Gyatt (DDG 1) - Naval Cruise Book

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Q STATE., N .59 U S S GYATT IDDG Il New York New York ' NN . . . - , Care of Fleei' Posi' Office ' 1 r fi After leaving Monaco at the end of February, we transited the Straits of Messina between Italy and Sicily and got a bird's eye view of the Island of Stromboli. We again joined Task Force Sixty in the Central Mediterranean. One night while operating with the super-carrier FORRESTAL as a plane destroyer, GYATT, with LTJG Russell Knowles, Jr. conning, picked one of the FORRESTAL'S downed pilots from the ocean just 16 minutes after he was forced to parachute from his faltering FLD WSkyrayU jet fighter. March was almost entirely devoted to Greece as far as GYATT was concerned. Twelve days were spent alongside the destroyer tender YELLOWSTONE for routine maintenance and repairs at Salamis, Greece, which is about 15 miles from Athens. After leaving the YELLOWSTONE, we were at sea for one day and then returned to Greece, this time anchoring in Phaleron Bay, which is neanboth Athens and Piraeus. Many of us took advantage of the tours through the ancient ruins of Athens and saw parts of buildings still standing, the oldest of which was begun SOO years before the birth of Christ. late in March we left Greece in company with the FORRESTAL, the cruiser DES MOIN S, and various other destroyers and headed south-east for lebanon and Beirut. GZATT spent 6 days in beirut - from 28 March until 2,April with many of the officers and mon taking advantage of two-day tours to Jerusalem and the Holy land. Beirut has justifiably been called the Hfaris of the Eastu, and proved to be a continual source of many interests. Many of its people speak French, so we had a chance to try out some of the language we learned in Monaco. From Beirut we proceeded to sea for a two-week period of fleet exercises with Task Force Sixty in the Eastern and Central Med. We returned to the French Riviera and anchored at Cannes from 15 to 30 April. During this time, everyone had ample opportunity to see the entire Riviera, including such well-known ports and resorts as Cannes, Nice, Gulf Juan, Antibes, Villefranche, and Monaco. During this in-port period, the results of the February examinations for advancement in rate were received and GYATT sailors were awarded a total of 42 promotions: 5 men advanced to Chief Petty Officer, 1 man was advanced to 1st Class Petty Officer, 10 men were advanced to 2nd Class Petty Officer, and 26 men were advanced to 3rd Class Petty Officer. five

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I l P .. ....-..-- CRUISE NARRATIVE 28 JANUARY - 31 AUGUST 1960 'W' 4 U. S. S. GYATT IDDG-I l Q X Care of Flee+ Pos? Omoo New York, New York 07 NF ..xsxxNyxxx :' lx : ' J 'U 'QP' ' u IS' If -fl r x Q-I I9 4 4 9 I - , , Z 7 . ' L Q 5 . W wjg.--' , l . wg. 1 ,' t 9 If U 0 1 'xx i' .X I X -. xxxXxxxxs . Gyatt departed Charleston, South Carolina on Thursday, 28 January with Destroyer Squadron SIX to join the United States SIXTH Fleet in the Pediterranean early in February. Once at sea, we joined the SECOND Fleet for the Atlantic crossing and fleet exercises, including WBIG DEAL IIN, an air defense exercise. The trip across the Atlantic was smooth all the way, and many of the UOld Saltsu reported it was the easiest and most comfortable crossing they had ever made. On the morning of the 1Oth of February, we traditionally entered the Mediterranean when we passed the Rock of Gibralter abeam to port. Our first stop was on 13 February at Pollensa Bay on the Island of Mallorca. Here we officially became part of the SIXTH Fleet, and also the first guided missile destroyer in our nation's history to be deployed with an overseas fleet. Upon leaving Pollensa Bay, we proceeded to Golfo di Palmas, Sardinia for a day of meetings and conferences with the majority of ships in the SIXTH Fleet. We departed Golfo di Palmas on the evening of 16 February and participated in fleet exercises with Task Force Sixty in the Eastern Mediterranean. The third week in February we anchored at the world-famous Principality of Monaco on the southern coast of France - the French Riviera. Monaco is ruled by Prince Rainier III, whose wife, Princess Grace, is the-former American movie star, Grace Kelly. Monaco is also the hom of the famous Monte Carlo Casino. Probably the most notable singular event of the Med Cruise occurred on our second day in Monaco, when Prince Rainier and Princess Grace, escorted by Vice Admiral G. W. Anderson, Jr., Commander of the SIXTH Fleet, and Captain E, E. Grimm, then our Squadron Commander and now Commanding Officer of the USS DES MOINES, the SIXTH Fleet Flagship, came aboard for a demonstration and explanation of the missile loading cycle. They were on board for approximately one hour and all the Gyatt Ushutter bugsn had a field day! four

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4' I 'NJA 49 g I 5 '5 ' I 0 I ko, : xlxxxsN . s the Vatican City and St. Peterfs ,- xxx D N xc' J nl X,f f r NF U. S. S. GYATT IDDG-I 1 Care of Fleet Posf Office New York, New York The quarterly squadron competitive grades were also received during this period. These included competition and evaluation in Engineering, Communications, Electronics, Anti-Submarine Warfare, and Smartness. GYATT was first or tied for first in four of the five categories and was ranked first overall in the squadron for the quarter - our nu ber H19 was right in style. Once again, on 30 April, we joined Task Force Sixty for air defense exercises in the Central Mediterranean. On the Ath of May we became part of NATO Task Force 239 and participated with group in air defense exercise HREGHX In until 11 bhyy We were then detached and proceeded with the FORRESTAL once again, this time enroute to Split, Yugoslavia, arriving there on the 14th and remaining until the 16th of Nay. For most of- country whose people live and rather apprehensive as to how at the landing to see the two had to be blocked off and loc us, this was our first visit to a work under communist rule and we were we would be received. People gathered ships in such large numbers that streets al policemen stationed to hold back the curious crowds. The bay was filled with small boats carrying paying customers who wanted a closer look at the super-carrier and HThe Uorld's Firstu. All ideas of feeling ill-at-ease were soon dismissed upon reaching the shore. Ue were told that all Yugoslavian children must study English in school, and the liberty parties found it was these smiling children who Ubroke the icen with shouts of, WGood day, how are you?H, and, HThank you very muchn. After that, everyone conversations as best they could, and for two days the joined in the hotel patios, Americans and symbol of the harbor entrance restaurants, and sidewalk cafes were filled with Yugoslavians, laughing and trying to understand each other's language, all apparently unaffected by the giant communist hammer and sickle which stands on the sea wall at the We departed Split and proceeded directly arriving on the bus-loads of us and most famous sight in Home wa 19th and remaining until the 23rd went to Rome for a two-day look at cities in the world. Many felt tha to Naples, Italy, of May. Several one of the oldest t the most impressive Basilica, which has been the residence of the Pbpes 1377. Some GYKTT crew members were an audience with Pope John XXIII on From the 23rd to the 25th major replenishment at sea and anti- the western coast of Italy. Six and the heart ofCatholicism since part of a group which was granted Saturday, May 21st. of Lhy'we were occupied with submarine warfare exercises off