California XL

Coronado Island is not actually an island, but a peninsula. I could find no explanation for why it is called an island. That, however is neither here nor there. It is a remarkably beautiful place with some of the world's finest beaches and is the home to the famous Hotel del Coronado and just two miles from San Diego.

It is, also, home to the Coronado Amphibious Naval Base and the site of a beautiful memorial to the 2,564 Navy and Coast Guard members who gave their lives in Vietnam. Most of these in what is called the Brown Water Navy. 

I have written before about how I served in the Brown Water Navy, even as a Army member. We trained at Ft. Eustis, Virginia and at Norfolk Navy Base. Running up and down the Mekong River, we were basically unarmed and were often escorted by our better armed, Navy comrades. The PBRs had many other duties, but we were always grateful for their presence and support.

The memorial on the base is quite magnificent and I have posted previously about some of its components. You can see that post here.

 Today, we will concentrate on the main memorial.

 

The names of these honored fallen are listed on several of these plaques attached to The Wall.

The memorial is located near the intersection of Tulagi Road and Rendova Circle on CISM Field.

Note:  If you do not have a DoD ID card, you must make previous arrangements to enter the Base. See Their web page for directions.

Next time, on the 13th, we will return to Colorado, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from California, or any other state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page..

I will ask, as I do at the end of nearly every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me. I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know. Check your state, or anywhere you may have visited, from the list at the left.