50 Yrs Ago Today - Mullinnix Returns to Rio
(Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
Maneuvers and ASW exercises continued while in route to Rio. In column formation with Mullinnix in station 1, Van Voorhis in station 2, Lester in station 3, Taussig in station 4, and Spikefish in Station 5 on course 288T at speed of 8 knots, the ships entered Rio de Janeiro Harbor passing De Sao Cruz abeam to starboard, De Sao Joao abeam to port on 3 March. At 0759 a tug delivered civilian Pilot Capt. V. Ginheiro came on board. Passing De Villegagnon Mullinnix rendered honors and fired a 21 Gun Salute to the Nation of Brazil, braking the Brazilian flag at the main truck. The Brazilian Navy returned the 21 gun salute from Enxadas Island. At 0906 Mullinnix was moored portside to Finger pier at Praca Maua, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with standard mooring lines.
COMSOLANT left the ship to call officially on the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, Chief of the US Naval Mission, Commander-in-Chief of the Brazilian Navy, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, and Commander Brazilian First Naval District. Later than afternoon Contra-Almirante Helio Garnier Sampaio Brazilian Navy, Rear Admiral T.C. Ragan, Chief of US Naval mission, Capitiao De Mar Naval Orlando Miller Brazilian Navy, and Almirante De Exquadra Jorge Do Paco Mattosa Maia, Ministra De estado Dos Megacious Da Marinha came on board to return the official calls of COMSOLANT.
It became apparent to the crew that this just wasn’t a liberty stop. The first clue being the many dignitaries for which the crew and to get the ship into tip-top shape. For what? For people that wouldn’t know a deck if they stepped on one. 4 March was spent preparing for the masses. Tomorrow would find the ship invaded by hundreds of Brazilian civilians anxious to see America’s newest fighting ship.
But first things first. First – liberty call, liberty call! BM3 Jonathan “DD” Kramer couldn’t wait to hit the beach. It had only been eight months and they were back in Rio. Was he living right or what?
“Hey Landowsky you got liberty?” hollered Kramer.
“Does the bear sh-t in the woods? What do you think we should do?” answered Landowsky.
“You mean, WHERE should we go don’t you?”
“You think’in what I’m think’in DD?”
“Probably. Rat & Raven here we come baby!!” screamed Kramer, “I can’t f-ckin’ wait!”
“Do you think he still works there?” questioned Landowsky.
“Hell Lanny they’ll bury Cappel in that place.” Adding, “You seen Doc?”
“That’s who I was looking for when you yelled”
“Good, you go find Doc and I’ll round up Bobby and Duke. We’ll meet you on the pier at 1600.”
To be continued...
BTW, the names were changed to protect the innocent
Cheers,
Woody
Maneuvers and ASW exercises continued while in route to Rio. In column formation with Mullinnix in station 1, Van Voorhis in station 2, Lester in station 3, Taussig in station 4, and Spikefish in Station 5 on course 288T at speed of 8 knots, the ships entered Rio de Janeiro Harbor passing De Sao Cruz abeam to starboard, De Sao Joao abeam to port on 3 March. At 0759 a tug delivered civilian Pilot Capt. V. Ginheiro came on board. Passing De Villegagnon Mullinnix rendered honors and fired a 21 Gun Salute to the Nation of Brazil, braking the Brazilian flag at the main truck. The Brazilian Navy returned the 21 gun salute from Enxadas Island. At 0906 Mullinnix was moored portside to Finger pier at Praca Maua, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with standard mooring lines.
COMSOLANT left the ship to call officially on the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, Chief of the US Naval Mission, Commander-in-Chief of the Brazilian Navy, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, and Commander Brazilian First Naval District. Later than afternoon Contra-Almirante Helio Garnier Sampaio Brazilian Navy, Rear Admiral T.C. Ragan, Chief of US Naval mission, Capitiao De Mar Naval Orlando Miller Brazilian Navy, and Almirante De Exquadra Jorge Do Paco Mattosa Maia, Ministra De estado Dos Megacious Da Marinha came on board to return the official calls of COMSOLANT.
It became apparent to the crew that this just wasn’t a liberty stop. The first clue being the many dignitaries for which the crew and to get the ship into tip-top shape. For what? For people that wouldn’t know a deck if they stepped on one. 4 March was spent preparing for the masses. Tomorrow would find the ship invaded by hundreds of Brazilian civilians anxious to see America’s newest fighting ship.
But first things first. First – liberty call, liberty call! BM3 Jonathan “DD” Kramer couldn’t wait to hit the beach. It had only been eight months and they were back in Rio. Was he living right or what?
“Hey Landowsky you got liberty?” hollered Kramer.
“Does the bear sh-t in the woods? What do you think we should do?” answered Landowsky.
“You mean, WHERE should we go don’t you?”
“You think’in what I’m think’in DD?”
“Probably. Rat & Raven here we come baby!!” screamed Kramer, “I can’t f-ckin’ wait!”
“Do you think he still works there?” questioned Landowsky.
“Hell Lanny they’ll bury Cappel in that place.” Adding, “You seen Doc?”
“That’s who I was looking for when you yelled”
“Good, you go find Doc and I’ll round up Bobby and Duke. We’ll meet you on the pier at 1600.”
To be continued...
BTW, the names were changed to protect the innocent
Cheers,
Woody
posted by Frank A. Wood at 09:31
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