Finch (DER 328) - Naval Cruise Book

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K vfA'rCC .1lff4J9 DEDICATION THE STRIDENT TONES OF THE 1 MC ANNOUNCING SYSTEM STATIONED YET ANOTHER SUNDAY REPLENISHMENT DETAILg SET ANOTHER INCREASED READINESS WATCH IN WEAPONS, ENGINEERING, OPERATIONS AND S H I P CONTROL SPACES- CALLED AWAY ANOTHER 0345 BOARDING AND SEARCH DETAIL AND DAY AFTER ENDLESS DAY THERE WAS THE EVER PRESENT MAINTENANCE CCHIP RED LEAD PAINTJ TEST REPAIR AND RE TEST WE THE MEN WHO PERFORMED THESE TASKS DURING THE PAST YEAR WHO ENDURED LONG WEEKS AT SEA AND SHORT WEEKS AT HOME DEDI CATE THIS BOOK TO THE UNPROCLAIMED HEROES OF THE SAILOR S EXIST ENCE OUR FATHERS MOTHERS WIVES CHILDREN SWEETI EARTS AND FRIENDS WHOSE THOUGHTS BEST WISHES AND LOVE CAME TO US IN THE FORM OF LETTERS PACKAGES AND REMEMBRANCES AND WHO SPENT LONG TEDIOUS LONELY HOURS AWAITING OUR RETURN WE OFFER THE NAVYMAN S TRADITIONALLY HIGHEST ACCOLADE BRAVO ZULU QWELL DONEJ v 9 . . . 9 9 9 9 ' ' 9 9 7 . 9 Q . O 1 ' 9 9 9 9 1 7 9 9 9 9 9 9 U 9 T 4- I I V. ..-: , aw.. .,.. -',. '- , ,.,:. ,..,,.. ,M .1 ig. -,gag,,,g,,,,,,.,......,-- - .,.. , V ,, ,-,-.-MM Mum A, M . , r

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FOREWCRD Prior to departing her old homeport of San Francisco, FINCH'S primary mission was with the seaward extension of the Western Contiguous Radar Barrier. This E assignment gave FINCH a fairly reliable schedule of about three weeks in port and three to four weeks at sea, never more than 500 miles away from the coast of California. It meant that families of FINCH sailors living in the area could expect their husbands and sons to be home at certain times during the month. During the spring of 1965 the ship received news that the Radar Barrier would be dis- continued and that FINCH would most likely be decommissioned some time in the fall. However, on May 21, just prior to departing on her last patrol, FINCH received dra- matic news. In the short space of 52 days the ship's status would change from that of a picket ship to that of a ship in the front lines of the U. S. Seventh Fleet's effort in South Vietnam. At this time the date of departure from San Francisco was set for June 3. It al- lowed exactly two weeks to get the ship ready for a very long journey across the Pacific to he followed by coastal patrols off the coast of South Vietnam. To say the least those two weeks were among the most hectic in FINCHHS 23 year ca- reer. Those weeks were also a period of extreme uncertainty for FINCH families. For ex- ample, among the many unanswered questions at that time were those of future homeport and length of initial deployment. There were rumors that FINCH would be homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii-there were also rumors that the ship would remain homeport- ed in San Francisco. Finally there was a possibility that the new homeport would be Guam. FINCH went into Bethlehem Steel Company's drydock in San Francisco on Monday, May 24- for a short repair period not knowing the answers. There was barely time for a ship's party on Treasure Island in the midst of the rigors of 12 to 16 hour Working days. All managed to have a good time althou h thes ' '11 g e questions Sll remained unanswered. The evening was highlighted by a champagne toast to all of F INC1-Ps ladies. The ship came out of drydock on June 1 and left San Francisco on June 3, as scheduled, still unin. formed as to the length of deployment and future homeport. The first stop was Pearl Harbor on June 9, the first time that FINCH had been that far aWaY from the States Since .lune of 1962. Ten days later after strenuous training and instruction by the Staff of Destroyer Flotilla Five and the Fleet Training Group FINCH