About the Vietnam Unit Memorial Monument:
Currently, three small boats from the "Brown Water Navy" era, which typify "Brown Water" Naval operations in the Vietnam war provide the background for the Memorial Wall. Although there were extensive "blue water" Navy operations off the coast of Vietnam from 1960 to 1975, the Brown Water Navy represented a unique chapter of the Vietnam war. These small boats are: PBR (Patrol Boat River); a PCF (Patrol Craft Fast) and a CCB (Command Communications Boat). These boats point towards a curved concrete wall which is sixty feet long and eight feet high. This wall displays the names of all Navy and Coast Guard personnel who died while supporting naval operations in Vietnam during the period 1960-1975. The "unit" aspect of this memorial comes from the concept that names of the casualties of the war will be displayed in connection with the unit to which they were attached at the time of their death.
The memorial and boat display were authorized by Commander Navy Region Southwest in June 1999. Procurement and restoration of the boats on display have been done by veterans from three organizations: The Swift Boat Sailors Association (SBSA); the Gamewardens of Vietnam (GVN); and the Mobile Riverine Force Association (MRFA). All restoration, construction of pads, movement of the boats and maintenance have been done using only private funds and services donated by businesses with an interest in the history of the boats. guidance and approval for the construction of the Memorial Wall.
In December 2002, the Vietnam Unit Memorial Monument Fund (VUMMF) was incorporated in the State of California for the purpose of providing management, raising funds and providing continued maintenance for the Memorial. Tax exempt status as a 501(c)(3) organization was approved by the federal government on February 20, 2003 and by the State of California under code section 23701d on February 24, 2003.
The Memorial was dedicated in formal ceremony 21 May 2005.
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