The 458th Sea Tigers showed up to assess the condition of the PBR. Our detail helped them get some measurements and were fascinated by the stories that these Vietnam veterans told them. The 458th is planning to work with the museum to completely restore the PBR. Contact the museum if you are interested in volunteering to assist on this project or another restoration project at the museum….we have trains, aircraft, trucks and more boats that need work.
Ralph Richason, of 515 Riv-Div, who has taken over the duty of upgrading and maintaining our PBR locator list, which has become valuable for many.
Ralph Richason sent me these pics he took from the Miss Hampton II tour boat, owned by Mike Hebert, The Riverine Reporter for the US Army’s 458th Transportation Co. (PBR) veterans group!
Slideshow from Michael Hebert,”Riverine Reporter” for the U.S. Army’s 458th Transportation co., (PBR) Vietnam Veterans Assoc., and Owner/Operator of the “Miss Hampton II” tour boat in Hampton, VA:
Well, it’s over, but not in our collective memories!
This joint US Army-US Navy reunion, under the US Army’s 458th’s Transportation Co. (PBR) Vietnam Veterans reunion officers, went better than expected. We canceled the rock fight because we were one, and brothers in arms! CMC Jeff Covington, formerly with NECC Little Creek and now assigned to the Joint Task Force Civil Support at Fort Eustis, our good friend who will support us at the drop of a hat, and whom we would do the same for, made all the arrangements with Maj. Gen. William F. Roy at Fort Eustis, who spent a lot of time with us on the boats and was well received by everyone! Thank you Master Chief for your support!
CMC Bill Austin, from Special Boat Team 20, at Little Creek, Va., who came to our support by providing us with Two (2) RIB fast attack boats under the command of Senior Chief Chris Favata, who gave us a rallying speech about the state of readiness of the Special Boat Units in the 21st century and his outstanding crews, who made our event the most successful event that I have ever been involved with!
Maj. General Roy, Commanding General of the Joint Task Force Civil Support at Fort Eustis made us feel right at home with the wonderful welcome speech he gave at the Lakeside restaurant at Fort Eustis. Thank you General, it meant a lot to us old vets!
I’ll have more to say about the event, and those who made it happen in the very near future while I gather the pictures and thoughts I have. But here are some pics for now.
Regards, Dennis Ambruso
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Mike Hebert, Riverine Reporter – 458th Sea Tigers
Slideshow from Michael Hebert,”Riverine Reporter” for the U.S. Army’s 458th Transportation co., (PBR) Vietnam Veterans Assoc., and Owner/Operator of the “Miss Hampton II” tour boat in Hampton, VA:
Slideshow from Michael Hebert,”Riverine Reporter” for the U.S. Army’s 458th Transportation co., (PBR) Vietnam Veterans Assoc., and Owner/Operator of the “Miss Hampton II” tour boat in Hampton, VA: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zaNNrzIPnUXO0pLp2
Sunday evening , Sept 20, 2015, at the Pelican Marina, Elizabeth City, North Carolina. PBR’s 721 and 6927 are all set to get underway at 08:00 Monday morning! Gamewardens, MMCS, Bill Ferguson and his wife Nancye stopped by for some refreshments and to wish us a safe journey!
The following are current pics taken this evening!
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Fitting out for the joint #USArmy, #USNavy Vietnam PBR veterans reunion in Hampton, VirginiaFitting out for the joint #USArmy, #USNavy Vietnam PBR veterans reunion in Hampton, VirginiaFitting out for the joint #USArmy, #USNavy Vietnam PBR veterans reunion in Hampton, VirginiaFitting out for the joint #USArmy, #USNavy Vietnam PBR veterans reunion in Hampton, VirginiaDave Pizzoferrato of PBR 6927
Today marks a small historical event not seen in some time here on the East Coast, when there will be two (2) PBR’s on the same river! 🙂 Dave Pizzoferrato is trailering his PBR 6927 down here from Richmond, Ohio to the Pelican Marina here in Elizabeth City, NC today, to join up with PBR 721 on the Pasquotank River.
Two Boat Patrol: Dave Pizzoferrato’s PBR 6927 leading PBR 721 into the Deep Creek lock at the head of the Dismal Swamp Canal.Two Boat Patrol, Hampton, VA. PBR 721 and PBR 6927 on the water together, and just before historic joint #USNavy and #USArmy PBR Veterans reunion.Two Boat Patrol, Hampton, VA. PBR 721 and PBR 6927 on the water together, and just before historic joint #USNavy and #USArmy PBR Veterans reunion.
Monday we will be taking both boats from Elizabeth City, NC. up through the Dismal swamp canal to the Elizabeth river, then past the Portsmouth Naval shipyard and the Norfolk Naval base, to the Crown Plaza hotel in Hampton, Virginia for our Joint US Army and US Navy, PBR combat crewman reunion!
Dave and I have been working on the event for over a year, not only for the reunion , but to get our two PBR’s in the water on the same river! I hope we will get some good pictures of the event to pass on to you all, next weekend perhaps!