Riverine

About the Book

The Riverine Photo Album is a tribute to those forces that served in the river coastal war of South Vietnam, which was made up of small units of sailors that manned forward firebases, floating detachments, and rode small fast patrol boats and the larger heavy riverine craft alongside South Vietnamese troops, mercenaries, and regional forces, who were fighting for their independence from communist rule. These Navy units were often the first to intercept communist forces trying to transport weapons and fighters into the Republic of Vietnam. Along with the 9th Infantry River Raiders, they severed communist lines and defeated their armies. And then their units were dis-established and sent home after turning over many of their beloved boats, bases, and responsibilities to the South Vietnamese Navy, whom they had trained. The River Rats and River Raiders fought for freedom and they fought with honor, but in the end they fought for each other. Praise is hardly enough.

About the Author

Ralph Christopher was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia before volunteering and serving with the U.S. Navy in South Vietnam from 1967-70, which were some of the most honorable years of his life. He is now retired and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife Deb, daughters Alysia and Kayli, and grandson Braydon. He has produced three books in honor of those who served in the river coastal war during the Vietnam War and continues in an attempt to record the Brown Water story. It was a honor to have served with these forces and to interview them and try and record some of their history. We were simply young men that went and did the job we were assigned and I have continued to live in the shadow of that time. They were the heroes of my youth.