In February of 1969 I joined the Navy Reserves in Galveston, Texas. After boot camp in San Diego I was sent back home for a year of inactive duty. Returning to active duty I was handed orders to be assigned to Underwater Demolition Group in DaNang. Three days prior to shipping out orders were changed to attend SERE training at Coronado. Afterwards I was assigned to 5 weeks of minesweeper training in Long Beach. On June 7, 1970 I flew out from Travis Air Force Base to Vietnam. Served 7 months in Mine Division 112 at Nha Be until the detachment was decommissioned in December of 1970. The MSBs were dismantled and loaded on to a ship to be sent back to states.
I was very fortunate to finish my tour at Nha Be in Special Services booking R & R. Really a gravy job. At the end of my tour I received an 8 month active duty cut and return to “The World”. Six weeks later I married my high school sweetheart, Connie. We’ve been together 45 years and still going. I’ve been blessed with a wonderful wife, two children, and four grandchildren. Life is good. My duty with the Navy was short but proud I got to serve. To all the sailors before me in MinRon 11 Det. Alfa and Mine Division 112, thank you for your service. You paved the way and too many sacrificed with their lives.
There are three reasons why I built this website in 2009. 1. With little or no history, I felt word needed to get out of what we did. 2. To show a roll call of all the B-Boat sailors who served in our unit. 3. To give remembrance of all the sailors that paid the ultimate sacrifice. To all of you I dedicate this website.
Ray Skaines
Photos from Ray Skaines:
“Nha Be Through Time”
“More photos”
