Mike, I remember the photo of the Peploe (sp) a Navy ship captured in North Korea waters. The crew did the same thing in their phot opp.
They were beaten for that after it was explained ( and published) to the North koreans.
That was in 1967
jd "Falcon"

Photo Courtesy of Time Inc.

Unable to explain the photograph, Charles Law (standing on the right leaning on shipmates James D. Layton, and Monroe O. Goldman) sent this photograph to his uncle in Tacoma, WA. Being curious as to why some of the men were giving the "finger", he took the photo to his local newspaper, the Tacoma News-Tribune. They published it without comment on October 10, 1968. It was picked up by the national press, and it appeared on the front page of the New York Times, and the Washington Post... again without explanation. In the October 18, 1968 issue of Time Magazine, the picture surfaced again with the explanation of the obvious gesture of contempt.. with the text as shown.

Source:

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Bunker/9062/pueblo.html

USS Pueblo

George - I forwarded the picture my son was looking for and I hope you are able to post it for me. It was a photo of Paul E. Galanti, Commander, U.S. Navy (Ret). He was kind enough to make contact with my son and supply the photo.

However, your photo of the Pueblo crew brought back some old memories. On January 23, 1968, HMM-165 was on the Valley Forge when the Pueblo was captured. We had our grunts on the ground and they were in deep do-do. The scuttlebutt (and I suspect that is all it was) was that the Valley Forge pulled off location that night and was steaming to North Korea where HMM-165 would do a hostage rescue. The rumor included that cold weather gear was coming on board. Supposedly by the next day we were back on location taking care of our guys on the ground. Does anyone out there remember this (Reed?)? Furthermore, can anyone above my pay grade comment on the merits of any truth to this scuttlebutt? I was not flying during January, but a hostage rescue attempt into North Korea could certainly get the pucker factor up the scale, and it was high enough during January 68 as it was.

Posted for Mike Wagner

George - I need help. My son made contact with the Vietnam POW and he supplied the attached photo which I was going to share on my NOTAM post under "Looking For" but I don't know how to do it. Can you help me out. I enjoyed the photo you attached and forwarded it on to my son.
-----Original Message-----
From: Hans and Stacey Wagner [mailto:wagnerz@earthlink.net]
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2003 6:23 AM
To: Mike Wagner
Subject: Fw: Re:

----- Original Message -----
From: Paul Galanti
To: Hans and Stacey Wagner
Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2003 08:57 PM
Subject: Re:

Dear Mr. Galanti, I am a police officer for the city of Houston. I recently left the Marine Corps, where I first heard of your story in Vietnam. I found your story. as well as the picture taken, for Life Magazine (unedited), completely motivating. I have been looking for years trying to find a copy of the picture to have a large one made for my house. My father, also a Marine in Vietnam, has also been looking on his web site www.popasmoke.com . If you could please tell us where we could find a copy of the unedited one, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you greatly for you service to are country, you are truly a hero of mine. Thank you. Hans Wagner

Hans, Thanks for serving - twice... Most of my good friends are Marines. Here's a low resolution unedited scan of the original.

I have a higher quality one somewhere that I'll look for. It also has the German guy who was holding the light for the photographer.

I'm on the Board of the Richmond Police Benevolent Association. I only go political when our politicians try to lump the cops in with bean counters for pay increases... I like you guys...

Best and Semper Fi,
Paul
Paul E. Galanti
Commander, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
21 Maxwell Road
Richmond, VA 23226
804.675-5213 (w)
804.675-5218 (fax)
804.389.1668 (cell)
804.359.6366 (h)
pgalanti@i2020.net
http://www.eos.net/rrva/nampow/pgbio.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Valley Forge 1968

Mike,
I was working on night check crew on the Valley Forge, and also on mess duty with Mike Boice. The only flying I remember doing there is qualifying as an aerial gunner and an occaisional hop in the rain! Never heard the rumors about Korea, or at least I don't remember them. There is so much I've forgotten that I am really amazed! I guess I was deep in the officers mess! lol! Sorry.
Semper Fi
Joe