45th Veteran of the Quarter, Lynn Behrends, US Navy
December 1, 2021
Mr. Lynn Behrends enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 20 in September of 1965 and was ordered to boot camp in San Diego. His orders sent him aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard CVA 31 (aircraft carrier) in the OI Division/ Radar Gang where he trained for 9 months. Following his indoctrination, he was ordered to Radarman “A” School at Treasure Island in San Francisco and then on to the USS Chicago CG 11 (a guided missile cruiser) for the ship’s second cruise to Vietnam. Behrends was trained as a Navy Tactical Data Systems (NTDS) Computer Radar Operator.
In 1967, the USS Chicago deployed for 7 months to Western Pacific for “Positive Identification Radar Adversary Zone” (PIRAZ) operations in the Northern Tonkin Gulf. Their mission – MiG suppression, search and rescue (SAR), and Naval, Marine, and Air Force air operations in the Gulf. During this deployment, the USS Chicago was ordered to North Korea with task force group to conduct PIRAZ operations during the USS Pueblo incident in the Sea of Japan and Yellow Sea. The ship returned to the Gulf of Tonkin for continued PIRAZ operations, and then returned to the US for maintenance, upkeep, sea trials, and missile tests. From 1968-1969, they returned to the Gulf for continued PIRAZ operations and during this timeframe was ordered to North Korea, again, after an EC121 was shot down by North Korea to perform PIRAZ ops in the Sea of Japan; then back to the Gulf of Tonkin for PIRAZ and SAR ops. After 7 months, the USS Chicago returned to the US and Behrends transferred to inactive reserves on September 26, 1969; He was honorably discharged in 1971.
Behrends received the following military awards: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Bronze Stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea), Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, and Call Sign Badge (RED CROWN).
Following service, Behrends returned to Nebraska where he worked in a printing business until 1981. He then moved to Forsyth, Missouri in 1985 and worked as a printer until 1990. He owned and operated Mountain Graphics Printing until 2010 while also working at the College Press at College of the Ozarks from 2000 to 2010. He retired in 2017 and holds membership in veteran organizations, including Vietnam Veterans of America and Branson Veterans of America, to which he serves in multiple capacities, including Director, Honor Guard/ Color Guard, Veteran Assistance Program Director, Trout Tournament, Veterans Parade, 5K Run, Veteran Shows, and Veterans Day Programs. Lynn is married to Marilyn and they have been married for 55+ years and are proud parents of 2 sons, 2 daughters-in-law, 3 grandchildren, 1 grandson-in-law, and 2 great-grandchildren.
THE PROUD. THE STRONG. THE LOYAL. OUR VETERANS!