Porterfield (DD 682) - Naval Cruise Book

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An inspection and awards ' Our awesome companion...then we watched her reverse course. omeward Bound.. . Aid vi

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I 2 '? I if 15 li wi l i . , I , I l i I x 5 J I 1 I P , In the beginning... Head duckhunter and his nemesis. he Legend of WHAT DUGK The story of What Duck begins and continues Ut would be wrong to suggests that the story endsj in mystery. Of his origins little is known, though it is believed widely that he was taken, or rather rescued, from some Olongopo hovel some time in early December. Just what ill fate would have befallen this forlorn duckling of barely 3 inches height were it not for certain repair- men is hard to say. Certainly his chances for a long life were improved on the night he was smuggled aboard, a tribute less to his accommodations fe.g. a small box on the after director level 1 than to the lavish attention he received. It was of course necessary that What Duck's whereabouts be kept secret, since once rumors started it was not clear just what the command's attitude toward this unofficial visitor would be. C.O. and X.O. evasion drills long he became very adept The head duckhunter, most perplexed. Not only an egg fstill warmj on hi to 8 watch, but he even San Diego and signed What Duck. No in the search, but it was to no avail. As Duck even became so bold as to publish his own though it was. Considerable commencing with out Vietnam in mid- time Duck had suc- from 53 and 54. For belief most convenient. For being on the alert 24 hours a day, rumors of his death and ln his cage. by the end of the was off. As far as most all the crew was Duck lived on in spirit only. For the last half of little more was said of What Duck. However, upon San Diego a full grown mallard appeared on the fantail. no one had yet been allowed to board. it was obvious to of us just who this remarkable mallard was. Still there are doubters. And if you are one We urge you to consult tests on the growing rates of mallards, for surely the facts will reveal the truth. What Duck would fdoes?j want it that way. at the end.

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The Men Awards HM1 David L. Crabbe MM2 David E. Lesh MM3 James D. Devin FN Frankie M. Paxton RD3 Mark R. McMaster SN Robert W. Hampton FN Arthur D. Pacheco And A Miraculous Save ff .W 1 , ff-,Jr f .a,az'g,j.,Wj,S , Navy and Marine Corps Medal ZW Hz' H Navy and Marine Corps Medal ' 5 0' A Navy and Marine Corps Medal Navy and Marine Corps Medal Navy Achievement Medal COMSEVENTHFLT Commendation COMSEVENTHFLT Commendation With a mere two weeks remaining in a six month cruise, PORTERFIELD came desperately close to tragedy. On the fifth day of April, only 60 miles from Yokosuka, Japan, our last stop before turning toward San Diego, we encountered a storm with winds well in excess of 45 knots, pro- ducing walls of green water from 20 to 30 feet high. It was this spectacular scene that promoted brawny, red haired machinist mate James Devin to attempt some photography one level above the main deck. Surveying the fury of the storm, Devin watched one particularly large wave crush down over the starboard quarter. In its aftermath lay BT1 James Detlefsen, apparently injured after having been washed against a nearby stanchion. Proceeding to assist him Devin met hospital corpsman David Crabbe. As the two attempted to reach Detlefsen, another large wave swept over the starboard side of the ship. Devin's next realization was swimming in the cold, thrashing water of the Pacific. Four very long minutes passed before FN Arthur Pacheco was able to relay word to the bridge that a man had been lost. Rolling from side to side as much as 45 degrees, PORT- ERFIELD and USS JOHN PAUL JONES IDDG-321 combed the churning seas. A combination of deep swells and heavy spray effectively limited visibility to a scant 100 yards and twice JONES passed within 150 yards of Devin without detecting him. Unable to make headway against the waves, Devin, with remarkable presence of mind, recalled some basic training and made a life preserver from his trousers by tying knots in the legs and inflating them. For an hour and a half he remained afloat as we continued what seemed to be an utterly hopeless search. Meanwhile MM2 David Lesh and FN Frank Paxton, at considerable risk of being washed overboard themselves, managed to haul Detlefsen and Crabbe, who had been injured by the same wave which swept Devin overboard, to safety. SN Robert Hampton and RD3 Mark McMaster administered first aid to the injured men. Reluctant to abandon the search for Devin but sorely pressed by the need to obtain medical treatment for Crabbe and Detlefsen, the Captain made the agonizing decision to turn away to Yokosuka. Moments later, JONES, retracing her track once again, sighted Devin and reported that he appeared well and was waving his arms. In an instant grief and fatigue were transformed into elation as James Donald Devin was safely pulled aboard JONES. K A The Seas