Benner (DD 807) - Naval Cruise Book

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HIP' HISTCRY The USS BENNER QDD-8075 was built by Bath Iron Works of Bath, Maine, launched on 20 November 1944 and commissioned on 13 February 1945. She was named after Second Lieutenant Stanley G. BENNER , USMCR, who won the Silver Star medal posthumously for displaying courageous de- termination is leading his platoon against greatly superior enemy forces at Point Lunga, Guadalcanal, and Solomon Islands. Upon commissioning, the ship was converted from a destroyer to a Radar Picket Destroyer whose primary job is to steam ahead of a Task Force and warn the main body of the approaching enemy. This was accomplished during the next several months, and on 8 June 1945 BENNER sailed through the Panama Canal for duty with the U.S. Pacific Fleet. On 26 July 1945 she joined Task Group 38.3 then operating in the home waters of the Japanese Empire. For the remainder of the war, BENNER per- formed duties of screening fast carriers and delivering mail and freight. On one of the strike days , 9 August 1945, the ship received her Baptism by Kamikaze . During that afternoon the Task Force fought off numerous savage suicide attacks. Nearby ships were hit, but BENNER, putting up an effective screen of anti-aircraft fire, escaped damage. BENNER continued her activities until she anchored in Tokyo Bay at the close of the war in September 1945. From that time until 1949, BENNER remained a ship of the Pacific Fleet. In 1949 BENNER changed her home port to Newport, Rhode Island and became a member of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. During the next seven years, she made three cruises to the Mediterranean, one to the Arctic, and one to South America, In 1956 BENNER returned to the Pacific Fleet, being homeported in Long Beach as a member of Destroyer Squadron NINE, Since then the ship has participated in training exercises off the California Coast and made six cruises to the Far East. During these cruises, BENNER operates with the powerful Seventh Fleet, the Nation's deployed striking force and visits many interesting countries, including Hawaii, Hong Kong , Philippine Islands , Japan, Okinawa, and other Far East Ports. Following a year of intensive fleet operations in the Eastern Pacific,including a cold weather trip to Alaska, BENNER entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard in June 1962 for a Fleet Rehabilitation and Moderization overhaul fFRAM MK ID. UP011 completion BENNER was transferred t0 Destroyer Squadron TWENTY-THREE, the famed Little Beaver Squadron, formerly commanded by Arleigh A. BURKE. Upon completion of FRAM MK II, OH 15 February 1963, BENNER departed Long Beach Naval Shipyard for two months of refresher training, After refresher training BENNER joined CARDIV NINETEEN with DESVID 232 and commenced extensive ASW training in order to be prepared for the forthcoming WESTPAC deployment.

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I dll g'X. -.... Marty's General Store. Another BENNER payday. Behind the scenes! 'S- l ,sn-5 Where's that case of frozen enchi11ada's I ordered? Stereo headquarters- 'ri

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Early in August BENNER sailed with CARDIV NINETEEN for an Alaskan visit. Enroute BENNER stopped in Seattle, Washington in order to join in the annual Seafair festivities. While in Alaska, BENNER visited the capital, Juneau. BENNER also visited the island of Kodiak before returning to her homeport of Long Beach. As Part of CARDIV NINETEEN HUK Group BENNER participated in an ASW demonstration for the Secretary of the Navy. On 5 February 1965, while steaming off Long Beach, the ship was struck by a whale swimming beneath the surface. The resultant damage to the starboard strut bearing and the starboard propellor necessitated a ten day repair period at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in the latter part of February. In April 1965 BENNER and DESDIV 232, with USS HORNET QCVS-121 became part of Anti-Submarine Warfare Group ONE , commanded by Rear Admiral E.P, AURAND, and began a series of local ASW operations leading up to the' ship's sixth WEST PAC deployment since rejoining the Pacific Fleet. In May, on one of these exercises BENNER conducted the first in-flight re- fueling of a helicopter from a ship. On 12 August 1965, BENNER and the rest of ASW Group, ONE departed Long Beach for a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific. On 19 August ASW Group ONE, now augmented by DESDIV 251, com- menced its ten-day Operational Readiness Evaluation in the waters south and west of the Hawaiian chain. The Task Group returned to Pearl Harbor on 28 August and commenced a two week upkeep period. On 13 September 1965, BENNER and the Task Group departed Pearl Harbor for Yokosuka, arriving 23 September. On 1 October BENNER commenced ASW exercises while transiting to the South China Sea. On 8 October, the ship rendezvous with the rest of the Task Group, and four days later, joined Task Force 77 operating .. , ,,,- , ,.f-- -y ' . , f ' . ' ' Y, in f i 1 . . - AJ CY -313 . A, P b , A, - -'- v ft -- -1 -,J...v--Au ' , , - ,, -:,,4G:i,2-va Jfifr off the coasts of North and South Vietnam. From 13-15 October BENNER conducted Naval Gunfire Support operations in support of the Republic of Vietnam Army in the area of Quang Ngai. Following this, the ship was sent on two three-day missions, with the SAR team in the Gulf of Tonkin, during which RENNER conducted the first operational in-flight refueling of helicopters and assisted in the rescue of downed pilots. For her action in Vietnam, BENNER was awarded the Vietnam Service Ribbon. Two tours of Taiwan Patrol quickly passed and BENNER was ready to head home, In March of 1966 , BENNER returned to Long Beach and commenced a six week leave and upkeep period. BENNER underwent a shipyard over- haul from April to July 1967 in San Francisco and then prepared for refresher training in San Diego in August. During refresher training a high state of readiness was acheived by the crew in preparation for another WestPac cruise. 47 - nn.. -.i..,J...m -' . 9-, S I B B I 1 I 1 , I , 5 li I I 4 l I. 1 I , L , . W I I i 1 I F' ' ' ?I-nl