Davis (DD 937) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDER ROBERT P. HILTON, USN Commander HILTON was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from Schley County High School, Ellaville, Georgia, and attended North Georgia College for a term before gn- listing in the Navy in March, 1945. After his discharge, he became an NROTC student at the University of Mississippi. Commander HILTON graduated from Mississippi in June 1948, receiving his commission at that time. Since commissioning he has served in USS NOA CDD-8411, USS ROANOKE CCL-1451, USS HAYNSWORTH QDD-7001, and on the staff of Commander Blockading Escort Force, Pacific Fleet during the latter phases of the Korean Conflict. Commander HILTON was Commanding Officer of USS CAMP QDER-2511 from july 1961 until duly 1962. His last tour of duty was in Was ington, D.C. where he served as Executive Assistant and Aide to the Director, joint Staff, joint Chiefs of Staff for 18 months and then as Assistant Head, Western Hemisphere Branch, Politico- Military Policy Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations for another 18 months. Conmander HILTON attended the Russian and French Language courses at the Navy Intelligence School, qualifying as Interpreter! Translator in both languages. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Government QRus- sian Affairsj from Georgetown University, and has done further graduate study at the Sino-Soviet Institute, George Washington University. Commander HILTON wears the Bronze Star, joint Service Commendation Medal, American Area, World War II Victory, Navy Occupation, National Defense, Korean Ser- vice, Vietnam Service and United Nations Medals. He also wears the ROK Presidential Unit Citation and ROK Chung Mu with Silver Star, and as Commanding Officer of USS DAVIS QDD-9371 he was awarded the Cross Of Gallantry with Silver Star by the Re- public of Vietnam. Commander HILTON presently holds orderS to the National War College in WashingtOI1, D.C. He is married to the former joan Madef of Miami, Florida. They have two children, 8 son and a daughter. 1

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,J r :dll r if 9.11 3, 7.2,-. - ,.,,.... I UpOI1 hel' fefllffl ff0I1f1 the SIXTHFLT on 14 March 1965, DAVIS was at home for only a short while, when she waS Called UPOI1 IH June to take up patrol in Caribbean waters during the Dominican Republic crisis. In-the fall of 1965 DAVIS was awarded 'the Admiral Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy for being the most im- proved ship in the Atlantic Fleet in Battle Efficiency for the year 1965. On 19 january 1966 DAVIS in company with Destroyer Squadron TWELVE, left Newport for duty with the U S Seventh Fleet inithe Vietnamese Conflict. Transiting the Panama Canal, DAVIS headed west arrivirigioff Vietnam in early March With duties many and varied the ship lived up to her fine reputation on both rescue destroyer Fifi iduty with attack carriers and duringithe long arduous hours she spent providing Naval Gunfire Support. .r t is - 1 L1 ,. 4,-1 El .ly 1,9 Ti il ull el ble dl: all Skill 0' 1' . A . pf yr s 0 I. r jill 19' , . FOF her CXCCPIIOIIQI performance of duty in South Vietnam, three members of DAVIS were awarded the Re- public of Vietnam's second highest decoration, the Cross of,Gallantry. On 6 july 1966, DAVIS began the trip back to her homeport. She continued heading west from the Pacific stopping in Penang Malaysia and Cochin, India. Once through the Suez Canal, DAVIS crossed the Mediterranean and the Atlantic terminating her seven month world, cruise on 17 August 1966. While enroute to Newport, DAVIS vvg notified that She had won the Squadronr Battle Efficiency E as well as Departmental E awards for Operations and Weapons for the 1966 competitive year. DAVIS departed Newport on 28 November for the annual Fall LANTFLEX exercise which included all aspects of Anti-Submarine, Anti-Aircraft and Anti-Surface warfare. DAVIS' achievement in this competitive operation won Commendation for superior performance from Commander Task Force TWENTY. DAVIS returned to her homeport on 16 December for a Christmas respite and participated in local ASW exercises in the area in illanuary. Following this, DAVIS participated in SPRINGBOARD, the largest Fleet exercise of the year, in t e Caribbean during February and March. Q V. ' Upon comple'CiOI1 of SPRINGBOARD, DAVIS Visited San juan and Miami, Florida before returning to Newport where preparations continued for a May deployment to the Mediterranean..Before departure, icon- firmation was received that all three.main-battery five inch guns earned additional E awards for accuracy. This was the fourth year in a row that mount 53 had qualified for this award. ' USS DAVIS departed Newport, R.I. on 2 May enroute the Mediterranean and duty with the U.S. SIXTH Fleet. After having spent three days in Gibraltar, our first, stop, DAVIS responded to a call from USS LIBERTY which had been strafed and torpedoed off the coast of Egypt. Reaching the point of attack early on 9 june DAVIS' officers and crew members rendered the badly needed assistance teams which repaired damage, re--established vital ship functions, provided medical services and lent guidance to the crew. Through DAVIS' efforts LIBERTY was able to enter port for further repair. Between operating assignments the ship visited Souda Bay, Creteg Valletta, Malta, and Golfe juan on the French Riviera between Cannes and Nice. While in Civitavecchia, Italy a Change of Command Cere- mony was held welcoming Commander Edward MOUNTFORD, of 1 Simmons Terrace, Middletown, R.I., as DAVIS' new Commanding Officer and wishing continued success to Commander Robert P. HILTON who was ordered to the National War College, Washington, D.C. Durin de lo ment DAVIS participated in Anti-Submarine and Anti-Aircraft. exercises as well-as plane 3 P Y guard duties for the Aircraft Carrier. Rear Admiral Paine, Commander of Cruiser-Destroyer Fqlotrlla TEN, . . . H . . . d sent a message to USS DAVIS expressing appreciation for the impressive performance, ent usrasm, an ASW expertise shown by her men, and wished her good luck, having set goals in reliability and per- formance toward which newer and larger ships can aspire. Before final preparations for the return trip to Newport were made, liberty of particular enjoyment was spent in Ibiza, one of the Balearic Islands of Spain, and Palma de Mallorca, another Spanish port. DAVIS went on to sweep the Fleet-wide efficiency- competition by capturing the coveted Squadron Battle Efficiency E for the second consecutive year. In addition, DAVIS earned Departmental EPS for both Engineering and Operations. Her Weapons Department celebrated the month of August, which coincidentally was Naval Ordnance month, in fine tradition by painting a Gold E on mount 53 as Well as a hash mark on mounts 51 and 52. DAVIS' gunnery score for this award is the highest ever recorded for a 5 f54 type mount. ,, t . After a successful and enjoyable cruise, DAVIS passed Brenton Reef Light of Narraganset Bay with f f N val Forces in the knowledge of a job well done. Admiral john S. McCain, Commander-in-Chie o 3 0 p Europe, stated that the ship's accomplishments were indicative of a state of readiness which can only if 'ci' .be.achieved by exemplary effort by all hands. 7 I .,'c,.,',,,.sFK' Y - ' ,hid 1

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COMMANDER EDWARD J. MOUNTFORD, USN Commander Edward joseph MOUNTFORD was born in Portland, Maine. He enlisted in the Navy in August 1948. Following active Naval Service he attended the University of Maine and graduated in june 1952. Com- mander MOUNTFORD received his commission through the Navy's Reserve Officer Candi- date Program in August 1952 at Long Beach, California and transferred to regular Navy status in 1953. Since his commissioning he has served at the Navy Recruit Training Center in Bain- bridge, Maryland, aS CIC Officer of USS ISHERWOOD QDD-5201, as Operations Officer of USS C. K. BRONSON CDD-6681 and he assumed command of USS ALBATROSS, a Coastal Minesweeper, in October 1956. Com- mander MOUNTFORD also commanded USS NIPMUC CATF-1572 before serving as Aide tothe Commander, U.S. Naval Base, Newport, Rhode Island. After completing shore duty he served consecutively as Executive Officer of USS JOHN WILLIS CDE-10271 from February 1960 to November 1961 and the USS DECATUR CDD-936D from December 1961 until july 1963 prior to returning to school for graduate work at the American University in Washing- ton, D.C. From September 1964 through July 1966 Commander MOUNTFORD served as Head of International Command Matters in the Stra- tegic Command and Policy Branch of the Chief of Naval Operations before attending the Air War College at the Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama in july 1967. Commander MOUNTFORD wears the WWII Victory Medal, European Occupation Medal, National Defense Medal with Bronze Star and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal QCuban Contingencyj He is married to the former Marcia M. Wallace of South Portland, Maine. They have six children, three sons and three daughters. Present Commanding Officer