Brush (DD 745) - Naval Cruise Book

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BRUSH returned to her gunfire support' duties off Phan Thiet Sout next five days BRUSH destroyed or damaged- thirty-seven enemy bunkers a tunnel complex five foxholes h Vietnam on January 6th. During the and a VC mortor position. BRUSH steamed into Cam Ranh Bay on January 11th and received a briefing on her next assignment. -This assignment was to join the Navy's ' fgperation Market Timew in the Gulf of Siam. Although. her primary duty was one of surveillance, BRUSH 3150 Supplied naval gunfire Support and destroyed eleven bunkers, two military structures and damaged six others which were being used by the VC as a. tmmmg base' BRUSH departed the COFDS IV area on January 16th and proceeded north to Cap Varella in the Corps Il area where she was to provide gunfire support. Firing in support of the 47th Army Of Vietnam: BRUSH Was Credited with deStl'0yiIlg eleven Viet Cong structures and four bunkers, as well as damaging eight others. Her rounds also triggered four secondary fires and explosions. On the eftemeen of 23 January, BRUSH Wee visited by, her Spotter, a U.S. Marine, who had been in the area for thirty-three m0llthS- His description of the BRUSH'S shooting left little to be desired as he placed BRUSH second in accuracy among all the ships he had spotted for in South Vietnam. Who was first in his estimation? The USS NEW JERSEY! BRUSH departed from her gunline duties that afternoon, having fired over 2,000 rounds in support of our allied forces ashore. She steamed for Subic Bay, Philippines for three days of upkeep and repair. Repairs completed on 29 January, she steamed out to sea and north to Hong Kong for a week's R and R. BRUSH joined the attack carrier, USS HANCOCK, on February 7th and once again assumed the duties of rescue and plane guard destroyer. Early on 9 February she was called upon to assist in the search for a pilot who had crashed after takeoff from the flight deck of HANCOCK. Although the carrier's helo and the motor whaleboat of BRUSH .searched for over two hours, the pilot was not recovered. At 1200 on 9 February, BRUSH departed Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin with the HANCOCK and started on the trip homeward. After stopping in Subic Bay for a day of refueling and ammo offloading, they steamed to Yokosuka, Japan for pre-transit upkeep and repairs. On 21 February BRUSH departed Yokosuka as a member of HANCOC-K'S screening unit, and was detached from the U.S. SEVENTH FLEET on 24 February, returning as a unit of the U.S. FIRST FLEET.Steaming toward Midway Island with the HANCOCK group, BRUSH sighted a Japanese fishing vessel in flames early one morning. As another destroyer picked up survivors, BRUSH went alongside the buming vessel and employed all her fire-fighting skills to extinguish the blaze. Remaining alongside the stricken vessel for over three hours, BRUSH Dui Ollt the raging fire and continued on toward Midway. I 'On 2 March, BRUSH bid farewell to the HANCOCK and steamed south to her homeport of Long Beach. months completing every task assigned to her. Once workhorse, the destroyer, was exhibited as BRUSH guard and escort duties with our aircraft carriersg the Russian trawlerg in all anti-air and shore bom- months she never missed an operational commitment. Her crew is justifiably proud to have added another chapter to BRUSH's twenty-five YBHFS of service to the Pacific Fleet and the United States of America. She arrived on 4 March, having spent -6M very busy again the versatility and endurance of the Navy's excelled at anti-submarine warfare, rescue, plane surveillance tasks on Market Time and shadowing bardment missions to which she was assigned. In six and one half

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GRUIS UI? The USS BRUSH 4DD-7455 departed Long Beach, California on 20 August 1El6S and steamed to her fourth deployment with the U.S. SEVENTH FLEET in as many ye'arS. BRUSH Jelned USS MAHAN and together they transited the Pacific via Pearl Harbor, Hawaug Midway lslandg Yokosuka, Japang and Okinawa. , The BRUSH arrived in Subic Bay, Philippines on the 15th of September for five days of upkeep. On the 21st of September, BRUSH steamed out of Subic Bay and proceeded to the Gulf of Tonkin and relieved the USS BRINKLEY BASS as ' ' shotgun destroyer for the USS LONG BEACH. From September 22 - October 8,1968 BRUSH acted as shotgun for the nuclear powered guided miSSile Cl'UiSef pmvidiflg anti-air and anti-PT boat protection, and was also called upon to assist in two SAR missions less than one mile off the coast of North Vietnam. On October 8, BRUSH was directed to rendezvous with the USS CONSTEL- LATION for screen and plane guard duties as CONSTELLATION transited to Yokosuka, Japan for an upkeep and repair period. The 25th of October found BRUSH underway for the Tonkin Gulf in company with CONSTELLATION. BRU5H.arrived on Yankee Station on the 29th of October and began plane guard duties as the CONSTELLATION conducted her daily twelve hours of flight operations. In the early days of November, BRUSH was assigned to shadow a Soviet Trawler and spent forty-eight hours at this interesting task. Upon being relieved of these duties by another vessel, BRUSH returned to plane guard duties. The 21th and 12th of' November were devoted to anti-submarine warfare training as BRUSH exercised with a U.S. submarine. Returning to CONSTELLATION, BRUSH began preparations for a visit by Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer, Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Rear Admiral Mason Freeman. The Admiraliand three staff members were highlined to the BRUSH from the USS ENGLAND on November 17. They spent theaafternoon ,inspecting BRUSH and talking with the officers and crew. BRUSH was de- tached from the CONSTELLATION group on 18 October and received an indication of her performance as the Connie's skipper described her as Best -in the West . The 19th through 22nd were spent in a variety of exercises with several other destroyers including fonnation tactics, signal drills, towing, and ECM exercises. BRUSH refueled the aftemoon of the 22nd and set out for Sasebo, Japan for an upkeep and.R and R period. She stopped at Okinawa on the 26th,' refueled in the morning, and fired an air gunnery exercise in the aftemoon. Her gunnery team demonstrated their proficiency by shooting down four aircraft towed target sleeves. BRUSH arrived in Sasebo just in time to celebrate Thanksgiving on the 28th of November. The re- maining inport time was spent cleaning and painting the ship and performing maintenance on equipment. Underway on December 5, BRUSH steamed south towards her next operational assignment. Enroute to her rendezvous with CONSTELLATION for plane guard duties, BRUSH successfully completed a full DOWOI' run and a 25 kIl0t CCOHOIHY run, and spent December Qtraining her ASW and gunnery teams. Once again Shc Shcwcd thc accuracy cf her guns by shooting down three aircraft towed sleeves: BRUSH re- j0iI1ed CONSTELLATION on December 10th and resumed duties as plane guard and rescue destroyer 'mtl' December 15th- 00 that date BRUSH refueled from coNsTELLATroN and was detached to assume the USS DULUTH which was proceeding to a position off the screen commander of the escort unit for rizast of North Vietnam where DULUTH would return seven previously captured North Vietnamese sailors. e operation went very smoothly and the release of prisoners was accomplished on December 16th. er SEVENTH FLEET, and Ambassador Elsworth Bunker as well BRUSH was complimented by Command is .U.SS DULUTH for fe' job Well done- BRUSH rejoined CONSTELLATION and was immediately directed 0 Join the attack carrier USS RANGER for plane guard duties. December 18th saw BRUSH rendezvous it ' 1 - . me efm ,Off Da Neng' seeth Vlemem- From Da Nang, BRUSH steamed south and fired her first gunfire mission in su 0 t f ' , . . . pp r 0 the Repubhc of Kcrcas Capital Division in the vicinity of Qui Nhon, RVN. During BRUSH was credited with destroyin five enemy supply f0UteS and stagi , A ' - g , Hg areas Cculatc fire triggered twelve secondary explosions and fires, indicating destruction of enemy caches of am, 't' - - mum lon and explosives. The USS JENKINS relieved BRUSH on the 28th of ese waters for a visit to Bangkok, Thailand. While enroute she with the USS DAVIS for turnover of naval gunfire supp0ft the period of December 18 - December 28 December and BRUSH departed Vietnam received the follo ' . . formance of BRUSI:Vt,nngtllI1eSSage from the Naval Gunfire Support Commander in South Vietnam: Per- e gunllne has been exem 1 - - Your accurate Shooting timely and Com 9 ary- ACC0mpl1shments and record noted with pleasure. planning! Well Done-H ' plete fevcrts, and reliability reflect sound judgement and careflll

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