Moosebrugger (DD 980) - Naval Cruise Book

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The City of Rome . New Old and Above: One of the Swiss Guards in St. Peter ' s Basihca Right: Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier

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St. Peter ' s Basilica Gaeta Italy The Leaning Tower of Pisa The Coliseum 90

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OPERATION: URGENT FURY Historically the destroyer has proven itself to be the stalwart of the surface navy. These well-armed, fast-moving, maneuverable ships classically find themselves the point man of the Battle Group. The sailors of these ships are proud to be destroyermen and pride themselves on their ability to meet any challenge. Operation Urgent Fury, which rescued American citizens and restored democracy to the island nation of Grenada, may not be recorded in history as a major conflict. But the record will substantiate once again the importance and flexibility that the Destroyer and her crew provide to the fleet during any conflict. The officers and men of Moosbrugger are proud of their accomplishments and participation in Operation Urgent Fury, and feel the role of the destroyer in the operation should not be overlooked. With five inch guns cleared for action, and her two embarked helicopters (HSL 34 DET 6 H2 - Greenchecker 232 and HS15 SH3 Red Lion 611) airborne for combat SAR Moosbrugger arrived in the predawn hours of 25 - October - 1983 as the point man of the surface force close ashore to cover the 82nd Airborne assault of Pt. Salines Airfield. Shortly after the assault began. Army Blackhawk helos, attempting to land at Prickly Point, came under heavy automatic weapons ground fire and turned out to Moosbrugger for assistance. Moosbrugger took the battle damaged helicopters aboard and established a livesaving emergency medical treatment center in the helo hangar, treating nine wounded soldiers of 82nd Airborne special forces. Once stabilizing medical treatment was accomplished, the wounded were successfully evacuated to surgical units aboard USS GUAM, while other soldiers were reinserted to the fight in available helicopters. An hour into the assault Moosbrugger received an urgent call for Medevac from a firefight area near the Pt. Salines Airfield above True Blue Beach. Rounding up two Army Blackhawks for cover, Moosbrugger vectored Red Lion 611 (HS-15) to the scene. Red Lion 611 set down on the beach and recovered eleven wounded soldiers who were successful- ly Medevaced to USS GUAM. During the eight days of Moosbrugger participation she conducted over 175 flight deck evolutions with a wide variety of helicopters from three services. SAR operations were only one of many missions assigned to Moosbrugger during Grenada. Moosbrugger maintained alert 30 or higher for Naval Gunfire Support throughout the operation. Twice Moosbrugger was called on to fire in anger delivering first On Target fire with spotter reports that both targets were destroyed. During the preparation for and execution of this operation, this Gas-Turbine powered destroyer operated over one hundred and forty hours at speeds above twenty five knots and on one occasion spent over thirty hours at thirty knots to deliver pony express style preassault planning information to the Marine amphibious commander. Moosbrugger conducted extensive small craft interdictions preventing the escape or resupply of the enemy by sea, provided ASW screening to the Battle Force and provided surface protection for special boat unit and Seal Team operations. This proud Destroyer, known fleetwide as the Moose , fulfilled all taskings. The Moose Was Loose in Grenada providing More Than Required in the tradition of her namesake. Vice Admiral Frederick Moosbrugger, USN. 92