John Paul Jones (DDG 32) - Naval Cruise Book

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fl ii l :gl iii ' 'E ,rl , ......-.-W ..-,..--,- g A .?.7,.,.. l- fm- - . ff .. - ' ' ,J '..':.i5f4l aiQv -K In ,I in ' H , A - ' ' i - 1 -. - ' ' ' - I if 'W -r lt i a s. 3- , 'I ., l 'A 1 ' 1 .V.,, .3 :lit ' , 1 is 1 i . i . -1 .4 E , if f 1 'i Si J 1 i l 11' 'J , , S 5 4, N ew.-El l Q i 4 , .V ' l, U 11,1 fif 1' ' . ,L ' A f 'i H i l 1. i A' Xl? W, 4. in f'r S, i. 1 1 i . t. ,V ' fi I , v 1 L lift , ,,--3 4,- , 4.x ,fig J J 7 l E i 'Twas a sparkling April day, and it was ours. I-lenceforth we were the USS john Pam' ,lones.,Many a-backbone tingled as the Stars and Stripes were hoisted, and as the Grand Union Flag fluttered at the foremast. To add a touch of frosting to the already generous cake, we received a well done, on far from easy monthly terms, from Admiral Carney, and USS john Paul jones QDD 9325 became a part of the United States Fleet. Fitting out in Boston followed, and we put to sea several times, sort of a U- I hoisted with my own hands the flag of freedom the first time it was displayed, on board Alfred in the Delaware. Drive-lt deal, to give her a run. A hun- dred firsts were garnished: the first helmsman, the first OOD, the first throt- tleman, the first radar contact, and the first chance for many to see just what sort of bargain this new construction develop- ment was. None were disappointed. 5 , . . Quilted from cloth ,ravishedxfrom their virgin petticoats. F , - - - ...JJ-. a- it ' uf- My ,, f. i J 41 I l i 3, iw, r L F l l l 4. i, 'X 4 l O V I ,V ll

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ter of fact, despite his 1947 vintage Medal of Honor, the founder of our Navy never had a ship named with his full name. There was a Paul ,jones I, a six-gun pad- dle steamer, built in 1863. We can men- tion Paul jones, jr., a 30-foot motor launch of the same era. Then, in aught 2, DD 10 appeared, named Paul jones. This was a torpedo boat, displacing about 400 tons. She was decommissioned in 1918. - Paul jones No. 4 QDD 2305 was per- haps the most illustrious. Commissioned in 1921, she had a long and active service in the Asiatic Fleet, through World War II. Her exploits in World War II are em- blazoned on our quarterdeck. She left the fleet in 1945. , Now, we appeared from throughout the fleet, flocking to Bath or to Newport, arriving as individuals, but with the pas- sage of time becoming a cohesive group, the family which was to inhabit john Paul jones. 1 When first seen during the fall days at Bath, the old, or rather new JPJ matched the Maine autumn admirably. However, with the advent of winter, red-lead didn't compliment snow to any great extent, so a coat of haze gray seemed to be in order to fit in with the landscape. Came builder's trials in early March, and she went to sea - to her natural habi- tat. The versatility of the movable home at once apparent, the preliminary accept- ance trials of late March were enthusias- tically welcomed. On 30 March, the nu- cleus crew moved aboard and the snowy trip to Boston was a ride to remember- She rolls. 1 Upon arrival in Boston, the Bath Iron Works moved out and the Newport con tingent moved in bag and baggage She was ours A feverish week of unpacking admiring and wandering followed and then the great day came , - , F I . . .01 ' 7 ..0' .Ut 7. - 7

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May the god of quick lightning give this ship a steady speed. May the god of accurate thunder give a keen marksmanship to this ship. May the god of men give this ship a clean heart, may the god of charity give this ship a noble purpose, and may the god of nations give this ship V a proud and undying inheritance- through Christ, our Lord, Amen? We went to Newport to join the De- stroyer Force, and were such individuals that we preferred to moor to a buoy rather than to nestle near an AD at the pier. We were honored to have many distinguished visitors and our housewarming was a trip to start the Bermuda Race at the mouth of Narragansett Bay. Leashing the social butterfly, we re- turned to Boston, waved hello to our sister ship, Forrest Sherman QDD 9315, waved goodbye to Boston and after a grand and glorious Fourth in Newport, set sail for Gtmo, Pearl of the Greater Antilles. .