Scope and Contents

Photographs, Captured Communist documents, News releases, River Division histories, Vietnamese money, Photocopied and original articles, Certificates, Artifacts, a Family gram, films and a Chieu Hoi pass document Gary W. Moss' tours of duty in Vietnam as a PBR Captain in River (Section) Divisions 532 and 571 and as a Naval Advisor to Vietnamese PBR Units 63 and 53 over the period of April 1968 to August 1971.

Biographical / Historical

Gary W. Moss was born in 1944 in Terrell, Texas. In 1961, Moss volunteered for the United States Navy, beginning his twenty year service with the United States Military. In 1967, Moss volunteered to fight in the Vietnam Conflict and spent a total of two years and seven months in Vietnam. As a Petty Officer First Class, he served as a River Patrol Boat (PBR) Captain, first with River Division 532 from April 1968 through April 1969, and then with River Division 571 from January 1970 through October 1970. His locations of in country service were My Tho, Tra Cu and Moc Hoa in the Republic of Vietnam, and he was involved in Operation Giant Slingshot.

After this, Moss was promoted to Chief Petty Officer and became a Naval Advisor (River Patrol Boats) with the Naval Advisory Group (RPD-53,63) from October 1970 through August 1971. While in Southeast Asia, he was stationed at My Tho, Tra Cu, and Mol Hoa in the Republic of South Vietnam and was involved in Operation Giant Slingshot.

He received the following awards/citations: Navy Achievement with Combat V, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V, Bronze Star Medal with Combat V, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Technical Service, Vietnam Civil Action, Small Craft Insignia, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

The last eight years of Moss' service he was stationed in Japan until he retired from the military in 1980. He spent the next nineteen years as a Navy Junior ROTC Instructor for a high school, finally retiring in July 2005. He is a member of the Gamewardens of Vietnam Association and the River Patrol Boat (PBR) Forces Veterans Association.