John Rodgers (DD 983) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 94 text:

On a couple of occasions the USS JOHN RODGERS would join the Amphibious Task Force at anchor. This allowed us to do tests and maintenance on equipment that was running while we were underway. It also provided the various watchstanders a chance to change the monoton ' . The Amphibs. referred to as Gators. remained at anchor during the day. but got underway at night. The picture at the bottom left shows part of the Beirut skyline. The stripped tower is Beirut Light. The airport is south of this point, while the American Embass ' was off to the north. The city was often covered with a haze caused by shelling and fires. The sounds of artiller - were common and at night the beach was laced by the glare of flares, tracer rounds, rockets, and explosions.

Page 96 text:

NAVAL GUNFIRE SUPPORT 1 Airport. cs from shelling in the xicinity of the Beirut International GMG3 BEACH describing part of the o ' guns to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. JOHN RODGERS spent alot of time off the coast of Lebanon. After the longest stretch we stopped in Ashdod. Israel. We pulled out of Ashdod and were headed to Corfu. Greece for some good libert - when we were ordered back to Beirut. The day after we returned, the 17th of September, we fired our first rounds. The rounds were fired in response to the shelling of the American Ambassador ' s residence and the temporary American Embassy. USS BOWEN joined us in this action. On the 20th of September the Druse attacked the town of Souk El-Garb, a strategic position overlooking Beirut. In what was described by some as the largest American X ' aval action since ' iet Nam. L ' SS IOH RODGERS and USS VIRGIXIA. a nuclear powered guided missile cruiser, fired shells into the hills. This action caused a great deal of concern over the US involvement in Lebanon. News from home filtered out to us slowly, but soon letters from home contained newspaper clippings of pictures and articles of fOHX RODGERS in action. They were passed around and eagerly read. The week was one of the busiest we had experienced since leaving the states. It was certainly the most memorable. We fired over 250 rounds into the hills in support of both the .Multi-national Force. JOHN RODGERS ' t%vo 5- 54 Light- weight Gunmounts enabled us to fire a round nearly thirteen m.iles. A high explosi e shell will make a hole approximately 5 feei deep and 10 feeUv ide. The Mark 86 Gunfire Control s stem allowed us lo designate and assign two targets at one time. We were the first Spruance class destroyer to do this.