February 27, 1969. Ammunition-laden LCU explodes in Da Nang harbor.

On February 27, 1969, enemy rockets were lobbed at the Da Nang bridge loading ramp, destroying Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1500 and YFU-78, a harbor utility craft. LCU-1500 received a direct hit by a rocket of unknown size. Ammunition on the LCU was detonated and an explosion occurred with fire spreading to the nearby YFU. The attack probably would have caused few casualties except for the lucky hit on LCU-1500, which was fully laden with munitions for transport to Dong Ha in Quang Tri Province. It was mostly the secondary explosions and fires which killed the 22 sailors aboard LCU-1500, YFU-78 and NSA Da Nang. Another craft, LCU-1614, sustained minor damage by shrapnel. With the exception of one man from the LCU-1500, all aboard both boats were killed. Total U.S. Navy personnel casualties were reported at 22 Navy men killed and 38 wounded. [316] *

The 22 men killed during the attack were: LCU-1500, Assault Craft Unit 1, NAVSUPACT Danang - BMC Donald J. Fisher, EN1 Bert E. Burton, EM1 Cecil F. Bush, CS2 Marvin D. Avery, RM2 David W. Hawryshko, GMG3 Ronald J. Gebbie, BM3 Donald M. Horton, BM3 Ronald P. Yuhas, FN Joseph F. Burinda, SN Bruno W. Demata, FN Charles A. Tavares, and SA Craig E. Swagler; YFU-78, Assault Craft Unit 1, NAVSUPACT Danang - EN1 Earl T. Moore, QM1 Milton Shapiro, CS2 Charlie M. Ellison, EM2 Lyle D. Zacher, QM3 Earnest J. Buckelew, BM3 Daniel L. Overright, and SN Melvin L. Sellers; Supply Operations, NAVSUPACT Danang - BM1 Manuel Martinez, SN Thomas E. Adams, and SN Theodore S. Hamner.