Whetstone (LSD 27) - Naval Cruise Book

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,X ll LCDR I,.Ii. Draper LT Shclzon ffl' L, q,,,,K,ul,, Engineering Operations Supply eh? fi L'I' W. Mznllern I.'l' Ilunn I I Il- I NVTIIIIT Navigation I7'-'Ck N.v.u3urn.-I: 2 5 ! MmH i It IW 'wk Q ex:-mul n 1' IlBllill'tlll0llt. lu-ads 05' fi1'1'l I 2

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FROM: commanding officer, uss VHETSTONE ILSD-277 TO: rut Hands, uss irnetsrorre ZLSD-Z7l l, The VHETSTONE cruise book as it is presented here is the, history of our cruise in VESTPAC in I969. It is also the story 0 STONE, 1969, a very eventful and gratifying year. The Year 1969 commenced with Administrative lftspecllonsr Fleel Re' fresher training, A.'rtphrbioi..rs Refresher Training, and o compacted schedule of ship'5 work to be accomplished prior 10 d'-'Pl0Ymen'- These evenls may be expressed with few words but the significance of their meaning cannot be em- phasized enough, which l an- sure all will agree. Because of the hurried schedules andthe evertl5 lllet' bfougllli il m0Y be said that our cruise began with ine coming of the New Year, for it wars then that VHETSTONE really came alive as a dynamic team. Our inSPeCl'0 ' re' sults, the -orii CCCOr'?rpltSfH'.'f, the A-ard of Excellence earned during Amphi- bious Training and the corfwnrents of visiting authority all refl8Clll19 qU0lllY of encellence that our team-ati. produced It began in January and has yet ta reach a cli'-nal The commencement gf Dar deployment in April was more like a continua- tion of our training Once an element of Amphibious Ready Group ALFA, W9 fell into place as a cog would in a precision machine. SuCl1 names GS Gallant Leader l and ll, Bold Pursuit, Defiant Stand, Breezy Cove, Mighty Play, Gnd Keystone Cardinal are only synany-r-s for hard work, devotion to duty, and a ,pb WELL DONE While they represent motor operations, we cannot forget the long, hard hours at -orli, on watch, replenishments and the like which were so necessary for us to have accomplished our mission so well. The term 'QVELL DONE is not to be remembered in the singular. As you may recall, we had -nany high ranking visitors on board whose comments toward the ship on the occasion of each visit were those for a iob WELL DONE. We cannot forget the unfortunate circumstances which sacrificed the time allotted for our up-keep periods and our sacrificed trip to Hong Kong. Now, as we reflect, we can always be proud, that despite such disappointments and hardships, we carried Out our com-nittments in an exemplary manner. The fact that WHETSTONE set new records for continued steaming time without up- lceeps illustrates the CAN DO spirit that is her chief characteristic. It is a fact that we can lool: back on with a great sense of pride and something to be talked about for some time in the future. So now it is over. As the year 1969 closes the cruise draws to an end, But more than that closes. With the close of the year, so also Closes fl-,e career of o proud old ship. Her 1969 cruise is perhaps her last and finest She passes with a supreme sense of accomplishment. She has left her marie on the free world. So naw to the grand old lady and the finest of crews I say once again, THANK YOU-WELL DONE! f- ' -6, 5 Q-'Tb Cllllllllallllillg offical' Floyd K. Rabun, CDR, USN

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wlu-lslon ,, if .mded 253 he!-ocopters sed 2,719,392 gallons Navy stondord fuel oil iq YC1QGfCdlH 6 vERTREPs qvemcol Replenish 'C tlSi loaded lil-19 U S. ond ROK Morines Used 57,335 gallons duesel fuel pfzmc-poted IH l-1 UNREpSlUf1d0fWGy Replenislw- wewlsl loaded -193 velucles porhcspoled un 13 INREPTS llnporl RepleniSl1- TenY5l cnclwored -11 limes look on 224,76 short tons of provisions sfeov1cd33,16-3.9 miles