Many Naval personnel saw combat in the so-called Brown Water Navy. The riverboats were officially designated as Patrol Craft Fast, also known as Swift boats. These boats were manned by regular Navy personnel, for “counterinsurgent” operations, as well as SEAL insertions.
Assignment to Vietnam by the Navy was totally voluntary.That was one of the reasons I enlisted in the Navy. When I volunteered for assignment to CINCPAC, I knew I would probably get one of three assignments in Vietnam—Riverboats, landside base, or ship. I lucked out and was assigned to the hospital ship. As I have stated before, I did not see combat, but I saw a whole lot of the results.