ANGEL OF MERCY - REPOSE

Vietnam, late 1969 the "Point Young" crew spotted a true Angel of Mercy, the hospital ship "REPOSE"

Executive Officer of CGC Point Young checks out the Hospital Ship "Repose"
receiving supplies near our Patrol area

Often referred to as "The Angel of Mercy" the Repose stood close-by the coast of Vietnam to receive battle casualties by helicopter for quick treatment.  She arrived on duty in February of 1966 and departed in March of 1970  - -  After treating more than 9,000 battle casualties and admitting over 24,000 patients for inpatient care in Southeast Asian waters, The "Angel", Repose departed Vietnam on 14 March 1970, for the United States, where she was decommissioned and placed in reserve in May.

Ronnie Thrasher, USN.

AH-16 USS REPOSE
Haven class Hospital Ship:

•Displacement: 15,000 tons (full load)
Length: 520'
Beam: 71'6"
Draft: 23'6"
Speed: 17.5 knots (max);
Armament: NONE
Complement: 564 crew; 800 patients
Geared turbine engines; single screw;
Built at Sun Shipbuilding Co., Chester, Pa., converted at Bethlehem Steel, and commissioned 26 May 1945 

USS Repose Vietnam War Service

Departed San Francisco 3 January 1966, arrived Pearl Harbor on 9 January for underway training. She then steamed for Subic Bay, arriving on 3 February 1966 to take on supplies and to accomplish voyage repairs. Sailing on 14 February for Vietnam, she arrived on the line two days later and commenced medical support off Chu Lai. Repose was permanently deployed to Southeast Asia from October 1966 on. The 721-bed floating hospital operated mainly in the I Corps area, which included Da Nang, Chu Lai, Phu Bai, Dong Ha, and Quang Tri.

Repose receiving supplies from USS Niagara Falls (AFS3)

USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3)

Photos by William P. Jones, MD

Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls

Photos by William P. Jones, MD

Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls

 

Photos by William P. Jones, MD

Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls

For more information on REPOSE see: http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/12/1216.htm