Curts (FFG 38) - Naval Cruise Book

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if JT — - MINE DESmUCnON - NORTHERN PERSIAN GULF JANUARY 1 99 1

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CURTS (FFG-38) is named for the late Admiral Maurice E. Curts, United States Navy (1898-1976), former Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and heroic cruiser commander of World War Two. He was awarded the Na y Cross and the Silver Star Medal for extraordinary heroism while commanding cruiser COLUMBIA during the Leyte landings, the Battle of Surigao Strait, the Lingayen Gulf landings, and the liberation of Borneo. During the initial Lingayen Gulf landings, he continued to lead his cruiser in action despite the severe damage inflicted by two suicide planes which had left nearly 100 of his men dead or wounded. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he had earned the Bronze Star Medal as Commimications Officer, United States Fleet. Following the close of World War Two, he was Force Commander, Operational Development Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; Assistant Chief of Naval Operations (Readiness); and Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet serving with great distinction imtil 13 January 1956. On that date, he was designated by the President as the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, serving until the arrival of his relief on 1 February 1958. A month later, he became Commander Western Sea Frontier, remaining imtil his retirement on 1 April 1960. Early Naval service included duty as Officer in Charge, Radio and Soinid, Naval Research Laboratory (Jime 1936-May 1938) where he earned a commendation from the Secretary of the Navy for oiUstanding service in the development of radar.

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WHAT A DEPLOYMENT! FROM THE WATERS OFF HOKKAIDO TO THE OIL STAINED WATERS OFF OF KUWAIT CITY THE 1990-91 SOJOURN OF THE CURTS WILL ALWAYS REMAIN AS A MEMORABLE EPIC IN ALL OUR LIVES. WHILE ENROUTE TO DESERT SHIELD WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF RESCUING A GROUP OF FIFTY VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FLEEING POLITICAL REPRESSION IN THEIR COUNTRY TWO MONTHS IN THE GULF OF OMAN ENFORCING THE UNITED NATIONS EMBARGO AGAINST IRAQ POSED A UNIQUE CHALLENGE. AT NEW YEARS WE SAILED INTO THE PERSIAN GULF FOR WHAT WOULD BECOME A MOST INCREDIBLE TWO MONTHS. ON THE MORNING OF 17 JANUARY (GULF TIME) WE WENT TO GENERAL QUARTERS AFTER MIDNIGHT TO WATCH A HISTORIC MOMENT IN WORLD HISTORY FOR THE FIRST TIME A WAR BEGAN WITH LONG RANGE CRUISE MIS- SILES - FIRED FROM THE SEA - REACHING HUNDREDS OF MILES INLAND TO ELIMINATE COMMAND AND CONTROL SITES AS A PRECURSOR TO THE THOUSANDS UPON THOU- SANDS OF MANNED AIR RAIDS THAT WOULD FOLLOW OVER THE NEXT 43 DA S. AS THE DAYS WENT BY CURTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN AN INTE- GRAL MANNER IN VIRTUALLY ALL THE OPERATIONS WHICH LED TO AN OVERWHELM- ING VICTORY CONTROLLING SURVEILLANCE HELICOPTERS, FINDING AND DESTROY- ING MINES, CAPTURING AN ISLAND, SINKING AN IRAQI MINELAYER, ESCORTING THE BATTLESHIPS IN GUNFIRE SUPPORT ROLES, LEADING MINESWEEPING FORCES TOWARD KUWAIT CITY CAPTURING-PROCESSING AND TRANSPORTING ENEMY PRISON- ERS OF WAR. IT WAS TRULY A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE. CEASEFIRE BROUGHT A WELCOME RELIEF TO THE HIGH TENSION OF SIX WEEKS ON THE EDGE. A SAFE TRANSIT HOME WITH A FEW LIBERTY PORTS ENROUTE ALLOWED ALL OF US TO ENJOY REST AND RELAXATION. ON 17 APRIL 1991 THIS MOST MEMORABLE DEPLOYMENT CAME TO AN END WITH A JOYOUS HOMECOMING TO FLEET ACTIVITIES YOKOSUKA. ARRIVAL PIERSIDE WAS TER- RIFIC WITH FIREBOATS STREAMING WATER SKYWARD, BANDS PLAYING, CROWDS CHEERING, AND LOVED ONES STRAINING FOR A GLIMPSE OF THEIR FAVORITE SAILOR. A MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE UNDER UNITED NATIONS AUSPICES CAME TOGETHER IN 1990-91 TO STOP A DICTATORS INVASION OF AN ADJOINING NATION. WE CAME IN PEACE TO RESTORE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY A WAR WAS REQUIRED TO REJECT THE INVADERS. THE COALITION WAS ENORMOUSLY SUCCESSFUL IN REPULSING THE FORCES OF TYRANNY AND RESTORING FREEDOM TO KUWAIT. IT WAS OUR PRIVILEGE TO SERVE WITH A SUPERB GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS AND PLAY A SMALL PART IN THIS ENDEAVOR. WE DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO THE BRAVE SAILORS, SOLDIERS, AIRMEN, AND MARINES WHO WILL NOT BE RETURNING FROM DESERT STORM. MAY THEIR SUPREME SACRIFICE HELP TO MAINTAIN PEACE IN THE FUTURE. THE ' 38 SPECIAL TEAM