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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