50 Years Ago This Month - Mullinnix News...
Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood)
Heading home. Standing on the bridge wing at sunset with salt spray in your face and sharp ocean winds whipping from the oceans of the globe - the ship beneath you feeling like a living thing as her engines drive her through the sea towards home port. At sea, time is suspended. Time passes both very slowly, then so fast when the next port of call, and liberty, arrive. The days at sea are immediately forgotten, replaced with fights, brushes with the local law. Even love affairs, fueled by the collective imaginations of the crew and fanned by the salt-flecked wind, would burn away as quickly as an early morning fog when once again the Mullinnix inched away from the pier.
“Did I really tell that big breasted bartender I lover her?” Bostic asked Lister. “Did I really give her my home address? Did I really ask her to spend the rest of her life with me?”
“Yes you did, you stupid f-ck!” answered Lister.
The Mullinnix wasn’t the first Navy ship in that port, nor would she be the last. The girls understood the code. The code excused sailors’ indiscretions on liberty – DCOL – ‘doesn’t count on liberty’.
The ocean was dark and flecked with white caps. A few tattered clouds drifted across the blue sky, as Bostic, Lister and their shipmates, with a life time of memories and stories crammed into a couple months, steamed on a heading that would take them home.
To navigate the correct heading a ship needs its gyro. On 4 May, at 1002, the ship experienced a ‘gyro casualty’ to the MK 19 Gyro when the main sycnro amplifiers went out. Immediately the Captain ordered the ship to steer a magnetic course of 348T while the ship shifted to the MK 23 Gyro compass, steering course 342T. As was common place during the entire cruise, the crew’s training and expertise paid off once again. By 1008 they had the Mk 19 Gyro compass back in commission and the ship was steaming normally once again.
At 0042 on the morning of 5 May she sighted Currituck Light Bell Buoy 6. The morning mist cleared. A faint dome of light was rising in the east. The ship shuddered slightly as she swung onto her new course and turned to meet the bay. By 0508 she was maneuvering to conform to Thimble Shoals channel, passed Old Point Comfort and Fort Wool. The special sea detail was stationed at 0752 as the dawn took on the watery hue of a tequila sunrise. She passed Sewells Point at 0808 and moored twenty-four minutes later portside to the USS Stormes DD-780, in a nest of four destroyers and one tender at pier 20 berth 201, Destroyer Submarine Piers, US Naval Base, Norfolk, VA. Besides the Stormes, ships in the nest were USS Tidewater AD-31, USS Lowry DD-770, US Laffey DD-724. SOPA was COMASDEFORLANT. Captain Selden J. Small, Commander Destroyer Squadron Thirty Two, hoisted his pennant aboard Mullinnix.
As customary, two-thirds of the crew was given liberty. Some walked from the pier in the arms of loved ones – wives, sons, daughters, parents, brothers, sisters, and grandparents. Others, the liberty hounds, headed to the strip with the hopes to wash out the tastes and memories of South America with a cold American beer and a warm American girl.
Under a bright May sun, the crew said farewell to Seaman Andy Weckbacher on 13 May. Seaman Weckbacher was delivered, under armed guard to Camp Allen, US Naval Retraining Command, Norfolk, VA, for ‘safekeeping’. Just like that, unceremoniously, the rain-of-terror of one Andy Weckbacher was over. Seven days later Andy was founded guilty of violation of articles 86, 95, and 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and was awarded a special court martial. Farewell for good? Did the navy really appreciated the resourcefulness of Andy? Only time would tell.
During the next two months, Mullinnix participated in a Second Fleet Exercise, and a NATO exercise.
19 May found the Mullinnix in exercises in the Virginia Capes in accordance with COMDESFLOT 181948Z. She was accompanied by fellow second fleet veterans USS Northampton CLC-1, USS J.C. Owens DD-776, USS Fox DD-779, USS Stormes DD-780, USS Lowry DD-770, US Laffey DD-724, USS Strong DD-758, and USS Gyatt DDG-1 (Navy’s first guided-missile destroyer, converted in 1957 from DD-712 ). OTC was COMDESRON 32 (Captain S.C. Small, USN) on Mullinnix, SOPA was COMSECONDFLEET (VADM W.R. Smedberg, III) on Northampton.
In 1956, Northampton was a unit of the Navy’s first guided missile division afloat, CruDiv 6, in the first public demonstration of the Terrier missile system.
By 21 May, Mullinnix was steaming off the coast of Florida in company with Task Group 23.7 composed of Destroyer Squadron 32, USS Northampton CLC-1, USS Boston CAG-1, USS N.K. Perry DDR-883, USS Gyatt DDG-1, USS Goodrich DDR-831, and USS Turner DD-884 in Formation 40 in accordance with COMCARDIV 6 OPORDER 50-59. The OTC had been transferred to DESFLOT 6 (RADM A.H. Taylor) in N.K. Perry.
She refueled from USS Salamonie AO-26, receiving 32,239 gallons NSFO. Following refueling, she performed ammunition transfer from USS Suribachi AE-21. Mullinnix then executed life guard station duty astern of USS Nantahala AO-60 and USS Canisteo AO-59. On 22 May, the ships were joined by the main body consisting of USS Saratoga CVA-60 and USS Essex CVA-9. Following the repair of a steam leak in the main steam line, the formation was joined by USS Owens DD-776, USS Hank DD-702, USS Soley DD-707, USS English DD-696, USS W. L. Lind DD-703, sister-ship USS Blandy DD-943, and USS Berry DD-858. This massive fighting force was in accordance with COMCARDIV SIX OpOrder 50-59 and was under the leadership of COMSECONDFLT (SOPA) and COMCARDIVSIX (OTC), both in USS Saratoga CVA-60.
Mullinnix’ crew kept busy participating in helicopter details, drone recovery detail, plane guard detail for both Saratoga and Essex, refueling from Saratoga, and a highline transfer with USS Hank. On 24 May, the force was joined by USS J.R. Pierce DD-753, USS Turner DD-834, USS Barton DD-722. Operating off East Coast, the force practiced Zigzag Drill, steering sinuous course. This very active day was capped off by a man overboard on the USS Essex. The sailor was recovered without injury. The following day she kept busy with life guard station duty for the USS Chuckawan A0-100 and USS Shasta AE-6 as many of the ships refueled and rearmed.
Mullinnix participated in ASW exercises with the USS Runner SS-476 the morning of 26 May. Unfortunately the Runner bettered the Mullinnix and she was placed ‘out of action’ for the remainder of the day. Later that same afternoon, she participated in anti-aircraft and drone firing exercises while the crew was at GQ with readiness condition I and material condition ZEBRA set. With the sun’s last red ember on the horizon, the light, slanting as it set, cast its final rays upon signal bridge and stacks. Darken ship was set at 1858.
The following day was filled with ASW exercises including firing of the hedgehog batteries. Mullinnix practice circular screen maneuvers with several ships including USS Suribachi AE-21. The crew was allowed much rest as she continued in life guard station astern of USS Canisteo, refueled from Canisteo. Then disaster struck. While taking on mail the highline parted, sending the mail into the churning water.
The crew was once again at GQ for most of 28 May. Mux refueled from Canisteo again and successfully transferred personnel to USS Stormes and USS Saratoga. The powerful fleet returned to Norfolk on 30 May with Mullinnix moored starboard side to pier 23 berth 238, D&S Piers. USS Lowry moored alongside port to Mullinnix, followed by USS Hank and USS Lind. Before engineering could call it a day they took on 36,905 gallons of fuel.
Most of the summer was spent in Norfolk. There was training, both on and off the ship, transfer of personnel, new crew members reporting on board, repairs, preventive maintenance for stem to stern, drills, duty, more drills, and an occasional Captain’s Mass. Though home port is indeed home for a ship, a fighting ship like the Mullinnix doesn’t want to stay in home port too long. She gets antsy. She gets anxious. The sea is calling, Duty is calling. She was built to prowl the world looking for trouble and defending her country.
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
Heading home. Standing on the bridge wing at sunset with salt spray in your face and sharp ocean winds whipping from the oceans of the globe - the ship beneath you feeling like a living thing as her engines drive her through the sea towards home port. At sea, time is suspended. Time passes both very slowly, then so fast when the next port of call, and liberty, arrive. The days at sea are immediately forgotten, replaced with fights, brushes with the local law. Even love affairs, fueled by the collective imaginations of the crew and fanned by the salt-flecked wind, would burn away as quickly as an early morning fog when once again the Mullinnix inched away from the pier.
“Did I really tell that big breasted bartender I lover her?” Bostic asked Lister. “Did I really give her my home address? Did I really ask her to spend the rest of her life with me?”
“Yes you did, you stupid f-ck!” answered Lister.
The Mullinnix wasn’t the first Navy ship in that port, nor would she be the last. The girls understood the code. The code excused sailors’ indiscretions on liberty – DCOL – ‘doesn’t count on liberty’.
The ocean was dark and flecked with white caps. A few tattered clouds drifted across the blue sky, as Bostic, Lister and their shipmates, with a life time of memories and stories crammed into a couple months, steamed on a heading that would take them home.
To navigate the correct heading a ship needs its gyro. On 4 May, at 1002, the ship experienced a ‘gyro casualty’ to the MK 19 Gyro when the main sycnro amplifiers went out. Immediately the Captain ordered the ship to steer a magnetic course of 348T while the ship shifted to the MK 23 Gyro compass, steering course 342T. As was common place during the entire cruise, the crew’s training and expertise paid off once again. By 1008 they had the Mk 19 Gyro compass back in commission and the ship was steaming normally once again.
At 0042 on the morning of 5 May she sighted Currituck Light Bell Buoy 6. The morning mist cleared. A faint dome of light was rising in the east. The ship shuddered slightly as she swung onto her new course and turned to meet the bay. By 0508 she was maneuvering to conform to Thimble Shoals channel, passed Old Point Comfort and Fort Wool. The special sea detail was stationed at 0752 as the dawn took on the watery hue of a tequila sunrise. She passed Sewells Point at 0808 and moored twenty-four minutes later portside to the USS Stormes DD-780, in a nest of four destroyers and one tender at pier 20 berth 201, Destroyer Submarine Piers, US Naval Base, Norfolk, VA. Besides the Stormes, ships in the nest were USS Tidewater AD-31, USS Lowry DD-770, US Laffey DD-724. SOPA was COMASDEFORLANT. Captain Selden J. Small, Commander Destroyer Squadron Thirty Two, hoisted his pennant aboard Mullinnix.
As customary, two-thirds of the crew was given liberty. Some walked from the pier in the arms of loved ones – wives, sons, daughters, parents, brothers, sisters, and grandparents. Others, the liberty hounds, headed to the strip with the hopes to wash out the tastes and memories of South America with a cold American beer and a warm American girl.
Under a bright May sun, the crew said farewell to Seaman Andy Weckbacher on 13 May. Seaman Weckbacher was delivered, under armed guard to Camp Allen, US Naval Retraining Command, Norfolk, VA, for ‘safekeeping’. Just like that, unceremoniously, the rain-of-terror of one Andy Weckbacher was over. Seven days later Andy was founded guilty of violation of articles 86, 95, and 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and was awarded a special court martial. Farewell for good? Did the navy really appreciated the resourcefulness of Andy? Only time would tell.
During the next two months, Mullinnix participated in a Second Fleet Exercise, and a NATO exercise.
19 May found the Mullinnix in exercises in the Virginia Capes in accordance with COMDESFLOT 181948Z. She was accompanied by fellow second fleet veterans USS Northampton CLC-1, USS J.C. Owens DD-776, USS Fox DD-779, USS Stormes DD-780, USS Lowry DD-770, US Laffey DD-724, USS Strong DD-758, and USS Gyatt DDG-1 (Navy’s first guided-missile destroyer, converted in 1957 from DD-712 ). OTC was COMDESRON 32 (Captain S.C. Small, USN) on Mullinnix, SOPA was COMSECONDFLEET (VADM W.R. Smedberg, III) on Northampton.
In 1956, Northampton was a unit of the Navy’s first guided missile division afloat, CruDiv 6, in the first public demonstration of the Terrier missile system.
By 21 May, Mullinnix was steaming off the coast of Florida in company with Task Group 23.7 composed of Destroyer Squadron 32, USS Northampton CLC-1, USS Boston CAG-1, USS N.K. Perry DDR-883, USS Gyatt DDG-1, USS Goodrich DDR-831, and USS Turner DD-884 in Formation 40 in accordance with COMCARDIV 6 OPORDER 50-59. The OTC had been transferred to DESFLOT 6 (RADM A.H. Taylor) in N.K. Perry.
She refueled from USS Salamonie AO-26, receiving 32,239 gallons NSFO. Following refueling, she performed ammunition transfer from USS Suribachi AE-21. Mullinnix then executed life guard station duty astern of USS Nantahala AO-60 and USS Canisteo AO-59. On 22 May, the ships were joined by the main body consisting of USS Saratoga CVA-60 and USS Essex CVA-9. Following the repair of a steam leak in the main steam line, the formation was joined by USS Owens DD-776, USS Hank DD-702, USS Soley DD-707, USS English DD-696, USS W. L. Lind DD-703, sister-ship USS Blandy DD-943, and USS Berry DD-858. This massive fighting force was in accordance with COMCARDIV SIX OpOrder 50-59 and was under the leadership of COMSECONDFLT (SOPA) and COMCARDIVSIX (OTC), both in USS Saratoga CVA-60.
Mullinnix’ crew kept busy participating in helicopter details, drone recovery detail, plane guard detail for both Saratoga and Essex, refueling from Saratoga, and a highline transfer with USS Hank. On 24 May, the force was joined by USS J.R. Pierce DD-753, USS Turner DD-834, USS Barton DD-722. Operating off East Coast, the force practiced Zigzag Drill, steering sinuous course. This very active day was capped off by a man overboard on the USS Essex. The sailor was recovered without injury. The following day she kept busy with life guard station duty for the USS Chuckawan A0-100 and USS Shasta AE-6 as many of the ships refueled and rearmed.
Mullinnix participated in ASW exercises with the USS Runner SS-476 the morning of 26 May. Unfortunately the Runner bettered the Mullinnix and she was placed ‘out of action’ for the remainder of the day. Later that same afternoon, she participated in anti-aircraft and drone firing exercises while the crew was at GQ with readiness condition I and material condition ZEBRA set. With the sun’s last red ember on the horizon, the light, slanting as it set, cast its final rays upon signal bridge and stacks. Darken ship was set at 1858.
The following day was filled with ASW exercises including firing of the hedgehog batteries. Mullinnix practice circular screen maneuvers with several ships including USS Suribachi AE-21. The crew was allowed much rest as she continued in life guard station astern of USS Canisteo, refueled from Canisteo. Then disaster struck. While taking on mail the highline parted, sending the mail into the churning water.
The crew was once again at GQ for most of 28 May. Mux refueled from Canisteo again and successfully transferred personnel to USS Stormes and USS Saratoga. The powerful fleet returned to Norfolk on 30 May with Mullinnix moored starboard side to pier 23 berth 238, D&S Piers. USS Lowry moored alongside port to Mullinnix, followed by USS Hank and USS Lind. Before engineering could call it a day they took on 36,905 gallons of fuel.
Most of the summer was spent in Norfolk. There was training, both on and off the ship, transfer of personnel, new crew members reporting on board, repairs, preventive maintenance for stem to stern, drills, duty, more drills, and an occasional Captain’s Mass. Though home port is indeed home for a ship, a fighting ship like the Mullinnix doesn’t want to stay in home port too long. She gets antsy. She gets anxious. The sea is calling, Duty is calling. She was built to prowl the world looking for trouble and defending her country.
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
posted by Frank A. Wood at 08:52
0 comments
