Honor 1st Transportation Battalion (Seaborne) - First And Finest
Celebrate the unique service of the 1st Transportation Battalion (Seaborne) with this premium apparel. A powerful tribute to the soldiers who served aboard the USNS Corpus Christi Bay—the Army's sole Floating Aircraft Maintenance Facility during the Vietnam War, maintaining helicopters in-theater and enabling combat operations throughout Southeast Asia with their motto "First And Finest."
Premium Military Apparel
- Authentic Design: Features 1st Transportation Battalion (Seaborne) recognition
- Superior Quality: Crafted from premium materials for lasting comfort and durability
- Perfect Fit: Designed for everyday wear with a comfortable, true-to-size fit
- Fade-Resistant: High-quality printing ensures vibrant colors that last
- Vietnam Heritage: Honors unique seaborne aviation maintenance service
1st Transportation Battalion (Seaborne) - Vietnam War Service
Assigned to the 34th General Support Group during the Vietnam War, the 1st Transportation Battalion (Seaborne) performed helicopter maintenance and repairs aboard the U.S. Army's sole Floating Aircraft Maintenance Facility, the converted Navy seaplane tender that was rechristened the USNS Corpus Christi Bay for its new mission. The fact that the Army was able to convince the Navy to give up a vessel to another service branch was highly unusual, particularly when you consider the brouhaha that arose with the Air Force when the Army wanted organic fixed-wing aviation assets.
Operating out of Cam Ranh Bay, the USNS Corpus Christi Bay and the 1st Transportation Battalion made it possible for damaged helicopters to be repaired in-theater instead of being shipped all the way back to the U.S. In all, the Battalion comprised about 370 maintenance technicians and supporting personnel, with the ship itself manned by 130 civilian maritime crewmen. According a special operational report on the 34th Support Group published in November 1969, the efforts of the 1st Transportation Battalion made it possible for the U.S. Army to "maintain helicopters in numbers sufficient to meet the full range of combat operations."
First And Finest - Unique Mission
The 1st Transportation Battalion (Seaborne) Distinctive Unit Insignia was approved on 3 November 1965. Its missions as an seaborne aviation-maintenance unit are celebrated in the insignia's design, which features a sea horse using a fin/hand to hold up a pair of insignia-style wings. And the motto, "First And Finest," could not be more true, as the battalion was the only one that performed this role.
The battalion's soldiers were aviation maintenance specialists who worked aboard the floating facility to repair and maintain Army helicopters damaged in combat or requiring major overhauls. Their work was critical to keeping Army aviation assets operational during the Vietnam War. Without the USNS Corpus Christi Bay and the 1st Transportation Battalion, damaged helicopters would have had to be shipped back to the United States for repair, significantly reducing the number of aircraft available for combat operations.
The USNS Corpus Christ was removed from the Naval Vessel Register on 31 December 1974, marking the end of this unique chapter in Army aviation maintenance history. The soldiers who served with the 1st Transportation Battalion (Seaborne) performed a mission that was truly "First And Finest"—the only seaborne aviation maintenance battalion in Army history.
Whether you served with the 1st Transportation Battalion (Seaborne), worked aboard the USNS Corpus Christi Bay, or appreciate this unique aspect of Vietnam War history, this apparel represents innovation, dedication, and the proud legacy of the First And Finest.
Ideal for: 1st Transportation Battalion veterans, USNS Corpus Christi Bay crew, 34th Support Group, Vietnam War veterans, aviation maintenance specialists, and everyday wear.
1st Transportation Battalion (Seaborne). First And Finest. USNS Corpus Christi Bay. Vietnam War service.