![]() ![]() They confronted the navy and its sister service, the US Coast Guard, significantly during the Vietnam War. In the United States’ naval history, these challenges are not new. The cost of these recent events entailed the death of seventeen sailors, numerous reliefs in command, and a reevaluation of the 7th Fleet’s operating posture in the Pacific. The lack of seamanship, preparation, navigation, and situational awareness, cited as components of these accidents, demonstrate the perils and complexity of naval operations. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine the recent “avoidable” collisions, endured between the USS McCain (DDG-56) and the USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) with commercial vessels, taking place under Fontaine’s watch. This was evident in a case where he guided a ship under his command, Destroyer Escort Radar USS Hissem (DER-400), back to safety south of New Zealand, after it suffered a cracked keel while on station in rough seas in 1963. Fontaine’s seamanship not only gained his crews’ trust, but also saved lives. ![]() Throughout a lifetime of service, RADM Fontaine gained the respect of numerous crews for his leadership, concern for his sailors’ welfare, and high demand for their competency at sea. Fontaine (USN-RET), was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. On October 20, 2017, Rear Admiral (RADM) Richard K. Navy Coastal and Riverine Warfare in Vietnam, 1965-1968. ![]()
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