In Loving Memory ... LTJG. DAVID CHARLES BROSTROM.
*** He was awarded a Bronze Star with the combat "V" device.
**** According to the "Desert Sun, Volume 40, Number 270, 15 June 1967" (Palm Springs?)
David was the son of a retired navy Commander, Charles Brostrom, and he was a graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy, 1963, and was "cremated and his ashes committed to the Pacific Ocean off the Golden Gate Bridge".
Contributor: Jim Webster (47544496)
Marital Status: Married - Lois M. Armstrong Brostrom, Born Oct. 17, 1942 and Died July 22, 2004 at the age of 61 yrs, of San Jose, California and their son, Michael D. Brostrom, Born April 20, 1964 in San Francisco, CA. Parents: Father, CDR Charles E. Brostrom and Mother, Elizabeth (Ella)Dargie Ogilvie Brostrom, Born Oct. 14, 1914 in New York and Died Oct. 3, 1999 at the age of 84 yrs in Los Altos, California.
David Charles Brostrom was one of the only seven members of the United States Coast Guard who were killed in Action in the Vietnam War.
Friendly Fire Incident (Aug 66) During one of these strike missions on 11 Aug 66, a "friendly fire" incident occurred. Point Welcome relates an "friendly fire" incident where a 8th TBS aircraft, Yellow bird 18, made the first run on a US Coast Guard cutter, Point Welcome (WPB 82329).
After the intial run, an F-4 from the 35th TFW finished the job and sank the cutter.
The Point Welcome was built at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland and was commissioned on 14 February 1962. She was first stationed at Everett, Washington, from 1962 to 1965. Here she conducted law enforcement and search and rescue patrols. She was then allocated to join many of her sister cutters in the waters off Vietnam in support of the U.S. Navy's Operation Market Time. She was converted for service with the addition of a .50 caliber machine gun with a "piggyback" 82mm mortar as well as additional armament, placed on the open deck of a freighter, and carried to the Philippines, where she was offloaded.
Once joined by her crew, she was assigned to CG Squadron One, Division 12, Vietnam, from July 1965 and served until April 1970.
She was attacked in the pre-dawn hours of 11 August 1966 by U.S. Air Force aircraft while on patrol in the waters near the mouth of the Cua Viet River, about three-quarters of a mile south of the Demilitarized Zone (the 17th Parallel).
Her commanding officer, LTJG David Brostrom, along with one crewmen, EN2 Jerry Phillips, were killed in this "friendly fire" incident.
The Point Welcome's executive officer, LTJG Ross Bell, two other crewmen, GM2 Mark D. McKenney and FA Houston J. Davidson, a Vietnamese liaison officer, LTJG Do Viet Vien, and a freelance journalist, Mr. Timothy J. Page, were wounded.
BMC Richard Patterson saved the cutter and the surviving crew at great risk to himself. He was awarded a Bronze Star with the combat "V" device for his actions that were described in his award citation:
"The first attack caused a blazing gasoline fire on the fantail of the cutter that threatened to engulf the entire after section of the vessel. Chief Patterson, displaying the finest qualities of bravery and leadership, took charge of the situation and using a fire hose, forced the flaming liquid over the side, thus extinguishing the fire. Even as he was accomplishing this task, he saw the second aircraft attack rip through the pilot house killing the cutter's commanding officer and seriously wounding the executive officer and the helmsman. Unhesitatingly, and with complete disregard for his personal safety, Chief Patterson climbed to the bridge and took command. He ordered the crew to carry the wounded to the comparative safety of the below decks area. Alone on the bridge, he then maneuvered the cutter at high speed to avoid subsequent attacks. When it became apparent that he could not successfully evade the attacking aircraft, he ran the cutter close ashore, and directed the crew to abandon ship. Under his composed leadership, the wounded were wrapped in life jackets and paired with the able bodied before going over the side. Chief Patterson kept his crew calm and organized while they were in the water and until they were picked up by rescue craft."
The Point Caution came to the assistance of Point Welcome and along with other units, rescued those in the water.
Soon thereafter Patterson and those of his crew that were not seriously wounded returned to their cutter. They then sailed Point Welcome back to Danang under her own power. There she was repaired and returned to service.
In Loving Memory ... LTJG. DAVID CHARLES BROSTROM.
*** He was awarded a Bronze Star with the combat "V" device.
**** According to the "Desert Sun, Volume 40, Number 270, 15 June 1967" (Palm Springs?)
David was the son of a retired navy Commander, Charles Brostrom, and he was a graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy, 1963, and was "cremated and his ashes committed to the Pacific Ocean off the Golden Gate Bridge".
Contributor: Jim Webster (47544496)
Marital Status: Married - Lois M. Armstrong Brostrom, Born Oct. 17, 1942 and Died July 22, 2004 at the age of 61 yrs, of San Jose, California and their son, Michael D. Brostrom, Born April 20, 1964 in San Francisco, CA. Parents: Father, CDR Charles E. Brostrom and Mother, Elizabeth (Ella)Dargie Ogilvie Brostrom, Born Oct. 14, 1914 in New York and Died Oct. 3, 1999 at the age of 84 yrs in Los Altos, California.
David Charles Brostrom was one of the only seven members of the United States Coast Guard who were killed in Action in the Vietnam War.
Friendly Fire Incident (Aug 66) During one of these strike missions on 11 Aug 66, a "friendly fire" incident occurred. Point Welcome relates an "friendly fire" incident where a 8th TBS aircraft, Yellow bird 18, made the first run on a US Coast Guard cutter, Point Welcome (WPB 82329).
After the intial run, an F-4 from the 35th TFW finished the job and sank the cutter.
The Point Welcome was built at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland and was commissioned on 14 February 1962. She was first stationed at Everett, Washington, from 1962 to 1965. Here she conducted law enforcement and search and rescue patrols. She was then allocated to join many of her sister cutters in the waters off Vietnam in support of the U.S. Navy's Operation Market Time. She was converted for service with the addition of a .50 caliber machine gun with a "piggyback" 82mm mortar as well as additional armament, placed on the open deck of a freighter, and carried to the Philippines, where she was offloaded.
Once joined by her crew, she was assigned to CG Squadron One, Division 12, Vietnam, from July 1965 and served until April 1970.
She was attacked in the pre-dawn hours of 11 August 1966 by U.S. Air Force aircraft while on patrol in the waters near the mouth of the Cua Viet River, about three-quarters of a mile south of the Demilitarized Zone (the 17th Parallel).
Her commanding officer, LTJG David Brostrom, along with one crewmen, EN2 Jerry Phillips, were killed in this "friendly fire" incident.
The Point Welcome's executive officer, LTJG Ross Bell, two other crewmen, GM2 Mark D. McKenney and FA Houston J. Davidson, a Vietnamese liaison officer, LTJG Do Viet Vien, and a freelance journalist, Mr. Timothy J. Page, were wounded.
BMC Richard Patterson saved the cutter and the surviving crew at great risk to himself. He was awarded a Bronze Star with the combat "V" device for his actions that were described in his award citation:
"The first attack caused a blazing gasoline fire on the fantail of the cutter that threatened to engulf the entire after section of the vessel. Chief Patterson, displaying the finest qualities of bravery and leadership, took charge of the situation and using a fire hose, forced the flaming liquid over the side, thus extinguishing the fire. Even as he was accomplishing this task, he saw the second aircraft attack rip through the pilot house killing the cutter's commanding officer and seriously wounding the executive officer and the helmsman. Unhesitatingly, and with complete disregard for his personal safety, Chief Patterson climbed to the bridge and took command. He ordered the crew to carry the wounded to the comparative safety of the below decks area. Alone on the bridge, he then maneuvered the cutter at high speed to avoid subsequent attacks. When it became apparent that he could not successfully evade the attacking aircraft, he ran the cutter close ashore, and directed the crew to abandon ship. Under his composed leadership, the wounded were wrapped in life jackets and paired with the able bodied before going over the side. Chief Patterson kept his crew calm and organized while they were in the water and until they were picked up by rescue craft."
The Point Caution came to the assistance of Point Welcome and along with other units, rescued those in the water.
Soon thereafter Patterson and those of his crew that were not seriously wounded returned to their cutter. They then sailed Point Welcome back to Danang under her own power. There she was repaired and returned to service.
