Courtesy Photo | Sailors assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 1 participate in a wreath-laying ceremony...... read more read more
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A wreath-laying ceremony was held onboard Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif., May 27 to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the attacks on Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1500 while operating in Vietnam.
Capt. Gary Leigh, commander, Naval Beach Group (NBG) 1, served as guest speaker for the event.
“ACU 1 is ready and will be ready to answer the call,” said Leigh. “It is right and proper on this most solemn of holiday weekends that we stop, pause, and pay tribute to our fallen comrades and shipmates within Naval Beach Group.”
The small ceremony recognized the lives of the 14 Sailors who perished and the 12 Sailors injured during the attacks.
“ACU 1 has an incredibly long and proud history, one that we must remember how its roots were sowed and be the caretakers of going forward,” said Cmdr. Tiffany Checc, ACU 1 commanding officer. “It is an honor to serve at a command rooted in such greatness.”
While operating near Cua-Viet, Vietnam, on Feb. 28, 1968, LCU 1500 took a direct hit on the port side of the conning tower, killing one crew member instantly and injuring five others. Almost one year later, on Feb. 27, 1969, while loading ammunition at Bridge Ramp, Da Nang, Vietnam, an enemy rocket hit the nearly-loaded craft, killing 13 ACU 1 Sailors. Seven sailors aboard Harbor Utility Craft YFU-78, located nearby, were also killed, as were three Sailors working on the ramp. LCU 1500 was severely damaged and was subsequently stricken from the Navy List.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the event was held with a limited number of guests, command, and crew. The event was livestreamed via Facebook for those unable to attend in person.
| Date Taken: | 05.27.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 05.27.2021 19:40 |
| Story ID: | 397650 |
| Location: | CORONADO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,396 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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