Email from Peter Sellars to me with the understanding it would be shared with other former 458th members. Jan 2002
Lee, Thanks for the response and letting me know that someone remembers. Lately
seems like we and what we did is so unimportant.
When I get opportunity, I'll try to find the box with Viet Nam stuff. I will
gladly share whatever I have. If you or anyone else asks questions, I'll
try to respond but don't know where to start to initiate a historical
(hysterical?) record.
I don't remember the specific dates that I was with the unit AND when I
took, then relinquished, command (I'll try to work on this).
This was my second tour in Viet Nam and I remember that I got there in late
1967. I extended my tour then left in late 1968. There was one Phillip
Ginsberg that took command of the unit from me.
I was first assigned to a stevedoring unit (123rd, I think) of the 24th
Transportation Battalion, then I became a Beachmaster for South Beach and
host of the BDL PAGE & LSTs when they arrived for unloading on the beach.
I then was "assigned" command of the 458th (I didn't want the command at
that time since I was new, this was my first command, and I was aware that
there were captains in the battalion who did not have command-time [TC
peer-politics are brutal]).
Just after "TET-68" I had a meeting with the Brigade Commander (BGen
Gustafson?) & higher-level staff of the 18th MP Brigade about our assuming
the mission. At the time, they realized they had a problem on or near the
water all over the country and that the Navy was not responding as they
would like. They just didn't know how to make an MP and a Transportation
Unit "work" in a tactical environment. After their briefer "told me", in
great detail what they wanted me (the unit) to do, I asked them about why I
was in this meeting and what they wanted me to do since they had all the
answers worked out. Guess I seemed kinda dumb back then.
Anyway to me, seemed like the "tooth of the tiger" had been figured out but
they had no concept of the "tail" (how to feed and supply the beast).
After "TET-68", in essence, all bets were off, the goal was to get as many
of the boats in-country, deployed, and mission-ready as quickly as possible.
We (the unit staff) adopted some very creative techniques and tactics to do
just that.
Correspondingly, I was aware that the neighboring units (on South Beach)
were experiencing senseless deaths by operational accidents. As I think
back, I may have been a pain-in-the-ass to many in the unit but I was
determined that we would not lose any member due to stupid accidents. One
feature that I remember and am most proud of is that during my time in
command, we did not lose one unit. I always told myself that some folks may
not like me for what I tried to do but they would be alive for a long time
... to not like me.
With regard to the boats ... this was also about the time that one Lt Calley
was in the public eye about a little incident (Me Lai, I think) and everyone
was spouting the rhetoric that the unit leader was responsible for
everything that happened, etc., etc. I hope you can imagine what a youngish)
lad may have been thinking as I rehashed the firepower of one of these boats
... and then there would be 38 of them, scattered all over the country ...
whew!! Even the Boston whalers were to have pedestal-mounted automatic
weapons. I'd awaken some nights and wonder if I was gonna go home or go to
jail!
Thanks to all of you ... for letting me go home, :-)
I went back to Viet Nam in 1972; monitored the end of this ordeal and
adventure.
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Hi.
I was at your site not long ago. We talked about the PBRs. I was the
Commander of the Army unit (458th Transportation Company) in Viet Nam.
I've been in heavy travel and trying to get my other life together.
Sorry for not sending a thank you note before now.
Was wonderin' ... what's the current status of the boats?
I have sent notice about you, your museum, and your efforts at restoring to
others with whom I've been in contact about the boats. I hope, and expect,
that some will be visiting you and the museum.
I also have hope and expectation that some with experience and literature
may be of help to you.
Please do keep in contact with me. I'd like to know when you plan to place
the boat(s) in the water. I will make an effort to get there for the event.
Be well.
Pete" SELLERS
