14th Veteran of the Quarter, Robert Hostetter, US Navy
March 25, 2014
Nomination by: Marcia Hostetter, Spouse. Abbreviated History by: Robert Hostetter
6 October 64 to 31 March 67 – Reported for duty to HS-6 at NAAF Imperial Beach, California. Made 1st trip to Viet Nam after completing Anti-Submarine Warfare School, San Diego, and after that 4 weeks, I was sent to SERE School, Warner Springs, California. I became a qualified place captain, and 1st Crewman. I was also in charge of the Personnel Office during all of this training and maintained an efficient office staff. I also flew my assigned flights that usually lasted 13 hours a day with in-flight refueling from the Destroyers on station with us, as a norm. The flight schedule included 1 day of actual flying, 1 day of stand down (stand by), and 1 day off. While performing my duties with HS-6, I earned the Air Medal for Combat Flights. Off to a new adventure…
19 April 67 to 22 Jan 70 – Reported to the Commander Amphibious Training Command, Pacific Fleet, Coronado, California under Admiral Monroe. I was assigned to the DaNang/Saigon Liaison Office. While there, I reviewed approximately 500 records a week and interviewed about half to determine if they were compatible with specialized training for troops going in country. I had training facilities from San Diego to Texas and Kansas, usually had all of my classes filled each week, and each week was a different challenge. Back to the high seas…
22 January 70 to 17 September 71 – Checked aboard the USS TULARE (LKA-112) – I was in charge of the Admin Department and back to the task of keeping all the enlisted records current. We pulled into DaNang to pick up a detachment of Marines and their equipment. Being the only admin type familiar with any weapons, I was placed on the bow of the ship with a couple cases of water proof “cherry bombs” to which I had to drop them over the side of the ship, 5 minutes apart, one to the left then another to the right (port and starboard). This was supposed to keep enemy divers clear of the ship and prevent them from placing explosive charges to the hull. After leaving DaNang, we headed back to San Diego with an uneventful trip home. We made a 2nd trip to the combat zone to pick up some equipment and back to San Diego. Return to the high seas and Viet Nam…
30 September 1971 to 6 September 1972 – Reported aboard the USS DENVER (LPD-9) and again in charge of the Admin Department, as well as, the print shop and was the Exam Board Assistant. When checking in, several counterparts informed me that there were some serious personnel problems. We departed San Diego on 30 September 71 and between San Diego and Hawaii, I discovered many discrepancies in both personnel records and advancement exam inventory records. After our 5 days in Hawaii, we got underway to Japan and Viet Nam. I generated a schedule to review each personnel record face-to-face to verify every page in their record, making changes as required to insure accuracy and bring them current. I was able to send copies off to the Disbursing Office to make changes to their pay and copies off to the Bureau as required. I spent approximately 7 months of an 11-month cruise completing this task. In between these reviews, I managed to keep up the normal day-to-day operations of the department. For my efforts the command seen fit to award me the Navy Achievement Medal with Combat “V”. The above was accomplished around the ships mission of delivering a group of Amphibious Marines to an area North of the DMZ on a timely manner to meet the requirements of their counterparts on the ground in the same area. We received shore battery fire and managed to avoid being hit by the expertise of our Captain. Upon return to San Diego, I spent about 2 weeks on board before retiring.
The real hero to this trip though the last half of my navy career is my wife, Marcie. She managed our 3 kids, our finances, and kept out home all afloat while holding down a full time job. For this I am forever grateful.
To nominate a local Veteran for the Branson Bank Veteran of the Quarter, please visit our website: www.bransonbank.com or stop by any of our Branson Bank location to pick up a Nomination Form. Veterans are chosen by a panel of their peers.
THE PROUD. THE STRONG. THE LOYAL. OUR VETERANS!