Brinkley Bass (DD 887) - Naval Cruise Book

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Life on SAR Station is never dull, but the only break in our routine except for emergencies, came when we replenished every few days from an oiler or supply ship. Upon the successful completion of our duties as a Search and Rescue Destroyer BRINKLEY BASS steamed south to the I Corps area near Danang and Hue South Vietnam. Our mission during this assignment was to provide Naval Gunfire Support to friendly forces ashore. All requests for gunfire support from Navy and Marine spotters ashore were expeditiously fulfilled, which again attested to the fine professionalism of BRINKLEY BASS' crew. As one of the screening escorts for the USS BON HOMME RICHARD CCVA-317, our task was two- fold, to protect the carrier from all surface, air, and subsurface threats, and to provide a quick re- action rescue capability in the event an aircraft should be lost during flight operations. On 17 March, BRINKLEY BASS was relieved of her duties as a screen unit and commenced the circuitous trek around Hainan, We arrived two days later mooring along side the USS PIEDMONT CAD-173 for much neededrest, relaxation, and repairs. While visiting in Kaohsiung, the ship sponsored a field trip to the Taiwan Christian Service, the Il- lina Mission and Saint Joseph's Hospital. The Social high light of our stay was the Ship's party held on 24 and 25 March. Sponsored by the ship's Welfare and Recreation Committee, the ship went all out for the festivity and rented the Party Annex of the Hotel New York. Judging by the crew's comments, the quantity of food consumed and number of people attending, a fine time was enjoyed by everyone. fcontinued on page 585

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THE COMMANDING OFFICER CDR. SUMNER GURNEY, USN Commander Sumner Gurney is a native of Torring- ton, Wyoming. His father is CDR Darrough S. GURNEY, USN iRet7 of Marion Massachusetts. CDR GURNEY is married to the former Barbara Jean WILLI of Torrington, Wyoming. The GUR- NEYS have two children named Michael Sumner and Jeffrey Clyde. CDR GURNEY attended Ponce Deleon High School, Coral Gables, Florida. He attended the University of South Carolina at Columbia, Howard College, Birmingham, Alabama, and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia. Standing 1st in his NROTC Class at Georgia Insti- tute of Technology. CDR GURNEY was commis- sioned Ensign 6 June 1947. - CDR GURNEY served as Operations Officer aboard USS E F LARSON IDDR-8305, and as Op- erations Officer with Commander Destroyer Divi- sion 72 during the Korean War. In 1953 he reported to the Naval Schools Command as an Instructor at Officers Candidate School and in 1955 took com- mand of USS KING COUNTY ILST-857 J. As Commanding Officer USS KING COUNTY IAG- 157J he took part in the Reguluns II tests and evaluations. CDR GURNEY received his Master-of-Chemistry degree in June 1960 from the United States Naval Post Graduate School at Monterey. He served as Executive Officer USS BRAINE IDD-8303 in 1960. as Commanding Officer USS BEGOR IAPD-1271 in 1962, and Commanding Of- ficer USS COOK IAPD-1305. CDR GURNEY served as Branch Head of the Air Launched Missile Propulsion Division and First Chairman, Propulsion Study. Joint Technical Co- ordinating Group for Air-Launched Non-Nuclear Ordnance 1963 through 1966. In June 1966 CDR GURNEY took Command of USS BRINKLEY BASS IDD-8875 in Ceremonies held in U.S. Naval Shipyard Long Beach. California. CDR Sumner GURNEY and LT Douglas SMITH, Weapons Of- ficer, discuss a target. CDR Sumner GURNEY and COGAR BT1. COGAR receives congratulations on his reenlistment.