Comments for PBR 721

Comment on Reconstruction Story by John Fino

John Fino — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 16:04:25 +0000

I fixed the Raytheon radars on the PBRs at Naval Inshore Operations Training Center, Mare Island in ’70-71. Fixed the Decca radars on the PCFs too. We used to take the PBRs out fishing on weekends in San Fran Harbor. Those were the best of times during the worst of times. You could go full bore forward and reverse one engine and throw the wheel to one side and that boat would leap out of the water and hit stern first then off you would go in the opposite direction. I got pretty good at “walking” them sideways to the pier. I’m gonna be buried in my greens. Too many memories.

Comment on A Short History of the PBR by Elizabeth Brent Treadway

Elizabeth Brent Treadway — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:50:17 +0000

I am the daughter of G. P. Brent. He served until 1980 and retired at Commander. He then worked another 25 years in various roles in government contracting, supporting shipbuilding. He passed on 5 Feb 2026, five days short of his 90th birthday. On behalf of myself, my mom, and my two sons, our gratitude and respect to all the officers and men who served with Dad in RIVDIV 521.

Comment on USS Colonial LSD 18 and The Trieste by Frank Ambruso

Frank Ambruso — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 18:10:32 +0000

Kate sent 4 i had, my brother dennis is in center at beer table, dont know other sailors.

Will contact other brother for any photos.

Frank Ambruso

Comment on USS Colonial LSD 18 and The Trieste by Kate Francis

Kate Francis — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 17:17:27 +0000

Hey Ambruso, would love to see if you had more photos. My Dad was aboard the same time, W.B Francis (electrician). Thanks for sharing!

Comment on A Short History of the PBR by Dale M Hardie

Dale M Hardie — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 15:54:55 +0000

My name is Dale Hardie. I was assigned to River Division 571 PBR boats out of Nga Be south of Saigon in the Mekong Delta. I was forward Gunner in Boat 62. My boat crew consisted of “Pappy” Clarence Mcquade Boat Captain, “JR” Otto Edwin Stone Engineman and 60 Gunner. Lam San Our Vietnamese Seaman. I served from May 1969 til May of 1970. Everyone on the boat was wounded, some several times but we were blessed not to loose anyone. God Bless those lost and wounded.

Comment on A Short History of the PBR by Mike Suntava

Mike Suntava — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 14:33:36 +0000

In reply to Larry See.

LARRY,
I think you were in P.B.R.Class 30 with me and Dozier. If not P.B.R. Class 29-Alpha with Chief Bull Jordan and Jimmy Royer.
Mike

Comment on An interview with Captain Frederick A Olds by Robert Srodulski

Robert Srodulski — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 22:13:24 +0000

In reply to Mark Pace GMG3 USS Sumter LST 1181. I was TAD on board Sumter for that Spec Op providing weather support. One of my best most memorable tours. I will never forget Captain Olds on the 1MC calling "vorticity to the bridge"! I made it up there from Aux Radio in about 5 seconds. He wanted a weather update. Another memory is his slowing to a crawl and fishing off of the stern, and his expert parallel parking Sumter in front of a Russian cruise ship at Copenhagen. One of a kind he was.

Comment on Reconstruction Story by Dennis Jackson

Dennis Jackson — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 15:02:20 +0000

Wow Frank
I don’t think I ever had the pleasure of meeting you. This is an amazing account of this project
I was involved with the restoration of this vessel
And became friends with Dennis.
My name is Dennis Jackson and I worked at Fayerweather Boatyard at this time. I am pictured performing the fiberglass repairs to the hull. The installation of the tunnels for the props..
Dennis hired me during the off work hours to help push the project forward.
All I can say is Dennis was a huge inspiration to me and this is one of my favorite memories in life. I feel lucky and blessed to have worked on this labor of love side by side with Dennis and the others involved. I did lose contact with Dennis over the years but never forgot him or the things I learned from him.
RIP my friend Dennis you are sorely missed.
Frank please feel free to reach out.
I would love to share some other photos
I’m sure you possess other photos as well which I would love to see.
Feel free to email me

Comment on A Short History of the PBR by Lynne

Lynne — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 05:17:02 +0000

In reply to HARRY JAMES DILLON.

Hi Harry,
My name is Lynne, I’m a CSO for DAV in greater north Dallas, TX. I’m working with a gentleman that was sent TDY to Vietnam as a punishment in lieu of an article 89, in 1964, and ended up in board a PBR. He’s currently “in negotiations ” with the VA providing them details about his time in the Mekong Delta. You’re not kidding about KIA’s getting any kind of acknowledgment. The PBR he was attached to was attacked and sunk 2 days into the mission. All 4 of the regular crew were KIA and, my guy can’t remember any of their names, but he’s pretty sure the hull number contained 711. I’m so sorry that their families can’t get closure. I read an article that claims that the navy doesn’t know how many PBR’s were lost. That’s unconscionable.

Comment on Gallery of Restoration by Douglas S Babb

Douglas S Babb — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 22:35:13 +0000

Good day to you, I served in Panama SBU 26 when we recieved the new shell for the 721 and I was tasked as a 2nd class Boatswains mate to lead the assembly of the 721 shell in early 1988 and spent the following 8 months piecing her together. During her first seatrial we had got her up 32 knots and litteraly almost flipped her doing a crash back manuver, it was quite wild and this was before we installed the ballistics armor and full weapons compliments. When we had put back together we only had a soft top, not sure when the hardtop would have beeen installed. The last time I her was January of 89 when I transfered out.
I know I am late to this site and sorry to hear about Dennis but had only just found the site and saw it was refering to the 721 (AKA PBR-1 SBU-26).