About | VUMMF Vietnam Unit Memorial Monument

About Us

The Vietnam Unit Memorial Monument Fund is incorporated in the State of California and has been granted 501(c)(3) tax exempt status by the State and the Federal Government. Memorial activities are conducted under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Naval Base Coronado and governed by a Board of Directors.

Our Board of Directors consists of representatives from the Swift Boat Sailors Association, the Gamewardens of Vietnam and the Mobile Riverine Force Association and other interested veterans of the Vietnam War.

Officers

Directors

Other Key members of the Memorial “Working Party

In Memoriam

	Chuck Chaldekas. Director, LCDR USN Ret, VN era SEAL- Direct Action Plt/Kit Carson Scouts/VN SEALs, XO Wimbrown-7/USS Yorktown (CVS-10). BS, SIU, Carbondale, OCS, Newport as CPO. Ret. as NSW Force Trng Off.. Built Civ/Navy live fire ranges, BOD Old Frogs and SEALs, Combatant Craft Crewmen Assoc., SEAL Museum SD.
	Steve Watson, Director. Steve is a retired Master Chief Engineman who has been with the Memorial since its inception. He is a former National President of Gamewardens of Vietnam. Steve served in River Patrol Force, TF116, during the years 1966 through 1968 as a PBR after gunner and as Boat Captain. He later served on USS Brule (AKL-28) in 1971 working out of Saigon hauling supplies to all the Navy bases in the delta.
	Jim Davy, Director. Jim is a retired Master Chief Petty Officer with two tours in Vietnam, the last as a PBR Boat Captain with over 200 combat patrols and four Bronze Stars. Jim enlisted in 1965 and retired in 1989 after 24 years of service. After retiring Jim obtained his BS degree in Engineering and was a NJROTC Instructor. Jim is also a life member of the Gamewardens and a member of the MOPH.
	Don Farrell, Financial Coordinator. Don was a Lieutenant and Swift Boat Officer in Charge in Vietnam from April 1970 to April 1971. He served in the Seafloat area of operations on PCF 63 and PCF 93. After the turnover to the Vietnamese Navy, he served as an advisor with the Naval Advisory Group.

	Dave Bradley: Director. Dave is a retired Lieutenant Commander and has been a Director of VUMMF since 2010. After graduating high school he entered the Navy in Sep 1960 and volunteered in 1967 for active duty in Vietnam and served on various Swift boats in COSDIVs 13 & 15 as a QM1. Dave was recalled to active duty in 1999 as the Maintenance & Logistics Officer for Naval Coastal Warfare Group Two and retired off of active duty in 2002 after 42 years of service. Dave is also a Director of the SBSA.
	Ben Cueva: Ben was a Second-Class Engineman in Vietnam serving in PCF Divisions 11, 12 and 13 during 1968 and 1969. Ben has been with the VUMMF since its inception. He was one of the volunteers who dug the foundation and built forms for the concreter in the wall. Ben still works at ground maintenance and is a valued member of the Board of Directors.
	Bob Brown: Director. Bob is a retired Commander with more than 20 years in the Surface Warfare community. He volunteered for duty in Vietnam in 1967 and served as Officer in Charge of a Swift Boat in 1967/68. Upon retirement from active Naval service, he worked for 25 years as a Navy contractor at TACTRAGRUPAC in San Diego, Bob now spends time in retirement performing volunteer work at the Vietnam Unit Memorial Monument and at the San Diego Maritime Museum helping to operate and maintain PCF-816, the only fully operational Swift Boat on the West Coast.
	Tom Matyn: Director. Joined the Navy Reserves in February 1968, stationed onboard USS Sphinx ARL-24, assigned to the ship fitter/ hull division repairing supporting the Mobile Riverine Force (MRF), was the divers tender for the next year. In 2008, I discovered the MRFA and the VUMMF and immediately joined both organizations and shortly after was elected to be a board member for both organizations and the restoration coordinator for CCB 18.
	Mike Gaughen: Director. Larry was in federal civil service apprenticeship program to train aircraft mechanics at North Island Naval Rework Facility (NARF) which included four years of hands-on aircraft and feeder shop experience. During this time spent two years working on the flight test-line as plane captain on both the F-8 crusader and the F-4 phantom frontline aircraft in Vietnam. Now doing volunteer work to maintain the lights power and the Memorial as a weekly volunteer since 2010.
	Brad Story: Secretary Director. Brad is recent addition to the VUMMF Board of Directors and will be helping lead the VUMMF into the next decade. He is a recently retired Navy Captain with an extensive background in Navy small craft as well as several major commands in the US and Kuwait and Iraq.

	Ben Cueva: Ben was a Second-Class Engineman in Vietnam serving in PCF Divisions 11, 12 and 13 during 1968 and 1969. Ben has been with the VUMMF since its inception. He was one of the volunteers who dug the foundation and built forms for the concreter in the wall. Ben still works at ground maintenance and is a valued member of the Board of Directors.
	Tom Mason: Tom was a Lieutenant when he served in Vietnam during the years 1967-1970. He has the unique history of having served with CTF 115 as a Swift Boat Officer in Charge, with CTF 116 as an Officer in Charge of a Mobile Support Team and with CTF 117 as an Operations officer.
	Carl Fletcher: Carl was a retired Senior Chief Boatswain Mate. He served with River Division 593 as a patrol officer from 1969-1970. He has been involved with the Memorial since its inception.
	Everett Jones: Everett was a retired Senior Chief Boatswain’s Mate who served in Vietnam as a boat captain on CCB’s, during the years 1969-1970. Everett was a big part of our organization from the first day.Â He worked tirelessly on the Memorial, digging trenches for the boat pads andÂ the Wall, tying endless re-bar, overhauling the Swift boat, reworking the grounds, and whatever else needed to be done. Everett was involved, along with Chuck Campbell with restoration and maintenance of the CCB 18 since its arrival in San Diego. He honchoed the Saturday work details and along with Chuck laid out the Saturday picnics. He attended every SWCC graduation and saved all the graduation programs to keep a record of the up and coming boat drivers. Everett was a Plank Owner and a valued asset to the Memorial and his presence will be sadly missed. Everett passed away in 2014.
	Neil Geis: Neil was the Squadron Maintenance officer for Coastal Squadron One (Swift Boats) from May 1969 to May 1970). He was a “mustang”, having come up through the ranks (as an Enginemam) and retiring from the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander. His son, Robert N. Geis, CAPT, USN found PCF-104, currently on display at the Memorial, in a salvage yard in Washington state — a find which began the Memorial project. Neil has been involved with the refurbishment of PCF 104 since its arrival. He has also been involved with the Memorial since its inception. Neil’s humor and always willing assistance will be a considerable loss to the monument. Neil passed away in 2015