Photo: USCG photo. Division 11 of Coast Guard Squadron One departs Subic Bay Naval Base for Vietnam, 17 July 1965. USCGC Point Marone (WPB-82331) is in foreground.
Today is the 48th anniversary of the initiation of Operation Market Time, an experience that would mark a generation of Coast Guard Cuttermen, and provides a template for the sort of operations the Coast Guard might be involved in the future. There is a good history of the Coast Guard’s role in the operation here.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
What most people miss, or ignore, is the Coast Guard was organized and deployed to Vietnam as an independent combat unit. At no time, was the Coast Guard transferred to the Navy nor did the President direct the Coast Guard to “cooperate” with the Navy. The Coast Guard served under the navy’s operational orders only and then only for scheduled patrols. At all other times Squadron One (RONONE) was in charge of its own people. Unfortunately, most did not understand this distinction nor the implications. There was one captain, Perkins, who actually tried to get all the Coast Guard units under its own flag by making Western Area the commander of Coast Guard Forces. Eventually, the Coast Guard may have gotten its own flag in-country. However, the Coast Guard was afraid of the navy and backed away from the proposal.
Technically, and perhaps legally, the Coast Guard was not under NAVFORV. In the fall of 1966 the navy organized from an advisory group to Naval Forces, Vietnam (NAVFORV). The reason was to get out from under army control but in its charter and organization it controlled on Navy forces. The Coast Guard was not a navy force but they said nothing. Of course, NAVFORV did not control the USMC. It was a strange time.
Those interested in learning the consequences of this convoluted chain of command should take a look at your post on the Point Welcome: http://www.aug.edu/~libwrw/ptwelcome/PointWelcome2.html
Reblogged this on Nobles in Hong Kong and commented:
Great photo of the Cutters underway from the Phillippines headed to Vietnam (1965)