During my 22 months aboard Albatross, we performed three "Operation Market Time" patrols as active members of the Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club. These patrols off the coast of South Vietnam lasted 6 or 7 weeks. This was tedious work -- zig-zagging back and forth, night and day, in an effort to track merchant vessels of all shapes and sizes entering or leaving the mouth of the Saigon River. Up river, other sailors on smaller, fast and nimble PCFs and PBRs were doing the really dirty, sweaty work -- darting in and out of harm's way. We couldn't help but wonder about their safety and the risks they were taking all the time. http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/EM2-Jim-Raines-BM2-Ron-Filger/88744097_4RHtH-Ti.jpg http://albatross.smugmug.com/gallery/1852470_9VEqz/ 2007-02-08T09:23:15Z Copyright 2009, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved. SmugMug <p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com">Albatross</a><br />EM2 Jim Ranes, BM3 Ron Filger and SN Jim Parsons, Vietnam, October 1968</p><p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/1852470_9VEqz#88744097_4RHtH" title="EM2 Jim Ranes, BM3 Ron Filger and SN Jim Parsons, Vietnam, October 1968"><img src="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/EM2-Jim-Raines-BM2-Ron-Filger/88744097_4RHtH-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="EM2 Jim Ranes, BM3 Ron Filger and SN Jim Parsons, Vietnam, October 1968" title="EM2 Jim Ranes, BM3 Ron Filger and SN Jim Parsons, Vietnam, October 1968" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T16:06:07Z Albatross http://albatross.smugmug.com http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/EM2-Jim-Raines-BM2-Ron-Filger/88744097_4RHtH-Th.jpg 2002-01-13 22:25:55 <p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com">Albatross</a><br />RM3 Altoa "Wayne" Ruple at the bow hatch, near Vung Tau, Vietnam in October 1968</p><p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/1852470_9VEqz#88738153_erDoJ" title="RM3 Altoa "Wayne" Ruple at the bow hatch, near Vung Tau, Vietnam in October 1968"><img src="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/Wayne-Ruple-RM3/88738153_erDoJ-Th.jpg" width="150" height="136" alt="RM3 Altoa "Wayne" Ruple at the bow hatch, near Vung Tau, Vietnam in October 1968" title="RM3 Altoa "Wayne" Ruple at the bow hatch, near Vung Tau, Vietnam in October 1968" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T16:06:41Z Albatross http://albatross.smugmug.com http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/Wayne-Ruple-RM3/88738153_erDoJ-Th.jpg 2002-01-13 22:27:49 <p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com">Albatross</a><br />EN3 Ron West, CM3 Mike Napoli and SEAL-to-be EN3 Robert O'Neill enjoy one of many fantail barbeques of the Vietnam coast in October 1968.</p><p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/1852470_9VEqz#88738150_vxyTK" title="EN3 Ron West, CM3 Mike Napoli and SEAL-to-be EN3 Robert O'Neill enjoy one of many fantail barbeques of the Vietnam coast in October 1968."><img src="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/6805-WestNapoliOneil/88738150_vxyTK-Th.jpg" width="150" height="106" alt="EN3 Ron West, CM3 Mike Napoli and SEAL-to-be EN3 Robert O'Neill enjoy one of many fantail barbeques of the Vietnam coast in October 1968." title="EN3 Ron West, CM3 Mike Napoli and SEAL-to-be EN3 Robert O'Neill enjoy one of many fantail barbeques of the Vietnam coast in October 1968." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T16:04:30Z Albatross http://albatross.smugmug.com http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/6805-WestNapoliOneil/88738150_vxyTK-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com">Albatross</a><br />I share a meal with Casrep on the fantail</p><p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/1852470_9VEqz#92889457_pmJuy" title="I share a meal with Casrep on the fantail"><img src="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/6805-Gary-Casrep/92889457_pmJuy-Th.jpg" width="107" height="150" alt="I share a meal with Casrep on the fantail" title="I share a meal with Casrep on the fantail" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T10:49:55Z Albatross http://albatross.smugmug.com http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/6805-Gary-Casrep/92889457_pmJuy-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com">Albatross</a><br />LtJG Chuck Birchmier and our X.O, Lt. Robert Ewing soak up some tropical sunshine near Vung Tau, Vietnam</p><p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/1852470_9VEqz#88744098_QWPsL" title="LtJG Chuck Birchmier and our X.O, Lt. Robert Ewing soak up some tropical sunshine near Vung Tau, Vietnam"><img src="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/LTJG-Charles-Birchmier-LT-Robt/88744098_QWPsL-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="LtJG Chuck Birchmier and our X.O, Lt. Robert Ewing soak up some tropical sunshine near Vung Tau, Vietnam" title="LtJG Chuck Birchmier and our X.O, Lt. Robert Ewing soak up some tropical sunshine near Vung Tau, Vietnam" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T16:04:12Z Albatross http://albatross.smugmug.com http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/LTJG-Charles-Birchmier-LT-Robt/88744098_QWPsL-Th.jpg 2002-01-13 22:26:48 <p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com">Albatross</a><br />BM3 Jim Parsons</p><p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/1852470_9VEqz#92916194_w6gee" title="BM3 Jim Parsons"><img src="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/BM3-Jim-Parsons/92916194_w6gee-Th.jpg" width="150" height="105" alt="BM3 Jim Parsons" title="BM3 Jim Parsons" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T10:38:05Z Albatross http://albatross.smugmug.com http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/BM3-Jim-Parsons/92916194_w6gee-Th.jpg 2002-01-13 22:25:39 <p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com">Albatross</a><br />ENC Ulysses Lee and EMC Curtis Mitchell take a break at dusk while patrolling of Vung Tau.</p><p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/1852470_9VEqz#89312953_kETb8" title="ENC Ulysses Lee and EMC Curtis Mitchell take a break at dusk while patrolling of Vung Tau."><img src="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/Chiefs-Lee-Mitchell/89312953_kETb8-Th.jpg" width="150" height="98" alt="ENC Ulysses Lee and EMC Curtis Mitchell take a break at dusk while patrolling of Vung Tau." title="ENC Ulysses Lee and EMC Curtis Mitchell take a break at dusk while patrolling of Vung Tau." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T15:19:55Z Albatross http://albatross.smugmug.com http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/Chiefs-Lee-Mitchell/89312953_kETb8-Th.jpg 2002-01-13 23:44:58 <p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com">Albatross</a><br />Our second leading Boatswain's Mate, Richard Chase</p><p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/1852470_9VEqz#92916193_ZWMUG" title="Our second leading Boatswain's Mate, Richard Chase"><img src="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/BM1-Richard-Chase/92916193_ZWMUG-Th.jpg" width="150" height="105" alt="Our second leading Boatswain's Mate, Richard Chase" title="Our second leading Boatswain's Mate, Richard Chase" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T10:38:47Z Albatross http://albatross.smugmug.com http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/BM1-Richard-Chase/92916193_ZWMUG-Th.jpg 2002-01-13 22:26:13 <p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com">Albatross</a><br />SM1 Anton Lindquist and EM2 Jim Ranes.</p><p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/1852470_9VEqz#92916198_K5kpg" title="SM1 Anton Lindquist and EM2 Jim Ranes."><img src="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/SM1-Lindquist-EM2-Jim-Raines/92916198_K5kpg-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="SM1 Anton Lindquist and EM2 Jim Ranes." title="SM1 Anton Lindquist and EM2 Jim Ranes." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T10:39:20Z Albatross http://albatross.smugmug.com http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/SM1-Lindquist-EM2-Jim-Raines/92916198_K5kpg-Th.jpg 2002-01-13 22:25:07 <p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com">Albatross</a><br />Everyone's aboard. Leaving Vung Tau November 28, 1968. Next stop: Hong Kong.</p><p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/1852470_9VEqz#89312949_2hP2n" title="Everyone's aboard. Leaving Vung Tau November 28, 1968. Next stop: Hong Kong."><img src="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/Leaving-Vung-Tao-Nov-28-1968/89312949_2hP2n-Th.jpg" width="150" height="103" alt="Everyone's aboard. Leaving Vung Tau November 28, 1968. Next stop: Hong Kong." title="Everyone's aboard. Leaving Vung Tau November 28, 1968. Next stop: Hong Kong." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T15:14:52Z Albatross http://albatross.smugmug.com http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/Leaving-Vung-Tao-Nov-28-1968/89312949_2hP2n-Th.jpg 2002-01-13 22:28:56 <p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com">Albatross</a><br />RD3 Jack Chesnut and LtJG Charles Birchmier return with Capt. Cole at Vung Tau before Albatross gets underway for home.</p><p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/1852470_9VEqz#89312950_yrkZJ" title="RD3 Jack Chesnut and LtJG Charles Birchmier return with Capt. Cole at Vung Tau before Albatross gets underway for home."><img src="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/Chestnut-Birchmier-Capt-Cole/89312950_yrkZJ-Th.jpg" width="150" height="102" alt="RD3 Jack Chesnut and LtJG Charles Birchmier return with Capt. Cole at Vung Tau before Albatross gets underway for home." title="RD3 Jack Chesnut and LtJG Charles Birchmier return with Capt. Cole at Vung Tau before Albatross gets underway for home." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-08-02T21:12:23Z Albatross http://albatross.smugmug.com http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/Chestnut-Birchmier-Capt-Cole/89312950_yrkZJ-Th.jpg 2002-01-13 22:28:29 <p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com">Albatross</a><br />RD3 Jack Chesnut, CM3 Mike Napoli, and DC3 George Steckler take a break on the foc'sle with our new Gunner's Mate and SM Molina.</p><p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/1852470_9VEqz#115224929_UtghG" title="RD3 Jack Chesnut, CM3 Mike Napoli, and DC3 George Steckler take a break on the foc'sle with our new Gunner's Mate and SM Molina."><img src="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/Focsle-Break/115224929_UtghG-Th.jpg" width="150" height="107" alt="RD3 Jack Chesnut, CM3 Mike Napoli, and DC3 George Steckler take a break on the foc'sle with our new Gunner's Mate and SM Molina." title="RD3 Jack Chesnut, CM3 Mike Napoli, and DC3 George Steckler take a break on the foc'sle with our new Gunner's Mate and SM Molina." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-15T08:43:53Z Albatross http://albatross.smugmug.com http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/Focsle-Break/115224929_UtghG-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com">Albatross</a><br />CM2 Rick Segal barbeques ribs on the fantail for the crew as Chief Mitchell checks his fishing line.</p><p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/1852470_9VEqz#115224931_fGLJ4" title="CM2 Rick Segal barbeques ribs on the fantail for the crew as Chief Mitchell checks his fishing line."><img src="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/Rick-Segal-Chief-Mitchell/115224931_fGLJ4-Th.jpg" width="150" height="107" alt="CM2 Rick Segal barbeques ribs on the fantail for the crew as Chief Mitchell checks his fishing line." title="CM2 Rick Segal barbeques ribs on the fantail for the crew as Chief Mitchell checks his fishing line." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-15T08:44:04Z Albatross http://albatross.smugmug.com http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/Rick-Segal-Chief-Mitchell/115224931_fGLJ4-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com">Albatross</a><br />EN3 Reggie Verastegui stays cool at lunch time.</p><p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/1852470_9VEqz#115227390_WkWaY" title="EN3 Reggie Verastegui stays cool at lunch time."><img src="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/Regino-Verastegui-EN3/115227390_WkWaY-Th.jpg" width="107" height="150" alt="EN3 Reggie Verastegui stays cool at lunch time." title="EN3 Reggie Verastegui stays cool at lunch time." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-15T08:41:14Z Albatross http://albatross.smugmug.com http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/Regino-Verastegui-EN3/115227390_WkWaY-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com">Albatross</a><br />Mike Napoli and Steve Purdy take a short break on the fantail.</p><p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/1852470_9VEqz#128420960_rifAf" title="Mike Napoli and Steve Purdy take a short break on the fantail."><img src="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/6904-Mike-Napoli-Steve-Purdy/128420960_rifAf-Th.jpg" width="105" height="150" alt="Mike Napoli and Steve Purdy take a short break on the fantail." title="Mike Napoli and Steve Purdy take a short break on the fantail." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-14T11:01:43Z Albatross http://albatross.smugmug.com http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/6904-Mike-Napoli-Steve-Purdy/128420960_rifAf-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com">Albatross</a><br />EM2 Jim Ranes</p><p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/1852470_9VEqz#128420962_aMitx" title="EM2 Jim Ranes"><img src="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/Jim-Raines/128420962_aMitx-Th.jpg" width="150" height="105" alt="EM2 Jim Ranes" title="EM2 Jim Ranes" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-14T11:05:13Z Albatross http://albatross.smugmug.com http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/Jim-Raines/128420962_aMitx-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com">Albatross</a><br />Regino "Reggie" Verastegui clowning around as always.</p><p><a href="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/1852470_9VEqz#128420963_mFjwG" title="Regino "Reggie" Verastegui clowning around as always."><img src="http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/Reggie-Verastegui/128420963_mFjwG-Th.jpg" width="150" height="105" alt="Regino "Reggie" Verastegui clowning around as always." title="Regino "Reggie" Verastegui clowning around as always." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-14T11:03:46Z Albatross http://albatross.smugmug.com http://albatross.smugmug.com/USS-Albatross-MSC-289/4-Operation-Market-Time-1/Reggie-Verastegui/128420963_mFjwG-Th.jpg