Finch (DER 328) - Naval Cruise Book

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- '- V - , f 4 , -.,1....,--,.,..1a.-ff ,. -.-- -. f-'-+,..4,-Y-:W fl H -A44 f-4-1,1543 f H . FI CH HISTORY The USS FINCH QDER 3285 is a 1740 ton Radar Picket Escort manned by 150 officers and men She IS 306 feet in length has a beam of 36 feet in and is powered by four diesel engines Since her construction in 1943 FINCH has had a rich and varied history The Consolidated Steel Corporation of Orange Texas laid down her keel in uly 1943 In December of the same year she was commissioned as a Destroyer Escort During World War II FINCH served on convoy duty in the North and South Atlantic and in the Mediter ranean FINCH then passed through the Panama Canal in summer 1945 and headed for Pacific duty The war s end caught her between Guam M I her present homeport and the Philippine Islands FINC H spent the next few months aiding various Chinese cities In April 1946 FINCH left the Orient for a round the world cruise to the United States The first part of FINCH s travels terminated in the Autumn of 1946 when she was decommissioned With the Korean Crisis FINCH was called from the reserve fleet and commissioned as a United States Coast Guard Cutter QWDE 428, As an ocean station vessel she served in all parts of the Pacific Ocean until December 1953 In April 1954 FINCH was again decommissioned this time to join the Pacific Reserve Fleet In the fall of 1955 FINCH began conversion to her present configuration She was given more living space and modern radar and communication facilities FINCH was recommissioned as DER 328 in August 1956 Shortly there after Seattle Washington became her new homeport FINCH served as an early warning unit of the Western Continental Air Defense System as a member of Escort Squadron FIVE until September 1958 She then changed horneport to Pearl Harbor and took up reporting unidenti fied air surface and submarine contacts on the Pacific Barrier May 1960 saw FINCH return to San Francisco for duty with Radar Picket Squadron ONE on the Western Contiguous Radar Barrier With the impending discontinuation of the Radar Barrier the FINCH once more headed for decommissioning How ever her suitability for Seventh Fleet service was recognized and she departed San Francisco in june 1965 Guam . ,7 I . . ,.J ' . . .l ,7 , l' , , .., , .I . . 1 . , . .., . . ...I . , Y . A 1, V7 I 1 1.v,, 1 . --I . Q. . A -4 . , , a .... 1 l . U A . .ij ,'. 6 l -4 si . I ai .- 7. H. H .... 1 U H .. Mariana Islands became her homeport After lust twenty years FINCH returned to work in the Western Pacific Presently, FINCH performs Seventh Fleet Market Time Operations off the coast of Vietnam and Taiwan Patrol Duties. Some of her other assignments allow her to visit ports throughout the Western Pacific and add to her repu- tation as a world traveler. In these capacities, the USS FINCH QDER-328j continues to build on her already rich record.

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Tele , 1,-7, f...., . .f-'A' ,. 29 f ll - at 74? J I i. i In her years, FINCH has served in three wars in three different configurations and travelled around the World. In fact, FINCH has seen so much more of life than us that we really do not know as much about her as we should. 'Throughout this book are scattered Datelines which are miscellaneous tidbits of our year and her past. So, sit back, laugh and feel nostalgia, and put together these reflections of the FINCH and her crew. Then, we hope, you'll have a pretty good picture of the ship and her men.

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COMMA DI G OFFICER W3 1' A, ' , 't rt , f, , , Wifi 5 ' ff, Lieutenant Commander Robert L. GRIMMELL was born in Los Angeles, California on October 2, 1928. After attending John H. Reagan Senior High School in Houston, Texas, he enlisted in the Navy in 1945. LCDR GRIMMELL served in various capacities and advanced to Chief Electricianls Mate. Among his assign- ments was participation in mine sweeping operations in Korea and the Antartic Expedition Deepfreeze I. LCDR GRIMMELL also instructed at Electricians Mate A school and Engineman AH and C schools. In 1956, LCDR GRIMMELL was selected for the Inte- gration Seaman to Admiral Program. Through this program and graduation from Naval Officer Candidate School at Newport, Rhode Island, he received his com- mission in June 1956. Subsequently, LCDR GRIMMELL served as First Lieu- tenant of the USS BREMERTON QCA-1301 In April 1959, he became Executive Officer of USS PIVOT QMSO-4635. LCDR GRIMMELL followed his first Executive Officer billet with that of Commanding Officer of the USS HUMMINGBIRD QMSC-192j in june 1961. From there, he became Fleet Training Advisor to the Royal Thai Navy, USMACTHAIXJUSMAG, Bangkok, Thai- land. Prior to coming to USS FINCH QDER-328j, LCDR GRIMMELL served as the Executive Officer of the USS TAYLOR QDD-468j. He has commanded FINCH since 22 April 1968. LCDR GRIMMELL makes his permanent home in EXECUTI E OFFICER Lieutenant Stephen W. BARBER was born in New York City on February 24, 1957. After graduating from St. Mark's School, he attended Princeton University, earning his A.B. degree. While at Princeton, LT BARBER was in the Regular NROTC Pro- gram, from which he received his commission. His first duty was CIC Officer, USS NOBLE QAPA-2183 from June 1960 to June 1962. He then served as Operations Officer of the USS DEHAVEN QDD-727j. After a year of school at the American Institute for Foreign Trade, he received his B.F.T. degree. In june 1965 he served on the staff of Commander Mine Flotilla ONE in Sasebo, japan. During this tour he met Miss Maryann Comisky, whom he married in February 1967. In May 1966, LT BARBER began training to be Officer in Charge, Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Surveillance Unit TWENTY-TWO. He and his unit subsequently deployed to Nha Trang, RVN. For his work in Vietnam, he received the Navy Commendation Medal. He reported aboard FINCH in july 1967. A, 1 ,.' I ff ,'. A Q 4' . . U-limi!-lr sv , , Y