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Episode No. 76 Vietnam War Story Date: August 28, 2009 Notes: Raymond S. Kopp, USN, on a Sailor’s Perspective of the Vietnam War.
Raymond S. Kopp “was born in the small town of Starrucca, Pennsylvania on
September 19, 1951. He joined the Navy upon graduation from high school and his four years of service took him to many places,
including Vietnam. Ray left the Navy in September of 1973 and later returned to Navy Reserve duty from 1978 to 1980. He has
enjoyed many occupational endeavors, including working as a technical specialist and designer in the aerospace industry, an
N/C machinist, a sailing instructor and a skiing instructor.” Raymond S. Kopp is the author of Thunder in
the Night: A Sailor's Perspective on Vietnam.
According to the book description of
Thunder in the Night: A Sailor's Perspective on Vietnam, “When May 1972 came around, the war
in Vietnam was supposed to be winding down. But for a the crews of Task Unit 77.1.2 it was just starting. Steaming into heavily
defended North Vietnamese waters the sailors and marines experienced war as they never thought possible. They engaged their
foes with crushing, hit and run tactics that helped stem the flow of men and materiel needed for the Communist takeover of
South Vietnam. In raid after raid the artillery firefights that ensued showed their adversaries to be well-trained and equipped
forces intent on defending the military complexes of the Hanoi and Haiphong region. As time trudged on they found themselves
constant targets of enemy fire and inner-psychological warfare.”
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