08/23/2026
Stories In Service 🇺🇸
Associate Russ Russell, Navy Seabee
Picture taken with my brother Bill and me at my Seabee base near Marble Mountain, Vietnam, in 1968.
I hadn't seen my brother for about two years. He was stationed aboard the USS Montrose, a troop transport, but I did receive a letter from him stating that they were scheduled to dock in Da Nang sometime in September.
Fortunately, I had to go to Da Nang for supplies and to take a damaged surfboard to the Small Craft Repair Shop to see if it could be repaired. The repair cost me a carton of ci******es and a six-pack of PBR. The shop was responsible for repairing Brown Water Navy boats.
While waiting, I asked the harbor master if he had any information about when, or if, the Montrose was scheduled to dock in the coming days. To my surprise, he pointed out toward the harbor and said it was already out there, waiting its turn to come in.
By the time I picked up my supplies and the surfboard, his ship was just pulling in, and I could see him standing on the bow. He didn't see me. I asked the chief standing on the first deck if I could come aboard and surprise my brother as part of the crew. He seemed delighted and escorted me to the bow.
Just as I saw Bill, he turned around and looked at me. He was surprised to see someone in greens holding an M14. Then he finally realized who I was, and we hugged for what seemed like an eternity.
Even after 50 years, we still talk about that day.
Our adventure driving to Marble Mountain and back is another story...
