De Wert (FFG 45) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE SHIELD Dark blue and gold are the colors of the Navy. The scarlet cross, edged in gold, represents Richard De Wert ' s service as a Hospitalman with U.S. Marine Corps. The anchor and globe are adapted from the marine corps emblem, and also symbolize the world-wide mission of the ship. The taeguk superimposed thereon denotes De Wert ' s service in Korea, where he gave his life. THE CREST The crest commemorates Richard De Wert ' s conspicuous gallantry, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor, represented by the reversed light blue star. The four rays, for hope, represent the four times De Wert courageously exposed himself to enemy fire to save his wounded shipmates. The small stars represent valor; the sprigs of oak, strength. The ship ' s motto Daring, Dauntless, Defiant expresses the courageous sacrifice of De Wert, and serves as an inspiration to the men who man the warship named in his honor.

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r «« ' W PERSIAN EXCPRglON 89 05 DEC - DEPARTED CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROWNA ' 14 DEC - BRIEF FUEL STOP PONTA DELGADA, Kr£S ' .. 18-23 DEC - PORT VISIT MALAGA, SPAISr ' • ' f 30 DEC - TRANSIT SUEZ CANAL 4 JAN - BRIEF FUEL STOP, MINA RAYSUt, oflAN 7 JAN - TRANSIT STRAITS OF HORMUZ 8-12 JAI ; T VISIT MANAMA, BAHRAIN 22-24 JA - r6rT visit MANAMA, BAHRAIN 25 JAN - CmCUSCENCOM, GENERAL SCHWARZKOPF, AND COMIDEASTFOR, REAR A -ml ADMIRAL LESS, VISITED THE SHIP .. .. .mm - 29-30 JAN - NEY AWARD I I II I II I II I ' I Lii IHiaJM ' ' 7-10 FEB TWnE |kILA«CfTt SMI G5lDE USS ACAlJlA (AD 42) 25-27 TEB I W ' MANAMA, BAHRAIN 11 MAR - EMC(SW) CHUCK SANTELER, DE WERT ' S LAST PLANKOWNER, DE- ' ■™ ' PARTS THE SHIP 12-15 MAR - PORT VISIT DAMMAM, SAUDI ARABIA 21-27 MAR - TENDER AVAILABILITY ALONGSIDE USS PUGET SOUND (AD38) 24 MAR - U.S. AMBASSADOR TO BAHRAIN, MR. SAM ZAKHEM, VISITED THE SHIP 28 MAR - AVIATION MID-DEPLOYMENT CORROSION INSPECTION 7 APR - COMIDEASTFOR, REAR ADMIRAL FOGERTY, VISITED THE SHIP 11-15 APR - PORT VISIT MANAMA, BAHRAIN 19 APR - BRIEF FUEL STOP JABEL ALI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 24-26 APR - PORT VISIT MANAMA, BAHRAIN 27 APR - TURNOVER WITH USS UNDERWOOD (FFG 36) 1 MAY - BRIEF FUEL STOP MINA RAYSUT, OMAN - DEPARTED ARABIAN GULF WITH USS O ' BANNON (DD 987) AND USS HAWES (FFG 53). CO USS DE WERT (FFG 45) OIC FOR WESTWARD TRANSIT 9 MAY - TRANSIT SUEZ CANAL - CHOP TO CINCUSNAVEUR 16-18 MAY - PORT VISIT ROTA, SPAIN 19-23 MAY - PORT VISIT LISBON, PORTUGAL 23 MAY - CHOP TO CINCLANTFLT 25 MAY - BRIEF FUEL STOP PONTA DELGADA, AZORES 31 MAY - 2 JUN - PORT VISIT BERMUDA 2-5 JUN - TIGER CRUISE 5 JUN - RETURNED TO CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

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RICHARD DE WERT Richard De Wert was born in Tauton, Massachusetts on 17 November 1931. He enhsted in the U.S. Navy on 2 December 1948 at the Naval Recruiting Station, Boston. After basic training at the Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois, he attended the U.S. Naval Hospital Corps School at the same location. His initial assignment was to the Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Virgin- ia. On 28 July 1950, Hospitalman De Wert joined the 1st Medical Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, at Camp Pendleton, California, which deployed to Korea. On 17 December, he landed at Inchon and assisted in the activation of the division hospital. Within a fortnight he took part in the liberation of SEOUL, the South Korean capital. On 6 March 1951, after participation in several combat operations, De Wert was transferred to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines. On the morning of 5 April, D Company was advancing up a ridge against stubborn resistance from Chinese Communist Forces. A marine from the company ' s point platoon was wounded, and fell in an exposed position. De Wert unhesitatingly rushed for- ward, treated the man ' s wounds, and carried him to safety. He then immediately answered a sec- ond call for aid, although himself wounded in the leg. Ignoring his injury, and despite the warnings of his shipmates, De Wert moved forward a second time through intense enemy gunfire. Wounded a third time, in the shoulder, De Wert ar- rived to find the marine already dead. Hearing the call of a fourth comrade, De Wert again ignored his own wounds and bravely moved through the exposed area. While tending to the fourth marine. De Wert was killed by a burst of enemy machine gun fire. Hospitalman Richard De Wert was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, which was presented to his mother, Mrs. Evelyn H. De Wert, by the Secretary of the Navy, Dan A. Kimball on 27 May 1952. USS DE WERT (FFG 45) is the first ship to bear his name.