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USNS Corpus Christi Bay
USNS Corpus Christi Bay departing Feb 1966 US Highway 181 bridge
Episode 3271 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the final reunion of the USNS Corpus Christi Bay Army Crew. The featured story is titled: America 250: Veterans of the USNS Corpus Christi Bay Return to South Texas for Their Final Reunion. It appeared on KRISTV and was submitted by Bryan Hofmann.
Hofmann reported that the USNS Corpus Christi Bay holds a unique and honorable place in American military history. During the Vietnam War, this remarkable ship became one of the most important support vessels in the South China Sea, even though it carried no fighter jets or heavy weapons. Originally launched as the seaplane tender USS Albemarle, the ship was transformed in 1965 into the world’s first floating aircraft repair depot. Staffed by hundreds of Army technicians and equipped with dozens of specialized repair shops, the vessel played a critical role in keeping American helicopters flying during combat operations in Vietnam.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Vietnam veterans who once served aboard the ship gathered in Corpus Christi for what was believed to be their final official reunion. The gathering included memorial ceremonies aboard the USS Lexington Museum and visits to the Corpus Christi Army Depot, where many had trained before deployment. The reunion celebrated not only the ship’s groundbreaking mission, but also the lifelong friendships forged during war.
Veterans proudly recalled how the ship helped return more than 4,000 damaged helicopters to service, dramatically reducing repair times and saving countless lives. Crew members also remembered humanitarian medical missions that brought aid to Vietnamese civilians. Though age and health challenges are ending official reunions, the veterans emphasized that the brotherhood they formed aboard the Corpus Christi Bay
Listen to Episode 3271 and discover more about the final reunion of the USNS Corpus Christi Bay Army Crew.
