Comments on: Largest Loss of Life by U.S. Navy During Vietnam War

By: Kathy Koplin

Kathy Koplin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:05:57 +0000

Cathy:

Thanks for your response and sharing your brother’s story. Sorry for the delay in responding. He is buried at St. Anthony’s Cemetery in Williams Township, PA.

Kathy

By: JERE BEERY

JERE BEERY — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:17:38 +0000

No problem, John! We all make mistakes. I was making routeen trips to Viet Nam aboard WESCO in early ‘66. Believe me, the WESCO has more time in Nam waters than most. And she has paid the price to be Honored by all Americans. Thank you for your comment and honesty.

By: JERE BEERY

JERE BEERY — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:09:58 +0000

CHARLIE ! We were on the WESCO at the same time. Welcome Home, Bro! I was with deck-force before moving into Operations as a SM striker. I think I remember you. I remember ‘Market Time’ very well. We had the Swift Boats along side. I went on partol a couple of times with those guys before going to PBRs. I hung out on the tank deck with the ship’s band playing bass. Mike Lovas, Billy Fussnecker, Kennth Allen, and me made up the WESCO band.

By: JERE BEERY

JERE BEERY — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:00:21 +0000

http://eastonvietnammemorial.homestead.com/AnthonyTorcivia.html

This is Tony’s web page link.

By: JERE BEERY

JERE BEERY — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:58:19 +0000

Kathy and Cathy,
Thank you so much for your comments.
I didn’t know Paul, but I did know your Uncle Tony fairly well. Tony and I both slept in the Lower Ops compartment when I was aboard WESCO. Everyone in Lower Ops was killed that November morning, including your Uncle Tony. Torcivia really fed the WESCO crew real well, and was a First Class cook, and I’m not just talking about his rank. Army and Marine types would con their way aboard WESCO just to get in Tony’s chow line. Tony was a very good guy.

By: Charles Kuder

Charles Kuder — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:01:55 +0000

Like jerry, I served on the WESCO, and was later transferred. In my case, to LSMR 536 on a very short notice early in 1968. While I was in OPS on the WESCO, I slept in lower Ops, where most of the deaths occurred. In November 68, I was in Yokosuka when the WESCO was mined. In the fall and winter of 1967, while I was on the WESCO, we were part of TF117, and were located more or less in the same places that the WESCO returned to in 1968. Part of the time while we were “up the river” we carried a small Army Helo that operated from our main deck, and was used as a spotter, at least until it came back shot up and barely flying.

Another incident was at night while I was on bridge watch, and we were anchored in the river. The Aft lookout reported that he thought that he was being shot at. We looked at the river banks and jungle with a “Starlight” Scope (actually a light amplified gun sight), and did not see anything or anyone. The lookout was told that he was “hearing things”. The next morning, “sweepers” swept up a spent bullet or two from the area that the lookout had been the night before.

By: john barry/blanco

john barry/blanco — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:24:53 +0000

i said some things on another website about this magnificent ship because of what some people (soldiers) had told me and now i feel terrible. i was navy and never knew of this great ship. i was told the uss west did not even arrive in vietnam until the 70’s. then i was told we sold it to turkey in 1974 and that it was mistakenly destroyed and sunk into the med sea by our own aircraft in 1983. i am so confused now and feel betrayed by my friends and hate myself for listening to their crap and then wrtiting my own crap based on theirs. sorry if i offended anyone. i di not mean to. you will understand if you see my terrible post on another site. thank you for listening. john, navy

By: Cathy Griffin Hughes

Cathy Griffin Hughes — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:54:02 +0000

Kathy,
My brother, Paul D. Griffin, served onboard WESCO with your Uncle. He has told me that he was the last one your Uncle spoke to that night. Your uncle was a cook. Paul asked me to go online and see if I could find out where he was buried as he would like to pay his respects. I found out that he came from Easton PA. Is that where he is buried? In what cemetery?

By: kathy torcivia koplin

kathy torcivia koplin — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:52:18 +0000

Anthony Torcivia was my uncle, and to come across your write up was one of happyness and sadness. I never knew the name of the ship or how it happen. so thank you it meant a lot to read and learn what happen that day. I think of my uncle often along with other family members we lost to the war. thank you.