50 Years Ago Today – DESRON 32 Hoists Pennant Aboard Mullinnix

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

On 16 August, Captain J. H. Carmichael assumed command of DESRON 32 and hoisted his pennant aboard Mullinnix. A one week tender availability was completed on 22 August. That date, the ship got underway to participate in FALLEX WARMUP, a brief exercise in preparation for the NATO FALL EXERCISES of 1960. No rest, so it seemed, for the sailors abroad the Mux.

By the midwatch on an early Tuesday morning, 23 August, Mullinnix was steaming in the company of USS Northampton CLC-1, USS Norfolk DL-1 (the first destroyer leader of the United States Navy), USS Elokomin AO-55, USS Truckee AO-147, DESRON 32 minus the ships Stormes and Lowry, USS Wallace L. Lind DD-703, USS Macon CA-132 (she would be decommissioned the following March), and USS J. C. Owens DD-776 operating off the Virginia Capes in accordance with COMCARDIV SIX OP-ORDER 57-60.

Northampton was part of the US Government's plan for continuity of government and reported to be a "floating White House" to which the President could be evacuated in the event of nuclear attack. As such she was designated as part of NECPA, National Emergency Command Post Afloat. The USS Wright was her sister ship and also designated part of NECPA. The ship was modified with an extra deck, the tallest communications mast in the Navy and multi-link communications gear.
The ships were participating in submarine screening exercises and barrier patrols in preparation for the upcoming NATO exercises. Mullinnix returned to Norfolk midday on 27 August. She spent the day on 29 August, loading ammunition from YF378 at anchorage EX2, returning to D&S later in the day.

To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody

50 Years Ago Today - Mullinnix Prepares For “Final Exam” in Gitmo

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

The ‘final exam’ was on 10 August with the ship teeming with Fleet Training Group observers watching their every move and decision. The exam began with the stationing of the low visibility navigation team at 0749. Once in the open sea the real test began. The Mullinnix would face an ORI battle problem – maneuvering on various courses and speeds while conducting drills under simulated wartime fighting conditions. The bridge suffered a direct hit at 1044, forcing steering to be shifted to after steering – using hand steering power. Shortly there after she set material condition CIRCLE WHISKEY – in preparation for a underwater nuclear burst.

After the Operational Readiness Inspection on 11 August, Mullinnix had completed her Refresher Training. The morning of 12 August, the Mighty Mux was headed back to Norfolk and a welcomed rest. By 1430 on 14 August the crew found themselves at D&S pier #21.

To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody

48 Years Ago Today - Mullinnix Crew Looses Marilyn Monroe

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

The crew didn’t know, but on 5 August, they’d lost one of their all-time favorite movie stars, pinup girls, and Playboy cover girl. Screen icon Marilyn Monroe had been found dead in bed at her Los Angeles home. The 36-year-old actress' body was discovered in the early hours of the morning by two doctors who were called to her Brentwood home by a concerned housekeeper. The doctors were forced to break into Miss Monroe's bedroom after being unable to open the door. She was found lying naked in her bed with an empty bottle of Nembutal sleeping pills by her side. The local coroner, who visited the scene later, said the circumstances of Miss Monroe's death indicated a "possible suicide".

Her 1954 marriage to baseball star Joe DiMaggio lasted just nine months and on 29 June 1956 the star married playwright Arthur Miller. But that marriage ended in 1961. Miss Monroe's romantic life has long been the subject of speculation and she has been linked with President Kennedy. Millions of fans around the world would be deeply shocked by the star's premature and tragic death.

An occasional first issue of Playboy would periodically appear somewhere on the ship – only briefly, only on rare occasions, but there existed ‘more than one copy’ stowed away in small safe cervices that only their owner knew where. Her likeness would appear on five additional Playboy covers in the coming years.

Just because the crew was in daily exercises didn’t mean the ship’s equipment couldn’t, nor wouldn’t break down. At 1310 on 9 August, the ship had to shift steering compass repeaters to the MK23 master gyrocompass due to erratic operations if the MK19 Gyrocompass.

To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody