Briscoe (DD 977) - Naval Cruise Book

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ADMIRAL ROBERT T PEARCE BRISCOE .7 - Q fn? ' LL f re W-Mafia, ,, fu, ' 0 ., f A native of Centerville, Mississippi, Admiral Briscoe graduated from the Naval Academy in June 1918. Dur- ing World War I, he served on the battleship ALABAMA of the Atlantic Fleet and on the destroyer ROE, oper- ating from Brest, France. At the end of hostilities, he made the first postwar Midshipmen cruise on the USS KEARSARGE and in 19 19, returned to destroyer duty as Engineer Officer of the USS HUMPHREYS stationed in Near East waters at Constantinople. During the Turko-Greek fighting in 1920-1921, he commanded a Naval landing force at Derindge, Turkey. After further destroyer duty onboard the USS FLUSSER and USS HENDERSON, and recruiting duty at Lit- tle Rock, Arkansas, Admiral Briscoe served as Senior Assistant Engineer of the battleship WEST VIRGINIA C1926-19291. He then returned to the Naval Academy as an instructor of Mechanical Engineering. In 1931- 1933, he was on China Station, assigned first as Executive Officer of the USS EDSALL, which was tasked with Yangtze Patrol during the Japanese occupation of Woosung and Manchuria. His second assignment was Communications Officer of the USS HOUSTON, flagship of the Commander in Chief Asiatic Fleet. He again returned to the Naval Academy in June 1934, and served three years as head of the department of chemistry. Sea duty as Navigator of the battleship MISSISSIPPI preceded a tour during the prewar period as Assistant Director of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and Navy Department Liaison Officer with the National Defense Research Committee. Admiral Briscoe was identified as one of the pioneers of modern electronics development in the Navy. In May 1942, he assumed command of the USS PROMETHEUS, a recommissioned World War I repair ship. Under his command, she joined the THIRD Fleet at Noumea, Caledonia, where he detached to command Destroyer Squadron five and operated as escort commander for Task Forces 67, 68, and 70. In the intervening periods when the battleships and cruisers were not at sea, Admiral Briscoe oper- ated Commander Task Group 675 lCactus Striking Forcel in Guadalcanal waters. He was transferred to com- mand the USS DENVER in July 1943, and returned that cruiser to the United States after she suffered severe battle damage off Rabaul in November 1943. In February 1944 Admiral Briscoe .joined the Staff of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet, as Head of New Developments. With the promotion to flag rank in April 1945, Admiral Briscoe assumed command Of Amphibious Group 14. V-J Day found him in Manila working on plans for the invasion of the Japanese home- land. In September 1945, he took command of the Operational Development Force Atlantic Fleet, with head- quarters at Norfolk, Virginia. After two years of command and a following tour of duty as Assistant Chief of Ngggl Operations lReadinessJ, he became Commander Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet, on November 1, Ordered in January 1952 to command the SEVENTH Fleet in Korean waters, Admiral Briscoe retained this command until June of that same year when he was designated Commander Naval Fgrces Far East. 'Iwo Years later, he 1'eP01'tCd HS Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, for Fleet Operations and Readiness. On July 2, 1956, beca-me Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe. For exceptional meritorious service fin that CHP-HC1'Cyl fr0rr1 July 2, 1956 to December 31 1958 he was awarded th D' t' ' h d Service Medal- O J 1 1959h Q , e 1S1I1gLl1S e . H anuafy , e was transferred to the Retired List of the U.S. Navy. He died on October 14, 1958 ln Libefty, Mississippi. 4-A

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. i7 Ij1'T.f':ft'?t'fZ ?- 11311, . fv'lf'U' I ', iffy ffl' . fi' S f . xp . all f . I . 3 gf Y., Y Q-I fp, Q. 7,1 1 fp lf 'I xx Y. II 7. Q' If I W az, v. A I: f .- Y E. 1 . ,gi Q Q A 1 if ,F '.,:, , i F. il I f,,' V. . I f V .i ' IFJ ' if ld' is utvl f . ,L L .. . ,LA YQ-if 'augur- E+ 'D q fi t 1-3. IU ,riff V ff- 42 if -5' Coat of Arms As unique and colorful as its namesake, the ship's coat of arms is a proud reflection of the distinguished naval career of Admiral Robert P. Briscoe. Standing boldly at the base of the shield is the Lion of St. Mark which refers to the Admiral's leadership as the Commander in Chief of Allied Southern Forces Europe. The fess and wavy bar directly above the Lion of St. Mark suggest flowing Water, passing Warships, and small land areas reminiscent of the Northern Solomon Islands Where Admiral Briscoe commanded the USS DENVER in WWII. It was here, during a thirty six-hour bat- tle With enemy naval forces, that the Admiral's skill and courage as a ship's Captain were most significant. He assisted in the sinking of five enemy Warships, damaging four others and routing the enemy's surface forces. DENVER'S guns had barely fired their last salvo when sixty seven dive bombers attacked her. Under the Admi- ral's command, the ship reacted efficiently, downing seventeen enemy planes and thvvarting the raid. Atop the shield is a crest symbolic of further achievement in a long and successful career. The trident, sym- bol of Triton, ruler of the seas, refers to the U.S. Naval Academy, Where the Admiral served as midshipman, instructor, and department head. The flash represents Prometheus' gift of science to mankind and alludes to Admiral Briscoe's pioneering and development of modern electronics in the navy. The cross refers to the Navy Cross Admiral Briscoe received for his actions in the North Solomon Campaign. The crest is completed by the Taeguk, which denotes the Admiral's Far East Naval Command. The entire coat of arms is aptly summed up by the ship's motto, EFFICIENCY AND VALOR, given to the ship by former Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Robert Carney as a tribute to his close friend. It is this proud tra- dition which serves as a standard for the USS BRISCOE, and its destroyer sailors today.

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Commanding Officer W I Commander Scott M. Sundt Commander Sundt enlisted in the United States Navy in 1975 under the Advanced Electronics Field program. Upon completion of basic training, he volunteered for submarine duty and was subsequently assigned to the Sonor Technician ISubmarines1 ISTS1 rating. After completing initial schooling for his rating in 1976, he reported to USS FINBACK ISSN 6701 and was involved in deployments to the Mediterranean and North Atlantic. Returning to the Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center, San Diego, CA, in 1977, CDR Sundt completed several schools in advanced sonar equipment maintenance before receiving orders to the Naval Academy Preparatory School. Upon completion of the curriculum at NAPS in 1979, CDR Sundt was appointed to the United States Naval Academy and subsequently graduated with a BS in Physical Science in 1983. 9 CDR Sundt reported to USS LUCE IDDG 381 for duty as Gunnery Officer. While aboard LUCE, he deployed twice to the Persian Gulf and participated in several operations in the North Atlantic and Caribbean. He also held positions as Navy Tactical Data Systems INTDS1 division officer and ship's Navigator. In 1986, CDR Sundt attended the Naval Postgradu- ate School where he earned a master's degree in electrical engineering IMSEE1. He then attended department head school before reporting to USS STUMP IDD 9781 as combat systems officer in 1990. While attached to STUMP, CDR Sundt was involved with tests on the engineering design model of the AN I SQS-53C advanced sonar system and installation of the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System and Tomahawk Weapons Control System during overhaul. In 1992 CDR Sundt reported to USS MISSISSIPPI ICGN 401 as Combat Systems Ofiicer where he participated in sev- eral counter-drug operations in the Caribbean and maritime interdiction operations off Haiti. From 1994-1996 CDR Sundt served as flag secretary to Commander, George Washington Battle Group I Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group TWO. VVhile attached to the staff, he participated in fleet exercises and two deployments to the Mediterranean and Per- sian Gulf with the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON ICVN 731. CDR Sundt subsequently assumed duties as Executive Offi- cer of USS PHILIPPINE SEA ICG 581 in 1997. In 1998 he served as an action officer on the staff of the Assistant Secre- tary of the Navy IManpower and Reserve Affairs1 handling officer accession programs and enlisted and officer education and training issues. In 1999 CDR Sundt attended the National War College where he graduated with the Class of 2000 and earned a master's degree in national strategic studies. CDR Sundt's personal awards include the Bronze Star, Mer- itorious Service Medal, four Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Award, and several campaign and service awards.