Benner (DD 807) - Naval Cruise Book

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1 1 kr We L As :fi -A 35. .1 V : I vf 'P .i K vi , 1 'N I 'N Ig r A P 4 1 1 I1 B h K, W. E K I' I lg , S le 51 Q '41 Egg: 1 - A Q V.,, a.-?,L :yn V N. if - - g,..-, , fl ---143, I. , 4 ' n VMQJI..-1. r--fm. ft, 1, 2 lf N -, 3, 'f'Yz+,- ., , .- . .,,!' 4' , 1if5 11f.E.? es'iF. 3l'Qf:-,Q 7 4 AJ, 2, V ' gg..-3Q,,: f-:,3,.1i.,Tf'f,Li'f'f'1L.:g -Q-l .4 - 3.,.1,,gL Q T- If :. L, f,:zw P Ly lzh- I -' 1 ffg WM, . -1. The Start of a Tokyo Tour. Your Congenial Tour Leader ENS BLAIR. w F I hope this hotel has a bar! 1 I U u 2 17 i --' 5 Japanese Baseball Dance? h 5 E . P, H x 1 H ' 51 55 I .M

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f I: ' gh-1-.Y 3354515 -- , I F QI IQ! . 'I Z- , II A , Il It I, ,I gr I 'V I ,. ' I III I l, . jI i I if II Q' ' 'II 'II I II ,I . I I ,I ,I I I I II I: III X I ,Q II :J if I 1 I I I I I Q 1 I J 1 f t I A ', ' I I I I I I I 1 I. ' I - I r .5 ,I -I QI F 'I I Y EI I ,I , QI f. -,, , II f' .e , as ., :QI 8 - I 1, . .I I ii, ,K W, 3 I ll'- ,. ,ci- .. I' I -'. II I r I I l I If ' .A N I 1 .CRX i A I i I II I 1? I I I 5 3 I I1 I I If I I ,F :J I I , I :Q I, I I Y . I fi ! Li . II . III I 1 ,I ,I I 9 I, Q I ., I VI I If ,, vp-Q ,.i.,.' 'G fr ,. BENO While in port at Yoksuka, Japan during early December BENNER acquired an addi- tional crew member, not the usual two- legged variety, but rather a canine com- panion that was to become BENNER's third mascot. Following in the footsteps of such illustrious predecessors as DUCHESS and BOZO, BENO quicklywon his place in the hearts of the men of BENNER and was soon treated as just another member of the crew. The complete story of just how BENO was procured will problbly never be known but it is known that some of BENNER's officers had a hand in the dog's sudden appearance on board. No matter how BENO was acquired, it was soon evident that he had found a home and all the love that any dog could possibly have. BENO, not unlike many of those who venture to sea for the first time, had quite a bit of difficulty adjusting to the motion of the ship and for about a week was subject to nimesis of so many, sea sickness. However, once BENO adjusted to the rocking and rolling of destroyer life, he could be seen in all parts of the ship from the Boatswain's Locker to the fantail and from the maindeck to the bridge. Scurrying up and down the ships step ladders like an old salt. BENO semmed to like the Bridge best, where he was afforded the privilege that few men let alone dogs enjoy, the privilege of sitting in the Captain's chair from which he could survey all the activity that went on. A frequent sight on the signal bridge during underway replenishments, BENO was sought by many of the ships that BENNER came in contact with during this deployment. While in Sasebo, Japanduring the latter part of the cruise, the USS BAUER , a destroyer escort, went so far as to formulate plans that would have resulted in a dognapping but fortunately the plot was discovered in time and when BENNER re- turned to Long Beach May 12th, BENO was on the Quarterdeck to welcome the dependents on board. Man your unrep stations. Q' Sz' W I

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I I Y jst 1 i I f if j ,P ix. if ' b 1 Y, E we if 'C f I' I Q 1 1. Q 1, ELL 1 ri 'wiv-an v a 3 Once the necessary repairs were made on the evaporators BENNER proceeded to rejoin ASWGRUONE already enroute to Yankee Station. After a short stop in Okinawa for fuel, BENNER sped south. BENNER prepared for war zone duty by exercising at General Quarters realizing that the next GQ may not be adrill. Upon entering the Tonkin Gulf, BENNER was assigned picket duty off the coast of Hainan. On December 23 the USS O'BRIEN was brought under enemy gun fire while patrolling the North Vietnam coast and BENNER was called upon to relieve her. BENNER took her place on the line as Sea Dragon Flagship of COMDESDIV 232 and subsequently COMDESRON 25 with the task of keeping water-borne craft from carrying supplies from North Vietnam to the Viet Cong operating against friendly forces in the South. With the major inland supply routes under heavy bombing attacks by both Navy and Air Force jet, bombers, the sea hadqbecome the major supply route from North to South. Day and night BENNER fired upon any craft that ventured to move south scoring heavily against enemy traffic even though operations were hampered by bad weather. To maintain her fighting trim it was necessary for BENNER to refuel and replenish often during the thirty days that she spent on Sea Dragon. Day or night, foul weather or fair, she had to take on fuel for her boilers, ammunition for her guns, and food for her crew. All hands worked together to accomplish almost two dozen underway replenishments. J f 1 1 Intewening water-borne logistics craft, fs. X-M V X A S Q 'W-217, . - ,X x , ' ' ' f cqi ,Q . A M 1 A j r . NN