Wilhouite (DER 397) - Naval Cruise Book

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER n,n.'5ifL,, , F , lt. W. H. Tredick, USN Born in Colon, Republic of Panama, QCanal Zonel and a Navy junior, the family moved to Lebanon, Pennsylvania in 1942. Lt. Tredick graduated from Lebanon High School and entered the U.S. Naval Academy in July 1957, graduating in June 1961 with a Bachelor of Science De- gree and a commission as Ensign. His service has been on the U.S.S. STGRMES CDD-7805 as ASW and Gunnery Officer, NROTC Unit, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire as an assistant Professor, and in 1966, helped to develope the pilot curriculum for Riverine War- fare as it applies to river patrol boats qPBR'sJ. Lt. Tredick helped to establish a new command, the Naval lnshore Operations Training Center at Mare Island, California teaching tactics, employment, gunnery and small boat hand ling QPBR'sl prior to his present assignment as Executive Officer, U.S.S. WILHOITE. Lt. Tredick is married to the former Barbara F. Lenker of Elizabethville, Pennsylvania and they currently reside in Hale Moku, Honolulu, Hawaii.

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COMMANDING DFFICER Cdr. E. W. Hays Commander E. W. Hays, U. S. Navy, Commanding Officer U.S.S. WILHOITE was born in Giltner, Nebraska in 1932. He entered the U. S. Naval Academy in July, 1949, graduating and receiving a commission as an Ensign, U.S.N. with the class of 1953. Commander Hays has completed ten years sea duty since 1953. As an Ensign during the Korean conflict he was a deck division officer and later CIC officer on board the USS MENIFEE QAPA-2025. While Lt. CJC3 , he was aboard the U.S.S. RAYMOND QDE-3415 operating out ofNew- port, Rhode Island, and Key West, Florida. As a LT. he was assigned to the pre-comrnission- ing detail and initial crew of the U.S.S. TOPEKA QCLG-85 as Terrier Missile Officer. Also in 1962, he was on the pre-commissioning detail for the U.S.S. HEEL QDDG-135 in Bay City,MiCh' igan, and later as Weapons Officer for this guided missile destroyer. As a Lieutenant Com- mander in 1965 he served as Executive Officer, U.S.S. COONTZ QDLG-97. ln December 1966, he assumed duties as Commanding Officer, U.S.S. WILHOITE. In July 1967 he was promoted to the rank of Commander. During the two periods of shore duty for CDR. Hays, he has been concerned with the field of education. During the period 1957 to 1959 he attended the U.S Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, California studying in the field of Weapons Engineering. In 1963 he was attached to the U.S Naval Academy, as an instructor in Weapons Engineering. During the latter period ashore he attended night classes conducted at George Washington University. Commander Hays resides in Hawaii with his wife, the former Miss Norma Boomer of Lincoln, Nebraska, and their three children.

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-f IST DIVISION Today's U.S. destroyer type vessel is a co-ordinated system of many highly complex sub- systems. Some of these sub-systems include weaponry, propulsion and communications. All are vital and all are manned by well trained and competent personnel. But, first and foremost, a destroyer is a ship, and its useful employment requires seamanship, without which all the complex sub-systems would be useless. This essential seamanship is provided by lst divisiong the Boatswain Mates, the old salts , and the Deck Seamen, the not-so-old salts . Underway, lst division supplies the men for the bridge watches. These are the men vvhO drive the ship. Some of the most important of these are the helmsman, who steers the ship. the lookouts, who scan the sea for contacts, and the Boatswain Mate of the Watch, who Super' vises the watch. Two ofthe busiest times for the men of lst division are entering and leaving port. If 2111 anchor is to be used, they lower and raise it. lf the ship intends to moor to a buoy, they han- dle the cable. If the ship moors alongside another ship, they handle the pneumatic fenders and the forward mooring lines. D The motor whaleboat is an invaluable piece of equipment both in and out of port. During Market Time operations it carries the boarding party. lt is often used for personneltransfel' Ht sea. Most important, it carries the liberty party in port. lst division operates the MWB- One of the most exacting tfrighteningj evolutions of the Wll,llOl'.l'lfZ is :in underway Feplen' ishment. During an UNREP, WILHOITIC steams about 100 feet from zi larger vessel while h taking on supplies tfuel, food, etc.l . The personnel of lst division supervise the hi-line stations which bring these essential supplies aboard. Their job is to insure that the 1'E'Pl8IllShIT19Y1t1S Cofflpleted Safely and quickly, so that WlI,llOlTI'C can put some extra ocean between herself and the other ship. ln addition to all this, lst division is responsible for most topside spaces. They do a lot of chipping and painting. They deserve a lot of credit.