YORKTOWN, Va. -- In a tradition that dates back to the Vietnam War, a riverine Sailor from Riverine Squadron 3 was selected for the coveted Gamewardens of Vietnam Association (Mid Atlantic Chapter) Leadership Award and Black Beret while deployed to Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, June 10.
Although he was deployed, Petty Officer 2nd Class Shawn Graham, from RIVRON 3, was the third sailor this year to receive the honor. Petty Officer 1st Class Edwin T. Benkin, from RIVRON 1, and Petty Officer 1st Class Dominic Tintari, from RIVRON 2, were both awarded the Black Beret from Gamewardens of Vietnam Association representative retired Navy Capt. Bob Fred during a ceremony, June 24, at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story.
According to the Gamewardens, during the Vietnam War the Chief of the Vietnamese River Police ceremoniously presented a black beret to Navy Capt. Burt Witham, the first commander of the River Patrol Force. Since 2004, the Gamewardens have presented a beret to riverine sailors selected by their peers for exemplifying the warrior ethos and deck plate leadership.
“It’s a very emotional thing for me to be awarded this honor by the Gamewardens,” said Graham. “These men are my brothers in arms – all I want to do is carry on the riverine name proudly.”
“This award is important because it’s really about the history of the riverines. We look at the riverines as only being five years old but really it is much older,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer Edwin Bennett, leading chief petty officer for RIVRON 3, detachment 1. “The Gamewardens of Vietnam are the ones who really created the riverine force as we know it today. This award allows us to build upon what they started, and recognize what it means to be a riverine.”
The Gamewardens of Vietnam Association promotes the legacy of those Sailors who sacrificed their lives in Vietnam and served in Task Force 116 (Operation Gamewarden) by awarding the black beret to select riverines and making them honorary members of the Gamewardens.
“I have a detachment full of sailors who should be given the Gamewarden’s award but we can only nominate one at a time,” said Bennett. “Graham is a very well-rounded riverine, but I think more importantly, he steps above his pay grade and understands the value and importance of what we do.”
The Riverine Force, part of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, is a combat-arms force that performs point defense, fire support and interdiction operations along inland waterways and support multinational forces across the spectrum of warfare.
“I don’t look at it as just me earning this beret, I look at it as RIVRON 3, Detachment 1 earning the beret,” said Graham
| Date Taken: | 06.10.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.27.2011 10:11 |
| Story ID: | 74377 |
| Location: | YORKTOWN, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 853 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Riverine Squadron 3 Sailor Continues Gamewarden Tradition, by PO2 Paul D. Williams, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
