Meyerkord (FF 1058) - Naval Cruise Book

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The ship reported to San Diego, California in July 1974, which is now her homeport. On 3 January 1975, MEYERKORD departed San Diego for her third Western Pacific deployment. After arrival at Subic Bay, R.P., the ship received a distress signal from the sinking Panamaian merchant ship, GULF BANKER. MEYERKORD removed GULF BANKERS thirty-one crew members and stood by until GULF BANKER sank to assure that she would not be a hazard to navigation. Also, during this deployment, MEYERKORD participated in the evacuations of Cambodia and Vietnam, and in fleet towing exercises, one a joint exercise with the Royal Thai Navy. MEYERKORD returned to San Diego in August 1975 for maintenance and repair. During November, the ship began an extensive inspection and training cycle in preparation for the next WESTPAC which she began on 22 May 1976. While deployed, 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 ofthe Navyas Overseas Diplomacy program. MEYERKORD returned to San Diego on 21 December 1976. In 1977, MEYERKORD participated in many fleet exercises and good will visits to Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, Mexico and Canada, MEYERKORD returned to Portland, Oregon in January 1978 to undergo a thirteen million dollar, fourteen month overhaul which was completed in February 1979. In May 1979. MEYERKORD visited Pugent Sound area participating in the annual Sea Fair activities. MEYERKORD commenced her fourth WESTPAC in February 1980 with RIMPAC 80, During this deployment, MEYERKORD visited Guam, Japan, and the Philippines. MEYERKORD participated in a search and rescue operation involving a merchantman, and completed the WESTPAC with participation in DAKOTA RUN. MEYERKORD deployed in October 1981, on her fifth WESTPAC visiting the Philippines, Mauritius, Australia and Malaysia. MEYERKORD was deployed to the Indian Ocean with the USS CONSTELLA- TION Battle Group and the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY Battle Group from December 1981 to April 1982. On June 9, 1983, MEYERKORD deployed on her sixth WESTPAC in company with the USS NEW JERSEY and other DESRON SEVENTEEN ships. World events forced the NEW JERSEY to other commitments and sent MEYERKORD to the Indian Ocean to escort the USS CARL VINSON Battle Group, Upon completion of MEYERKORD'S Indian Ocean tour, she was tasked with and saw the completion of humanitarian and salvage operations at the KAL O07 crash site, 25 miles off the Soviet Union. Ports visited included Manila, Singapore, Hong Kong and Sasebo. MEYERKORD returned to San Diego on December 12, 1983 and began preparation for her upcoming overhaul scheduled to commence in March 1984 at Long Beach.

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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.

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