Comte De Grasse (DD 974) - Naval Cruise Book

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Count bids Norfolk farewell I Underway . , . January 8 1983 Excitement, anxiety, and sorrow filled the hearts of COUNT's crew as the 563-foot destroyer slowly pulled away from Pier 24. Already, early in the morn- ing, the sailors had kissed and said goodbye to their loved ones. Leaving homeport and venturing out to the North Atlantic was not a new experience forthe COUNT. Just weeks earlier the ship and crew spent two months on the high seas of the North Atlantic. Now, however, the COUNT was deploying on a full six-month cruise, to join STANAVFORLANT in Ply- mouth, England. One of the advantages of a NATO cruise is the frequent port visits. This was a chance of a lifetime to see Europe, to travel its Coastlines, to experience its culture, to take in its countryside, to return with memories never to be forgotten. STG3 Gibson and TM3 Wilson ftop leftj, share in the excitement of getting underway. Top right, BM3 Mackey and ENS Henning are ready on the forecastle. Below right, GMG3 Rabinowitz: ready on the shot-line. COMTE DE GRASSE fopposite page abovej: All systems GO. Above far right, line- handlers bring in the lines. Below far right, the COUNT shoves off from Pier 24 to head out into the Atlantic.

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