John Bole (DD 755) - Naval Cruise Book

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Commander Frank C. Collins Jr., USN was born in El Paso, Texas, and now makes Shreveport, Louisiana, his home. He gradu- ated from Louisiana State University, and was commissioned following Officer Candi- date School in 1952. His sea service includes duty as Gunnery Officer of USS TACONIC QAGC-55, Commanding Officer of the USS LSS QLJ-65, Operations Officer of the USS. H. W. TUCKER fDDR-8753, Commanding Officer of the USS SALINE COUNTY CLST-11019, Exe- cutive Officer of the USS SHIELDS fDD-5965, and Aide and Flag Secretary for COMCRU- DESPAC. His shore duty includes tours with Commander Caribbean Sub-Area, and In- structor at the Fleet Anti-Submarine War- fare School, San Diego. He also attended the Command and Staff Course at the Naval War College, Newport. Commander COLLINS' last tour was with the Naval Support Activity, Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam, where he earned the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V.

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CUMMAN ING OFFICE USS JOHN A. ROLE QDD-755j COMMANDER FRANK C. COLLINS, JR. FROM THE CAPTAIN . . . What is there about going to sea in ships that down through the centuries has captured the imagination and devotion of man? Is it the ease of effort, the reward in terms of prestige or money, or perhaps the creature comforts implicit in a seaman's life? Hardly, you snort impatiently! Everyone knows that there are no eight-hour days or five-day weeks in a Navy man-o'war. In peace, you are toler- ated, and even during limited wars a serviceman lives an unvenerated life, as is so starkly attested to by draft card burners and anti-war protestors. And crea- ture comforts - if sweltering in the Tonkin Gulf or shivering in the Sea of Japan or being remanded to an area 376 feet long and 40 feet wide can be termed a creature comfort, then we've sure got them! No, NONE of the motivators normally associated with provoking a man's in- terest in a vocation play a signficiant role in capturing the fancy of a Destroyer- man, Instead, in my opinion, it is the challenge, the responsibility, the very effort which man must extend in order to survive life in a Destroyer, that feeds his fires of motivation and evokes pride in being able to do an impossible job. The sea is a cruel and unforgiving mistress, seldom giving second chance to those who disregard her laws or err in judgement, and yet, nowhere is the might, and beauty, and infinite extent of our Creator so apparent as in the raging fury of a storm at sea, the unequaled beauty of sunrise or sunset viewed from the bridge of a ship, or the impressive vastness of a trans-Pacific crossing. In addition to being a challenging and impressive way of life, the sea offers its own unique rewards. It truly separated the men from the boys. To those of you who have made the grade this cruise, from Sea of Japan's blizzardy cold to the Equator's blistering heat, and from the boredom of plane guard to the back- break of gunline, you may consider yourselves both man and mariner - and I salute you as members of a select and rapidly vanishing group whose motive is not money or ease, but rather challenge, responsibility, and the opportunity to serve your country. 4

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o 9 X Executive Uf wer Lcdr. FAHEY Born in Washington, D, C., Lieutenant Commander FAHEY spent his youth in New York City. He graduated from the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1956, and sailed as Third Mate on the SS MOOREMACSTAR before entering the Navy. He entered the Navy in 1957 and was assigned as Navigator aboard USS TANNER CAGS-151 and participated in surveys of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. In 1959 he was transferred to the USS COURT- NEY 4DE1021J, serving as Operations Officer. During this assignment COURTNEY partici- pated in Operation UNITAS, an ASW cruise around the South American Continent, and the Windward Passage patrol between Cuba and Haiti. In 1961, as a Lieutenant, he joined the faculty of the U. S. Naval Academy as an instructor of Navigation and head of the Astronomy section. Assigned in 1964 as Flag Secretary and Aide to Commander Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla ELEVEN, he made two deployments with the U. S. SEVENTH Fleet. In 1966, Lcdr. FAHEY was assigned as a student to the Defense Intelligence School in Washington, D. C. HG reported as Executive Officer of the USS JOHN A, BOLE fDD-7555 in July 1967. 6 , ,f '?.'...f Q!