Buchanan (DDG 14) - Naval Cruise Book

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WELCOME ABOARD . . . USS BUCHANAN KDDG-141 is the third destroyer named for Captain Franklin Buchanan, United States Navy, and Ranking Officer of the Confederate Navy. Captain Buchanan had a long and distinguished career, serving as the first Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, and taking part in the negotiations, together with Commodore Matthew C. Perry in Japan, which eventually led to a treaty with Japan. A BUCHANAN's keel was laid on 23 April 1959 at Todd Shipyards Corporation, Seattle Division, Seattle, Washington. She was launched on 11 May 1960 spon- sored by Mrs. Charles Fisher, Great-granddaughter of Captain Buchanan. BUCHANAN was commissioned on 7 February 1962 at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. On June 11, 1966, BUCHANAN departed San Diego to begin her third de- ployment to WESTPAC. During this cruise, BUCHANAN served as flag ship for Commander, Destroyer Division ONE FIFTY TWO, Commander Destroyer Squadron FIFTEEN, and was particularly priviledged to so serve as flag ship for Commander, SEVENTH Fleet during his five day official visit to Bangkok, Thailand. In July, BUCHANAN joined the two previous ships named BUCHANAN by firing her guns at hostile targets. BUCHANAN was called upon to conduct Shore Bombardment against concentrations of Viet Cong troops along the coast of South Viet Nam. There is no doubt now that BUCHANAN has become well seasoned to steaming under war time conditions.

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Commander William A. SPENC ER, United States Navy, received his commission in June 1946 atthe United States Naval Academy. His date of rank as Commander is July 1962. After his commissioning, Commander William A. SPENCER served on board the USS O'BRIEN' QDD-7259, USS R. K. HUNTINGTON fDD-7813, and the USS INGRAHAM QDD-6943 until December 1951. Commander SPENCER then served as the Operations Officer on the Staff of Commander Destroyer Escort Squadron EIGHT. Upon completion of this tour in July 1952, Commander SPENCER attended the U. S. Naval Post-graduate School at Monterey, California studying in the. Mechanical Engineering curriculum. After completing postgraduate school, Commander SPENCER studied for a year at the Oak Ridge School of Reactor Technology at Oak Ridge, Tenn, for which he received his Master of Science Degree in 1955.-In,July 1957, Commander SPENCER reported to the Nuclear Power School at the Reactor Test Station in Idaho as the Chief Engineer for the Navy Operating crew for initial operation of the first surface prototype re- actor plant.. Commander SPENCER's next tour was on the USS LONG BEACH CCG QNI 95 as the Engineer Officer of the initial crew. In september 1963 Com- mander SPENCER reported aboard the USS BAINBRIDGE QDLG QND 255 as the Executive Officer. In October 1966, Commander SPENCER relieved as Com- manding Officer of the Guided Missile Destroyer, USS BUCHANAN QDDG-145 and is the present Commanding Officer.