The 458th was 1st formed as a amphibian truck company back in 1943. It participated
in the Normandy Invasion. Campaigns in Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe.
The 458th went to war with the DUKW ( a amphibious truck )seems even then the 458th was not the run of the mill transportation unit. pictures and DUKW information
The 458th went to South Vietnam as a LARC-5 company in late 1966. The 1st written
report about the 458th is a one year history dated from 1 Jan 1967 to 1 Jan 1968. Report was prepared by a Lt Shrader and was signed by Lt Sellers Commanding Officer.
From Jan to Aug the 458th was involved with transporting supplies, and men from ship to shore. Their is a mention of one combat operation transporting the 101st Airborne. In
Aug the 458th was issued six Boston Whalers.These boats were used for harbor patrols
and this is the 1st mention of the 458th operating under the control of the Provost Marshal.
In Aug the 458th was notified that it would be converting to PBRs, 24 men were sent to Nha Bey to receive training from the Navy on PBR operation.
The 458th PBRs were broken up into small detachments with boats being at these
locations--- Newport, Cat Lo, Cat Lai, Vung Ro Bay, Qui Nhon, and Vung Tau.
At these locations the PBR operations came under the local Provost Marshal. Duty's
were local harbor and river patrols.
The 458th was a orphan unit, no direct support for supplies and maintenance. Borrow beg, or steal was the rule of the day.
As I said before the 458th was a bastard unit ( no parents ) it was formed at the stroke of a pen, issued its gear and left on its own. Being a bastard unit was not all bad, mostly you were left alone by rear echelon nitwits. It didn't even have a authorized unit patch. As it was attached to the 18th MP Brigade, the MP patch was modified and was claimed as a unauthorized patch. Below the 18th MP Brigade Patch are 5 samples of patches made and worn by various 458th detachments.
And out of the past came (we need a little Lone Ranger music here) (maybe Ghost Riders) Pete McGuirk has sent in a few photo's of what has to be the one of the better looking MK 2s in existence today. The original engines and pumps have been removed and a late model inboard-outboard has been installed
July 2007 members of the 458th Transportation Company formed a orgaization named "458th Sea Tigers " Officers were elected and the domain name "458th SeaTigers.com" was claimed
Dedicated to the
458th Transportation Company ( PBR )
The 458th Was and Still is The ONE and Only Army Unit to have the
Navy River Patrol Boat as Standard Equipment in Vietnam
The PBR was 1st used by the Navy to patrol the inland rivers and coastlines of South Vietnam. This boat proved to be very effective in its use. Navy forces
carried the fight to the enemy in places that had offered them sanctuary for years;
due in large part to the PBR as a effective weapon.
Below are two photos of PBRs in South Vietnam. note: photos furnished by the
PBR Force Veterans Association, The one on the left was taken by Frank Free Riv Div 552 near the town of Tan Chau on upper Mekong>April-May 1969. Thanks Frank
This page was last updated: May 1, 2008
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protected images to interested parties. for more information contact Lee Helle
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