Brinkley Bass (DD 887) - Naval Cruise Book

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A DAY IN THE GULF At 0345 the watch is relieved on the bridge. Midwatch personnel go below for a few hours sleep before reveille. BRINKLEY BASS slides uninterrupted through the waters of the Tonkin Gulf. The carrier she screens will com- mence flight operations at 0600 and BRINKLEY BASS will be plane guard destroyer. In the Engineering spaces below, BT's and MM'S go about their duties. The Cil King takes Soundings to determine fuel percentage, throttle watch makes a minor adjustment. 12 knots is the ordered speed, 110 rpm's. Later in the morning it will be all ahead flank and pretty warm in the firerooms. Time passes. At 0515 the Navigator and Chief Quartermaster are on the bridge for morning stars. The Captain rises at 0530 while BRINKLEY BASS maneuvers 1000 yards astern of the carrier, turning into the wind. The lee helmsman answers the command of the COD and snaps the en- gine order telegraph all the way forward, flank speed, 27 knots. So it goes all day, upwind and downwind. Launch aircraft for one strike and land the ones returning. At 1000 the angel brings mail. Hovering over the fantail, the rotor blades beat a tattoo of hot air onto Mount 52 for a few brief seconds as the orange sack is low- ered. Then away up the port side with a wave from the pilot. During lunch the Wardroom elects a new mess treasurer. On the Mess Decks, the off-duty section sets up to watch a movie. The 1MC brings the BMOW'S voice The ship will refuel at approximately 1900 tonight from USS CAMDEN. Lines are laid out, phones are checked and the kingpost is raised aft on the flight deck. At 1900 BRINKLEY BASS is alongside receiving fuel. At 2000 all lines are clear and she's away, receiving night screening instruc- tions from the carrier. Speed 12 knots, 110 rpm's. A long days work in the Gulf.

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THE CEREMONY The Chaplain began the invocation. A gunnersmate in the second rank bowed his head and noticed a scuff mark on his shoes as he closed his eyes. Captain Gurney stepped to the microphone and began to read the orders which would end his tour as Commanding Officer of the BRINKLEY BASS. Soon Commander van WE STEN- DORP would rise and read his orders. They would exchange salutes, just as Commander GURNEY had exchanged sa- lutes with Commander LASSITER on a June afternoon some two years before. As has been recorded in a thousand ar- ticles on change of command ceremonies, the proceedings on the destroyer's after weather decks were brief.but impres- sive . There was a tea in the Wardroom afterwards. The crew was granted early liberty. There were well wishes and goodbyes, but all that was a mere flour- ish after the simple words, I relieve you sir . Late that afternoon the gong on the uar q - terdeck struck twice and twice again. The Petty Officer of the Watch called, BRIN- KLEY BASS Departing . . .and the phrase would never have the same meaning again. An era had ended. Another had begun.

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