Comments on: A Short History of the PBR https://www.pbr721.com Proud. Brave. Reliable. Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:50:17 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 By: Elizabeth Brent Treadway https://www.pbr721.com/reconstruction/short-history-of-pbr/#comment-1298 Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:50:17 +0000 http://pbr721.com/?page_id=83#comment-1298 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.

]]> By: Dale M Hardie https://www.pbr721.com/reconstruction/short-history-of-pbr/#comment-873 Wed, 29 Oct 2025 15:54:55 +0000 http://pbr721.com/?page_id=83#comment-873 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.

]]> By: Mike Suntava https://www.pbr721.com/reconstruction/short-history-of-pbr/#comment-858 Sun, 26 Oct 2025 14:33:36 +0000 http://pbr721.com/?page_id=83#comment-858 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

]]> By: Lynne https://www.pbr721.com/reconstruction/short-history-of-pbr/#comment-609 Thu, 27 Feb 2025 05:17:02 +0000 http://pbr721.com/?page_id=83#comment-609 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.

]]> By: Joseph D Bishop https://www.pbr721.com/reconstruction/short-history-of-pbr/#comment-580 Sun, 22 Sep 2024 21:15:34 +0000 http://pbr721.com/?page_id=83#comment-580 Thank you all for your service. My uncle Luther Bishop was in the navy and volunteered to be on a pbr.he said he ran an m2 on the boat. I was just a kid when he passed and didn’t ask much, but I find myself now very curious about this very special group.

]]> By: Larry See https://www.pbr721.com/reconstruction/short-history-of-pbr/#comment-567 Sun, 28 Jul 2024 14:45:16 +0000 http://pbr721.com/?page_id=83#comment-567 In reply to HARRY JAMES DILLON.

Harry, thanks for your service. I went thru NIOTC March ’67 and then to RVN in RivSec 521 from June ’67-June ’68. I remember very little of that time at Mare Island-Except Liberty in S.F. ;). Do you have access to records? I want to know my Class number at NIOTC, but its not in my DD214

]]> By: HARRY JAMES DILLON https://www.pbr721.com/reconstruction/short-history-of-pbr/#comment-553 Sun, 12 May 2024 02:57:13 +0000 http://pbr721.com/?page_id=83#comment-553 I was an instructor at NIOTC from 1966 to 1969. Many of the former students were sent to Vietnam from PBR School. In those days the names of the KIAs were not given any acknowledgement .

]]> By: PBR721 Admin https://www.pbr721.com/reconstruction/short-history-of-pbr/#comment-504 Sat, 17 Feb 2024 22:49:01 +0000 http://pbr721.com/?page_id=83#comment-504 In reply to PBR721 Admin.

Denny, my name is Frank Ambruso, Dennis’s younger brother.

You may have heard Dennis passed away.

I’m in the process of helping reach out to everyone who may be interested in his legacy, or his vast pbr related info, books, parts, boat/trailer, etc.

My other brother Daniel is busy working etc so feel free to contact me and or spread the word around im trying to coordinate with his contacts much information.

Thank you for your patience.
Frank Ambruso
phoboga@att.net
Star, Idaho.

]]> By: PBR721 Admin https://www.pbr721.com/reconstruction/short-history-of-pbr/#comment-485 Sat, 17 Feb 2024 22:37:21 +0000 http://pbr721.com/?page_id=83#comment-485 In reply to Michael Weaver.

my name is Frank Ambruso, Dennis’s younger brother.

You may have heard Dennis passed away.

I’m in the process of helping reach out to everyone who may be interested in his legacy, or his vast pbr related info, books, parts, boat/trailer, etc.

My other brother Daniel is busy working etc so feel free to contact me and or spread the word around im trying to coordinate with his contacts much information.

Thank you for your patience.
Frank Ambruso
phoboga@att.net
Star, Idaho.

]]> By: PBR721 Admin https://www.pbr721.com/reconstruction/short-history-of-pbr/#comment-481 Sat, 17 Feb 2024 22:33:04 +0000 http://pbr721.com/?page_id=83#comment-481 In reply to Michael Weaver.

Mike, my name is Frank Ambruso, Dennis’s younger brother.

You may have heard Dennis passed away.

I’m in the process of helping reach out to everyone who may be interested in his legacy, or his vast pbr related info, books, parts, boat/trailer, etc.

My other brother Daniel is busy working etc so feel free to contact me and or spread the word around im trying to coordinate with his contacts much information.

Thank you for your patience.
Frank Ambruso
Star, Idaho.

]]>