William C Lawe (DD 763) - Naval Cruise Book

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USSWi11iamC.Lawe DD- esp The Master Shipwright has but one dream - and that being the worthiness of his creation, opposed as it muSt always be to unrelenting seas and time immortal. And so it follows, the Master Shipwright of WILLIAM C. LAWE, when surveying the two decades and seven years of her attainments, must be filled with a gratification known only to his trade. For LAWE has routinely entered the contest area with the elements of nature and repeatedly the forces of wind, wave, and rain have yielded to her stubborn persistance to push on. While the mighty sea has no equal in her savagery - so also has LAWE no rival for courage and perseverance. The Shipwright's dream is realized, but his prodigy has served well, served long, and her soul is weary from the fight. Province beckons, now is not the time for repose for there exist tasks unfinished. Fate dictates skirmishes ahead, barriers to circumvent, and antiquity to cheat. With the advance of Autumn comes the seasonal rains and inward turning of man's deepest thoughts. Secure in her moor, an illusive calm shrouds the gallant lady. But deep within her soul dwells a gnawing realization - destiny is at work, obligation summons, and LAWE has yet to submit her contributions.Now from the troubled West arrives a messenger with petition. HLAWE, your homeland is locked in battle, her sons are held captive, and her allies are besieged. You have served well. you have served long, but your supreme test remains yet unaccomplished. 'l'irne's death song you have postponed, the savageness of the seas you have mastered, the evil designs of a mortal enemy remain to be con- queredf' Her soul is now rekindledl Dissolved are illusions of tranquility' The impossible. the insurrnountahle is but food for her driving hunger. Her mooring lines are taut, are strained. she anticipates the battles ahead. She' is reciiivenated. her aging frame rex'ived.refurb1shed. Her rifles are rr-adied, her vrigirws tuned - she resists further delays. At last the moment draws nigh. Lingering etnhraries are parted. final farewells uttered. Her strained mooring lun-s loosvd, her sails filled, the seriiirity of departed berth fades in her wake. Undvrwgiv' llvstniv. iirivvrtairity pertiivatvs her spirit. hut deep in het aging keel .ind supports rvsnlvs the r'e.1.liAatxori - tliv..L.astUQdysses' of the WILLIAM C. LAWE has hvuun . . . ,Ai ' l l 'Mft qqf' .idx i .X . X, .lx l A 5 ri lil 1 Xxx l . Xi gi illxf ff' .f xx.,,NNwL xi '

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d dj tied tb the spirit and piititt-ssitiiigilimn ut thi- ottitfi-its and This Cruise Book is e ca W Crew who sailed aboard USS WILLIAM C. LAWIC I'l'Ulll 1 NUX'!'lllIN'l IEHIJ lllltlillfll 14 .lum- 1973 In her twenty'seven vears ot' active service 1..AWl'I has in-vet l't'!Yf'!H 'fI with 'HHH' - - f - US, St-vi-nth I- le-ct. Nu asaigti- enthusiasm and gusto than the four months spent with thi ' I LAW!-I, Without at dtitilit hut ment was too large, too arduous tor record speaks well for itself in every 1 pt the lllt'Il oi VlIl,l.lAM L 1 is wt 01' destroyer' tipvrtitiuiir-. Con ratulations are in order for every ineinber ot this in-vrg 'iii thc i'iipiiit-we who S steamed LAWE's twenty-seven year old plant some 53,.i5Li miles nitliotit gi siiiplv iiiissiuii- d radin casualty, to the weapons depa.rtnient personiicl who iiiziintiiiin-ii and tire-c.i ee S LAWE's five-inch guns with accuracy and iiever-taiiliiig l'UllSlSIt'llt'y,tU Um t-tiiiiiiiiiiiicziturs, navi ators, and operations specialists who gave LAW!-I ai t'1cte-t-with i-t-piitatitiii tin pm- 3 ficiency and operational excellenceg to our supply dt-pzirtiiiciit who pi-ovititwi ns with the rompt and quality support and services absolutely item-ss4i,i'y for titiiitiiitit-ti nptfiaitioiis D . and stability of morale. Every last lllllll on this ship was tiii-wily it-sptiiisililt' ttir Wll,l.lAM C. LAWE steaming into the Pacific with at sinzirtiicss :hid piotcssitiii:i.lisiii that was recognized as her Seventh Fleet trademark It is articularly appropriate that LAWIC will bring hi-r twuiity-svvcii yvzitw ot' :it-tivc P ' t a close with our return to Mivpurt 'l'hv mt-ii oi Wll,l.lAM C. commissioned service ,o' ' .' , , LAWE displayed the traditional Navy Cari lilo spirit thioiiixhtmt this dvployiiiciit :ind won for her a reputation that hefits her yotiiigur f1:iy:+. thily tlimit- wliti :wrvti aboard at twenty-seven year old destroyer can truly apprmxiatv the swrfqit, lttirattzititiii, :ind pzilivttvt' that goes into making her run and perform with the bust ot' thc ricvvt-i, more much-rin prey- hounds. With this additional effort must tzotritc a cle-cpm puifgauiizil :iizttir-aizivtiuit :atciiiiiiitig from a realization that LAWE steamed for five :intl a. halt' ttitititlirta with that lwrvzt - and never once fell behind. All LAWE sailors throtigh this yffpirg., tmvfi t,.-1-U 5,,,,,,.i .tg tim,- iS3lViFk:12ix0Y:1irt0C?g15l,fgatgggilgaiaiforts, and this crew is im t!Xf'f'IlIlIlll. l,AWl-1 ir. im tiinrv, no ion and professionalism. luvtery igiat vit-vt' nie-inlwt min ht- UUIY PI'0l1d Of the Daft he Played in LAWE's ability to hulp carry mit mir f-iitiiitix :- ptiliiiivs in Southeast Asia. A It is sincerely hoped that this Cruise Book will sffrvf- aria. ai lzintiiii: iii:-xiii-into nt your part in what we have chosen 1,0 Call - The Last Utlytiswy ni WIl,l,lAM if I,AWl'I.' Silttwiitily, .fti.iii-:tri wi. llAYl'1S, .iii titiMMANIil1lti that-J tZtiMMAi 15IilFiJt3 tiiryir tgp USS Vt'il,l,lAM t' t.AVi't,