Pictures submitted by Bob Howey

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USS VANCE (DER-387) c/o Fleet Post Office San Francisco, California 96601 24 June 1968 Dear Vance Family: This is the second in our series of familygrams and since some two and a half months have elapsed since the first one we would like to bring you all up to date on VANCE's latest activities. We had just begun our duties as a unit of the Navy's counter-infiltration forces off the coast of South Vietnam when I last wrote. VANCE assumed this duty during mid-March and continued on the first patrol until the 10th of April. During this time members of our boarding parties boarded and searched over twenty-five Vietnamese junks in search of illegal contraband. Our bridge and combat information center personnel also contributed to the effort by visually inspecting over one-hundred and fifty merchant ships. Our engineers kept the propulsion plant in tip top shape and the supply division insured we were well supplied with good food and spare parts throughout this first patrol. In addition to our normal patrol duties VANCE was called upon to assist in a joint Search and Rescue mission for a lost helicopter. This effort lasted for several hours and resulted in the recovery of the two pilots. During the patrol we conducted fourteen underway replenishments receiving over 110,000 gallons of fuel from eleven fleet oilers and took provisions aboard from three supply ships. This is also how we receive mail from loved ones about every three or four days. As the tenth of April approached a wave of excitement and anticipation spread over the ship for our next port of call was to be exotic Hong Kong. We arrived in this fabulous port on 13 April and moored alongside an old Pearl Harbor friend USS HISSEM. Our stay was six days and all hands thoroughly enjoyed this well earned rest. After several hectic days of bargain hunting and relaxation we departed on 19 April and set our course for Subic Bay in the Philippine Islands. On a calm 21st of April morning we arrived at the Naval Station, Subic Bay, assumed duties as flag ship for Commander Escort Squadron Seven and began preparations for a change of command ceremony for CDR MILLIGAN, Commander Escort Squadron Seven to be held aboard VANCE. Here we also had the opportunity to accomplish routine maintenance and utilize the outstanding recreational facilities of the Naval Station. Several softball and bowling matches were entered by VANCE and all proved quite successful as we enjoyed our share of victories. Midway through our stay the crew had a barbecue on the recreational resort at Grande Island in Subic Bay. The fifteen day stay was climaxed by the Commodor's change of command ceremony on 4 May as CDR MURPHY took over the reins of Escort Squadron Seven, our sister squadron. VANCE departed the Philippines on 6 May and proceeded back to the coast of South Vietnam to take up station off Qui Nhon, a small seaport, for our second patrol. This patrol was to last thirty days and would be our longest to date. Highlighting our normal routine was the opportunity to send two groups of VANCE sailors into Qui Nhon to assist a volunteer British Medical Staff in improving living conditions at the "Save The Children Hospital". Some of the improvements made included clearing a roadway, building a fence, and painting the staff quarters. This hard work was put forth cheerfully by our boys and all concerned felt justly rewarded by the smiles received from the small children. This second patrol was completed on 8 May after receiving over 100,000 gallons of fuel and supplies from fourteen replenishment ships during our stay. On 9 May we departed the South Vietnam coast and set our course for Kaohsiung, Taiwan, where we were to resume duties with the Taiwan Defense Command for the second time this deployment. We are now well over the half-way point of the present deployment and are beginning to set our sights on returning home to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in late August. These past several months since last writing you have had many highlights for us all. One noteworthy event occured 16 April as seventeen VANCE sailors were promoted one step up on the advancement scale. MR3 D.E. BROSZ      BT3 J.J. CRAWFORD      MM1 R.N. DEAL      EN2 K.E. DENNE      RM3 J.A. DURCHUCK      RD2 A. STEVENS      ENC J. FESTEJO      IC2 B.K. GOO      RM3 R. IMPERIAL      RD3 W. MEREDITH      CS3 R. MONGEAU      ETN3 D.E. STONE      RM3 J.J. PRIDEAUX      EN3 E.D. ROWE      EN3 M.G. ROWE      SH1 D.Q. SCARBRO      ENC W. SHOFSTOLL These men represented 80% of those who had participated in the exams last February. I intend to send off another familygram at a later date as our tour in the Western Pacific is concluded. Again, I would like to extend an invitation for you to visit VANCE whenever our paths cross and to correspond with me anytime. Sincerely, M. E. SEILER