History: CGC Minnetonka in Vietnam
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Written by: Christopher Lagan
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Minnetonka anchored off the coast of Vietnam during its deployment in 1968. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
For this month’s history post, we bring you a personal account of a wartime deployment from the perspective of a Coast Guard deck officer.
From December 1967 to October 1968, the Coast Guard Cutter Minnetonka was deployed in support of military operations off the coast of South Vietnam. The Minnie’s primary mission was to stop the flow of enemy combatants, arms and supplies into South Vietnam. This blockade often meant boarding suspicious vessels, but sometimes meant taking and returning fire from the enemy. And, that is where Lieutenant junior grade Keith Barker and the gun crew of CGC Minnetonka enter the story.
Barker, who would retire from the Coast Guard as a full commander, was a deck watch officer aboard the Minnie but also served as the gunnery officer (or gun boss) aboard the cutter. Over the course of his deployment to Vietnam, Barker and his men would not only attack enemy vessels but also conduct gunnery support missions protecting American and allied forces and directly engage the enemy along the coastlines of South Vietnam.
In total, the Minnie would engage in 51 gunfire support missions, fire 4,684 rounds of ammunition and steam some 59,685 miles in support of combat operations.
Over the course of the 305 days Barker was deployed to Vietnam, he wrote regularly and often to his wife Kay back in the States.
LTjg Keith Barker and his wife Kay, on the pier when the Minnetonka returned to Long Beach on 17 October 1968. (Photo courtesy of Keith Barker)
Excerpts from those letters make up what Barker has collected as ‘The Barker Chronicles of the Minnetonka’s Deployment to Vietnam (17 December 1967 to 17 October 1968): Excerpts From My Letters to Kay.’
‘The Barker Chronicles’ are a rare ringside seat to the critical role the Coast Guard played in support of American military operations during the Vietnam War. The letters are at times entertaining – Barker’s first letter recounts his almost missing the deployment altogether; insightful – in one letter, Barker compares the view of combat from offshore to a Hollywood war film; gritty – this was a war after all and Barker recounts missions engaging the enemy; and endearing – it will come as no surprise to many that the Coasties from the Minnie spent downtime performing service projects. Above all of these things, the letters are a part of Coast Guard history and we are pleased to be able to share them with you on this 234th American Independence Day.
When asked why he collected the letters and chose to share them with us, CDR Barker replied, “this is a tribute to all the Coasties who served in Vietnam and all of the conflicts since the end of the Vietnam War.”
Below are selected sections from LTjg Keith Barker’s letters to Kay during CGC Minnetonka’s deployment to Vietnam …
The Barker Chronicles
of the Minnetonka’s Deployment to Vietnam
17 December 1967 to 17 December 1968
Excerpts From My Letters to Kay
Friday, January 5
Well, as you can see, I made it O.K. The old man, as well as the rest of the crew thought it was really funny. The Capt didn’t say a word to me, but I don’t think I had better be late again. I got on about a mile outside Pearl Harbor, the Minnie was moving real slow so as to give me time to catch up. …
Minnetonka vs VC: The gunnery crew keeps track of their mission success. (Photo courtesy of Keith Barker)
Saturday, February 3
… I found out that our main job here is a deterrent!! We are here to keep the VC [Viet Cong] from coming by sea … it is just our presence that keeps them away.
Friday, February 9
Well, I suppose you have heard all about this new wave of attacks the VC are making. We all have a ringside seat 15 miles from it. It is really scary seeing bomb raids and hearing the guns as well as all the flares. It is not the same as actually being in combat here, it is like watching a movie – John Wayne or Robert Mitchum type of war movie. …
Friday, May 31
… Box Score – Minnetonka vs VC as of June 1: 24 VC killed, 30 VC wounded, 12 structures destroyed, 34 structures damaged, 4 sampans destroyed, 8 sampans damaged, 1 secondary explosion, 1 fire started, 3 bunkers destroyed/damaged, and 1 rice cache destroyed.
Friday, July 12
… Two weeks ago, I spent the day in Qui Nhon doing a service project. 12 of us went to a hospital and worked all day. Some of the guys helped put barbed wire around the hospital, while the rest of us helped them move into a new pharmacy. I hefted pills around all day. It was really a lot of work. …
CGC Minnetonka's gun crew engaging the enemy during one of the 51 gunfire support missions of their Vietnam deployment. (Photo courtesy of Keith Barker)
Tuesday, August 20
Today we were in a big operation. … we shot 437 rounds (of 5-in 38 rounds) over a period of about 5 hours. It was really bad staying that long at G.Q. Our results were 45 structures damaged, 7 destroyed, 19 sampans destroyed, 4 trench lines destroyed and 1 large secondary explosion. This was one of our best shoots so far. …
Thursday, October 10
My last letter!! … We are leaving today at about 1:00 and heading for home. … We will be home at 10:00 AM Thursday, the 17th.
Click here to read ‘The Barker Chronicles’ in their entirety.
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Thank you for the opportunity to hear the words and perspectives of a man who answered his countries “Call to Duty” in the Vietnam war.
The honesty and truth of his understanding of the mission were a rare treat and a comforting reminder about the actions that were taken in order to fulfill our nations stated goals.
I thank him for his service and the valor displayed there.
We are not a military of baby killers and wagers of atrocities. We are “everyday citizens” called upon to do as our nation asks.
As a Vietnam Veteran his insite and reminder of those days is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Kevin L Price
RA68022982
My husband is Frederick (Catfish) Allen and was on the Minnetonka when she went to VietNam. I will read this to him, maybe something will click in his memory. He still remembers going to Viet Nam. I’m so thankful to have this site, will read it to him several times in hopes it might help him remember more. Thank you so much for posting.
Sincerely,
Jean Allen
Fred Allen (CWO4 Frederick H. Allen, served on Minnetonka from 1960 to 1968
I just received this site from Jack Hunter. I only regret that I have a housefull of company and can’t read it all right now. I was a DamageControlman 2/c on the Minnie with Ltjg Barker and others. Thank you for taking the initiative to put this together. I have always been proud of having been in the Coast Guard (my two younger brothers followed me into the service and my niece currently is a Petty Officer 1/c in the Coast Guard. What Commander Barker has done has only reinforced my pride in my Vietnam service.
Jean,
I went on the Minnetonka in August of 1961 I remember your husband, can’t remember if he was a MM or BT, I think MM. Spent four years on the Minnie, remember most of the crew quite well even after all these years.
Richard White former QM1
Thanks Mr. Barker for keeping these memories alive. To this day I’m proud to have served with you and all our other shipmates on the Minnie. I came aboard fresh out of SK school (then in Groton, Conn) and remained on board for a November, a double Victor and the Viet Nam tour of duty for a total of 30 months. Only upon leaving the ship and serving in other units (USCGC Sagebrush and San Juan Air Station) did I really comprehend how outstanding our crew was. Hope to see all the guys in Reno.
Victor M. Nieves former SK2
Thanks Mr Barker I was on the Minnie in 63-64. Then went to the Mendota in NC. I was wondering did they the change the firecontrol on the ships that went over there. I was a FT2 when I got out in 66. Keith
Keith yes the same firecontrol system was used until the end (May 74. The only change was an added “rifle scope” which was used to keep the system on a stable point and offset was placed into the system to fire on a target, which was out of sight in may support missions.
I hate to be a double-dipper, but the photo of the “Iron Hoss” in action reminds me of the many times I had to scramble out on deck during lulls in the action to weld up cracks in the deck around the gun mount and go below and weld reinforcing pieces below the gun mount because we had begun to fire directly forward, rather than broadside. That’s my recollection, anyway…
I was on the Minni from 63 to 65. I remeber fondly all the patrols we made,in particular, the Bearing Sea patrol. We were there for the earth quake. What a time that was. I was in CIC and worked closly with Richard White and all the bridge crew. I enjoyed handling all the aircraft out on OS November. I rember Fred Allen. Sure hope to see as much of the crew as possible in Reno. Bob Filippi,RD3
How great to find Keith’s Chronicles linked from the USCG home page! Over forty years have passed since the Vietnam deployment, yet the camaraderie remains. Very special…best wishes to all Minnie vets!
Reading the works here was a bit nostalgic for sure…old friends from previous times can bring some very deep feelings and thoughts back to the surface….. I wonder if Bob Filippi could be related to my friend Mike Filippi? Boy Scout Troop 54 some years ago…..just wondering….
Station Humboldt Bay has a photo album that contains photos taken onboard the CGC Minnetonka. There are no names attached to the photos in the album, and the folks at the Station are trying to track down the person who gave the photo album to the Station.
I don’t think I appreciated the unique experience we had ascrew at the time. I remember Bob Filippi who we called “Old Flip”. It is interesting looking back on it that all the years I went to college (about 14 including two masters’ degrees and a PhD) I remember maybe a dozen people. On the other hand,
I remember many of the crew from the Minnetonka. I have also reflected on those who have passed over the bar, Earl Schaffer GMC, Gary Morgan FT2, Ken Spoor GM1, and I am sure there are others. I remember being asked once at the U of Michigan if I was going to join a fraternity, I told them I already belonged to one the Minnie crew!
Karen if you send a jpeg of that picture I can probably identify some of the crew.
I deployed to Nam on the Mellon in 1970. Your letters brought back many memories of my time there. We had it good…….our A/C worked almost all the time! It did seem that the vast majority of our shoots were at night and we spent our time in pretty much the same areas mentioned.
I went through GM school with “Red” Beamer a GM on the Minnetonka when you deployed. As I recall he was the one that suggested the “Iron Hoss” on the side of the mount.