50 Years Ago Yesterday – Mullinnix leaves La Spezia, Italy

Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
While in Naples, on 3 July 1961, Commander William H. Shaw USN, relieved Commander Hill as Commanding Officer, to become the ship’s third skipper. She was once again underway on 5 July to rejoined the fleet. She was ordered from operations in the Western Mediterranean to La Spezia, Italy in accordance with CTF 60 OP-ORDER 55-61 on the midwatch of 10 July, mooring starboard side to USS D.H. Fox DD-779 and USS Shenandoah AD-26 at 0803.
At 2008 on 22 July, Mullinnix slipped away from the pier, enroute to Aranci Bay, Sardinia, anchoring at ZULU 17 in Aranci Bay at 0618 the following morning. She left her berth at 1830 later the same day.
Mullinnix participated in NATO exercise “South Wind” air and anti-submarine operations on 27 July, focusing on anti-submarine attacks. After day after day of long never ending exercises, refueling, and what the crew felt was a general ‘screwing around’ in the Med, the ship was ordered to head to St. Jean, France on 29 July, anchoring at 0801.
To be continued...
Woody