July 2, 2010
To whom it may concern
My name is John Tyler Waterworth. I served during Vietnam in the U.S. Navy from 4 Dec 64 until 10 Feb 69. I attended antisubmarine warefare electronics (AX) school at NATTC MFS Tenn from 22 Mar 65 until 22 Oct 65. I was assigned to VW-1 Airborne early warning squadron home-based on Guam, M.I. from 13 Nov 65 until 31 May 67. The squadron utilized Lockheed EC121 Warning Star aircraft to accomplish the following two missions. First, VW-1 provided daily operations in southeast Asia (Vietnam and Gulf of Tonkin) utilizing highly sophisticated radar systems. The second squadron mission just as important was weather reconnaissance, fixing typhoons which threatened to raise havoc with combat operations of the fleet in the Gulf of Tonkin.
While assigned to VW-1 I became an aircrewman in the Combat Information Center (CIC) aboard the aircraft. I had a secret clearance. The crew consisted of 18 men which detached from Guam to the Phillipines and Vietnam. The members of these crews became very close, flying for 16 hrs at a time. Every man's life depended upon how well his fellow squadron mate could perform his job. These flights were mentally and physically gruelling, harrowing and dangerous filled with stress and phychological pressure. We were living on a wire edge.
As on scene communication commander over the fleet for example we coordinated the rescue by radio and radar direction the rescue of F-4 Phantom pilots who had been shot down by S.A.M. missels returning from bombing Hiphong Harbor in Hanoy. One instance I remember a downed pilot we were in radio contact with was surrounded by Vietcong NRV troops who trapped and shot down 3 rescue helicopters we sent in, killing all crew members and finally killing the pilot they were trying to rescue. The chaos of screamming & blood curdeling hollering and pandemonium during that rescue attempt haunted me and our squadronmates causing many sleepless night sweatting and nightmares for years and can never be forgotton. These events caused crews to be continually on the edge. At any time, any crew member could be confused, excited, agitated or filled with anxiety and fear all at the same time. It was during these times that we had to guard each others back that I became good friends with Richard Raymond Rowan. We flew from 13 Nov 65 until 12 Dec 66 on many combat missions together, each being awarded the Air Medal. Richard proved to be very responsible, trustworthy, extremely knowledge and dependable. I would trust that my life would be safe in the hands of Richard and I would recipro in the same manner. In war times, this was a valued relationship.
While back on Guam between combat and weather missions, one of our duties was to keep the airfield runway clear of debries that could damage the aircraft upon take-off or landing, leading to more serious catastrophies. This duty was called F.O.D. (Foreign objects & debries) pick-up. Richard and I and the other crew members would line up across the runway at arms length apart walk its entire length picking up all F.O.D. I remember one morning Richard said to me "Jack, what is that nasty smell?" I said, I don't know but whatever it is, is comming from that spray vehicle over there." We both looked over to see a truck defoliating around the entire perimeter of the runway. We were downwind from the spray which drifted across the runway at us. We could feel the spray hit our skin as we were directly sprayed with the substance. I saw Richard Raymond Rowan get directly sprayed with a defoliant on Guam which the Navy later acknowledged as Agent Orange. AO was even detected in the drinking water which supplied the entire island population including all military bases, including NAS Agana and Anderson Airforce Base which Navy personell visited quite frequently because its stores were very well stocked with merchandise from the states. Finally Richard also had boots on the ground in Vietnam as our VW-1 Aircraft frequently had to refuel in Danang or Chu Lai before returning to the Phillipines. Later in Dec 66 VW-1 actually established a detachment in Chu Lai (det Charlie) in order to save fuel and increase response time effiency. I saw Richard Rowan on the ground in Danang Vietnam.
In closing, I certify that the above information is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.
Respectfully Submitted
John T WaterworthRegistered Pharmacist
