David Ray (DD 971) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS DAVID R. RAY (DD-971), is named in honor of the late Hospital Corpsman Second Class David Robert Ray. The son of Mr. and Mrs. David Ray, he was born on 14 February 1945, in McMinnville, Tennessee. He graduated from City High School in McMinnville in 1963. David Ray was a 1963 University of Tennessee alumni scholarship winner and attended the university ' s Knoxville campus from 1963 to 1966. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy at Nashville, Tennessee, on 28 March 1966 and subsequently reported to Recruit Training Command, Naval Training Center, San Diego, for recruit training. From June to October 1966, he attended the Naval Hospital Corps School, San Diego, after which he was assigned to the Naval Hospital in the USS HAVEN (AH-12). Following his tour in the hospital ship, David Ray next served at the Naval Hospital, Long Beach, California. In May, 1968, he requested a tour of duty with the Marines. He reported for instruction at the Field Medical Service School, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California, and in July he joined the Second Battalion, Eleventh Marine, First Marine Division (R einforced), Fleet Marine Force. David R. Ray was serving as a corpsman with the battalion when he was mortally wounded on 19 March 1969, while treating wounded Marines. For conspicious gallantry at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty . . . near An Hoa, Quang Nam Province, in the Republic of Vietnam . . . David Robert Ray was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. In addition to the Purple Heart Medal which was awarded for wounds received in action, he also had the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with star, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. HM2 David Robert Ray History of the USS DAVID R. RAY USS DA VID R. RA Y (DD 971) Command history from 19 November 1977 to 19 November 1982. Commissioned 19 Nov. 1977 at Ingalls Shipbuilding Division, Pascagoula, Mississippi under the command of Cdr. Edward B. Baker jr., USN. Served as flagship for Commander, Destroyer Squadron Nine from 12-31 December, 1978. The DAVID R. RAY conducted its first operations on 11-13 December 1977, planeguarding for the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) in the SOCAL operating area. David R. Ray was shifted to Destroyer Squadron Thirteen (13) on 1 May 1979. CDR Frederick Triggs, USN, relieved CDR Edward B. Baker on 12 May 1979. David R. Ray began its first WESTPAC deployment commencing 8 September 1979, conducting ASW and AA W exercises with the USS Kitty Hawk Battle Group. The ship made port visits in Yokosuka, Japan and Inchon, South Korea. In response to the Iranian hostage crisis the David R. Ray joined other US Navy ships in the Indian Ocean for extended operations, beginning 30 November 1979. The ship returned to its homeport, completing a seven month deployment, on 29 March 1980. On its return trip, it stopped for port calls in Colombos, Sri Lanka; Subic Bay, Philippines; Hong Kong, Guam and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. During 1980, the ship participated in Armed Forces Day in San Francisco and Seafair ' 80 in Seattle, Washington. In January and February 1981, David R. Ray participated in Readiex 2-81 and 3-81. David R. Ray left San Diego on 21 April 1981 on its second WESTPAC deployment with initial stops in Subic Bay Philippines and Singapore. CDR Larry Seaquist relieved CAPT Frederick Triggs while the ship was in Singapore. David R. Ray conducted special operations in the Arabian Sea under the jurisdiction of COMIDEASTFOR and in coordination with USAF AW ACS aircraft. After rejoining the USS Kitty Hawk Battle Group, David R. Ray conducted ASW operations in the northern Indian Ocean, which included surveillance of a Soviet Type II nuclear submarine. In October, 1981, David R. Ray operated with the USS Coral Sea Battle Group and rescued 48 Vietnamese refugees from a small boat in the Gulf of Aden. The ship concluded its second deployment returning to San Diego 23 Nov 1981. For David R. Ray, 1982 was spent largely in the shipyards as the ship moved from San Diego to Seattle, Washington on 22 February for an eight-month overhaul in Lockheed Shipyard. During the period, the ship was honored for its outstanding helico ptor launching and recovering record as David R. Ray was presented with the LAMPS HELO SAFETY AWARD. The award, a navy-wide competition, was won by the ship for its 500 -h accident free helicopter launches and recoveries. David R. Ray left the yards on 14 October 1982 and was shifted from DESRON THIRTEEN AND CRUISER- DESTROYER GROUP ONE to DESRON SEVENTEEN AND CRUISER-DESTROYER GROUP THREE. The remainder of 1982 was spent preparing for its third deployment scheduled for later in 1983. I

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Deployment Day