John McCain (DDG 36) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 115 text:

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.

Page 114 text:

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.

Page 116 text:

From: USS ROARK TO USS JOHN S. McCAIN BIG BAD JOHN FROM SUBIC BAY TO SAN DIEGO BIG BAD JOHN TOOK THE TRIP ACROSS THE WIDE POND IN STRIDE. IN TYPICAL FASHION McCAIN NEVER SKIRTED IMPEDIMENTS OR ADVERSITY BUT MET THEM HEAD ON. YOU NOT ONLY ENDURED, YOU PREVAILED. THE MEN OF McCAIN CAN WALK TALL. THEY HAVE PROVED THEMSELVES AND THEIR SHIP. THEY CAN NOT ONLY KEEP UP THEY CAN SET THE PACE. CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE. CREDITS .- --iv ■ ' S -- - EDITOR: LTjg ILL PUMFORD PHOTOG PH : LTJG GREG. M iUJiR..-- : » — — 0S ' 2 It HA££! S0I I cdr5T iBUiisBa to!£ i J i «S2Sw» f ' ' ■ :; eAFe ' C MO - ■■-- - - ' ■; !jm:ri1oTTHorr?W ' - T ' »!ETfftJMF6RlT -