Coastal Squadron Three
(COMCOSRON THREE)

Coastal Squadron THREE was established at Cam Ranh Bay, Republic of Vietnam, October 1968 under the command of CDR A. G. Hodge (see note 1). The next Squadron Commander (see note 2) was CDR Charles F. Horne, who served until 1 July 1969 when he was relieved at Cam Ranh Bay by CDR Charles A. Dodd. Cdr Dodd immediately returned to San Diego, California as the home port of the Squadron shifted from Cam Ranh Bay to San Diego on 1 July 1969 concurrent with the change of command. The three Patrol Gunboats in Vietnam, USS ASHEVILLE (PG-84), USS GALLUP (PG-85), USS CROCKETT (PG-88) came under the Administrative Command of Coastal Division THIRTY-TWO, established on 1 July 1969 at Cam Ranh Bay with a homeport of Guam, Marianna Islands, LCDR John R. Swain Commanding. LCDR Swain was the former Chief Staff Officer of Coastal Squadron THREE. The Patrol Gunboats in San Diego, USS ANTELOPE (PG-86), USS READY (PG-87), USS MARATHON (PG-89) and USS CANON (PG-90) are assigned CCR-3

Notes:

1. CDR A. G. Hodge is identified as CCR-3 in the USS MARATHON (PG-89) Commissioning Program.

2. Date of change of command is presently unknown.

2 Nov 1969: USS ANTELOPE (PG-86) and USS READY (PG-87) depart San Diego for Guam; assigned to CCD-32, homeport Guam.

14 November 1969: Coastal Division THIRTY-TWO staff moves to U. S. Naval Station, Guam.

17 Dec 1979: LCDR Edwin J. Knapp relieves LCDR John R. Swain as Commander Coastal Division THIRTY-TWO.

26 Jan 1970: USS CANON departs San Diego for Guam; assigned to CCD-32, homeport Guam.

2 Jun 1970: USS MARATHON (PG-89) departs San Diego for Guam; assigned to CCD-32, homeport Guam.

1 Aug 1970: USS TACOMA (PG-92) and USS WELCH (PG-93) depart San Diego for Guam; assigned to CCD-32, homeport Guam.

1 OCT 1970: USS DEFIANCE (pg-95) and USS SURPRISE (PG-97) depart San Diego for Little Creek VA; assigned to Commander Amphibious Force Atlantic Fleet.

1 Jan 1971: The homeports for Commander Coastal Squadron THREE is changed to Guam and the homeport for Commander Coastal Division THIRTY-TWO is changed to San Diego. CDR Charles A. Dodd, Commander Coastal Squadron THREE, LCDR Jerold Skaggs, CCR-3 Chief Staff Officer, and LT David B. Donaldson CCR-3 Operations Officer transfer to Guam. LCDR Edwin J. Knapp, Commander Coastal Division THIRTY-TWO transfers to San Diego. The remaining staff personnel are reassigned. The PGs homeported Guam are assigned to CCR-3 and the PGs homeported San Diego are assigned to CCD-32.

30 May 1971: USS ANTELOPE (PG-86) and USS READY (PG-87) depart Guam for Naval Shipyard, Long Beach CA; assigned to CCD-32, homeport Long Beach.

21 Jun 1971: USS CHEHALIS (PG-94), USS BEACON (PG-99), and USS GREEN BAY (PG-101) depart San Diego for Little Creek VA; assigned to Commander Amphibious Force Atlantic Fleet.

30 May 1972: LT R. J. O'Brien relieves LCDR Edwin J. Knapp as Commander Coastal Division THIRTY-TWO.

30 May 1972: Coastal Division THIRTY-TWO disestablished at San Diego. USS ANTELOPE (PG-86), USS READY (PG-87), USS DOUGLAS (PG-100), and USS GRAND RAPIDS (PG-98) assigned to Commander Coastal-River Squadron ONE and are no longer in CCR-3 administrative organization.

2 Oct 1972: CDR Richard W. Anderson relieves CDR Charles A. Dodd as Commander Coastal Squadron THREE.

21 Jun 1974: USS ASHEVILLE (PG-84), USS CROCKETT (PG-88), USS TACOMA (PG-92) and USS WELCH (PG-93) depart Guam for San Diego.

30 Jun 1972: Coastal Squadron THREE disestablished at Naval Station Guam after five years and 9 months of operations.

USS GALLUP (PG-85) & USS CANON (PG-90) remained at Guam until 3 Nov 1974 when they departed for San Diego.

Narrative and photos provided by Dave Donaldson.

Ship's Muster Sheet (Updated 24 October, 2007)
Bradshaw, Jeff	Butler, John	Casey, Robert	Dinwiddie, Ronald
Dotts, Neil	Dziekan, Henry	Egnor, Richard	Frost, Bill
Haithcock, Jimmie	Horne, Charles	Kanne, Charles	Kennedy, Joseph
Organek, Stan	Shemke, Allan	Skaggs, Jerold	Smock, Merrill
Walden, Billy	Ward, Leroy

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