THE WALL OF FACES

Dear PO1C Edward Withee, Thank you for your service as a Gunner's Mate 1st Class. Your 82nd birthday is son, happy birthday. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Valentine's Day is soon. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance, and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Gunners Mates were a senior rate in the Navy. Withee was an embodiment of that rate. I served with him in 3rd Division on the USS Galveston. I was shocked to hear that he met his maker in Vietnam. He was a good sailor and a proud GMG.

Never forgotten.

Semper Fortis

Petty Officer Edward William Withee was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, with Combat Distinguishing Device (V), for his exemplary gallantry in action. He served as a Gunner's Mate 1st Class and was assigned to PBR-36, RIVPATGRP 62, TF 116, USNAVFORV.
See http://www.virtualwall.org/dw/WitheeEW01a.htm

Two PBRs of River Patrol Division 62 became victims of the first swimmer sapper attack in the Song Ong Doc area on 6 October. PBRs 36 and 37 were beached 25 meters apart in a waterborne guard post on the north bank of the Song Ong Doc River six kilometers from the river's mouth. At 0155H an explosion erupted beneath PBR 37, ripping the craft apart and sinking it immediately. The second PBR quickly backed away from the bank to gain a clear field of fire.

As the crew began firing at possible enemy positions, a second explosion tore into the hull of PBR 36, overturning it and presumably Killing all aboard. It appeared that explosives had been attached to the hulls of the boats while they were moored in WBGP positions.

As the enemy troops began firing small arms from hidden positions along the banks, Seawolves and additional Vietnamese patrol boats arrived in the area to saturate both banks of the river with fire Monitor 1 and Zippo 3 scrambled from the Song Ong Doc ATSB to search for survivors and to attempt recovery of the sunken crafts.

Seaman Vincent J. Wnoroski, an American advisor on one of the assisting PBRs, dove into the water in the midst of heavy enemy fire to personally recuse three wounded VNN sailors and a wounded USN advisor EN3 Kenneth G. Mason, Seaman Wnoroski was recommended for the Silver Star for his valorous action while Petty Officer Mason was recommended for the Bronze Star for his earlier efforts to save PBR 37 and to direct fire against the enemy.

The five VNN crew members of PBR 36 and their U.S. advisor GMG1 Edward W. Withee, were reported missing in action, but one Vietnamese sailor's body was recovered the next afternoon and the remaining five the following day.Pety Officer Withee was recommended for the Bronze Star for previous heroic action with PRD 62.

Source: Defense Technical Information Center Document
Title : U. S. Naval Forces, Vietnam Monthly Historical Summary for October 1970