Ajax (AR 6) - Naval Cruise Book

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SFC J. C. Van Deusen, project coordinator, and Chaplain George Evans mustered the volunteers and installed two pumps Cone of which was donated by AJAXJ, wiring, and 1.800 feet of pipeline, which ended the scarcity of water that had plagued Boy's Town since it was built. In February, 1970, AJAX received word that due to cutbacks in military spending overseas, her homeport was to be changed effective 1 June 1970. The new homeport was San Diego, California. This would mark the end of a ten and one-half year stay in the Orient for her. The month of July was an extremely busy one for AJAX and her crew. After five days of activity, the move of Commander Service Group Three and his staff to AJAX's sister ship, USS HECTOR KAR-7j was completed, and on 15 July was ready to depart Sasebo, for San Diego. A large crowd gathered at India Basin to bid sayonara to AJAX and her crew. At 1100, 15 July 1970, AJAX departed Sasebo. Between that time and 1630, 20 july, when AJAX outchopped from the com- mand of Service Group Three to that of Service Group One, many congratulatory messages were received attesting to the quality and importance of the job this ship had performed so well in the Western Pacific. While underway, word was received that AJAX had placed first in the battle efficiency competition among ships in her category for fiscal year 1970. Even as this word was on its way to us, many hours of our un- derway time was spent at general drills in preparation for new competition. Adding more glory was the an- nouncement that our engineering department had also won the honors in its division of engineering efficiency competition. On the morning of 6 August 1970, AJAX steamed into San Diego harbor to a warm welcome from a crowd of AJAX families and friends. Although AJAX was now homeported in San Diego, she continued with Western Pacific deployments. During her 1971 WESTPAC. july was an extremely busy month culminating in a change of com- mand. Captain J. T. Coursin, was relieved by Captain W. L. Zimmerman during formal ceremonies on 31 july 1971. Later that year on 21 August, AJAX departed for Vung Tau, Republic of Vietnam. AJAX arrived in Vung Tau on 27 August. Her task was to provide repair services to the Vietnamese Navy. Work began im- mediately upon arrival and the work did not slow down until departure in September. In her more recent years, AJAX has continued the earnest obligation of providing alongside availability repair service to ships of the fleet. Having completed her Long Beach availability, AJAX left for San Diego to return to family and friends. It was a trip of mixed emotions. On 15 September 1972, AJAX held its first wedding aboard AJAX and bid farewell to a shipmate in a burial at sea. Machinery Repairman Randy R. Campbell and Barbara A. Miller of Chula Vista were married in a special ceremony aboard AJAX. AJAX also bid farewell to MMC Ronald Damon, a retired comrade in a burial at sea. AJAX is one of the oldest continually com- missioned ships in the Navy. She has logged more time with the Seventh Fleet during the Vietnamese war years than any other ship in the U.S. Navy. During her 1973 deployment, AJAX crewmen expended more than 20,000 mandays providing repair service and logistic support to 56 ships of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. During her most recent WESTPAC, the ship steamed nearly 17,000 miles and enjoyed R 85 R trips to Hong Kong, Taiwan and Hawaii. The visits to Taiwan and Hong Kong proved an unprecedented experience as dependents of Service Group Three Staff and Fleet Ac- tivities, Sasebo, accompanied their sponsors on board AJAX. Altogether AJAX 's history has been an impressive one. She has serviced everything from the smallest boat to the largest aircraft carrier in the Navy, sometimes with as many as 22 ships alongside for repair. Sailors who don't know, look at AJAX and say It's just another repair ship. They don't realize that for over 30 years, she has served as a hospital, supply center and a repair facility for those ships and sailors in need of her help. O

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