Taussig (DDG 746) - Naval Cruise Book

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4 -fffff-f-ffm - 'N' ' 'W' 'W , .- -.aa-...-.-.A ...mm . .,, 1 an-fn-nw--we---0 TA USSIG HISTORY USS TAUSSIG, a 376 foot, 2200 ton Destroyer named for Rear Admiral Edward David Taussig, a hero of the Civil War and Spanish-American War, is a veteran of three wars. Manned by 18 officers and 260' enlisted personnel and equipped with the latest in Anti-Submarine Warfare weapons, TAUSSIG is a front-runner in the ASW field. Commissioned as a general purpose Destroyer on 20 May 1944, TAUSSIG served throughout the Pacific theatre during World War II, participating in the major battles of the Philippines, Carolinas, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa earning six major battle stars and the Occupation Medal. The next assignment, the famous Formosa Patrols inthe China Sea and Formosa Straits area, gained TAUSSIG the China Service Medal fExtendedJ. Shortly thereafter, the Korean War com- menced and TAUSSIG was soon an active participant. Carrier and Gunfire Support operations merited TAUSSIG eight battle stars and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation. The Cold War stalemate followed. TAUSSIG, operating from her home port in San Diego, California, returned several times to the Western Pacific for service with the Seventh Fleet. During the 1957 deployment, TAUSSIG was honored by selection for a visit to Melbourne, Australia. From 29 July to 3 August, the crew members enjoyed the traditional warm hospitali- ty Australia has always afforded the United States Navy. In 1962 the TAUSSIG underwent a major overhaul and shed much of her outdated equipment. Months later, equipped with modern communications, detection, and ASW weapons, TAUSSIG rejoined the fleet in the role ofa submarine hunter. TAUSSIG now has the ultra-modern Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter QDASHJ system, the Variable Depth Sonar QVDSJ, and homing tor- pedoes. Once again regular annual assignments to the Seventh Fleet were fulfilled, returning TAUSSIG to the scene of previous honors. On 20 April 1966 TAUSSIG's 10th Seventh Fleet deployment since the beginning of the Korean War. The pleasures of former sailings were forgotten, for a Vietnam Gunfire Support mission lay ahead. After brief stops in Hawaii, Midway, Guam, and the Philippines, TAUSSIG reported to her station on the 1ine on 31 May. Over the next 75 days, TAUSSIG spent 71 days underway providing gunfire support to United States and Allied forces ashore, ASW protection for the USS CONSTELLATION QCVA 643 whose aircraft were flying strikes against enemy targets, and search and rescue support to carrier pilots whose aircraft were downed by enemy fire. During this period TAUSSIG steamed from the Gulf of Siam to the Tonkin Gulf. Following port visits in August to Hong Kong, Subic Bay, R.P., and Bacolod, R.P., TAUSSIG departed on 11 September for another Naval -Gunfire Support role in South Vietnam, returning to Subic Bay once again on the 28th of September for another brief rest. On the 9th of October TAUSSIG departed Subic Bay enroute to Manus Island. one of the Admiralty Islands, for a short refueling stop before joining units of the Australian, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and United States' navies for the largest combined fleet exercise south of the Equator since the second World War. After the two week spirited exercise which was designed for training in all of the phases of modern warfare, TAUSSIG arrived in Melbourne, Australia for a long-anticipated visit. They stay in Melbourne was cut short by an emergency call for assistance for the USS TIRU which had run aground on Fredericlds Reef, 1400 miles north of Melbourne., After assisting the TIRU and escorting her into Brisbane, Australia, TAUSSIG commenced the long transit to the United States with only a short refueling stop in the Fiji Islands to interupt the arrival on 25 November.

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f M, -,W W f Admiral Edward David TAUSSIG poses for one last photograph on the day of his retirement in 1938 aboard his flagship the USS Chicago. X r ss S r 1 -X New K X p s Rx

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COMMANDING OFFICER Commander Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. Commander Samuel L. Gravely, Jr., USN, was born on 4 June 1922 in Richmond, Virginia. He attended Armstrong High School and Virginia Union University prior to entering the U.S. Navy as an Apprentice Seaman in 1942. In October, 1943 CDR Gravely was selected to attend an officer training program at the University of California at Los Angeles. Upon completion he was assigned to Columbia University where he completed Midshipmens school and was com- missioned an Ensign on 14 December 1944. CDR Gravely's naval service includes service during World War II, the Korean War, and the present Vietnam conflict. He has served on the following vessels: USS PC 1264, USS IOWA QBB613, USS TOLEDO QCA 1335, USS SEMINOLE QAKA 1045, USS THEODORE E. CHANDLER QDD 7173, USS FALGOUT QDER 3243, and USS TAUSSIG. CDR Gravely commanded the latter three Destroyers listed above. His shore duty assignments have included duty as Assistant to the Officer in Charge, US NavalRecruiting Station, Washington, D.C., District Security Officer, Staff Commandant Third Naval District, New York, and Program Manager for the National Emergency Airborne Command System of the Defense Communications Agency, ArlingtO11, Virginia. He also attended Naval War College in 1963-1964. CDR Gravely wears the following medals and decorations: Joint Services Commendation, World War II Victory, American Defense, United Nations, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, U.S. Naval Reserve, Korean Service ftwo starsj, China Service, National Defense, Armed Forces Expeditionary, and Vietnam Service. CDR Gravely is married to the former Miss Alma Bernice Clark of Christiansburg, Virginia- They have three children, Robert, 8, David, 6, and Tracey, 2 and make their home in San Diego, California. - V