Benner (DD 807) - Naval Cruise Book

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. Qzil 'ei Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and soon arrived in Newport, Rhode Island, her new home port. In late 1950, BENNER h d ' ' ' ' ' ' was attac e to the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, she made cruises there in 1951 and again in 1952. In 1956, she shifted oceans again, returning with Destroyer Division 102 to the Paciic. Arrival in Long Beach, California was 28 June 1956. In March of the next year, BENNER departed on the first of a series of deployments to the Western Pacihc. Her ports-of-call included Pearl Harbor, Suva, Fiji Islands, and Melbourne. Australia. In 1957, 1958, and 1959 BENNER returned to various ports in the Far East for deployments, missions included assistance during anti-American riots in Tai Pei, Gperation Hardtack Cconducted between Bikini and Eniwetok atollsb, patrols through the Formosa Straits, and carrier escort operations with the HANCOCK, HORNET, and LEXINGTON. .

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SS BENNER DDR-80 HISTQRY The USS BENNER was launched on 30 November, 1944, at the Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. She was christened by Mrs. 3 Herman C. Benner, mother of Second Lieutenant Stanley G. Benner of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, whose name the ship bears. Lt. Benner was killed in action in October of 1942, while courageously leading his platoon against enemy forces on Guadalcanal. The BENNER is a Gearing Class Destroyer, originally displacing 2,250 tons. She is equipped with six 5 inch guns, four 3 inch guns, depth charges astern, sonar system for submarine detection, ahead- thrown hedgehogs for submarine destruction, and self-guided anti-submarine torpedoes. Later modifications included the addition of more air and surface search radar, and electronic detection devices, resulting in her designation as a radar picket Destroyer, and the addition of the R in her title. Today her primary mission is early detection and ,reporting of air-borne attacks, and guidance of striking and returning friendly aircraft. However, she still retains the many capabilities of other destroyer-types, including anti-air defense, surface and shore bombardment, and submarine detection and destruction. Her powerful steam plant enables her to maintain speeds of 32 knots for operations with fast carrier task forces. Fuel capacity at economical speeds gives her a cruising range of several thousand miles. Completely equipped with a distillation plant, tons of stored provisions, over twenty thousand spare parts, and complex electronic communications systems, she is able to operate as a self-contained independent unit for extended periods of time. Following her launching in 1944, the BENNER was commissioned in Boston, Massachusetts, where she took on her first skipper, Commander John Munhollan. She journeyed swiftly toward Cuba, where she completed her shakedown training at Guantanamo Bay. Flying the pennant of Commander Destroyer Division TWENTY, BENNER sailed through the Panama Canal for duty with the U.S. Pacific Fleet in the spring of 1945. In July of 1945, BENNER sailed westward from Pearl Harbor, escorting a Carrier to the front. She saw action against Wake Island while operating with the carrier, and in August of 1945, success- fully fought off a Kamikaze attack in the waters east of Honshu, Japan. . After the war's conclusion, BENNER continued to work in the Pacific, destroying drifting mines, screening the return of larger ships, and working with Task Force 38, until her assignment to the Atlantic Fleet in May of 1949. She made the long voyage from San Diego via Panama Canal, .bb

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COMMA DI G FH ER JOSEPH B. DRACHNIK COMMANDER U. S. NAVY Commander Joseph B. Drachnik was born in Ross, California on 11 June 1919. He spent his early years in Vacaville, California, and enter- ed the University of California at Berkeley upon completion of high school. In his sophomore year, he Won a Congressional appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy through a competitive exami- nation, and Was commissioned as Ensign in June of 1942. He reported to his first ship, the USS ZANE CDMS-14D in the Coral Sea on 3 August, 1942, Where he participated in the invasion of Guadalcanal tvvo days later. ENS Drachnik's second shipboard Watch was the midwatch during which the first battle of Savo Island took place. Upon returning to the United States in the fall of 1943, he reported aboard the USS ALLEN M. SUMNER QDD-6925, his duties included Fire Control Officer, Gunnery, and 18 months as Executive Officer. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 1 June 1944. In April of 1947, LT. Drachnik left the SUMNER for command of the USS QUAPAW QATF-1105, a unit of the Service Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. His subsequent duties included: Staff, General Line School, Monterey, California, Flag Lieutenant to Commander Battleship Cruiser Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet, during which tour he participated in the ungrouding of the USS MISSOURI in Hampton Roads, and as aide to Rear Admirals Allen E. Smith and J.L. Holloway, jr. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on 1 August 1950. The Cruiser USS DES MOINES QCA-1435 was his next sea duty, where he served as Gunnery Officer during the year 1952. He left the DES MOINES in early 1953 for his Second Command the USS LIDDLE QAPD-GOD, a ship of the Atlantic Fleet Amphibious forces. A year later he was ordered to the staff of vice Admiral Fahrion, commander Amphibious Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, where he served in the Operations and Plans Division. He was promoted to Commander on 1 June 1955. Prior to assuming command of the USS BENNER on 21 August 1959, Commander Drachnik was on the staff of the U.S. Navy Post-Graduate School, Monterey, California, as instructor in Operational Planning, Tactics, and Amphibious Operations. Commander Drachnik considers his home tO. be Monterey, California. He married Miss Cay Weston of Kansas City, MiSS0L1fi ln 19453 they have two children: Denise Elaine, age 8 and Kenneth John, age 4- The Drachnik family currently resides in the Rossmoor District in Los Alamitos, California.