“You were always on an adrenaline edge, but you had to explode into action when you were being fired upon during combat.”
- Petty Officer Second Class James W. Deal, USN
The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce that the August 2016 story of the month has been selected to honor the service of Petty Officer Second Class James W. Deal. James Deal enlisted in the United States Navy in August of 1964 and was sent to San Diego for basic training. His first sea duty was aboard the USS Washoe County LST 1165. The USS Washoe County participated in duty transporting troops and supplies to Vietnam. Petty Officer Deal shared in great detail his Vietnam service on the Washoe County. From his service on the LST, he received orders to report to Swift Boat School.
Petty Officer Deal recalled, “I picked up my crew at Coronado and boat officer, we were all cross trained. Everyone on a Swift Boat knew the jobs of everyone else.” He fondly remembered his time at Coronado and the value of survival training which simulated a prisoner of war camp. He recalled, "there they made me a believer that I would never be a prisoner of war." From training, Deal and his crew were sent to Vietnam where they were assigned to Coastal Division 12. The crew was acclimated to their new surroundings and learned lessons such as boarding and searching and navigating the coastal waterways. He would be assigned to PCF 78 and began patrols out of different operating areas such as Da Nang.
When sharing his service on PCF 78, Deal spoke of peaceful times that could quickly change in an instant. Petty Officer Deal commented, “You were always on an adrenaline edge, but you had to explode into action when you were being fired upon during combat.” Deals remarkable account illustrated the adversity faced on the waterways of Vietnam.
Part One Service in San Diego and Memories of the USS Washoe County
Part Three Training on Swift Boats and Memories of Vietnam
Part Five Memories of PCF 78 and Conclusion of Service
Part Two Service on the USS Washoe County and the Vietnam War
Part Four Memories of the Tet Offensive and Swift Boat Service
The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program honors Petty Officer Second Class James W. Deal, featured within this series titled, Stories of Service, Story of the Month. Each month, this series honors a Veteran’s story recorded by the Stories of Service Program at the Navy Memorial. To learn more about this story and to explore the Navy Memorial archive, visit the Navy Memorial Stories of Service site at https://www.navymemorial.org/stories-of-service.