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Friday, April 26, 18:42:28 [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ]

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Date Posted: Fri, Jun 08 2018, 10:42:20 PDT
Author: Steve Gattis - Cam Ranh Bay 68-69
Author Host/IP: h17.107.17.98.dynamic.ip.windstream.net / 98.17.107.17
Subject: Re: Beaches in Vietnam
In reply to: JAIME LLERAS 's message, "Beaches in Vietnam" on Thu, Jun 07 2018, 20:41:55 PDT

Cam Ranh Bay had three beaches on the Air Force area of the base with access to the South China Sea. The Navy had another beach area on the South end of the peninsula with a house for their lifeguards also along the South China Sea. The Army had a lake on the interior at the South end of the peninsula know as Tiger Lake. That area was operated by their special services personnel and had sailboats as well as a picnic area. The Army also had a ski boat area at the South end of the bay where troops could waterski when the security conditions were low.

I was there in 68-69 and worked the three Air Force beaches as a lifeguard when off duty and not with the ROK troops who were posted north of CRB. At that time, the beaches were named the Officer's Beach which was a cove where the outcropping of rock in the center was sometimes called-in at night as a "submarine" when the tide was low. The lifeguard area was a four-posted shack/cabana that was roofed with grass. There was also a large covered area above the beach that was used for parties. There were two very distinct Japanese pillboxes on the beach. One built into the rocks near the swimming area and the other halfway around the cove to guard the approach to the cove inlet. Choppers would sometimes land on the beach away from swimmers during the daylight hours. The second beach was Johnson Beach, sometimes called West Beach. The buses would cross to the West side of the base and go north of the flight line to drop people off to an access path, well north and closer to the flight line and the 6th Army Hospital. This is the beach area where a soldier was shot and killed in the middle of the night as he looked like a sapper coming out of the water after swimming while drunk. They had a temporary lifeguard stand South of that area that was wood and not anchored into the sand. When high tides came in during a monsoon, the lifeguard stand would often get hit and rolled along the beach. The main beach was known as Baker Beach and had the recreation facilities for food and the bandstand. The had a high-standing lifeguard tower made of pipe. Regardless of which Air Force area beach was used, the riptides and undertow could be very very strong, especially in the winter months. The water was beautiful and clear with very very small waves, if any, from about March through September and ideal for snorkeling. From September to March, through the winter months and monsoon season, the waves could be very high and quite dangerous with a lot of debris floating in the water like hatch covers and other structural members from boats that had been sunk. Rescues in the winter months were regular events due to the current and waves.

Steve

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