David Ray (DD 971) - Naval Cruise Book

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The coat of arms of USS DAVID R. HAV (DD-971 | • I m as a he raldic reminder of the ship ' s namesake, H. L ' I)avid R. Kay The light hlue center section and the white five-pointed star allude to thi of Honor ribbon; the star is also inverted in reference to the rihow of the Medal of Honor pendant. The one light blue and the two navy blue sections refer t the courage, perseverance and selfless devotion of Petty Officer Ray in performance of duty while serving as Corpsman with Battery D. 2nd Battalion, 1 1th Marine, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) FMF. The Battery ' s position is indicated by the scarlet and gold embattled border. Navy blue and gold and scarlet and gold are the colors ol the Navy and Marine Corps. The Navy blue caduceus is the insignia worn on white uniforms by Hospital Corpsmen, United States Navy. This insignia and the howitzer cartridges, in the colors of the Marine Corps, allude to the medical - r vices customarily provided the Marine Corps by the Navy. In particular, the caduceus and howitzer cartridges symbolize the action in which Petty Officer Ray, though severely wounded, was killed while giving medical assistance and protection to his wounded Marine comrades. The ship ' s motto, Determined, Ready, Resourceful alludes to the initials of the ship ' s namesake, and epitomizes HM2 Ray ' s legacy to the ship that bears his name. The motto serves as a guide and inspiration for the men who will serve in USS DAVID R. RAY throughout her commis- sioned life. Ship ' s Log 15 Jan Depart San Diego 15-28 Jan ENR Pearl Harbor 23-28 Jan BGAREM Exercise 29 Jan-1 Feb IPT Pearl Harbor 2-16 Feb ENR Subic Bay, R.P. 17-23 Feb IPT Subic Bay, R.P. 24-28 Feb ENR Singapore 27 Feb Singapore Navy EN- COUNTER EX 1-2 Mar Visit Singapore 3 Mar ENR Lumut 4 Mar Anchored off Lumut 5-14 Mar ENR Karachi, Pakistan 5-6 Mar Malaysian Navy EN- COUNTERED 11-12 Mar Italian PASSEX 15-18 Mar Visit Karachi, Pakistan 19-22 Mar ENR Masirah Anchor age 23-29 Mar Anchored off Masirah 29 Mar UVV for British PASSF.X 1-4 Apr ENR Male, Maldives 5-8 Apr Visit Male, Maldiv 9-12 Apr ENR North Arabian Sea Gulf of Oman 13 Apr-14 May Escort Duties 21 Apr Anchored off Fujairah. U.A.E. 3 May Anchored off Fujairah, U.A.E. 15 May ENR Bahrain 16-18 May Visit Bahrain 19 May UW for NAS Gult Oman 20-30 May Escort Duties 31 May-6 June ENR Diego Garcia 5 June Cross the Equator 7-20 Jun IPT Diego Garcia 21-23 Jun ENR Colombo, Sri Lanka 24-26 Jun Visit Colombo. Sri Lanka 27 Jun-4 Jul FAR Subic Bey, K.P. 5-7 Jul IPT Subic Bey, H P 8-18 Jul ENR Pearl Harbor 19-20 Jul IP I l ' earl Harbor 21-26 Jul ENR San D 27 Jul Arrive San I)i«

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- - USS DAVID R. RAY (DD-971 ), ninth of thirty ships in the SPRUANCE class, is named for the late Hospital Corpsman Second Class David Robert Ray. The son of Mr. and Mrs. David F. Ray, he was born on 14 February 1945, in McMinnville, Tennessee. He graduated from City High School in McMinnville in 1963. David Ray was a 1963 Uni- versity of Tennessee alumni schoarship winner and attend- ed the university ' s Knoxville campus from 1963 to 1966. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at Nashville, Tennessee, on 28 March 1966 and subsequently reported to Recruit Training Command, Naval Training Center, San Diego, for recruit training. From June to October 1966, he attended the Naval Hospital Corps School, San Diego, after which he was assigned to the Naval Hospital in the USS HAVEN (AH 12). Following his tour in the hospital ship, David Ray next served at the Naval Hospital, Long Beach, California. In May, 1968, he requested a tour of duty with the Marines. He reported for instruction at the Field Medical Service School, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California, and in July he joined the Second Battalion, Eleventh Ma- rines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force. David R. Ray was serving as a corpsman with the battalion when he was mortally wounded on 19 March 1969, while treating wounded Marines. For conspicuous gallantry at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty . . . near An Hoa, Quang Nam Province, in the Republic of Vietnam ... David Robert Ray was posthu- mously awarded the Medal of Honor. In addition to the Purple Heart Medal which was awarded for wounds re- ceived in action, he also had the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with star, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Built by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries Pascagoula, Mississippi Keel Laid 23 September 1974 Launched 24 August 1975 Christened 13 September 1975 Commissioned 19 November 1977 Sponsor Mrs. Donnie M. Ray Length 563 Feet 4 Inches Beam 55 Feet Displacement 8000 Tons Personnel Officers 19 CPO 18 Enlisted 275 Armament Two 5 Inch 54 Cal. Gun Mounts Two 20mm Vulcan Phalanx Close-in Weapon System MK 112 ASROC Launch- er Two MK 32 Torpedo Tubes Harpoon Weapons System NATO Sea Sparrow Missile System

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Commandor Peter A. C. Long r % - •vr k OFMiR Commander Peter A. C. Long was born in Montreal, Canada and raised in Newport, Oregon. He attended the United States Navel Academy, graduating in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science De- gree. Upon commissioning, he was assigned to the USS DENNIS J. BUCKLEY (DD-808) where he served as Damage Control Assistant and Main Pro- pulsion Assistant. His subsequent sea tours were Engineer and Executive Officer, USS CHEHALIS (PG-94); Engineer Officer, USS HEPBURN (FF-1055); Commanding Officer, USS MOC- TOBI (ATF-105); and Executive Officer, USS ALBERT DAVID (FF-1055). He assumed command of the USS DAVID R. RAY (DD-971) in July 1985. Commander Long is a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, earn- ing a Master of Science Degree in Personnel Man- agement. Shore assignments have included duty as Executive Officer, Navy Recruiting District, San Diego and assignment at the Naval Military Per- sonnel Command, Washington, D. C. Commander Long is married to the former Janet E. Hall of Newport, Oregon. They have two children, a daughter Melinda and a son David.