Sneak Preview Combat Zone/Patrol Boat Rescue
Dave Larsen (Navy Cross) and Charlie Vance (Bronze Star) two members of the battle that was the subject of the film at the preview. photo is from the newspaper story below.
A sneak preview was held at Navy Station Everett on 16 March. The Preview was hosted by The Commanding Officer Eddie Gardner and XO Don Leingang.
The showing was attended by Mike Gregoire the First Gentleman of Washington a Vietnam Veteran and supporter of ALL Veterans and Active Duty Personnel throughout the state. His schedule in support of our service men and women is very busy and takes him all over the state. Our state is lucky to have active support for the men and women who served and are serving in the Armed Forces from Governor Christine Gregoire, her husband, the Washington Office of Veterans Affairs and so many other people in the state. They don't just say "I support the troops" they show it by their actions.
U.S. Congressman Rick Larson's office was represented by Brenda White without her untiring support the story of Dave Larsen, the men of River Division 593 and Brown Water Sailors would never have been told!!
Members of many Veterans groups - VFW, FRA, AL and Navy support groups were present. The Navy League of Everett were well represented.
The USS Ford FFG 54 named for GMG2 Patrick O. Ford Navy Cross winner from River Division 535 was represented by their new incoming CMC Don Eddleman and his wife Rita. The ship is in San Diego for a few weeks. We really missed them!!! but that is shipboard life Haze Gray and Underway.
Many members of the active duty navy community provided support to make everything come off like clock work while others were there for the show. CMC Hixon of NS Everett had a watchful eye over the proceedings making sure the old veterans among us did not find the preparations for the event too overwhelming.
The film exceeded everyone's expiations ---- Vantage Point Productions did the Brown Water Navy proud and we will be thrilled to see Patrol Boat Rescue shown on the Military Channel and Discovery Channel nation wide. It was a truly positive story about the Navy in Vietnam.
After the Preview members of the NW Chapter of Gamewardens was treated to a reception in the Captains office. As is with the Navy DUTY comes first and Captain Gardner was called away on urgent Navy business. We are sure he would have enjoyed a little break with our veterans but the XO as always was a great host.
I am waiting for more pictures so this page is still under construction
Film wins praise of Vietnam vets
The 'Combat Zone' episode was partially filmed near Everett
By Jim Haley
Herald Writer
EVERETT - The muzzle flashes and battle sounds are jarring on film. In real life, adrenaline dampened the noise and confusion in a riverside jungle nearly 40 years ago in Vietnam. A new documentary shows Petty Officer David Larsen of Parsons, Kan., stepping off the front of a 31-foot Navy river patrol boat. He was loaded down with an M-60 machine gun and extra ammunition.
The film, part of a series called "Combat Zone," does not show how the weight of that load almost made the then 117-pound, 21-year-old sailor stumble as he rushed into the foliage to help six U.S. Army soldiers. It could not recount the terror as he laid down protective fire against 50 Vietcong.
Larsen was one of about a dozen former patrol boat crewmembers who came to Naval Station Everett on Friday to preview the documentary produced for the Discovery Channel. Part of it was shot in October on Ebey Island near Everett.
"Each one of us dealt with it in their own way," said Larsen, who earned the Navy Cross for his heroics on an August night in 1969.
Six river patrol boats had deposited a squad of six Army soldiers in the jungle to scout for the Vietcong. Something went terribly wrong and the soldiers were ambushed with rocket and small arms fire.
The firefight, including Larsen's exploits, was chosen to appear in a filmed series of episodes depicting fierce battles and bravery.
This episode of "Combat Zone" is scheduled to air March 26 on the Military Channel and April 21 on the Discovery Channel.
Footage featuring actors was shot on Ebey Island partly because the area is the home of one of the few working river patrol boats that saw duty in Vietnam.
An area organization of patrol boat veterans, called Gamewardens Northwest, last year refurbished a Mark II river boat intended to become a continuous reminder of those who sailed in the craft.
About a third of those who patrolled the Vietnamese rivers were either wounded or killed. Some were wounded more than once, including Tom Restemayer of Lynnwood, who also previewed the documentary.
"They did a good job of showing what we actually did," Restemayer said of the film.
While Larsen was awarded the Navy Cross for protecting three wounded soldiers, several others who participated in the battle received Bronze Stars for helping in the firefight or for pulling out the wounded and dead.
Charlie Vance of Portland, Ore., was there that August night, and earned a Bronze Star.
"I brought out ammo and helped bring the wounded back," said the former petty officer.
He said Larsen was an unlikely candidate for heroics, but he rose to the occasion.
"He was just a quiet old farm boy and he took in an M-60, and he was the first one off the boat," Vance said of Larsen. "He actually saved lives."
The naval station played host to the preview partly because one of the ships stationed there, the fast frigate USS Ford, was named after another river patrol boat crewmember who was killed in Vietnam - Patrick Osborne Ford.
Officers and crewmembers from the Ford assisted in the production of the documentary.
The documentary was previewed by about a dozen patrol boat veterans, some of their spouses and a group of current sailors.
Also there was Mike Gregoire, husband of Gov. Chris Gregoire. He's a Vietnam veteran and he said he's interested in activities of all veterans.
With a few small exceptions, the presentation was "pretty close to being real," Larsen said. He said he appreciates being singled out, but hopes the documentary
This episode of "Combat Zone" is scheduled to air March 26 on the Military Channel and April 21 on the Discovery Channel.
Footage featuring actors was shot on Ebey Island partly because the area is the home of one of the few working river patrol boats that saw duty in Vietnam.
An area organization of patrol boat veterans, called Gamewardens Northwest, last year refurbished a Mark II river boat intended to become a continuous reminder of those who sailed in the craft.
About a third of those who patrolled the Vietnamese rivers were either wounded or killed. Some were wounded more than once, including Tom Restemayer of Lynnwood, who also previewed the documentary.
"They did a good job of showing what we actually did," Restemayer said of the film.
While Larsen was awarded the Navy Cross for protecting three wounded soldiers, several others who participated in the battle received Bronze Stars for helping in the firefight or for pulling out the wounded and dead.
Charlie Vance of Portland, Ore., was there that August night, and earned a Bronze Star.
"I brought out ammo and helped bring the wounded back," said the former petty officer.
He said Larsen was an unlikely candidate for heroics, but he rose to the occasion.
"He was just a quiet old farm boy and he took in an M-60, and he was the first one off the boat," Vance said of Larsen. "He actually saved lives."
The naval station played host to the preview partly because one of the ships stationed there, the fast frigate USS Ford, was named after another river patrol boat crewmember who was killed in Vietnam - Patrick Osborne Ford.
Officers and crewmembers from the Ford assisted in the production of the documentary.
The documentary was previewed by about a dozen patrol boat veterans, some of their spouses and a group of current sailors.
Also there was Mike Gregoire, husband of Gov. Chris Gregoire. He's a Vietnam veteran and he said he's interested in activities of all veterans.
With a few small exceptions, the presentation was "pretty close to being real," Larsen said. He said he appreciates being singled out, but hopes the documentary
