50 Years Ago Yesterday, Mullinnix Heads Back To Her Home Port - For Good!
(Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood)
The new Navy Year would not have been complete without the traditional AWOL shipmate. The Mullinnix’ first AWOL sailor to ring in the ship’s first full year of life was shipmate G. F. Pearl, declared AWOL at 0330 Hours, mustering in the year 1959.
This would be a string of firsts of course. Seaman Pearl was only following in the footsteps of the Mullinnix’ first AWOL shipmate – none other than Fireman John Gerald Budd, who was the first ever AWOL Mullinnix sailor at 0800 on 10 March 1958 – only 3 short days after the ship was in commission. One wonders if this is stage-setting of things to come?
In an article entitled ‘Roster of New and Converted Ships Joining The Navy’ in the February 1959 issue of All Hands Magazine, Mullinnix was the first ship listed under the ‘new ship’ listing. The new year found this new ship Mullinnix moored port side to pier 3 west, Boston Naval Shipyard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, using standard class mooring lines doubled, modified by additional 1 1/8” steel wires fore and aft. SOPA was CONCRUDIV 4 in USS Boston CAG-1. On 2 January, running under a split engineering plant with boilers 1B and 2A and generators 2 and 4 in service, she steamed for Norfolk, Virginia for a Tender Availability, in accordance with COMDESLANT Op Order 232359Z of December 1958. Grey and white snow clouds covered the sky as she slipped passed Cap Cod Light. As a chill wind hit them like a blast, the excitement started to build in the crew - they were headed back to home port.
The first visit to Norfolk hadn’t been long. This trip was one-way. They were indeed heading home.
To be continued…
Cheers,Woody
The new Navy Year would not have been complete without the traditional AWOL shipmate. The Mullinnix’ first AWOL sailor to ring in the ship’s first full year of life was shipmate G. F. Pearl, declared AWOL at 0330 Hours, mustering in the year 1959.
This would be a string of firsts of course. Seaman Pearl was only following in the footsteps of the Mullinnix’ first AWOL shipmate – none other than Fireman John Gerald Budd, who was the first ever AWOL Mullinnix sailor at 0800 on 10 March 1958 – only 3 short days after the ship was in commission. One wonders if this is stage-setting of things to come?
In an article entitled ‘Roster of New and Converted Ships Joining The Navy’ in the February 1959 issue of All Hands Magazine, Mullinnix was the first ship listed under the ‘new ship’ listing. The new year found this new ship Mullinnix moored port side to pier 3 west, Boston Naval Shipyard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, using standard class mooring lines doubled, modified by additional 1 1/8” steel wires fore and aft. SOPA was CONCRUDIV 4 in USS Boston CAG-1. On 2 January, running under a split engineering plant with boilers 1B and 2A and generators 2 and 4 in service, she steamed for Norfolk, Virginia for a Tender Availability, in accordance with COMDESLANT Op Order 232359Z of December 1958. Grey and white snow clouds covered the sky as she slipped passed Cap Cod Light. As a chill wind hit them like a blast, the excitement started to build in the crew - they were headed back to home port.
The first visit to Norfolk hadn’t been long. This trip was one-way. They were indeed heading home.
To be continued…
Cheers,Woody
posted by Woody at 09:24
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