50 Years Ago Today - Mullinnix Arrives in Trinidad, British West Indies

Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood Steaming at 18 knots the Mullinnix test fired her 40mm saluting batteries at 1315 on 18 August. At 2046 on 19 August the two ships sighted Cape Rojo Light, Puerto Rico bearing 117, distance 27 miles. By the midwatch, the ships were steaming in the Caribbean Sea enroute to Trinidad, British West Indies, arriving at 0857 on 21 August. The ship moored port side to Pier 2, US Naval Operating Base, Trinidad. It had been since 1959 that Mullinnix and visited this beautiful port city. Time, as the old saying promised, had indeed marched on. Kevin Bostic and Barry Lister had both moved on with their careers and lives. The story of them finding and saving Master Chief Smalls from the voodoo worshipers however, still lived on during bullshit sessions, hot cups of joe, and smokes on the fantail. Chief Smalls had retired and later died. Rumor had it he’d drank himself to death. FTG2 Howard McGee had been transferred to an oiler with its one and only 5” gun mount. He’d bitch about it the whole time saying the FTGs were born to be on fighting ships not support ships. Though he never said it out loud, the real truth was he was going to miss his old pal Brian Smythe. Truth be known, McGee was scared to death they’d never see each other again. Brian Smythe was now the 2nd class FTG in Main Battery Plot having been promoted. He didn’t much care and was having trouble deciding whether to make a career out of this shit or not. The Mux just wasn’t the same without his mate McGee. Ah the times they had had. Smythe chuckled out loud, remembering the one-legged woman in Antwerp, Begium. Would he ever again have a friend that he was as close to? Probably not. To be continued... Woody