Meyerkord (FF 1058) - Naval Cruise Book

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LIEUTENANT HAROLD DALE MEYERKORD l937-I965 Lieutenant Meyerkord was born in St. Louis. Missouri on 9 October l937. graduat- ed from Riverview Gardena High School in i955 and received a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of Missouri. He received his commission on IO June l960 after completing Officer Candidate School. He served on USS LOS AN- GELES QCA- I 355 and USS DUNCAN CDD-8745 prior to I3 July I964 when he brought his expertise. diplomacy. tact. leadership and dedication to the aid of South Viet- nam's struggle for South Vietnamese Navy. he was involved in more than thirty combat -operations in which he was under fire. Appropriately, his radio code name was Hornblower . the legendary hero of C.S. Forester's novels. His dedication to his men - Vietnamese and American - became renowned throughout the River Assault Group. Lieutenant Meyerkord assumed co-leadership with a Vietnamese Commander of miniature fleet of shallow draft patrol craft to protect three of the thirteen districts which form the vast delta region of the Mekong River. This waterborne domain had largely been regulated by feudal war lords and river pirates. The Viet Cong had brought terror including kidnapping and murder of local and anti-Red leaders in their attempt to control this rice bowl . Here. waterways substituted for roads, lacing the iungles so very familiar to the enemy. Threats of ambush and instant death were ever present as the River Assault Group probed into insurgent territory. Lieutenant Meyerkord made many low-level aerial flights in the face of Viet Cong fire to gain vital intelligence data. These achievements brought him the posthumous award of the Air Medal. But he was even more daring in action with his River Assault Group. ln one action. when the enemy blocked his fleet. he set up a shore command post from which he directed artillery fire and air strikes to save the day ln another action. he took over from the wounded Vietnamese Commander. Though wounded himself and facing heavy tire. he continued the fight until victory was assured. ln the best t d't' f H ' ' ' ' ra i lon o ornblower . his daring leadership continued through more than 3 I . O combat operations. He was twice awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action. He lived up to his stated philosophy: ln order to conduct successful oper- ations in this ' ' ' ' ' ' ' region. it is imperative that American advisors have an aggressive but kl not rec ess attitude. An advisor that is overly cautious and places needless slum- bling blocks in an operation is a handicap. l.ieutenant.Meyerkord was killed on l6 March I965, while his craft was in the van. leading his River Assault Group into insurgent territory. His boat was caught in the first fusilade from a Viet Cong ambush. He steadfastly returned the enemy's fire at point-blank range until mortally wounded. His extraordinary heroism was recognized by the posthumous award of the Navy Cross Lieutenant Meyerkord is survived by his wife, daughter. mother and father. all of St. Louis. Missouri.

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UNITED STATES SHIP MEYERKORD KFF l058j Named for Lieutenant Harold Dale Meyerkord. USNR. MEYERKORD was the lifth ship commissioned in her class and was designed with the primary role of Antisubmarine Warfare CASWJ. She is capable of assuming the various missions and tasks assigned to a modern Naval destroyer. MEYERKORD can operate as a unit of a Hunter-Killer QHUKD Group. screen amphibious or underway replenishment forces. patrol coastal waters for missile firing submarines. conduct Naval Gunfire Support missions. or escort military convoys. She is also capable of conducting missions of search. patrol. rescue. evacuation. blockade. visit and search. or surveillance. The lieel of MEYERKORD was laid on l September lt-366. She was launched on I5 July l967. and delivered on 2l November I969. She was commissioned on 28 November I969. MEYERKORD is co-sponsored by Mrs. Harold D. Meyerkord. widow of the late Lieutenant Meyerkord. and Mrs. Harold E. Meyerkord. mother of Lieutenant Meyerkord. MEYERKORD has an overall length of 438 feet. a beam of 47 feet and a full load displacement of about 4000 tons. She is equipped with an integral bow-mounted long range sonar. surface and air search radars. an antisubmarine rocket QASROCB and harpoon cruise missile launcher. antisubmarine torpedo launchers. a 5-inch. 54 caliber gun mount. self-defense missile system. and a helicopter capability. MEYERKORD has a complement of I8 officers and 250 enlisted personnel. As a compo' nent of Commander Naval Surface Force Pacific. MEYERKORD is assigned to Destroyer Squadron SEVENTEEN. ln September I97O. MEYERKORD entered active fleet service by participating in her first major exercise. which was followed in rapid succession by three ASW exercises and another major fleet exercise. On ll March I97l MEYERlxORD departed from long Beach on her first WESTPAC deployment. as part of ANTISURMARINF WARFARE GROUP THREE. Upon her entry into the Southeast Asia combat zone on 3 April I97l. MEYFRKORD became the first ship named after an American serviceman killed in the Vietnam war to return to act in a supporting role in that conflict. She participated with the ASW group in operations which included an ASW exercise in the Indian Ocean. MEYERKORD returned to Long Beach in July l97l. MEYERKORD began her second deployment on 25 July l972. Alter transit to Subic Bay. R.P.. MFYERKORD was independently assigned to Naval Gunfire Support duties. During this seven month deployment. MEYERKORD acted as a mutual support destroyer for three separate assignments involving gunfire support. On I6 October l973. MEYERKORD began her first regular overhaul in Long Beach. In addition to general maintenance. the ship received several significant alterations. These included modifications to the ship's sonar. the addition of the Basic Point Defense Missile system. and alterations to the hanger to accommodate a manned helicopter. The ship returned to San Diego in July I974. which is now her homeport. On 3 January l97S. MEYERKORD departed San Diego for her third Western Pacific deployment. After arrival in Subic Bay. the ship received a distress signal from the sinking Panamanian merchant ship. GULF BANKFR. MEYERKORD removed GULF BANKER's thirty-one crew members and stood by until the ship sank in order to assure that she would not be a hazard to navigation. During this deployment. MEYERKORD participated in the evacuations of Cambodia and Vietnam. and in two fleet exercises. one a joint exercise with the Royal Thai Navy. MEYERKORD returned to San Diego in August I97S for maintenance and repair. ln November the ship began an extensive inspection and training cycle in preparation for the next WESTPAC deployment which she commenced on 22 May I976. On this deployment. MEYERKORD participated in a number of operations which included special surveillance. antisubmarine warfare exercises. naval gunfire exercises. marine support exercises. and carrier task group operations. She also made a number of port visits in support of the Navy's Overseas Diplomacy program. MEYERKORD returned to San Diego on 2l De- cember I976. ln I977 MEYERKORD participated in many fleet exercises and good will port visits to Portland. Seattle. Mexico and Canada. ln January l978 MEYERKORD returned to Portland. Oregon to undergo a thirteen million dollar. fourteen month overhaul. Upon completing overhaul on February 28. I979. MEYERKORD again began a year of intensive training and inspections preparing for her a fifth WESTPAC tour. deploying 26 February l98O with the fleet exercise RIMPAC 80.