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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

YRBM-16
ex
YFNB-21

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon - Naval Unit Commendation (3)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Third Row - Vietnam Service Medal (10) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation - Vietnam Campaign Medal

Personal Awards

Purple Hearts (6 KIA; BM1 Simon, Joseph L.J., GMG3 Crose, Ronald A., GMG3 Evans, Lonnie B., SN Egbert, Dale E., SN Ycoco, George R. 24 Nov. 67; LTjg. Norris, Kenneth E. 31 Jan. 69. (2 WIA; EN2 Flowers, Wilson N., ETN3 Gray, Robert L. 24 Nov. 67)

YRBM-16 Class Repair, Berthing and Messing Barge (NSP)
  • Laid down, date and location unknown
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Delivered, date unknown
  • During the Vietnam War YRBM-16 participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III, 1 June 1967 to 29 January 1968 Tet/69 Counteroffensive, 23 February to 8 June 1969
    Tet Counteroffensive, 30 January to 4 April 1968 Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970, 1 November 1969 to 30 April 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV, 5 April to 30 June 1968 Sanctuary Counteroffensive, 1 May to 30 June 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V, 1 July to 1 November 1968 Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII, 1 July 1970 to 30 June 1971
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI, 2 November 1968 to 22 February 1969 Consolidation I, 1 July to October 1971

  • YRBM-16 was mined at Ben Tre, South Vietnam, 23-24 November 1967, resulting in 5 KIA and 2 WIA
  • Transferred to South Vietnam in October 1971, redesignated HQ 9612
  • Struck, date unknown
  • Final Disposition, Disposed of through the Security Assistance Program (SAP), transferred to South Vietnam 1 October 1973
    Specifications
    Displacement 700 t.(lt) 2,70 t.(fl)
    Length 261'
    Beam 48'
    Draft 9'
    Compliment unknown
    Armament unknown
    Propulsion none

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Source
    YRBM-16
    YRBM-16 100k Undated image of YRBM-16 during her Vietnam service. This is probably soon after her arrival in-country, as she does not appear to have yet been camouflaged. Dave Wright
    YRBM-16 41k YRBM-16 at anchor near Chau Doc in late 1968 or early 1969. LT Glenn Shindler, USN, OinC YRBM-16
    YRBM-16 32k Damage incurred to YRBM-16 in the explosion on Thanksgiving Day night, 1967. At the time ('68-'69), the story was that an underwater mine had been attached by a sapper, but there is no known official reports to that effect. Years later - in the 2000's - battle damage photos and informal reports arouse speculation that the bomb had been smuggled inside and detonated in a berthing compartment. Two of the photos clearly show hull plates blown out well above the water line LT Glenn Shindler, USN, OinC YRBM-16
    YRBM-16 54k
    YRBM-16 53k
    YRBM-16 45k
    YRBM-16 26k
    YRBM-16 154k Damage to YRBM-16 after she was mined at Ben Tre, Vietnam. Salvage was accomplished by Harbor Clearance Unit One (HCU-1) during period 24 November - 01 December 1967.
    Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 74177
    Mike Green
    YRBM-16 341k YRBM-16 with a US Navy Huey helicopter on her flight deck, December 1970. CAPT. (ENS.) Moe Letlow SC USNR, Supply Officer, YRBM-16
    YRBM-16 174k Helicopter approaching YRBM-16 for a night landing, December 1970. Photo by CAPT. (ENS.) Moe Letlow SC USNR, Supply Officer, YRBM-16
    YRBM-16 320k YRBM-16 with the beer barge alongside, December 1970. Photo by CAPT. (ENS.) Moe Letlow SC USNR, Supply Officer, YRBM-16
    YRBM-16 407k YRBM-16 with three Swift boats (PCF) alongside, December 1970. Photo by CAPT. (ENS.) Moe Letlow SC USNR, Supply Officer, YRBM-16
    YRBM-16 335k YRBM-16 with two PBRs alongside, December 1970. Photo by CAPT. (ENS.) Moe Letlow SC USNR, Supply Officer, YRBM-16
    YRBM-16 282k YRBM-16 Ship's Store, December 1970 Photo by CAPT. (ENS.) Moe Letlow SC USNR, Supply Officer, YRBM-16
    YRBM-16 334k YRBM-16 Officers Quarters, December 1970 Photo by CAPT. (ENS.) Moe Letlow SC USNR, Supply Officer, YRBM-16
    YRBM-16 207k SK2 Billy Glestine directs a helicopter onto the flight deck of YRBM-16, December 1970 Photo by CAPT. (ENS.) Moe Letlow SC USNR, Supply Officer, YRBM-16
    YRBM-16 290k PO Hatt, BMC Thornton, unknown, Ltjg Ford, LT Sigler and "Jato" YRBM-16 mascot, December 1970 CAPT. (ENS.) Moe Letlow SC USNR, Supply Officer, YRBM-16
    YRBM-16 208k YRBM-16 Supply Department personnel, December 1970. SN Bickford, SHB3 Bill Sneddon, ENS Letlow, PCSN Steve Park CAPT. (ENS.) Moe Letlow SC USNR, Supply Officer, YRBM-16
    YRBM-16
    Starboard
    261k Views of YRBM-16, December 1970. CAPT. (ENS.) Moe Letlow SC USNR, Supply Officer, YRBM-16
    YRBM-16
    Port
    268k
    YRBM-16
    Stern
    244k
    YRBM-16
    Looking Aft
    203k
    YRBM-16
    Flight Deck "Delta Queen" aka JATO16
    347k
    YRBM-16 294k Two YRBM-16 crew members listening to the Sugar Bowl game, January 1971. Photo by CAPT. (ENS.) Moe Letlow SC USNR, Supply Officer, YRBM-16
    YRBM-16 310k YRBM-16 being towed down the Mekong River, in January 1971 by Winnemucca (YTF-785). Photo by CAPT. (ENS.) Moe Letlow SC USNR, Supply Officer, YRBM-16
    YRBM-16 317k YRBM-16 Supply Department, January 1971.
    Left to right:
    Front row; SK1 Cooksey, CSSN Fancher, SD3 Samante, CS1 Marchbanks, SD3 Albornuz, SK2 Cushing,
    Back row; ENS Letlow, SK2 Gleastine, SK3 Ebert, SK2 Connell, SH1 Colquiet, SH2 Crawford, SKSN Bourne, SN Bickford, SH2 Travis, CS3 Murry, CS2 Pasco, SHBSN Powell.
    Not shown: CSC Burns, CS2 Hatton, SH3 Maxwell, SHB3 Sneddon, SHSN Bivens, TN Lasaca, SKSN Baiss, CSSN Cornell.
    CAPT. (ENS.) Moe Letlow SC USNR, Supply Officer, YRBM-16
    YRBM-16 294k Crew members pass the time as YRBM-16 is enroute in the South China Sea bound for Vung Tau, South Vietnam, February 1971. Photo by CAPT. (ENS.) Moe Letlow SC USNR, Supply Officer, YRBM-16
    YRBM-16 164k YRBM-16 arriving at Vung Tau, RVN, February 1971 CAPT. (ENS.) Moe Letlow SC USNR, Supply Officer, YRBM-16
    YRBM-16 378k YRBM-16 with a US Army Cobra on her flight deck, February 1971. Photo by CAPT. (ENS.) Moe Letlow SC USNR, Supply Officer, YRBM-16
    YRBM-16 308k YRBM-16 moored at Vung Tau, RVN, February 1971. Photo by CAPT. (ENS.) Moe Letlow SC USNR, Supply Officer, YRBM-16
    RVNS HQ-9612
    YRBM-16 47k YRBM-16 moored at Nha Be RVN, November 1971 after transfer to South Vietnam in October 1971, redesignated RVSN HQ-9612 ©Richard Leonhardt

    There is no DANFS history record available for YRBM-16 / YFNB-21 at NavSource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Mobile Riverine Force Association
    Brownwater Navy in Vietnam Web Book

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    This page was created by Gary P. Priolo and is maintained by David L. Wright
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    Last Updated 25 April 2018