By far the greatest contribution of the narrative is the insight it provides into the hows and whys of United States involvement in Vietnam, and the attempt of that involvement to bring freedom to those who were unable to achieve it by their own efforts. We see the United States more as a caretaker and less as a policeman in terms of motivation for its involvement half a world away. And

By far the greatest contribution of the narrative is the insight it provides into the hows and whys of United States involvement in Vietnam, and the attempt of that involvement to bring freedom to those who were unable to achieve it by their own efforts. We see the United States more as a caretaker and less as a policeman in terms of motivation for its involvement half a world away. And

For two-thousand years, the Chinese, French, Japanese and Republic of Vietnam forces tried to pacify the Mekong Delta and failed. The United States Ninth Infantry Division, and U.S. Naval Forces of Vietnam, did it in a little over three years, but at a high cost. They fought for freedom, they fought with honor, but in the end they fought for each other.

For two-thousand years, the Chinese, French, Japanese and Republic of Vietnam forces tried to pacify the Mekong Delta and failed. The United States Ninth Infantry Division, and U.S. Naval Forces of Vietnam, did it in a little over three years, but at a high cost. They fought for freedom, they fought with honor, but in the end they fought for each other.

The Riverine Photo Album is a tribute to those forces that served in the river coastal war of South Vietnam, which was made up of small units of sailors that manned forward firebases, floating detachments, and rode small fast patrol boats and the larger heavy riverine craft alongside South Vietnamese troops, mercenaries, and regional forces, who were fighting for their independence from communist rule. These Navy units were often the first to intercept communist forces trying to transport weapons and fighters into the Republic of Vietnam. Along with the 9th Infantry River Raiders, they...