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George Copploa volunteered for the Coast Guard in June 1967, never dreaming he’d be sent to Vietnam.  After boot camp, he boarded the US Coast Guard Cutter Campbell (WHEC-32) and was part of the Deck Force responsible for maintenance and other duties including manning the guns. His primary job was Captain’s Talker, relaying orders and receiving information for the CO.

In Vietnam, the Campbell‘s primary job was boarding, searching, and seizing junks and steel hulled vessels along the shoreline, as well as providing gunfire support for the shore soldiers and extracting kill teams.  The crew also supplied and serviced Swift Boats and their crews.