Beckwith, William James, GM2

Gunner's Mate
 
 Service Photo   Service Details
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Current Service Status
USCG Veteran
Current/Last Rank
Petty Officer Second Class
Current/Last Primary Rate
GM-Gunner's Mate
Current/Last Rate Group
Gunner's Mate
Primary Unit
1968-1969, GM, Squadron One - Division 13, CG Squadron 1
Previously Held Rate
SA-Seaman Apprentice
SN-Seaman
Service Years
1966 - 1970
Other Languages
Spanish
Official/Unofficial US Coast Guard Certificates
Bluenose
Golden Shellback
Order of Magellan
Order of the Ditch
Order of the Ditch
Order of the Golden Dragon
Rednose
Shellback
Voice Edition
GM-Gunner's Mate

 Official Badges 

USCG Honorable Discharge Marine Investigator Badge


 Unofficial Badges 

Vietnam Combatant-Craft Crewman Badge Domain of the Emperor Penguin Gulf of Tonkin Yacht Club Order of the Arctic Circle (Bluenose)

Order of the Golden Dragon Order of the Golden Shellback Vietnam Veteran 50th Commemoration Vietnam 50th Anniversary

Cold War Veteran Order of the Ditch Southeast Asia Wargames


 Military Associations and Other Affiliations
Post 414Coast Guard Combat Veterans AssociationCG Sea Veterans of AmericaVeterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW)
United Services Automobile Association (USAA)Coast Guard Together We Served [Verified]Chapter 42
  1970, American Legion, Post 414 (Life Member) (Angelica, New York) - Chap. Page
  1990, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 717 (Life Member) (West Palm Beach , Florida) - Chap. Page
  1998, Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association
  2000, CG Sea Veterans of America - Assoc. Page
  2000, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) - Assoc. Page
  2000, United Services Automobile Association (USAA) - Assoc. Page
  2016, Coast Guard Together We Served [Verified]
  2018, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Chapter 42 (Life Member) (West Palm Beach, Florida) - Chap. Page


 Additional Information
What are you doing now:


GM2-ELD Supervisor Certification in 6/1969.  
Medically retired 2008,  VACP SMC-L1 w/A&A 100%, all AO exposure 68-69 medical issues, none of disability from WIA 4/17/69 RPG shrapnel "ALL my disability from "AO" + "Parkinson's Disease". VA-WPB took great care until 3/2019. Corona-Virus covid-19 11/22, hosp. 11/27-12/18/2020 

WPB-82304 POINT LEAGUE we've lost "11" out of who served on her 4/68-5/16/69 crew  "AO" disease's [7 ]  w/Ischemic Heart Disease [2]-2
004 BM1 [Robert W] Bobby Durrance rip & BMCS Robert W Martin rip; [1]-
2012 CS2 Terry [Terrance V] Mann rip; [1]
2018 ENC [William R] Pat Patrick rip; [1] 
BM3 Paul Stephen Runkle 2002 rip; [1]
1990 SN [Martin James] Marty Haker rip yn3 w/cancer & ischemic heart disease only 40. [1] 
MDS bone marrow cancer 12/2014 ET2 Dan [Daniel W] Adams rip. [1] 
CS2 Rodney W Clark rip; [1] 
2017 Ltjg Dennis William (Bill) Kushia Kurtz [capt] rip; [1] 
Ltjg T. M. Alexander rip; crew has some "AO" med. issues, [3] 100% VA disabled. survived RPG's, River Mines, AK's & brick to head, leaving VUNG TAU bar, weekly Boston Whaler ditch rides, [3] who do not complain about, talk about their medical issues 
CO LT Wm Harry Norris Capt 30 yrs Legal & JAG mostly west coast retired to CA, 
Ltjg [Court] Courtney John Storey retired to MN, One of his Uncles won Medal Of Honor WW2 as a Major in USMC was an Atty, didn't have to be on front lines, BMC E Wayne Gray BMCM retired to NC several times NC SP, NC Marine patrol, Yacht Capt & addicted fisherman. all doing well also EN3-2 Dennis H Chamberlain; FN-BM2 Clifford K Hall, GM2 Deryck Edward Pocock running his gunsmith shop in Olivo TX 1994 to present are our survivors.

WHAT CAN YOU SAY? A surprise triple bypass for me 6/4/2018.

1st ship & Mentors  WAGB-279 Eastwind 66-67  Lt Joe Cooley [Capt] 62-98, BM3 Jack Crowley [bmcs] 57-88, rip 5.19.2017; Lt Geo Watts .a[Cdr] 60-85, rip 7.1.2016; MENTORS GMCS jOHN HENRY MACORIMICK, 4-8/67 GM-A sch ORDNANCE & AMMUNITION, GROTON, CT, CO CWO3 Bob Fleming [cwo4] 75; GMCM D J GINGERY [gmcm]; FTC Fred Schacht [ftc]; GMC Carl Jerry DeLair [gmc] 53-74 rip; FT1 Brian Kelley [cwo3] 61-81; GM1 Robert Carpenter [gmc] 57-79 rip 11.11.2018; Squadron One 82304 Pt League BMC Wayne Gray [bmcm] 57-90, & BMCS Robert W Martin  49-70 rip, BM1 Robert W [Bobby] Durance [BMC] 57-77 rip, Lt William Harry Norris .a[Capt] 61-95,  Last mentor Marine Port Safety Detachment Sta-ELD Concord, Ca 69-70 BMC James Tom Hanks [bmc?] 53-??, [4 daughters] LT James Morgan acting CO a.65[cdr] 

   
Other Comments:

Units : CG Training CG Cutters CG Bases USN Training USMC Training Recruit Training Cape May Group Base Boston W279 Eastwind Boston GM A School Groton W64 ESCANABA New Bedford COTP & PSU-301 Group Boston maa [not Cape Cod ] USN Fleet Airborne Electronics S.E.R.E. Warner Springs  USMC 29 Palms wpns USN Coronado USMC Camp Pendleton wpns     USCG Squadron#1 Training Alameda RON#1 Pt.Young 82303 An Thoi Cat Lo Pt.League 82304 Cat Lo Cam Ranh Bay   82304 Pt League Div-12 2 patrols 9/28-10/23-27/68-on MSTS SS GREEN SPRINGS Div-12 to SASEBO &-
10/27/68 to 12/27/68 in SASEBO shipyards then SASEBO to DIV-12 ON M/V TRANS-COLORADO 12/28/68 to 1/5/69 
USN NAVSUPPACT SASEBO JAPAN   RON#1 PT.League 82304  SEALORDS SCATTOR Train RVN To Replace Program     RVNS Navy 2-5/69     RON#1 Div-13 spare boat crew WIA 4/17/69   U.S.C.G.   Explosive Loading Supervisory School ELD   Concord     C.G. Marine Port Safety Detachment Concord maa ELD USN-USMC   names NWS-NAWS- NAD-NOD-NAVMAG Port Chicago-NAVWPNSTA Seal Beach North we had US Army too
Rank : Petty Officer Second Class

RankInsignia : Gunner's Mate
MOS : Gunner's Mate-w/ELD at MPSD-Concord Ca maa
Years : 5/2/66-5/1/70 Reserve 7th-1970, 9th-1971, 3rd 1971-72
GCM: 1hr late Rochester-Boston flight 12/67 AWOL NJP no GC medal
Country: 10 days restricted to base United States of AMERICA
Location: NWS CG Marine Port Safety Detachment ELD Concord Ca

   

 Remembrance Profiles -  274 Coasties Remembered
  • Akers, Frances Jean, PFC, (1969-1970)
  • Akers, Gerald Wayne, SP 5, (1967-1969)
  • Austin, Gene W, SSG, (1965-1976)
 Photo Album   (More...



Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase VI Campaign
From Month/Year
November / 1968
To Month/Year
February / 1969

Description
This campaign was from 2 November 1968 to 22 February 1969. In November 1968 the South Vietnam government with American support began a concentrated effort to expand security in the countryside. This project was known as the "Accelerated Pacification Campaign."

This period covers the election of President Richard M. Nixon and a change of policy brought about by his administration after January 1969 when he announced a coming end to US combat in Southeast Asia and a simultaneous strengthening of South Vietnam's ability to defend itself. Formal truce negotiations began in Paris on January 25, 1969. The period can be characterized as marking time in preparation for an about face. Forty-seven ground combat operations were recorded during this period, the following being the most important:

(1). Operation NAPOLEON in the Dong Ha area initiated previously (1967) by Marine units, terminated on 9 December 1968.

(2). Operation WHEELER WALLOWA by 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division and 196th Infantry Brigade (Light) in north-central Quan Tin Province. This ended on 11 November.

(3). Operation MACARTHUR initiated by 4th U.S. Infantry Division in II Corps tactical zone terminated on 31 January 1969.

(4). Operation COCHISE GREEN conducted by the 173d Airborne Brigade in Binh Dinh Province.

(5). Operation TOAN THANG II consisted of ground operations throughout III CTZ. This was a multi-division operation involving allied forces.

(6). Operation SEA LORDS was a coast and riverine operation. On 6 December Operation GIANT SLINGSHOT was started to disrupt enemy infiltration of materials from the "Parrot's Beak" area of Cambodia. Air operations continued to be important with over 60,000 sorties flown.
   
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
November / 1968
To Month/Year
February / 1969
 
Last Updated:
Mar 16, 2020
   
Personal Memories

People You Remember
68-69 LT WM H NORRIS [Capt w/JAG 1985 retired 1995]
68-69 LTJG STOREY
68-69 ET2 DAN ADAMS rip2014 [AO-MDS cancer of your bone marrow]
68-69 BM1 ROBERT DURRANCE rip2004 [retired w/20 yrs 1978 BMC]
[w/AO-Ischemic Heart Disease]
68-69 EN3 CLIFFORD HALL;            68-69 EN2 DENNIS CHAMBERLAIN;  68 BMC E. WAYNE GRAY [retired CG w/32+ BMCM, still wkg NCMP & Capt on Yachts 2018 entire family live forever]   
68-69 BMCS ROBERT MARTIN [retired 70 best Banjo anything w/strings]
<>MY LIST<>still looking for ENC-SN<>


Memories
several above served to retirement, without changes in ranks not shown. TIME SERVED IN RVN 4/68-6/68 on 82303 PT. YOUNG, 7/68-4/69 on 82304 PT. LEAGUE, 4/69-5/69 DIV-13 spare boat crew WIA 17APRIL69 at CAT LO 1st day off the WPB's, VC puts base at GQ dropping RPG's B-40's all over USCG & USN Swift boat crew quonset huts & movie theater area, at least 3 Swifties medi-vac to Vung Tau or Hosp ship they were bad hits crotch to belly area. [top bunks for two]

   
My Photos From This Battle or Operation
 (More..)
HOW TRUE
market time
market time
82303

  33 Also There at This Battle:
 
  • Anderson, Leroy, PO2, (1966-1970)
  • Chamberlain, Dennis H, PO2, (1965-1969)
  • Clark, Rodney Wesley, PO2, (1965-1969)
  • Doerrer, David, PO3, (1968-1972)
  • Edwards, John, PO3, (1968-1973)
  • Foster, Joseph, PO3, (1969-1973)
  • Frieden, Dale, LT, (1958-1979)
  • Gillies, Gordon M., LT, (1966-1970)
  • Gould, Dennis, PO3, (1969-1973)
  • Gray, E. Wayne, MCPO, (1958-1990)
  • Gray, Robert, PO1, (1963-1973)
  • Hall, Clifford Harold, PO2, (1967-1976)
  • Kautzman, Ronald, MCPO, (1960-1986)
  • Norris, Wm Harry, CAPT, (1961-1995)
  • Patrick, William R, MCPO, (1957-1988)
  • Powell, David, CAPT, (1968-1997)
  • Schank, George, PO2, (1967-1973)
  • Schuck, Joseph, FN, (1966-1969)
  • Storey, Courtney John, LTJG, (1965-1969)
  • Testor, Jim, PO2, (1967-1971)
  • Thompson, Robert R, SCPO, (1957-1979)
  • Titcombe, Charles, PO3, (1966-1970)
  • Wood, Christopher, PO3, (1969-1972)
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