Machinist's Mate Petty Officer Third Class David L. Dixon and Fireman David P. Halpin were assigned to the Naval Support Activity Da Nang, Support Detachment, Cua Viet, Sout Vietnam.
On September 28, 1968 at approximately 2:00p.m., at the Naval Support Activity Detachment, Cua Viet, South Vietnam, Dixon and Halpin were working on a boat which was tied up to a barge from which contaminated fuel was being pumped. Fireman Halpin was working onboard the boat. Petty Officer Dixon and two other crewmembers were working in the engine room. A shipfitter, unaware of the fuel being pumped, came to complete a welding job which had been started earlier that day on another boat. Almost instantly afer the shipfitter struck an arc with his welder, the fuel fumes near where the fuel was being pumped into the water ignited. Flames engulfed the entire waterfront.
One sailor in the engine room on LCM006 escaped, stating later that after he left the boat, he returned to the engine room to see if anyone might still be there. At the moment he returned, there was no fire in the engine room, however, it was filled with heavy smoke. He attempted to search for anyone who might be there, but was forced to leave due to the smoke and heat.
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