John McCain (DDG 36) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS JOHN S. MC CAIN (DL-3) OFF THE COAST OF OAHU, HAWAII A BRIEF HISTORY United States Ship USS JOHN S. McCAIN was constructed as Destroyer Leader 3 and, in her original configuration, was one of the five largest gunned destroyer-type ships ever built. During her service as DL-3, McCAIN made seven Western Pacific deployments, establishing a tradition of tough opposition to enemies of the United States as well as mercy and goodwill to peoples in distress. JO HN S. McCAIN ' S original armament consisted of two 5 54 gun mounts as a primary battery and one 3 70 gun mount forward. These guns combined could deliver 260 rounds per minute. The undersea threat was countered with Weapon Alpha , various torpedoes, and conventional depth charges. During the Formosa Crisis in the summer of 1958, McCAIN was part of a fleet task group which aided the victims of the fire-ravaged town of Komija on the island of Amiami Shima. In October 1959, she carried antibiotics and donated food for flood victims in the Bengal-Crissa lowlands outlying Calcutta, India. Later, in the rough waters of the East China Sea, the crew of McCAIN rescued the entire 41 man crew of the sinking Japanese Freighter SHINWA MARU. In April 1962, McCAIN joined Joint Task Force EIGHT and for the next six months participated in OPERATION DOMONIC conducted by the Atomic Energy Commission at Johnson Island. She was subsequently deployed for a six and one-half month tour in the Far East.

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ADMIRAL JOHN SIDNEY MCCAIN, USN John Sidney McCain was born in Teoc, Mississippi, on August 9, 1884, son of John S. and Elizabeth Young McCain. He attended the University of Mississippi (one year), and entered the U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, on September 25, 1902, graduating in February, 1906. He was commissioned Ensign in February, 1908 (after the two years then required by law before commissioning), and subsequently advanced to the rank of Vice Admiral. In 1944, he became Commander of the SECOND Carrier Task Force, Pacific Fleet, which was in almost continuous action during the remainder of the war, operating with Admiral Halsey ' s THIRD Fleet as the famous Task Force THIRTY- EIGHT. This force spearheaded the drive into the Philippines, supported the capture of Okinawa and rode rampant through the Western Pacific from the Indo-China Coast to the Japanese home islands. The Cease Fire order came as its Navy airmen were over Tokyo for the third time in five days For heroism and great achievement in the Pacific during the latter period of World War II, Admiral McCain was awarded the Navy Cross, and Gold Stars in lieu of the second and third Distinguished Service Medals. After witnessing the Japanese surrender ceremonies on board the battleship MISSOURI, Vice Admiral McCain was ordered to report to the Secretary of the Navy in Washington for further assignment. He flew to his home in Coronado, California, on September 6, 1945. A few hours after his arrival the gallant fighter suffered a stroke and died. His death was attributed to war exhaustion. After being posthumously promoted to Admiral in the United States Navy by joint resolution of Congress, he was buried with full military honors i n Arlington National Cemetary. His son. Admiral John S. McCain, Jr., and his grandson, John S. McCain, III, continue the family tradition of superb naval leadership. Both hold decorations for valor and distinguished service to their country. VICE ADMIRAL McCAIN WITH ADMIRAL HALSEY DURING SIGNING OF THE JAPANESE SURRENDER ON USS MIS- SOURI AT JAPAN. 109

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HER COMMANDING OFFICERS CDR E. R. KING CDR G. A. GOWEN CDR W. D. OWEN CDR L. L. MEIER CDR J. L. WOHLER CDR F. E. PEARSON CDR J. T. WELLS CDR R. E. WILSON, JR. CDR D. N. DENTON CDR D. N. AMMERMAN LCDR G. E. GNECKOW CDR D. G. HAY CDR C. A. ANDERSON 12 OCT. 1953 23 JULY 1955 9 JULY 1957 7 JAN. 1959 3 DEC. 1960 17 JULY 1962 7 MAR. 1964 8 SEPT 1965 6 SEPT 1969 17 SEPT 1971 27 APR. 1973 30 APR. 1975 10 MAY 1977 23 JULY 1955 9 JULY 1957 7 JAN. 1959 3 DEC. 1960 17 JULY 1962 7 MAR. 1964 8 SEPT 1965 25 JUNE 1966 17 SEPT 1971 27 APR. 1973 30 APR. 1975 10 MAY 1977 19 MAR 1978 McCAIN was again attached to the Seventh Fleet in March of 1964 during which time she took part in various hunter-killer group ASW operations, including Operation LIGHTS, A combined SEATO opiration in the Philippines. In September 1965, McCAIN departed Pearl Harbor once again on her last Westpac prior to conversion. During this period, McCAIN steamed some 57,000 miles engaged in missions ranging from surveillance to shore bombardment. Twice McCAIN was called upon to fire into Viet Cong strongholds in South Vietnam. In December, her schedule took her to the Sea of Japan for joint operations with units of the Korean Fleet. In January, she was assigned surveillance of Soviet units operating in the Philippine Sea. In May 1966, JOHN S. McCAIN departed Pearl Harbor, her homeport for nine years, and proceeded to Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, where she was decommissioned and converted to her present configuration as a guided missile destroyer. On September 6, 1969, after an extensive conversion, the JOHN S. McCAIN was recommissioned as DDG-36 and in February 1970 rejoined the Pacific Fleet as flagship of Destroyer Squadron 23, homeported.in Long Beach, California.