Meyerkord (FF 1058) - Naval Cruise Book

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'Wu-,. VIETNAM VETERAN'S MEMORIAL Washington, D.C. Photograph taken by NCI CSWJ Michael S. Williams, USN Lieutenant Harold Dale Meyerkord 1937-1965 Lieutenant Meyerkord was born in St. Louis, Missouri on 9 October 1937, graduated from Riverview Gardena High School in 1955 and received a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of Missouri. He received his commission on 10 June 1960 after completing Officer Candidate School. He served on the USS LOS ANGELES QCA- 1351 and the USS DUNCAN QDD-8741 prior to 13 July 1964 when he brought his expertise, diplomacy, tact, leadership, and dedication to the aid of South Vietnam's struggle for freedom. As Senior Naval Advisor to the 23rd River Assault Group of 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 ofC.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 a minature fleet of shallow draft patrol craft to protect three of the thirteen districts of the vast delta region of the Mekong river. The waterbone domain had largely been regulated by fuedal 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 jungles 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. In 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 fire, he continued the fight until victory was assured. In the best tradition of Hornblower , his daring leadership continued through more than 30 combat operations. He twice was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action. He lived up to his stated philosphyg ln order to conduct successful operations in this region, it is imperative that American advisors have an aggressive, but not reckless attitude. An advisor that is overly cautious and places needless stumbling blocks in an operation is a handicap. Lieutenant Meyerkord was killed on 16 March 1965, 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 steadily 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, father, all of St. Louis, Missouri. I i 1 i 1 1. 1 i 3 ll A ' 1 5 'Q .

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TABLE OF CONTE SAS Subject Page LT. Dale Meyerkord 2 USS MEYERKORD-A History 3 Uss NEW JERSEY 113B-621 5 Commanding Officer 6 Executive Officer 7 Departing San Diego for WESTPAC 8 Department Heads I4 The OFFICERS I6 OPERATIONS 22 SUPPLY I 30 NAVIGATl0NfMED1CAL 37 WEAPONS ' 40 ,f Subject Port' Of MANILA Flight Quarters Crossing. the Line Singapore Hong Kong ENGINEERING JAPAN KA L. OPS-007 Cruise Book Staff Tigers, Tigers HOMECOMING The Last Page , 5 . , . -1 1 Page 52 54 56 60 62 65 81 88 96 98 102 104

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1 l r 1 D,-.X .'Uf- ----at - tl I 1 i 4' 1 1 UNITED STATES SHIP MEYERKGRD FF-1058 Named for Lieutenant Harold Dale Meyerkord, USNR, MEYERKORD was the fifth ship commissioned in her class and was designed with a primary role of Anti- submarine Warfare. MEYERKORD is capable of assuming the various missions and tasks assigned to a modern Naval destroyer, and can operate as a unit of a Hunter- Killer QHUKJ Group, screen amphibious or underway replenishment forces, patrol coastal water 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 keel of the MEYERKORD was laid on 1 September 1966. She was launched on 15 July 1967 and delivered on 21 November 1969. MEYERKORD was commis- sioned on 28 November 1969. MEYERKORD is co-sponsored by Mrs. Harold D. Meyerkord, widow of the late, Lieutenant Meyerkord, and Mrs. Harold E. Meyer- kord, 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 launcher, anti- submarine torpedo launchers, a 5-inch, 54 caliber gun mount, self-defense missile system, and a helicopter capability. MEYERKORD has a complement of 18 officers, and 250 enlisted personnel. As a component of Commander Naval Surface Force, Pacific, MEYERKORD is assigned to Destroyer Squadron SEVENTEEN. MEYERKORD entered fleet service in September 1970 by participating in her first major exercise, which wasfollowed in rapid succession by three ASW exercises and another major fleet exercise. On 11 March 1971, MEYERKORD departed Long Beach, California on her first WESTPAC deployment, aspart of Anti-Submarine Warfare Group THREE. Upon her entry into the Southeast Asia combat zone on 3 April 1971, MEYERKORD became the first ship named after, an American serviceman killed in the Vietnam conflict to return to act in a supporting role. She participated with the ASW group in operations which included an ASW exercise in the Indian Ocean. MEYERKORD returned to Long Beach in July 1971. MEYERKORD began her second deployment on 25 July 1972. After transit to Subic Bay, R.P., MEYERKORD was independently assigned to Naval Gunfire Support duties. During this seven month deployment, MEYERKORD acted as a mutual support destroyer in three separate assignments involving gunfire support. On 16 October 1973, 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.