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 Leaves Eregli, Turkey / Arrives Samsun, Turkey
Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
The following morning, with the anchor aweigh at 0925 and the Captain on the conn, the ship headed to Samsun, Turkey, dropping anchor in this port at 0743 on 27 March.
At 0830, The Chief of Security, Samsun, Turkey, representig the Governor, made an official call on Captain John H. Carmichael, USN, COMDESRON 32. As customary, Mullinnix rendered honors. At 0921, COMDESRON 32 left the ship to call officially on the Governor, Samsun, Turkey and to lay a wreath at the monument of Ataturk. Later in the day, the Governor of Samsun returned the official call of COMDESRON 32.
Samsun, a relatively small village, is the provincial capital of Samsun Province and a major Black Sea port. Samsun is a long city that extends along the coast between two river deltas which jut into the Black Sea. It is located at the end of an ancient route from Cappadocia: the Amisos of antiquity lay on the headland northwest of the modern city. To Samsun's west, lies the Kızılırmak ("Red River", the Halys of antiquity), one of the longest rivers in Anatolia and its fertile delta. To the east, lie the Yeşilırmak ("Green River", the Iris of antiquity) and its delta
The US Air Force Radar site detachment invited Mullinnix for dinner and a softball game. The detachment was somewhat surprised to learn (the hard way) that the Mighty Mux had one hell of a softball team. A team, that would be invited to the All European Softball tournament in Naples, Italy later that year
The detachment’s surprised the Mux team when they brought out their mascot – a huge brown bar named Ivan. Ivan, like the service men, was fond of beer. Between softball, beer, and Ivan, the crew had a couple hours in which home was just a little closer in their hearts and minds.
The ship was underway the following morning for Istanbul, Turkey. Darkened ship was ordered with the exception of navigational lights, typical operations in this part of the world. Their Russian escort picked them up just outside the harbor and accompanied the ship back to the Straights. Before entering Istanbul harbor, the ship refueled from USS Salamonie AO-26. She anchored in Istanbul Harbor at 1121
50 Years Ago Today – Mullinnix Steams into the Aegean Sea
Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
With multiple daily sonar contacts, Mullinnix steamed into the Aegean Sea during the midwatch on Saturday, 18 March. After receiving fuel from USS Pawcatuck AO-108, Mullinnix spent the afternoon simulating attacks on US Trutta SS-421.
She began transit of the Dardanelles at 1408 on 23 March. Uyasbaba Burnu light was bearing 358, distance 1.7 miles. By the midwatch on 24 March, she had entered the Sea of Marmara.
At 0010 she suddenly changed her course to avoid an unidentified radar. A Russian cruiser - began ‘escorting’ Mullinnix literally side-by-side. If she slowed, the Russia ship slowed, if Mullinnix sped up, so did the Russians. Late in the afternoon, the Mux skipper decided to perform a little ‘research’. The CO called the engine room and ordered them, “stand by to answer all bells!” Slowly the skipper started increasing speed until the ship was near flank speed, with the Russian still welded by her side. Then the captain ordered, “all back and hard right rudder!” Mullinnix started shuddering and shaking but came to a screeching halt as she turned around a full 180 degrees and steamed at flank speed the other way. The larger, heavier Russian ship was caught off guard, flying past Mullinnix. It took the Russians a 5-mile wide turn and almost 45 minutes to regain thier station ‘shadowing’ the US destroyer side-by-side once again.
This sort of ‘exercise’ does wonders for ship moral, hence the Mullinnix CO performed the maneuver several more times.
At 0408 the Yesilkos Aero beacon was sighted and at 0425 the Yesilkey Light was sighted. By 0650, the Captain was maneuvering the ship into Istanbul Harbor. With the aid of a local navigator on the bridge, she bypassed Istanbul and completed transit of the Bosporus Straight, entering the Black Sea at 0918 on course 034, speed 15 knots. Within 2 minutes, USS Hawkins DD-873 and Mullinnix were performed a light line transfer. Hawkins and Mullinnix anchored in Eregli Harbor, Eregli, Turkey at 0801 on 25 March.
50 Years Ago Today – Mullinnix Departs Cannes, France
Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
Mullinnix left Riviera good times, new female friendships, and even a couple broken hearts, as she got underway at 0701 on 10 March, enroute to Augusta Bay, Sicily as a unit of TU 60.21 in accordance with COMCARDIV 4 OP-ORDER 52-61.
Saturday, 11 March found Mullinnix proceeding to rendezvous with the replenishment group. First up was replenishment by helicopter from USS Altair AKS-32, receiving 6 net loads. This was followed by fuel transfer from USS Salamonie AO-26 and then an ammunition transfer drill with USS Shasta AE-6. At 1427 she took on provisions from USS Rigel AF-58 and finally a light line transfer with USS Moale DD-793.
While steaming in the Tyrrhenian Sea, LTJG D. M. Whitt returned aboard to resume his regular duties afer completing his TAD at Key West, Florida. On 13 March the shipped anchored at 0736 in Golfo di Catonia Bay, Sicily in 15 fathoms of water. MMI K. Reid was transferred to USS Shangri-LA CVA-38 with appendicitis. Mullinnix was back underway by 2030 for fleet operations and enroute to Istanbul, Turkey.
Operating in the Ionian Sea of the coast of Sicily, the ship had to suspend training to investigate an intermittent radar and ECM contact. The ASW attack team was stationed at 1343. As is common, the vast majority of these contacts never materialize into much. However, with the Russian in the same waters performing the same type training, you have to treat each one as real. No one ever knows, but this contact could have been Russian that managed to slip away at the last minute due to their training and drills. More than likely it was the USS Sea Cat SS-399 playing cat-a-mouse with her own destroyers. Mullinnix secured the ASW team and shut down the steam to the port shaft, a maneuver called “port shaft trailing”. This changes the sonar-marking that is unique to every ship in the world.
50 Years Ago Today – Mullinnix Departs Naples, Italy
Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
With the aid of civilian pilot Captain Cocorulio, she got underway from Naples at 0715 on Friday, 3 March. Before the end of the midwatch on 4 March, Mullinnix was operating in the Tyrrhenian Sea. At 0915 she transferred two German officers from USS Little Rock CLG-4.
“Here come the Krauts”, announced FTG3 Smythe as twin-trails of smoke leaked from his nostrils.
“Yep, just think. Less than 16 years ago, we were kick’in their ass all the way back to Berlin”, figured Smythe’s buddy McGhee.
GQ was sounded at 1300, setting material condition ZEBRA. At 1339, the ship conducted ABC defense drills.
“I don’t know about you, but these drills scare the shit out of me”, said Smythe. “Why’s that?” asked McGhee.
“Spooky. They’re just damn spooky. You know what ABC stands for, right?”
“Atomic Bacterial Chemical attack. Why?” Answered McGhee. “Tell me somethin’. We’re on a ship with 3 5” guns, 2 double-barrel 3”, and a couple torpedo tubes.”
“So?”
How in the fuck are we suppose to survive a fuck’in A-bomb? Or a fuck’in bug attack or some fuck’in-ass chemical, huh? Tell me that.”
“We don’t.”
“What?”
“We don’t. We take one for the bigger ships – like the carrier”, said McGhee.
“Fuck me. Fuck me. Fuck me. I need a smoke”, Smythe answered.
“Smoking lamp is out.”
“Like a said, spooky. Here I am practice’n how to turn green inside, or out, or both, and the Navy tells me I can’t smoke. Fuck me…”
Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
