Spruance (DD 963) - Naval Cruise Book

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uesday, 7 August, 1990 was a nor- mal workday for most Mayport sail- ors, except for the men of SPRUANCE. That fateful day marked the end of months of preparation: the long-awaited Med cruise was about to begin. Sorrow mingled with nervous expecta- tion on Echo pier as countless sailors said their last goodbyes before boarding the looming grey warship that would be their home for at least the next six months. In an orderly flurry of activity, the ship took in all lines, made up two waiting tugs, and slid slowly away from its berth. The crew, turned out in their sharpest summer whites, manned the rails, taking one last lingering look at the familiar sights of home. SPRUANCE left Mayport as part of the USS SARATOGA CCV-601 carrier battle BYOUD. Driven by reports of Iraqi hostil- ities, the battle group transited the Atlantic at high speed, entering the Mediterranean Sea eleven days later. When the SARATOGA and her escorts entered the Red Sea, SPRUANCE was di- rected to remain in the eastem Mediter- raneang her mission: to maintain a U.S. Naval presence in the area. This tasking included goodwill visits to eastern Med ports, submarine hunting in the central Mediterranean, and service as the Amer- ican representative in the Naval On Call Forces, Mediterranean CNAVOCFOR- MEDJ, a NATO taskforce responsible for maintaining a visible naval presence in the Med. After a Christmas portcall in Thes- saloniki, Greece, SPRUANCE sailed to Haifa, Israel where CDR William J. Gerken assumed command. On 07 Jan- uary, SPRUANCE proceeded north and took assigned station, patrolling the waters of the eastern Med.

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You wzll be the thunder and of Operatzon Desert Storm . - General Norman

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LE OF CONTENTS 4 CHAIN fCN C'fJN1NI:XNID 62 NXARDROOM 10 THE CREW 66 PORTS OF CALL 44 CURRENT EVENTS 84 CHANGE OF COMMAND 46 DAILY ROUTINE 86 DESERT STORM 60 CHIEF'S MESS 88 HOMECOMINC1 96 THE STAFF 3 .' A 390 -