Frank A. Wood is an author of military trillers and historical fiction. Last Gunship...is his personnel account of experiences in Nam in 1972. Destruction, exhaustion, humor, and terror is shown from someone pulling the trigger and killing on a daily basis. A book for adult historians.
In the face of such tragedies, stories perhaps, are the best memorials we have. In unflinching detail through vivid and poignant language, the author leaves nothing to the imagination.
50 Years Ago Today – Mullinnix Arrives In Naples, Italy
Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
Upon receiving 52, 462 gallons NSFO from USS Severn on 23 February, Mullinnix steamed towards Naples, Italy arriving at 0920 being Mediterranean moored at berth 72, Molo Angioino, Naples.
Much has been said about the hurricane bow of the Forrest Sherman Class. Many Tin Can Sailors stationed on older ships noticed as well. Sonny Walker, VP, Laffey Association (USS Laffey DD-724), recalls the 1961 Med Cruise, stated, “We were in DESRON 32 and the Mullinnix was our flag ship. We envied that high bow when the weather got rough.”
USS Laffey is significant because of her action on 16 April 1945, when she fought one of the most famous destroyer-kamikaze duels of the Pacific War. She was attacked by 22 Japanese kamikazes and bombers in the span of ninety minutes. She managed to shoot down 11 of the attacking planes while being hit by five kamikazes and two bombs killing 32 and wounding 71 of her crew. For this action she was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation
50 Years Ago Today – Mullinnix Experiences Low Water Casualty in 2B Boiler
Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
On a ship, problems are never fixed. Ships are like a marriage – you’re never done making it better. While on exercises on 18 February, Mullinnix experienced a low water casualty in 2B boiler. She had to reduce speed to 20 knots with the fires were secured under the boiler. The engineers quickly cross-connected the main engineering plant while the BTs relit the fires under 2B. Once the boiler was brought back on line, the ship returned her speed to 27 knots. That evening she supported the Forrestal while the carrier performed flight operations.
Chaos theory attempts to explain the fact that complex and unpredictable results can and will occur in systems that are sensitive to their initial conditions. A common example of this is known as the Butterfly Effect. It states that, in theory, the flutter of a butterfly's wings in China could, in fact, actually affect weather patterns in New York City, thousands of miles away. In other words, it is possible that a very small occurrence can produce unpredictable and sometimes drastic results by triggering a series of increasingly significant events. On Monday, 20 February, Mullinnix and Fox had just taken up their plane guard stations astern of Forrestal, when at 1713 one of Forrestal’s fighter aircraft crashed into the sea off the port bow and sank. Was a butterfly responsible? Or was it insane to imagine that a single flap of a single seagull's wings would be enough to change the course of all future weather systems on the earth, and therefore Naval in-flight technical problems? Inevitable. Fate. Terms used by the Navy when carrying out their mission. The pilot, thankfully, was recovered by helicopter six minutes later.
In the early dawn light of 21 February, Mullinnix took on 64,035 gallons NSFO (Navy Special Fuel Oil) from USS Severn AO-61. Several hours later, a second special sea detail with USS Severn delivered mail to the Mux crew. Later, as the sun dipped below the horizon, USS Forrestal commenced flight operations with Mullinnix standing plane guard detail.
Shortly after midnight the ship passed through the Straits of Bonifacio enroute to rendezvous with units of Task Force 60 in accordance with COMCARDIV 6 OP-ORDER 51-61, followed closely by USS M.C. Fox DDR-829 and USS Forrestal. At 0744 she anchored in Golfo degli Aranci, Sardinia with the following ships:
• USS Springfield CLG-7 • USS Forrestal CVA-59 • USS Shangri La CVA-38 • USS Little Rock CLG-4 • USS Mississenewa AO-144 • USS Neosho AO-143 • USS Severn AO-61 • USS Shasta AE-6 • USS Suribachi AE-21 • USS Bigelow DD-942 • USS Mitscher DL-2 • USS Sumner DD-692 • USS D. H. Fox DD-799 • USS Corporal SS-346
Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
At 1221 on 11 February, the ship proceeded to Rota, Spain for a brief refueling stop, mooring starboard side to a fuel pier. At 1935, the ship was once again underway for Pollensa Bay, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain. Shorty after the midwatch on the 12th, the ship passed through the highly congested Straits of Gibraltar, joining an Attack Carrier Striking Group which lay at anchor in Pollensa Bay at the northwest corner of Mallorca.
That morning, the fog lookouts were stationed at 1042. The bank rolled in like melted marshmallows on a never ending black-jack branch, appearing like a horizontal strip made by an artist’s #3 brush. Mullinnix crept through the fog as the visibility was practically zero. Occasionally the lookouts could hear a foghorn from one of the other ships. While still immersed in the fog, the ship stationed the ASW attack team at 1144 to pursue a detected sonar contact bearing 037, distance 4500 yards. She broke off the search about one hour later as the contacted was evaluated to be non-submarine.
On the morning of 13 February at 0758 she was anchored in Pollensa Bay in eight fathoms of water with a seaweed bottom. Her sister ship USS Davis DD-937 was received alongside to starboard a short time later. Mullinnix took on 15 rounds 5”/54 BL and P projectiles and 20 rounds VT non-frag from Davis. By 1614 she was underway once again to refuel from USS Truckee AO-147 then to rendezvous with USS Springfield CLG-7. Later that day, in conjunction with USS Saratoga CVA-60, the ship participated in ECM exercises.
At 0435 on 15 February, the ship was ordered to turn off all navigational lights. While darkened, she corrected course to 180 degrees by sinuous course clock, cam 1 and commenced turn count masking while Springfield and Shenandoah stood by. At 0823, the crew was treated to a rare eclipse of the sun. As the sun ebbed behind the moon, the resultant shadow raced towards the Mullinnix like a blanket. In moments, the sun was three-quarters gone and the sea was sucking up the remaining light. The ship was in near darkness. The surface of the water was the color of tarnished bronze. The glow of the dying sunset filtered dimly onto the decks. By early Thursday, 16 February, Mullinnix was steaming with Task Unit 60.1.9 that was composed of Springfield, Saratoga, USS Des Moines CA-134, USS O’Hara DDR-889, USS Stickell DDR-888, USS Cecil DDR-835, USS Steinaker DDR-863, USS Corry DDR-817, USS Wood DDR-715, and USS Leary DDR-879. At 0410, Mullinnix and O’Hara were detached from the group to conduct an ASW sweep. Midwatch until pre-dawn, with the aroma of strong coffee, the lifeblood of the Navy, permeated everywhere.
There’s nothing like the feeling on a ship at sea at night - the masthead lights, the red and green navigation lights and stern light, the pulsating phosphorescence of radar repeaters - they cut through the dusk and join with the mirror of stars overhead. The drifting off to sleep (assuming you’re not on watch) lulled by the myriad noises large and small that tell you that your ship is alive and well, and that your shipmates on watch will keep you safe.
When finished with the exercises a few hours later, she was anchored back in Pollensa Bay by 0803. She spent the night at anchor with various ships of the Sixth Fleet including USS Mississinewa AO-144, USS Dewey DLG-14, and USS Forrestal CVA-59, steaming once again at 1414 the following day.
Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
Thursday, 2 February – a day that single, divorced, and unhappy sailors live for. The same day that makes family men, and their families, gloomy. Can anyone say, “Med Cruise?” In accordance with CDS 32 OP-ORDER 1-61, as a unit of TG 25.2, Mullinnix pulled away from her berth at D&S piers headed for Rota, Spain, entering international waters at 1145. She would be gone 7 months as the flagship of Destroyer Squadron Thirty Two. Seaman Recruit Jack Rothwell would have to catch up with his ship at a later date having been AWOL since 4 January.
These operations by the U.S. Sixth Fleet were such that peaceful and progressive relations were furthered with countries bordering the sea. European and Middle Eastern areas were stabilized by the sea based defensive forces, and the crew was ready to assist these neighbor nations in distress or too retaliated in defense of the United States.
Shore visits as well as underway periods for Mullinnix were utilized in support of these objectives. Diverse visits by the ship to major ports in France, Italy, Spain, Greece and Turkey assisted the President’s “People to People” Program, as well as providing time for relaxation in preparation for the extensive at-sea periods.
While underway, Mullinnix participated in all phases of air defense, anti-submarine, gunnery, amphibious and replenishment operations, as well as innumerable drills and competitive exercises in communications, engineering and damage control. Repeated participation in those activities led to increased operational readiness and better individual performances by the ship and he crew. While deployed to the Sixth Fleet, Mullinnix won excellence awards from Commander Destroyer Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet for outstanding performance in communications, operations, gunnery, and anti-submarine warfare.
By the next day, Task Group 25.2 was completed and included Mullinnix, USS Shenandoah AD-26, USS Suribachi AE-21, and DESRON 32 less USS Lowry DD-770 and USS Stormes DD-780.
The Atlantic in February just might be the ugliest sailor-unfriendly sea in the world. Howling wind, driving rain and sleet, mountainous waves of icy salt water coined the phrase, "pity the poor sailor on a night like this!"
McGhee and Smythe were grabbing a quick smoke on the 01 level, just forward, and above, the aft 3-in gun mount. It was a gray, raw morning with low clouds beginning to spit frozen rain. Two long banks of dark clouds with serrated edges straddled the horizon towards the sea. The sea was a heavy chop and the water was gray-green. Glancing down at the twin barrels of MT32, Smythe commented, “Fuck, there’s icicles hanging off the barrels.” With Mullinnix running more or less with the wind, McGhee pointed to the dimpled surfaces of snow that were started to form on the decks of the ship. A snow storm at sea - you didn’t see that every day. Within two drags of their smokes, it started snowing so hard the pair couldn’t see MT53 from where they stood. Smythe squinted against the stinging cold and took in the vague halos of the running lights. Taking a final drag and flicking his butt overboard, McGhee said, “Let’s get the fuck inside. It’s time to hit the maintenance schedule on the radar. Chief wants it completed before we see Spain.” They walked to the starboard hatch, opening it to a gust of warm air so heavy with moisture it seemed to have come from a humidifier, not the ship’s insides.
