“The shells were coming at us so fast...they had four guns shooting at us...the first shell hit off the starboard bow, the second shell hit our after-gun mount...they saw they were on target so they just opened up. shells were bouncing all around us.”
Electronic Technician Second Class David Bush, USN
The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the October 2017 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of United States Navy Veteran, Electronic Technician Second Class, David Bush. The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program was privileged to interview Electronic Technician Second Class David Bush at the USS Harwood Reunion in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in the fall of 2016.
David Bush began his interview by sharing, "I entered the Navy in July of 1965 and what I thought was interesting was how much classroom training we had." He spoke in detail about his training experiences at Great Lakes which would provide valuable tools for his service in the United States Navy. 
Upon completing basic training, he was ordered to electronics school and was then assigned to the USS Harwood. After a short time of learning the electronic capabilities of the Harwood, the ship departed for the Mediterranean. His service in the Mediterranean would take place during critical moments of the Cold War. He spoke in detail about his first cruise overseas and observing Soviet aircraft while passing through the Suez Canal and also encounters with Soviet warships. On his second cruise to the Mediterranean, he recalled the USS Liberty incident and the actions of the 6th Fleet.
Upon completing successful operations in the Mediterranean, the Harwood returned to Mayport Florida. Bush recalled, “We made it back to Mayport and we were called to the mess decks and told we were scheduled to go to Vietnam in April.” After training on May, the 10th, the USS Harwood would depart for Vietnam. Bush recalled, “On May 28th, 1968, we were running gun fire supports for Marines in the DMZ. I was listening to the spotter in the Combat Information Center... I guess we were creating a lot of damage and the North Vietnamese turned their guns on us and the second shot hit our after-gun mount.” He recalled in vivid detail the events of May 28th by sharing, “The shells were coming at us so 
fast...they had four guns shooting at us...the first shell hit off the starboard bow, the second shell hit our after-gun mount...they saw they were on target so they just opened up. shells were bouncing all around us.” The Harwood would continue to engage the enemy while making repairs. In addition to naval gunfire support along the coast of South Vietnam, the Harwood would also participate in Operation Sea Dragon off the coast of North Vietnam and engage land targets. ETN2 Bush shared incredible detail about his experience off the coast of Vietnam and would return home on the USS Harwood safely.
The United States Navy Memorial honors United States Navy Veteran, Electronic Technician Second Class, David Bush., featured within this series titled, Tales from the Navy Log, Story of the Month. Each month, this series honors a Veteran’s story recorded by the Stories of Service Program at the Navy Memorial. To learn more about this story and to explore the Navy Memorial archive, visit the Navy Memorial Stories of Service site at http://navylog.navymemorial.org/stories-of-service. To view this interview please visit the USS Harwood Collection on the Navy Memorial Stories of Service page.
Interview of David Bush Part One Joining the Navy and Electronics School in 1965
Interview of David Bush Part Two Joining the Crew of the USS Harwood
Interview of David Bush Part Three The Events of May 28 1968 and Vietnam War Operations
Interview of David Bush Part Four The Return from the West Pac Cruise of 1968