Eversole (DD 789) - Naval Cruise Book

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Commanding Officer Commander David West FARNHAM was born December 1, 1936 in Bangor, Maine. He attended elementary schools in Brewer and Newport, Maine, and graduated from Newport High School, Newport, Maine in 1954. He graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine in 1958 where he received a B.S. degree in Marine engineering. He was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1958, and subsequently reported aboard the L ' SS Savage I DER-386) for duty as the Damage Control Assistant. He later served as engineer Officer aboard LSS Savage I DER-386), L ' SS William R. Rush (DDR-7I4) and USS Luce lDLG-7) and Executive Officer aboard USS James C. Owens lDD-7761. After graduate training at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, he was assigned to Commander Naval Base, Newport, Rhode Island as his aide from 1963 to 1965. Prior to taking command of Eversole, he was assigned to the Officer Education Division, Bureau of Naval Per- sonnel, Washington, D.C. Commander FARNHAM is married to the former Carole L. HOLLOWAY of Pensacola. Florida.

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between November, 1952 and June, 1953 with Eversole once again a unit of the Korean I Blockading Force. During this deployment, she spent about a month away from Korean waters as i unit of the Taiwan Patrol Force, TF 72. Even with the cessation of hostilities in Korea. Evt tinued to deploy to the Western Pacific about six months out of every year to meet fleet commitments in the Far Fast. From June 1953 through May 1960, Eversole operated out of her homeport of Long Beach and made her sixth through eleventh deployments to WFSTPAC. The ninth deployment from January to June of 1957 found Destroyer Division 31 proceeding to the Western Pacific via Suva Islands and Brisbane, Cairns and Darwin, Australia. The ship again visited the Southern Hemisphere at the start of her tenth deployment, lasting from early December 1957 to late May 1958. In May I960, Destroyer Squadron THREE composed of Destroyer Divisions 31 and 32 departed for the Orient for not just the normal six months but rather for two years. The Squadron ' s homeport was changed to Yokosuka for this period and many of the wives and families of the crew moved to this base in Japan. Although the operating pace was as heavy as on previous deployments, the geographic separation from loved ones was shorter and Yokosuka became home in every sense of the word. While based in Japan Eversole served tours on Taiwan Patrol and also participated in exercises off Japan, Okinawa, Korea and the Philippines. In February 1962, amidst a shower of confetti and paper streamers, Eversole bade farewell to Japan and set course for Bremerton, Washington where she was scheduled to enter the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for an extensive conversion and modernization. Her homeport was also changed to Bremerton because of the long period the ship would be in the shipyard. Eversole formally commenced her FRAM MK I conversion on May 7, 1962. This modernization took approximately nine months and upon completion, Eversole emerged as a new and different ship. During the conversion her appearance was greatly altered and much of her equipment was either replaced or modernized. As a result her ASW capabilities in particular were greatly enhanced. With ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket), new ASW torpedo tubes, and a new high powered sonar installed. Eversole became one of the best fitted ASW ships in the world. Upon completion of FRAM in February 1963, Eversole journeyed south from Bremerton to her new homeport of Long Beach and became a unit of Destroyer Squadron 23, the famed Little Beaver Squadron of Admiral Arleigh 31 knot Burke during World War II. The following year saw Ever- sole participate in exercises in both new states of Hawaii and Alaska in preparation for her first WESTPAC cruise as a FRAMed destroyer. This preparation included the developement of the technique of refueling helicopters in flight, an operation which met with great success and is being used throughout the fleet today. During the ensuing cruise, the ship distinguished herself with the setting of a navy-wide transfer record during an underway replenishment. The traditionally light-hearted atmosphere of the homeward bound journey was sobered by news of the outbreak of naval hostilities in Southeast Asia The USS Maddo.x (DD-731 1 had been taken under enemy fire off the coast of Viet Nam. Indeed, the 1965-1966 WESTPAC cruise saw Eversole once again firing her guns in anger dur- ing Naval Gunfire Support missions in the Gulf of Tonkin. When not steaming off the coast of Viet Nam, the ship saw many weeks of patrol between the Chinese Communist mainland and Nationalist Island of Taiwan. The days in and around the combat zone were long and demanding, and all hands were grateful for their ship ' s return to Long Beach in March 1966. On April 30. 1968 Eversole left Long Beach as a component of ASW GROUP THREE for de- ployment to the Western Pacific. During this period on the gunline, Eversole fired more than 5.000 rounds from her 5 3 8 main battery. Once again, on October 8, 1969 Eversole received The Call and left her homeport and proceed- ed to Yankee Station and gunline duty off the coast of Viet Nam. During this deployment, Ever- solemen were awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for patrolling in Korean waters. On 9 April 1970, after six months with the SEVENTH Fleet Eversole returned to Long Beach. Eversole commenced her 16th deployment to WESTPAC on 5 January 1971 as the Flag Ship lor Commander, Destroyer Squadron TWENTY-NINE. While steaming in the Gulf of Tonkin. Eversole celebrated her silver anniversary on May 10, 1971 with time out from her arduous dut for a cake cutting ceremony and a helicopter visit by Commander Carrier Division THREE and Com- mander Carrier Division FIVE The return trip to Long Beach was via Brishbane, Australia and Wellington. New Zealand, where the CNO of the New Zealand Navy came on board for an ofl visit. In August 1971, after returning to Long Beach, Eversole joined her present Squadron, Destroyer Squadron NINETEEN and commenced a shipyard overhaul at Long Beach Naval Shipyard. Early in 1972 Eversole underwent refresher training in San Diego prior to beginning her 17th deployment on April 10. 1972.

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Executive Officer Lieutenant Commander Jack Thomas COATS was born January 26, 1937 in Bountiful. Colorado He attended elemental - } schools in Ogdon, Utah, Boone, Craig and Sanford, Colorado and graduated from Canon Citj High School. Canon City, Colorado in 1954. He attended Western State College in Gunnison. Colorado where he received a B.A. degree in Education in 1959. He was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1959, and subsequent!) reported to the I SS Fori Mandan I LSD-21 1 for duty as Eirst Lieutenant. He later served as W eapons Officet aboard S.S York ( oum LST- 1175). LSS Carry {DDR-817) and i SS Neport News {CA-I58 Shore dutv assignments include duties as Surface Operations Officer on the stall ol Commander, N Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Assistant for Gunner) Systems on the staff of Commander, Operational lest and I valu- ation Force. Prior to becoming Executive Officer ol Eversole, he was assigned as Executive Officer of the Naval Supp in Cam Ranh Bay, Republic of South Viet Nam, Lieutenant Commander COATS is married to the former Jacqueline McKINNl ol Portsmouth, Va. The) have two children. Lorie 10 and David 7.