STORY BEHIND THE PLAQUE
Service Reflections of DC2 David J. Martz, U.S. Navy (1968-1972)

In the first half of 1969, Lyndon B. Johnson was President. Robert Kennedy was shot and killed, and Richard M. Nixon announced his candidacy for President.

The North Koreans captured the USS Pueblo. North Vietnam waged a major attack, named the Tet Offensive, that changed the war in Vietnam.

After a year of struggling in college at the University of Dayton’s School of Engineering, with no money to continue, I enlisted in the US Navy on June 4, 1968, to avoid being drafted. Not wanting to be drafted by the Selective Service System into the US Army or US Marines, I enlisted. My thought was that a 19-year-old in the US Navy would be safe from harm, and after a short time, I could collect the GI Bill to complete college.

I was welcomed to Company 605, and so the routine started. Boot Camp was a routine of learning and training in the Navy way of life with 80 of my “closest friends.” My enlistment included the promise of an A School. After boot camp at Great Lakes, my orders were to DC A School in Philadelphia. After successfully completing DC A School, I was ordered to the USS Tripoli LPH 10.

Admiral Zumwalt changed quite a bit for the Navy. Allowing longer hair and facial hair was beneficial because it enabled sailors to blend in more easily with civilians. Due to a pay range overhaul, we also got pay raises, but he removed the demon dungarees and replaced them with polyester blue shirts and pants. This proved to be a problem when I wanted new dungarees; all I could find were new pants. This was not good for sailors with only a few months left in the Navy. The last straw was combining Damage Controlmen with Shipfitters and calling them Hull Technicians. I was never a Shipfitter, nor could I have been a Hull Tech. The Vietnam War was winding down for the Navy, and I was going into peacetime mode. I’m glad I had decided to get out at the end of my tour!

Although there were many Operations for Tripoli, these four were best remembered.

1. Operation “Keystone Cardinal” began on 20 November 1969, loading the Marines and equipment of the Third Battalion, Fourth Marines (BLT 3/4) for transport to Okinawa (then still occupied by the US). At Okinawa’s Buckner Bay, Tripoli disembarked the Marines on 24 November.

2. As part of President Nixon’s “Phase III” withdrawal of American troops, Marine personnel from HQ, III MAF, 1st Marine Air Wing, 1st Marine Division, and III MAF Logistics Command were embarked in Tripoli to take them to San Diego. Tripoli entered Da Nang Harbor, South Vietnam, on 31 January 1970 and began Operation “Keystone Eagle.” After a non-stop voyage of 17 days, we arrived in San Diego on 16 February.

3. The Tripoli received orders to deploy to the Indian Ocean with Task Force (TF) 74. TF-74 is a special contingency of ships built around the USS Enterprise (CVAN-65), with its contingency of ships. We entered the Bay of Bengal on the morning of 15 December. The Task Force had to proceed slowly, with an average speed of 15 knots. This was both to conserve fuel, as well as to not allow advance information to foreign nations as to where we were headed. Tripoli remained with TF 74 in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal until 08 January 1972.

4. On 29 June 1972, Tripoli-assigned helicopters helped transport 1,400 Vietnamese Marines from Tam My to the vicinity of Quang Tri City during the allied counteroffensive to recapture areas of the I Corps tactical zone that North Vietnamese Regular troops had overrun. As this operation progressed (codenamed “Lam Son 72”), Tripoli remained offshore, evacuated casualties, and waited, should the reserves be required. For Lam Son 72 support, the entire ship’s crew received the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Meritorious Unit Citation (MUC) Gallantry Cross (foreign).

No never. Like so many other young sailors, we were invincible.

The Tripoli was very good duty. On more than one occasion, I was hand-picked to conduct sea trials on other ships. In Hunters Point, we conducted 3 days of trials on the Coral Sea before she was released from retrofit.

The many ships and permanent bases provided Shore Patrol (SP) personnel to walk the streets to ensure the on-shore sailors and marines had fun, within reason. As a 2nd class PO, I was assigned to Shore Patrol duty in Olongapo, PI, instead of shipboard duty. What a hoot!

As a Petty Officer 2nd class, I pulled a couple of special duty watches at the ship’s brig in November 1971 because three sailors were there for drug possession or use. They even let me carry a .45, but I was not allowed to load the pistol.

My least favorite was at Philadelphia Naval Station while attending Damage Control A School. The training was pretty good, but it was in the winter months. Fighting fires outside in freezing weather was not fun.

During the Tripoli’s return from Sasebo, Japan, to Subic Bay, she received orders to deploy to the Indian Ocean with Task Force (TF) 74. TF-74 was a special contingency of ships built around the USS Enterprise (CVAN-65), with its contingency of ships. Eventually, Commercial Airlines evacuated the civilians from the Dacca airport. Of course, all of this was done under the watchful eye of the Soviet Russian Navy. The fighting ended 30 days later. This was the least favorite of the tour and the most dangerous, with no shore time and nothing but water to see. Ship supplies became short, and all the food was powder.

As the ship’s locksmith, my duties included opening the many safes on board. One night, a company of Marines was brought back from Vietnam with many survivors. The Marines that made it back had the Company safe with them, but no combination. The two Marines who knew the combination were killed. The safe was so heavy that it required two Marines to carry it and move it around. An armed Marine stood guard at the safe until the next morning. I proceeded to try to open it, using the best methods I had learned, but every method failed. As a last resort, I requested permission to open it in a manner that would prevent it from being used again due to the potential damage it could cause. Permission was granted, and I opened it with a blowtorch. The safe contained one item of classified documents and was then tossed overboard.

In the 3 1/2 years on board the Tripoli, I was the most qualified high-capacity fog foam station operator, apprentice locksmith, sounding security watch, Damage Control Central Supervisor, and the brig and shore patrol sentry.

Three events come to mind.

1. Lam Son 72 assault on the Marines. We took on many Marine casualties. Everyone was scrambling to get the casualties medical aid. The ship was awarded the Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation and the Gallantry Cross for doing just a little extra.

2. Task Force 74 cruising around the Indian Ocean, always prepared to rescue US citizens trapped in the middle of a Civil War between East Pakistan and Bangladesh. We never needed to go in and spend 60 days isolated from communicating with our loved ones.

3. Operation Keystone Eagles was where we loaded a boatload of Marines and sailed all the way from Danang to San Diego. We dropped off the Marines and sailed all the way back to the shores of Vietnam, a long trip.

Senior Chief Fife had the most impact. His career was coming to an end, and he had to conclude his time on the Tripoli. He pretty much gave me my assignments, and I could go off and get them done without any supervision. Most of the assignments were locksmith and safe opening, with some supply PO. He was great.

I remember many of the shipmates. We shared both good times and bad times together. Gary Scoggins, Bob Szczgiel, John West, Roger Meness, and I would spend many trips out to Grande Island while in Subic Bay to go swimming and snorkeling. I have not been able to reconnect with these guys, but I have connected with others.

One of the best times was the evening of 24 November 1971, when Tilley, Standish, Dickerson, and I went to the Non-Commissioned Officers’ Club on base. I started drinking slowly with 7/7, then China Seas, and on to Zombies. The club closed at 2300 hours, so we went to the Enlisted Club and had a couple of Sangrias and something to eat. Standish and Dickerson were too drunk to walk back, so Tilley and I helped them until the base Shore Patrol (SP) stopped and offered us all a ride. We had not caused any trouble, so the SP was kind enough not to arrest us. The hangover lasted all day.

After completing my college degree in Accounting, I retired in 2008. Then was hired by General Dynamics and later Lockheed Martin, an aerospace company. I was involved in numerous military weapons systems, including the F-16 Fighting Falcon, M1A1 Abrams tank, Ohio-class submarines, Phalanx CIWS, and Atlas and Titan launch vehicles. During my working days, I served on numerous charitable boards, often as Treasurer. My time now is spent helping other servicemen, women, and veterans. I also spend my time preparing free tax returns for low-income individuals and seniors.

I joined the “Veterans of Foreign Wars” in 1992; I was one of the founding members of Post 11388 in Rancho Penasquitos. I am a lifetime member of the VFW.

I joined the American Legion in 2007, and I am a Lifetime Member. For the American Legion Post 1260, I have been the Treasurer, Senior Vice Commander, and Commander. The American Legion has assisted me in working with the VA to receive medical and financial benefits.

I joined “The LPH Iwo Jima Class Association” in 2018. It is great fun getting together each year with my shipmates from Tripoli and other Iwo Jima Class shipmates.

After college, I continued my career in service to the Armed Service while working in the Aerospace Industry.

The Navy and the other Armed Services are not for everyone, but it is the best way to serve your country. There is much to learn from the Armed Services and much to gain by serving.

Much of what I have shared has been collected in my memoirs of my service in the Navy. TWS is a great way to reconnect with many of my shipmates.