockade of North Vietnam by attacking nine boats unloading an offshore freighter, military sources said Thursday. At Quang Tri, the embattled provincial capital 435 miles north of Saigon, UPI corrsspondent Donald A. Davis said it appeared the Communists had begun an attempt to cut off the 20 , 000 South Vietnamese troops in Quang Tri from Hue and rear area supplies . A full regiment of tank-backed Saigon soldiers - about 2,500 men in all - took to the low rolling hills 15 miles northwest of Hue today in an attempt to stall the Communists, Davis said. In other action, U.S. warplanes spearheading a South Vietnamese drive to recapture the district capital of Bong Son, 290 miles north of Saigon, destroyed three irrigation dams Thursday, field reports said. UPI reporter Edward Basset said the dams were knocked out intentionally to lower the level of the Lai River so South Vietnamese tanks could drive against Bong Son. Military spokesman said the use of Marine AH-1 Cobra helicopters against barges Wednesday marked the first time U.S. choppers took an offensive role in North Vietnam, except for the raid on the Son Tay prisoner of war camp in November, 1971. Officials said the 20mm guns and rockets of the Marine craft were fired at nine North Vietnamese sampans unloading a freighter 28 miles north of Dong Hoi, and about 66 miles above the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Vietnams. The 7th Fleet office in Saigon said the choppers are based on the aircraft carrier DENVER in the South China Sea. The helicopters were ordered into the battle to maintain the blockade when it became obvious that U.S. Navy destroyers were unable to stop the flow of sampans, junks, and barges between the freighters - believed to be Chinese - and the North Vietnamese coast . UPI reporter Basset, based in troubled Binh Dinh province, said he had been told by field officers that the dams on the Lai River were knocked out by laser-guided smart bombs. He said the destruction of the dams would not have any immediate affect on the population of the province because the rice crop was harvested almost two months ago . The officers who requested that the dams be knocked out were conducting a 7,500 man drive on Bong Son and two other district capitals in northern Binh Dinh province . The towns were captured by the Communists in April . The tank-backed push has met with little resistance, Bassett reported. Refugees fleeing Bong Son said all Viet Cong forces pulled out of the area three days ago. 18

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; . ' ; ' ' . . ' ' .; , • -. ' -t t- L UNEXPECTED TIME. 17

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MEDICAL DEPARTMENT . LT Favata, Mf}. MEDICnL DOC Charlie golf one - Standing by to asssist, is the motto the medical department lives by. Headed by the ships medical officer, LT Mike Favata, they have consistentlyemployed their teamwork and skills with finesse, and have answered every call with flying colors before and throughout the deployment. Starting with the unequivocal final certification by Commander Amphibious Group Three days before the deployment, they have demonstrated hardwork andperserverance in preparation for WESTPAC ' 98. They continually train themselves through regularly scheduled drills and in service classes and have implemented measures that increased the crews attendance 9n required medical tranining. Well trained and always ready to respond, their skills Buid outstanding teamwork were apparant when they stabilized a patient received via motor whale boat from the USS MOUNT VERNON suffering from a collapsed lung during the trans-Pacific voyage in route to the Arabian Gulf. Their efforts resulted in saving the Ife of the patient and MEDEVAC to Naval Hospital Guam. Supported by a few key players from the command and the ship ' s welness committee headed by HMC DeJesus, they actively implemented healrti promotion intiatives contributing immensely towards DENVER ' S second consecutive Green ' H ' award. Their efforts in administering over l ,000 doses of antrax vaccine [hiring the deployment resulted in an increased readiness posture of the ship. Additionally, they have met every reporting requirement of the higfily publicized vaccine and have been lauded by higher authority as one of the only two ships Navy- wide that have accurately accomplished the required report. Experiencing high temperatures while in the Middle East, they have implemented numerous preventive measures against heat stress injuries. Headingout of the RedSeaoffthecoast of Djibouti, DENVERmedicalcrewagainanswered the call for assistance. They repsonded to a sick Ukranian seamen on board the merchant vessel Seagull Harmony. Although the patient was not in critical condition, his symptoms warranted further medical treatment as recommended by Doc Favata, thus altering the vessels course for Djibouti where the patient was to receive further treatment ashore. Throughout the cruise, the medical crew maintenined their positive can-do attitude despite the hardships of beingh away from home. They will continue their committment to the health and welfare of every Sailor onboard the USS DENVER and seek ways to imporve command readiness anytime and anywhere. 19