Merrill (DD 976) - Naval Cruise Book

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VICE ADMIRAL AARON S. MERRILL (1890-1961) MERRILL (DD-976) is named in honor of the late Vice Admiral Aaron Stanton Merrill, an outstanding Cruiser Destroyer and Task Force Commander during World War II. A native of Mississippi, Admiral Tip Merrill achieved extraordinary success during the United States ' first offensive operations against the enemy in the South Pacific. Most notable of his naval successes was the epic Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, a brilliantly executed night action in which Merrill ' s small boys and cruisers defeated a more powerful enemy naval group sent to drive the newly entrenched American land and sea forces from the Solomon Island area. His bold leadership, daring tactics and indomitable fighting spirit during this battle and other naval actions contributed greatly to the success in the recapture of the Solomon Islands and won him the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit with two Gold Stars. I

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TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE ADMIRAL MERRILL SHIP ' S LOG POEM TRACK CHART CTF 75 STAFF OFFICER ' S CALL CHIEFS AIR DET. COMBAT SYSTEMS OPERATIONS ENGINEERING SUPPORT SUPPLY PORTS O ' CALL FRIENDS FROM THE SEA SURVIELLANCE OPERATIONS UNREPS FLIGHT QUARTERS CREW CANDID SPORTS ZORK TIGER CRUISE AND HOME CREDITS PAGE I PAGE 4 PAGE 5 PAGE 6 PAGES 8 § 9 PAGE 10 PAGE II PAGE 2 PAGE 21 PAGE 29 PAGE 33 PAGE 37 PAGE 41 PAGE 43 PAGE 48 PAGE 12 PAGE 74 PAGE 78 PAGE 80 PAGE 82 PAGE SS PAGE 90 PAGE 92 PAGE 96

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WESTPAC 80 SHIP ' S LOG April I Departure San Diego. First MERRILL Deployment April 7-11 Inport Pearl Harbor, Hawaii April IIOI Group Sail with USS MEYERKORD (FF-1058) April 18 Outchop Third FIcet lnchoup Seventh Fleet April 2! BSF Guam (Ship ' s beach party) April 22-26 INDEPENDANT to South China Sea April 26-28 Passex South China Sea with HMNZS CANTERBURY April 28-May 16 INPORT SUBIC BAY. Philippines (WESTPAC HOMEPORT) May 16-21 Enroute Rdvu USS MIDWAY (CV-41) May 21 28 CNO Project ops with USS MIDWAY May 28- June 2 Contingency Operations off Coast of Korea with MIDWAY Battle Group to relieve CORAL SEA Battle Group (KIMCHEE STATION) June 3-8 Inport Yokosuka. Japan June 7 Commander Gee relieved by Commander Paulson June 8-17 Escort USS MIDWAY in support of CNO Project June 18-19 Inport Chinhae. Korea June 20-22 Transit to Hong Kong June 23-27 Inport Hong Kong, British Crown Colony June 28-29 Transitex to Subic Bay June 30- July 6 Inport Subic Bay. Philippines July 4 FIL-AM DAY, MARDI GRAS streets of Olongapo July 7-10 Passex with THAI Navy SEA SIAM EXERCISE July 11-14 Inport Subic Bay. Philippines July 15-23 Escort USS MIDWAY July 23-26 Enroute ASWEX Work up July 26-28 Inpo rt Chinhae. Korea ASWEX Work up July 29-August 3 ASWEX K4-80 ROKN and USS KNOX August 3-4 Inport Pusan, Korea August 5-7 Enroute Subic Bay August 8-14 Inport Subic Bay, Philippines August 14 Embark CTF 75 Staff (Flag ship SCTG 75.2) August 15-20 SCTG Operations August 20 Rescued 62 Refugees in South China Seas August 21-23 Inport Subic Bay, Philippines August 23-29 SCTG Operated with British Task Group 138.1 August 29 BSF Subic Bay (Last Time In WestPac Homeport) August 30-Sept 2 MINSK CVHG Surveillance Operations September 2-3 Transit Pusan September 4-6 Inport Pusan. Korea September 7-9 Transit Yokosuka September 9-13 Inport Yokosuka, Japan September 14-24 SCTG Operations Dakota Run (Sea of Okhotsk) September 24-25 Inport Yokosuka, Japan September 25 Disembark CTF 75 September 26-30 Enroute Rdvu Constellation evaded Typhoons Thelma and Vernon October 1-7 Transitex with USS CONSTELLATION Battle Group October 3 Outchop Seventh Fleet lnchop Third Fleet October 7-9 Inport Pearl Harbor-embark Tigers October 9-15 Transitex with USS CONSTELLATION October 15 ARRIVED HOME, SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA WESTPAC ENDS