THE AFTERMATH OF US NAVAL SHIP VIETNAM WAR ZONE MANEUVERS AND COLLISION WRECKAGE AT SEA
> The Blue Coastal Waters- Vietnam War Zone Area
>Agent Orange Exposure, which cause stress, anxiety, and depression, etc
>Ship’s collision-at-sea, death, severe injuries, and disastrous damages
I had the privilege to serve 8 years (1962-70} in The US Navy, in the position as Top Secret US Naval Intelligence Officer, served 4 years aboard US Navy Destroyer Ship USS McMorris {DE1036}
The USS McMorris home port was changed from San Diego, CA, to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 1965. It was assigned as the flagship of Commander Escort Squadron 5. The ship’s assignment was participation in “Operation Market Time” to do search and surveillance with the Republic of South Vietnam Naval Forces and to engage in gunfire support in the Vietnamese War Zone. While there, the ship’s crew was exposed to Agent Orange. The primary intent was against the North Vietnamese soldiers. However, in the aftermath, both ground forces and US Ships in the area caught the wind surge of Agent Orange, which resulted in PTSD, Stress, and Depression
The incident of the collision-at-sea took place in January 1967 during a war zone exercise “Operation Market Time” Exercises,a procedure between the USS McMorris and USS Tombigbee AOG11, and other Naval Ships, near the Blue Costal Waters off the shores of the Vietnam War Zone Area. The immediate impact and reaction during the ship’s collision were feelings of shock, helplessness, disorientation, confusion, and sadness.
DEATH AND INJURED SHIPMATES
There was a single death of one shipmate and over 100 or more shipmates that were seriously injured. Those injured were airlifted back to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Hospital for treatment. The USS McMorris has to be floated and towed back to the Dry Docks in Hawaii for several months of repairing and restoring. Which was achieved with the help of a small crew myself, even though I was slightly injured i decided to stay and help tow the USS McMorris back to Hawaii for repair and restoration.
A Legacy Of Strength and Fortitude Meets Empathy and Compassion
What with the exposure to the dangerous Mustard Gas, Agent Orange, and the collision and wreckage out on the open ocean.Which resulted in Shipmates wrestling with symptoms of PTSD, i.e. Stress, Anxiety and Depression.
Fortitude became the emotional strength to face adversity and pain, with the courage and resilience to stand firm with integrity and purpose
Empathy, which allows us to feel with one to understand their pain, struggles, and joy, a bit later
Compassion that turns understanding into action via support, kindness, nurture, and care
Working together Empathy and Compassion soften the edges of Fortitude by transforming the situation from mere endurance into purposeful service
I being at that time, a US Navy Officer, obtaining Military Distinction, whose roots began in the shadow of antebellum plantations, as sharecropper’s, raised under the weight of Jim Crow Laws in Southern Louisiana, and still I rise to academic excellence, even though I did not have the opportunity to attend public school until reaching the age of ten years old, during this whole ordeal I had a focus on emotional generosity. Which was not just fortitude, but the strength and transcendence of both Empathy and compassion. This was quite a significant feat during this time to face.
Note: There shall be more blogs to come sharing this ordeal in life
Under Blog Titled: “ From Cotton Fields To Naval Intelligence-A Journey of Fortitude and Grace”
Steve Braxton, Freelance Writer, Contributing Blogger, Author, Non-Fiction Books, and National Contest Winner of: “BEST POETS, for 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025, Eber & Wein Publishing, a compilation, Library Of Congress DATA, ISBN 978-1-60880-798-7
