Dyess (DDR 880) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 7 text:

- '- 1-'--4 '- -- ev'--w-If ' --.we --A , au..- , -,...,.- . l R DEDICATION To different people a warship means different things. To the people who build her she is a series of work orders, contracts and deadlines. To the people of our nation who see her in newsreels and magazines, she's a symbol of our national strengthg to mothers and wives and sweethearts she is the dreaded craft that takes loved ones away. But, to the men who live on herg who sail on herg who eat and Work and play and iight and sometimes die on her, she is much more. To them, whether they love her or hate her, she is a way of life, a home, a cargo of memories. It is to these men that this book is respectfully dedicated. THE EDITOR X L i-I-if i-3 X 'rss XQ K' ' Xfixsxx K Y Q X 5 . ,5 - H ,, - , -, . , ,JL Mc... .- V W- . . -H Y ,,,,,f,.,...,-.--f4--f-f - , f J ,... -.-.,fw-N-- 'f ' nl L ., A--:vw-111:-- 'f'ff T - ,' ' - ' -,.,:.,....f.an.-..-.,-,f..L-,-,.,f. fs -P- 'j f ' 'M' '-.,:,.,.,0- . - '.- ,1,L, . -v-Q I ' vw-HVWYA Y if ,,N .Q -.4-ZW

Page 6 text:

- PEl', i ' -3+ FILE N U. S. S. DYESS CEPR-8801 y ,ai ,gg a '-r SERIAL No. n Fleei' Posi' O Ice To the Gfficers and Crew- c With respect and appreciation for their loyalty and service, and in all humility, I dedicate this Cruise Book to the manro'-war's-men of the United States Ship DYESS. Inevitably we shall be detached from the DYESS and go our several ways. Until we meet again, this log will bridge the gap and serve as a vivid reminder of our shipmates and friends,-our voyages together, and our days afloat. Our bonds are forged of sturdy stuff, we have shared angry seas, challenging tasks, good times. As we go forward, may our cars keep time while our voices keep tune. Smooth sailing and Godspeed. God bless you all: Sincerely, n 1 Sr-e JOHN E. mom , Commander, U.S. Nawy Commanding .ti ..- . ..t- aff fn, ns:-.K-.,,v.,..-4 i 2 nf j W L r lx K! if LI in

Page 8 text:

,H-.,,- -.i,--...,..,.. .., ,. , ,, , , I , D N V .,.,.,e....s,.,-Q M..-... . -A L,-...,..w--..,. K gr A, ,,.,,,,,,,,...,,.,....-...,,.s,.- ...,. ,,,.,,,,,,,f,,., Vi, .,,-r.., .--,. ..-.fsf ajft gg-, 4.pg'.L......---av-if g'. ',,,,.,...,.. -.,,.-,-......-.---.-M-.--f HISTORY OF U. s. s. DYESS CDDR-8801 3 Built by the Orange, Texas Yards of Consolidated Steel Corporation, DYESS 12400-ton Gearing Class Destroyerl slid sideways into the water on 26 January 1945. Sponsoring the ship at the launching ceremonies was Mrs. Aquilla Dyess, wife of the late Lieutenant Colonel Dyess, USMCR, in whose honor the vessel was named. Colonel Dyess was posthumuously awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty during the capture of Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. V A On 21 May 1945 the destroyer was accepted by the Navy and commissioned U. S., S. DYESS IDD-8805 with Commander R. L. FULTON, USN, aboard as first commanding officer. The remainder of May was spent in the process of rigging and on 8 June she stood out for shakedown in the area of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, operating during this time with Task' Force 23. On this assignment crewmen were given extensive training in various shipboard' drills and gunnery teams received vigorous workouts during practice firing. Upon completion of these maneuvers DYESS returned to the States and put in at. Norfolk on 7 July for a post shakedown availability. While in the shipyards the destroyer was outfitted with special radar gear and additional anti- aircraft armament for duties as a picket destroyer. However, by the end of this period the war was over and DYESS never had the chance to prove her mettle. On 21 August she stood out for Guantanamo Bay and '- thence to Culebra, Puerto Rico and during this time the ship underwent refresher training. On 5 September she cleared the Caribbean to put in at Casco Bay, Maine, on the 10th where the vessel reported for duty with Commander Destroyers Atlantic. On 4 October DYESS moved to Annapolis to participate in the' Naval Academy's Centennial Anniversary celebration until the 14th. At that time she got underway for Hampton Roads for a brief stop before running up coast to Philadelphia where she participated in Navy Day activities on the 27th. DYESS steamed to Norfolk on 30 October and reported to Destroyer Squadron Eight and on 7 November she stood out for the Panama Canal, making passage there 11-13 November. After a brief stop at San Diego the ship proceeded to Pearl Harbor, arriving on 28 November to report to Commander Destroyers Pacific. On 10 December she sailed for the Tokyo Bay Area and on the 19th joined with forces under Commander Fifth Fleet. While in this area sh-e participated in a four-day training period with cruisers TOPEKA and DULUTH. Her remaining tour of duty took her to the Marianas, China Coast, the Philippines and Japanese Ports. On 30 November the destroyers retired from the Western Pacific and after a fueling stop at Pearl Harbor, put in at San Diego on 16 December 1945. On '6 January 1946 the vessel cleared for the East Coast via the Panama Canal and Guantanamo Bay, and on the 23rd put in at Norfolk. Destroyer DYESS remained on the East Coast until 6 August when she stood out for the Carib- bean and put in at Trinidad on the 9th to await orders for rendezvous. After making rendezvous with Task Force 84 QFlag in battleship MISSOURIJ the force proceeded to Rio de Janeiro, arriving on 30 August. On 7 September President Harry S. Truman, his family and staff were received aboard the Mighty Mo ' for the return trip. DYESS steamed on escort station during this voyage and on the 19th the force put in at Norfolk, Virginia, where President Truman transferred to the Presidential Yacht WILLIAMSBURG for the overnight run to Washington, D. C., destroyer DYESS going along as official escort. On 29 October 1947 she cleared Newport, Rhode Island, in company' with destroyer LEARY and after a short stay at Argentia, Newfoundland, the units proceeded to Gibraltar for duty with Commander Mediterranean Forces. During her tour of duty in that area, she served as escort for battle carrier MIDWAY Qflying the fiag of Commander .Carrier Division Onel and visited many ports, among them Naples, Trieste, Venice, Italy, Suda Bay and Piraeus in Greece and many others. On 5 February 1.948 DYESS cleared Gibraltar on her return trip to Newport, Rhode Island, arriving the 14th. In February 1948, U. S. S. DYESS was on duty with the Second Atlantic Fleet, Active, operating with Squadron Eight, Destroyer Division 141.