Benner (DD 807) - Naval Cruise Book

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RLIISE STORY We left our homeport in the Fall In answer to our country's call, And cruised the seas from day to day Till LONG BEACH seemed so far away. The time did pass, but oh S0 SIOW As every day we made a show, That with God's help we'd do our best Till peace upon THAT land was blessed. Our sister ships all did their part Always ready, Always smartg We fought together, we fought alone In order to protect our home. Now that BENO's heading home No longer do we feel alone, The thoughts of loved ones fill our minds With memories we left behind. Although the pace is slackened now Each one of us has made a vow That if the call should come our way- We're ready for another stay. On November 4, 1966, a destroyer pulled away from her berth at Long Beach Naval Station to begin her 1966- 67 W e s t e r n Pacific deployment. BENNER, as a member of Destroyer Division 232, backed down into the stream to join her sister destroyers EVERSOLE, O'BRIEN, A. A. CUNNINGHAM, and the anti-sub- marine aircraft' carrier BENNINGTON. As a part of ASW GROUP ONE BENNER begin the journey that would take her over 45,000 miles before she returned to Long Beach, As ASW GROUP ONE cleared the breakwater, the five ships turned West and headed for Pearl Harbor, the first stop along the way to WestPac.

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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

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' M The transit to Pearl Harbor passed r 'dl api y and soon BENNER l a ong with the other . S of ASN GROUP ONE and elements of Destro S ' yer quadron 25,was enga ed in O t ' l Shlp ' ff the Hawaiian Islands The ' g ' pera Iona Readiness Exoeroises o . exercises lasted for six. days and on 14th of November BENNER pulled into Pearl Harbor for f a ourteen day upkeep and theerty period. The Islands, with their lushtropical beauty provided an exoell t , en opportunity rest and relax prior to the arduous months th t a were yet to come. ARMS 9959895 A adams Ama. Q 5 is-,, , iiifiig gg I if 4. Zfgfgy- v 9 VN M , A 3 px ,...,..a.. A V 2 aff, Y ,X ig S r fi X if 5 2 as-.Q if araaaya 1 r at t o M ' K X ,, W ,, I V gi ' I 5' : x t' ir? Al X ,, if vm- , f .r ' V e fa. ' 'V ll 723 5 P 1 l i l 'Na X: ' ffm? ,ax .i5t3 x.f.'g'gQft-F gf Q5 if a f af jgfly . ' f V f. . . 3 N 'ww K W'- Qikff , X 'sg-Ears ,f .. v. we fi-'+ f, W' pf , .Ag -'-11--'Qi ' 5 V P V' X 344 w ffl!