37 Yrs Ago Today - Mullinnix leaves for Vietnam

USS Mullinnix DD-944, the Navy’s last all-gun destroyer, steamed out of Norfolk, VA enroute to Vietnam for what would be the last of her 3 cruises to that region of the world. This, in response to the North’s Easter Offensive. Checkout http://www.ussmullinnix.org/1972Vietnam.html for all the details of what my shipmates and I were all about. We were young, arrogant, and full of piss-and-vinegar, ready to depend this nation against the red horde…

Drink one for us,
Woody

50 Yrs Ago Today - Mullinnix Collides with SS Tibagy

Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood)

At 0410 on 9 April the lookouts sighted Cape Agostinho Light. In spite of the aid of civilian pilot Captain Lacera, Mullinnix collided with SS Tibagy as she was coming alongside the pier starboard side. Damage to the Tibagy was a four-inch gash in her steel hull about 30 feet aft from the port bow. Damage sustained by Mullinnix consisted of bending two collapsible lifeline stanchions near frame 202, starboard side. Fortunately their were no personnel casualties.

Once safely docked, RADM Stephan left the ship to call officially on Vice Admiral Martini, Commandante Brazilian third Naval district, the American consul to Recife, Edward R. Phelan, and the Mayor of Recife. That afternoon, in a show of alliance support, a two man working party was assigned from Mullinnix to effect repairs to the hull of the Tibagy.

To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody

50 Yrs Ago Tomorrow (4 April) - Mullinnix Leaves Mar del Plata, Argentina

Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood)

On 3 April, Mullinnix was underway from Mar del Plata to fuel from ARA tanker P. Delgara at anchorage in the harbor. The following morning, she bid a fond farewell to Mar del Plata, in route to Recife, Brazil, leaving without shipmates Green and Weckbacher.

The forecast was for six days of smooth sailing to Brazil. Somebody forgot to tell Mother Nature that. That afternoon the heavens opened up. How hard can it be to be a weatherman? The sky had gone gray, and the sea had gone coal black with it. Shafts of white light, like burning arrows, pierced the night sky. Groundswells burst on the bow in ropes of green and white foam. White caps, like bird wings, were visible all the way to the horizon. When the wind blew, the ocean changed shades of blue-black, as though it drew its color from the wind.

To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody