Richard E Byrd (DDG 23) - Naval Cruise Book

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.-I .1 5 'I CHANGE O A99 s.,,..-aff CDR. FG HORN USN July I8 - Present CAPTAIN HORN'S ACCEPTANCE OF COMMAND REMARKS: SOME I4 YEARS AGO THIS SHIP WAS BLESSED WITH AN OUTSTANDING CO AND CREW, DURING ITS FIRST YEAR IN COMMISSION THE SHIP GAINED AN EXCELLENT REPUTATION AND WAS AWARDED THE BATTLE EFFICIENCY 'E' AND HAD THE BEST RETENTION RATE IN CRUDESLANT. IT IS A REAL TRIBUTE TO THIS CURRENT CREWAND ITS COMMAND- ING OFFICER THAT THE RECORD ACHIEVED BY THE R. E. BYRD IN ITS EARLY DA YS HAS BEENSURPASEDAND FROM WHATI HA VESEEN SURPASSESALL OTHER CREWS WHICH HA VE MANNED HER. CAPTAIN GOODWIN YOU ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR YOUR PERFORMANCE AS COMMANDING OFFICER5 AS HER CO YOU HA VE LED THISSHIP TO OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE INALL AREAS FROM WHICH THESHIPS REPUTATION OF BEST IN THE FLEET HAS BEEN EARNED. AS YOU LEAVE, WE ABOARD EXTEND TO YOU ALL THE COURTESIES AND PRIVILEGES YOU HA VE EN- JOYED AS COMMANDING OFFICER. WE WISH YOU SMOOTH SAILING IN YOUR NEW ASSIGNMENT. FOR THE OFFICERS AND CREW OF THE RICHARD E. BYRD ALL OR- DERS ISSUED BY MY PREDECESSOR REMAIN IN EFFECT. CAPTAIN GOODWIN REST ASSURED EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO RETAIN THE SHOOTIN' RICHARDS OUTSTANDING REPUTA TION.

Page 65 text:

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- ...-Y ..........,,-,. COMMAN wi ,,.,f ' CDR RL GOODWIN USN JULY 76-JULY 78 THE OLD-OLD MAN SEZ: I HAD INTENDED TO MAKE MY REMARKSAT THE CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONY BRIEF BUT NOT AS BRIEF AS IT TURNED OUT. AL- THOUGH THIS ISN'T THE SAME, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A COUPLE OF ITEMS WITH YOU! TWO YEARS AGO WHEN FRIDA Y'S TRADITION WAS REPEATED AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO ASSUME COMMAND OF OUR GREAT SHIP, I STATED THAT SHOOTIN' RICHARD HAD AN ENVIABLE REPUTA TION AND PLEDGED THAT THOSE OF US WHO WERE ASSIGNED AT THAT TIME WOULD STRIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER! THIS YOU HA VE DONE INA SUPERB MA NNER AND YOU CANAND SHOULD BE .IUSTIFIABLY PROUD OF THE RESULTS OF YOUR EFFORTS. I AM! WAY BACK IN THE DARK AGES WHEN I WAS AN ENSIGN INOT ON SANTA MARIA OR THE ARCj THE GOAL OF A NA VAL OFFICER WAS TO COMMAND A DESTROYER. THROUGH THE YEARS I LEARNED A LITTLE ABOUT WHY THIS WAS A SOUGHT AFTER PRIZE BUT COULD NOT FULLY APPRECIATE IT. THE REALIZA TION FINALLY HIT YESTER- DAY AS I RELINQUISHED COMMAND AND REALIZED THAT THIS BEAUTIFUL GRAY LADY AND YOU HER PROFESSIONAL CREW WOULD NEVER BEA PART OF MY LIFE AGAIN IN THE WAY IT HAS BEEN DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS. I WOULDN'T TRADE A MINUTE OF HAVING BEEN THE LUCKIEST MAN IN THE WORLD. THANKS FOR MAKING IT THE BEST TOUR OFDUTY THIS OLD MANHAS OR WILL EVER HA VE. SINCEREL Y, CHARLIE Rs. IT LOOKS LIKE WE GOT THE CARRIER!