David Ray (DD 971) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE SHIP Hospital Corpsman Second Class David R. Ray USS DAVID R. RAY (DD-971), ninth of thirty in the Spru- ance class, is named for the late Hospital Corpsman Second Class David R. Ray. The son of Mr. and Mrs. David F. Ray, he was born on 14 February 1945, in McMinnville, Tennessee. He grad- uated from City High School in McMinnville in 1963. David R. Ray was a 1963 University of Tennessee alumni scholorship win- ner and attended 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, after which he was assigned to the Naval Hospital in the USS HAVEN (AH- 12). Following his tour in the hospital ship, David R. 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 Marines, First 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 Providence, in the Republic of Vietnam ... David R. Ray was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. In ad- dition to the Purple Heart Medal which was awarded for wounds received in action, he also had the Combat Action Ribbon, Na- tional Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with star and the Republic of Vietnam campaign Medal. USS DAVID R. RAY (DD-971) is the ninth Spruance class destroyer and the fifth to join the Pacific Fleet. DAVID R. RAY is homeported in Long Beach, California. Designed and built by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries, in Pascagoula, Mississippi, DAVID R. RAY is a member of the first major class of surface ships in the U.S. Navy to be powered by gas turbine engines. Four General electric LM-2500 engines, marine versions of those used on DC- 10 and C-5A aircraft, drive the ship in excess of 30 knots. Twin controllable-reversible propellers provide DAVID R. RAY with a degree of maneuverability unique among warships of her size. A highly versatile multi-mision destroyer, DAVID R. RAY is capable of operating independently or in company with Am- phibious or Carrier task forces. Her overall length is 563 feet and she displaces approximately 9200 tons. DAVID R. RAY ' S sonar, the most advanced underwater detection and control system yet developed, is fully intergrated into a digital Naval Tactical Data System, providing the sh ip with faster and more accurate proccessing of target information. Intergration of the ships digital gunfire control system into the NTDS provides quick reaction in the performance of ship ' s mission areas of shore bombardment, surface warfare actions, and anti-aircraft warfare. Ship ' s weapons include the MK-41 Vertical Launch System (VLS), the SQQ-89(V) sonar suite, two MK-45 lightweight 5 inch guns, two 20 millimeter Close In Weapons System (CIWS) gatling guns, 2 triple barrel MK-42 torpedo tubes, and facilities for embarkation of anti-submarine helicopters. The ship ' s mis- sile systems consist of the NATO Seasparrow missile system, a short range surface to air defense weapon, the Harpoon Weapon System, which employs a medium range offensive sur- face to surface anti-ship cruise missile, and the Tomahawk missile System, which can be used in either land attack or anti- shipping mode. Additionally the ship is equipped with rapid blooming offboard chaff, a decoy system used in an electronic warfare enviroment. Space, weight, and electrical power res- ervations have been allocated in the design of the ship to provide for addition of future weapons systems and enable DAVID R. RAY to keep abreast of future technology. Although built for maximum combat effectiveness, crew comfort and habitability are an intregal part of DAVID R. RAY ' S design. Berthing compartments are spacious and crew spaces include a crew ' s library, lounge, and weight room. Au- tomated weapons and engineering systems permit operation of the ship, the size of a World War II light cruiser, by a reduced crew of 23 officers, 28 chiefs, and 305 enlisted men. DAVID R. RAY is one of the world ' s most modern destroy- ers. Possessing advanced propulsion systems and fully inter- grated combat systems, with space and weight reservation available to ensure a formidable seaborne platform well into the future.

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Commander John C. Harvey Jr. COMMANDING OFFICER From the Commanding Officer The story of this deployment, the events that lie behind the pictures you see in the cruise book, began for me in April 1991. In our first underway period following the SRA and my taking command I began to realize the special qualities that you, the officers and men of David R. Ray, possessed. We faced a grueling schedule to get ready for the up- coming deployment plus we had a lot of work to do to get our training and knowledge up to where it had to be. Throughout the incredibly long and challenging days of the spring and summer of 1991, you never fal- tered. We beat the odds and began to establish our reputation as a tough ship that would get the job done. In October, we began to move the focus from ship intensive preperations to integrating the ship into the operational organization that would govern our deployment. From AC AT to Kernel Usher to Tail Proficiency Train- ing to MEFEX I, II and III, your proficiency, professionalism and per- formance steadily grew. Along the way, we intergrated HSL 47 Detach- ment 3 into our crew and forged a very close and productive working relationship with a superb group of aviators. Finally, the day came and we deployed in an extremely high state of operational and material readiness. The very hard work of preparation and tough training as you met with success after success on the deploy- ment. Strike operations, boardings or flagship support - DAVID R. RAY was the destroyer of choice in 1992. The greatest source of satisfaction for me as Captain was to watch you, the crew, pull together and work as one to accomplish any assigned missions. Your mental toughness, initiative, loyalty and professionalism always filled me with the greatest sense of pride and respect. No Captain has ever been served so well by a crew as I have been by you. Never forget what you accomplished and were part of during this deployment. Good luck and God speed wherever yor future takes you. Commander Harvey was born in Baltimore, Maryland on 17 December 1951. He graduated from the Phillips Exeter Academy in 1969 and attended the U.S. Naval Academy, majoring in Political Science. Upon graduation and commissioning in June 1973, Commander Harvey completed one year of Nuclear Propulsion training and served in USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65) as 4 Plant Station Officer from 1974 to 1976. Duty aboard USS BRAINBRIDGE (CGN-25) as Navigator and Electrical Officer followed from 1976 to 1978. After graduation from Department Head school in 1979, Commander Harvey served as Commissioning Ship Control Officer in USS MCINERNEY (FFG-8). In 1981, he reported to the Naval Military Personnel Command where he served as Surface Nuclear Detailer until June 1983. Commander Harvey attended the Naval Reactors Prospective Commanding Officers course and then reported to the USS NIMITZ (CVN-68) for duty as Reactor Officer until 1987. He was selected for postgraduate education at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Havard University, receiving a Master ' s Degree in Public Administration in June 1988. Prior to reporting to the USS DAVID R. RAY (DD-971), Commander Harvey served as the Executive Officer of USS LONG BEACH (CGN-9) from October 1988 to June 1990. Commander Harvey is married to the former Mary Ellen Swift of Upper Montclair, New Jersey and has two children, Sarah and David.