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Butch Jarvinen and Rolly Kidder of River Division 535 share some stories
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Butch Jarvinen and I served together in River Division 535, from 1969-'70 in the Mekong Delta. Jarvinen lives in rural Virginia and he joined myself and other Navy veterans at an Army Sea Tigers Reunion in Hampton, Virginia. The Sea Tigers also operated PBR's during the Vietnam War. The two PBR's present at the reunion were restored by Dennis Ambruso and David Pizzoferrato. Ralph Richason, River Division 515, helped coordinate the event for Navy veterans. Ralph Fries, a PBR Vietnam veteran who has documented all of the Navy PBR men killed in action, presented his documentary work as a part of the reunion event. Following are pictures and a writeup on the reunion event.
Rolly Kidder
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| Vietnam era PBRs (Patrol Boat, River) on display for returning veterans in Hampton marina |
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| PBR's with current Navy boats called RIB's (rigid-inflatable boats) |
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A US Navy Officer addresses veterans in front of Dennis Ambruso (leaning on the .50 cal Machine gun).
Dennis restored the PBR boat on display this weekend. |
