Message From Our Chaplain
Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460
Veteran-Owned and Serving You Since 1902
At Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460, we know how much it means to serve. As a veteran-owned organization, we are committed to meeting the needs of those in our community. We’ve been open since 1902, and that means we’ve spent over 120 years helping people right here in Solon, IA.
As part of our mission, we are open to the public for meals, special events, and more. To learn more about Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460 and what we’re all about, read this recent letter from our chaplain from December 2024.
A Message From Chaplain Doug Thompson
You were only in the Coast Guard,” were the words spoken by a Coast Guardsman's girlfriend's father as they were driving to the airport to pick up the man's son who was returning home from Vietnam. The father continued, “He's in the Army, where it was dangerous.” I can only imagine how those words stung as the Coast Guardsman sat in silence even though he too had just returned from Vietnam that summer of 1967 after serving aboard the cutter Point-Welcome.
Approximately 8,000 US Coast Guardsmen served in Vietnam. They served aboard 82-foot Point-class patrol boats (Cutters). Their duties included but were not limited to the rescue of pilots from the rivers, the South China Sea, and from land. They saved hundreds of pilots from capture and certain deaths. In addition to these duties, these Coast Guard patrol boats intercepted enemy vessels transporting Viet Cong (VC) and North Vietnamese soldiers (NVA) infiltrators. They also discovered tons of supplies that were destined for the enemy forces located throughout South Vietnam. More often than not the Coast Guard would have to engage enemy personnel and the supply vessels in deadly firefights. These men of the Coast Guard were often called upon to render fire support to Army and Marine units operating in the area. The Coast Guard also performed humanitarian missions. They would send their Corpsmen into villages where these men provided medical care. These humanitarian missions were very dangerous. Coast Guard and Navy Corpsmen carried a $500 bounty in gold making them a high-value target.
In August of 1966 while on night patrol the cutter Point-Welcome was mistaken for an enemy trawler by an Air Force C-130. The C-130 dropped flares and called in an air strike. With flares illuminating Point-Welcome, the C-130 gave orders to the B-57s to strafe and drop bombs. On the first strafing run 20 mm rounds ripped through the ship's wheelhouse cutting the ship's captain Lt JG David Brostrom nearly in half, and severely wounding the executive officer, Jerry Ross. Lt Jg Brostrom was the first Coast Guardsman killed in Vietnam. Engine-man 2nd Class Jerry Phillips was the second Coast Guardsman killed. Eight other crew members were wounded as was a civilian photojournalist. The strafing run also ignited fuel drums located on the fantail of the cutter. Master Chief Boatswain's Mate Richard Patterson was on the main deck, and he grabbed the firehose and was able to contain and subdue the fire. With the fire under control, Master Chief Patterson scrabbled forward to assume command. As he was ascending to the wheelhouse another strafing run ripped through the vessel's wiring severing all outside communications. With a lack of communications Master Chief turned on all running lights in the hope that this would stave off further Air Force strafing and bombings. His hope was quickly crushed when a third strafing run began.
Using all of his seamanship skills, Master Chief Patterson maneuvered the 82-foot cutter in an effort to avoid bombs and 20 mm strafing rounds. He would speed up and then slow down the Point-Welcome swinging the cutter to the port and then starboard directions. At one point he stopped the cutter's forward movement and slammed the cutter in reverse in an effort to protect the cutter and her crew. The cutter Point-Welcome was taking on water and was in danger of sinking. During this maneuvering, Chief William Wolf was able to repair the wiring and fix the radio. He sent out a message explaining their dire situation that was picked up by a U.S. Marine unit. The Marines then forwarded the message until eventually, the pilots got word to break off the engagement.
With the Point-Welcome flooding, Master Chief Patterson gave the order for his crew to abandon the ship. After the crew abandoned the ship, Master Chief made one more decision to save the ship. He rammed the cutter upon a sandbar preventing the ship from sinking. However, that hellish night was not over. A South Vietnamese force stationed on the south shore had seen U.S. planes attacking the cutter and they mistakenly thought the ship and the crew in the water were North Vietnamese. They opened up on the crew and the ship with .50 caliber machine gun fire. The situation intensified when a North Vietnamese force on the opposite side of the river began firing at the crew. Now the ship and crew were caught in a crossfire, between friendlies and the enemy.
Fortunately, the Coast Guard cutter Point-Caution heard the distress call from Point-Welcome and arrived on the scene. They were able to communicate with the South Vietnamese to call off their firing. Then the Point-Caution swung her .50's around and returned fire on the North Vietnamese silencing their attack. Then along with the South Vietnamese force they set about rescuing the crew from the water.
For his actions that night, Master Chief Patterson was awarded the Bronze Star with a V Clasp for valor. The surviving crew protested the Bronze Star because they all felt that Master Chief Patterson deserved nothing less than the Medal of Honor. Because of his actions not only did he prevent further deaths, but he saved the cutter Point-Welcome which was brought back into service after three months of repairs.
Among the 8,000 Coast Guardsmen who served in Vietnam from 1965 to May 1973, seven were killed in action and another 59 were wounded.
The U.S. Coast Guard has been in service to our nation from the Revolution to the Global War on Terror. Their duties have varied like all the sister branches. Sadly, the legacy of the Coast Guard has been ignored. It is my sincere hope that you will now understand the sacrifices these men and women have given this country for the cause of freedom.
Doug Thompson, Chaplain
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