USS Morton message board

Subj:COMMANDER BELL-USS MORTON & LT. BELL RAID 72
Date 01-09-2003
I'll write more later.........but I won't leave today without saying the
following: I was never on a ship, or in a command as you were. After
BOOT CAMP and my "A" school's in San Diego...I was a hold for the
Naval Academy, they considered me for "prep school" at Bainbridge Md. and if I passed ...on to the Academy. I became anxious and considered UDT/SEAL training, after being told I had to "extend" my enlistment for six ( 6 ) years, I passed; while waiting for the Navy's decision re: the Academy, I was working in the personel office at NTC
San Diego for a Senior Chief Moran, we became friends; so when I received my orders, they were for GUAM...I was Gung Ho and had Volunteered for Vietnam. GUAM was not Vietnam. So as I pondered my options...(no 6 year enlistment for UDT/SEAL training) Senior Chief
Moran told me River Assault was the U.S. Navy's combat team in NAM,
he pulled some strings and I was off to Naval Inshore Operations Training Center (NIOTC) Mare Island for River Assault training. Went
through 13 weeks of training--NIOTC, SERE at Whidbey Island, Wa. and
Heavy Weapons training--Camp Roberts, Ca.
I went in-country Vietnam March 8, 1969...Prior to my assignment to
RAID72 with LT. Bell, I was with the below listed commands:

River Assault Sq. 13; River Assault Division 131, T-131-7 (TF-117)
Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) Naval Advisory Group (NAG) ATF-212 as the Radioman for the Command attached to MocHoa
B-41 Detachment 5th SF --- then the important part:
MACV Naval Advisory Group ATF-211 RAID72
Lt. Al Bell was the Senior U.S. Naval Advisor, Major Mike Cerreta was our
Senior U.S. Marine Advisor.

Not that I had any problems with anything prior to working with RAID72
it was a different situation. Prior to this I had NO respect for the Jr.
Officers that were directly involved in the Combat Operations; that
changed with RAID72. Lt. Bell was not only a Leader and involved in
Operations, he truely was a HEROIC SOB...I hooked up with ATF-211
RAID72 in Oct. of 1969; We were conducting combat operations in
Kien Giang Provience IV Corp. in the U-Minh forest. November 6th 1969
after several ground probes by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong regulars, WE WERE OVERRUN. The Battle raged on for 5 1/2 to 6 hours
that nigt-morning...I still do not know how we made it out. Lt. Bell was
awarded the Bronze Star for HEROISM...honestly he should have received the SILVER STAR or Higher. That wasn't important to LT. Bell. What was important, (and he was a Natural;) Was his relationship with
"OUR TEAM of ADVISORS" all Petty Officers. The Leadership,Comaraderie,
self-discipline, Overall Bond that we had was a DIRECT RESULT of LT. Bell's
Unselfish Leadership, and his ability to Respect our Team of Advisors and
Bond with us, while still maintaining his status as our Sr. Advisor. We
all...each and every one...had the UTMOST RESPECT for Lt. Bell; Today
as Then I'd follow him to HELL AND BACK! It's hard to explain how
everything worked...as we were very INDEPENDENT, as we had to be.
On Operations I was on most occasions the only U.S. Advisor in the
field; responsible for working with our Vietnamese Counterpart, calling
in close air support, gunships, Black Ponies, Napalm and Bombing missions as well as Med-evacs (DUSTOFFS) for our wounded comrades.
If there was an individual that wasn't capable or competent to handle
the stress, responsibility, and "respect" from the Vietnamese, as well as
Our Team....Lt. Bell handled the situation without anyone missing a beat. I.E. That gentleman was gone, history...with nothing said; but we
knew.
Bottom line we were a FAMILY, we Bonded, THE CHEMISTRY was
there with our Advisory Team of I think 6-7 men. I can't say enough
about his Command authority..Bell was respected, and LED by Example
We (as a team) fought together in COMBAT, drank together, I.E. played
together (that wasn't much because of our mission) . He knew who was
competent and who couldn't hack it...He knew US as MEN, never I mean
NEVER, treated us as though we were "below" him; He was a part of the
TEAM, never alienated because he was the OIC. Because of that
he had what many Officers never seem to have; HE HAD OUR RESPECT!
and still does to this day...33 years later, although it seems like yesterday. Corwin Al Bell has a very unique quality---He was able to
Lead and have the Utmost RESPECT from us---and he also Respected us, and we knew it; without a word being spoken. Actions always speak
much LOUDER than any Words!
Rick, thanks for letting me share some of my experiences with Commander Bell...There are many stories that can be told from my
time with him ... by the way, after 33 years ( and I've searched) he found me and consequently other members of our RAID72 Team...
Please feel free to share anything I've related on your Web site; I know
you're very proud of your service to our Nation, and your service on the
USS MORTON...let me close by saying THANK YOU, for your Dedication and, Military Service to our Country...
Bruce

H. Bruce McIver (MAC)
P.O. Box 528
Tallahassee, Fl 32302

Greetings Al,

I enjoyed reading your story about rescuing Boat People on the MORTON web site. It turned up when I was doing a search for information on the DUBUQUE's 1988 incident. Your story was really moving, and it goes to show the long range effects of acting ethically and doing the right thing. It is clear you have real peace of mind about disobeying your commodore's verbal order. Thank you so much for posting this story. It really made my day.
Like you, I am a CDR, and I have done the right thing against orders a few times, though not with positive implications as far-reaching as yours. I have clearly paid for it in terms of falling off the fast track, but I sleep well, still love the Navy, and am content. My background is submarines, but I am also a SWO having qualified on the Guam-based tender PROTEUS in 1989, and I also served two years on the COMCRUDESGRU TWO Staff in Charleston embarking in various CRU-DES ships and AMERICA. I am currently XO of the NROTC Los Angeles Consortium Unit (USC and UCLA), and am teaching a course in professional ethics for seniors about to graduate. I am going to use your story as a great example of doing the right (ethical) thing despite your orders, prevailing bureacracy, etc. I was wondering if you could answer one question? Did you ever feel that your decision negatively impacted your career or prevented your promotion to Captain? I can't tell from the article, and you did a great job of not criticizing your senior officer. I would like to be able to tell my students whether or not it impacted your career.
Best regards,

Angus McColl
CDR, USN
XO, NROTC Los Angeles

From Tom Chandler Feb 3 2002
Chandler@Lyondell.com
Does any one have any pictures of Mary Soo and her girls painting the ship in Hong Kong. Send them to Rick for they will go real good with the rest of the pictures

The following letter was recieved by Al Creasy
2 August 2003

Dear Al,

Thank you for sending me the newsletters and announcements.
I won't make the Morton Reunion. Life is too full at the Naval Postgraduate School.
But if you post this on the Reunion Bulletin Board, I'll be grateful.

Morton shipmates will understand why I haven't retired when say working with our students keeps me thinking young. They're mostly Navy lieutenants but also a lot of Marine and Army captains and an increasing number of Air Force officers.

I am Dean of the Graduate School of Operational and Information Sciences here. We are the center of campus activity in information sciences and information operations, computer science, special operations, and operations analysis. We have about 500 of the 1400 students in residence. We have a lot more in distance learning programs.

I have been honored by having one of the three research institutes named for me. Probably to be called the Wayne Hughes Institute for Modeling and Simulation. Check the algorithm! Someone else may decide on a name that is not so WHIMSical or full of WHIMSy, but I like the name fine!!

Best wishes for a good time and many happy reminiscences.

                                                                              Wayne P. Hughes Jr
                                                           USS Morton Commanding Officer
                                                                  1968-69

The following email was recieved by the web,aster of USS Morton website July 22, 2006

     I am wanting to correspond in earnest at my E-mail bac1945@peoplepc.com address and/or by prompt return telephone call at my expense. In specific reference to a former friend Mike McLain whom I grew up together with in Fargo, N.Dak. It so happens that Mike and myself were both born in the year 1938 and each, on the 27th day of May. We also lived within two city blocks distance from each other house on north Broadway, in Fargo attending the same neighborhood schools 1949-1952 and the local Boy Scout Troop and worship Church services on Broadway & 9th ave
where Mike's dad, the Rev. JE McLain was also the pastor.

Mike left his shipmates aboard the USS Morton on the early morning of July 19, 1962 and drove towards Hemet, CA. where he was to meet up with members of the San Diego Sierra Club near Idyllwild.

   It was a Sunday morning-- about 10 AM at the Humber Park trailhead when Mike teamed up with 38 year-old Don Rappolee, a rock climber Mike hadn't actually met before this time. They were making their way up the 5.8 Switchbacks route 28 at the famed Tahquist Rock locale with Rappolee in the lead when McLain lost his footing and/or control of the rope after the 3rd pitch and then consequently fell approx. ( 55 ) Ft. before striking his unprotected head on a protruding ledge during his rapid descent towards the ground some 30 Ft. below. James never regained consciousness as a result of evidentially hitting that protruding ledge and died 14 hrs later on Monday, July 20th 1962 at Hemet Community Hospital .

   I fully realize the brief span of Mike McLain's Naval career aboard the destroyer USS Morton wasn't of sufficient duration to form lasting friendships yet, I'm quite hopeful that perhaps there's still someone in that same time period of 1961-62 who will remember the valuable circumstances of knowing a young Ensign by the name of Mike McLain and moreover willing to share their memorable experiences whether the information proves to be specific or general in nature
I would be most interested and very appreciative to learn whatever I can from the Navy aspect
and furthermore to possibly relate whatever I know about the Michael McLain's years at Yale University ' 61 and have also discovered through later researching more of his meaningful life and certain untimely death ! June of the 2006 would have otherwise marked the mutually respective 50th High School reunion year celebration.

Respectfully,
DENNIS J. COLLINS
8800 PHOENIX AVE
FAIR OAKS,
CA., 95628
PHONE
916-863-3234