Dortch (DD 670) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 72 of the 1953 volume:

The World Cruise of U.S.S. DORTCH (DD-670) 1953 Brief History of the U.S.S. DORTCH (DD-670) The U.S.S. DORTCH (DD-670) is a 2100 ton destroyer of the Fletcher Class. She was christened by Miss Mary Clare Dortch, daughter of the late Captain Isaac Foote DORTCH for whom the ship was named, on 20 June 1943, at Kearny, New Jersey. Built in 158 days, one of the shortest construction pe- riods on record, she was commissioned on 7 August 1943. Outfitted, provisioned and the crew trained, she sailed on 3 December 1943 to join fast carrier task forces in the Pa- cific. She was part of the mighty military wave that annihilated the Japanese in the Pacific and as her reward ■was present in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945 when the surrender was signed aboard the U.S. S.MISSOURI. After the surrender the DORTCH stayed on as part of the Occupation Force in Japan. On 5 December 1945 she was homeward bound and was placed out of commission in the Reserve Fleet at Charleston, S. C. on 19 July 1946. Following the outbreak of the Korean Action the DORTCH was again commissioned on 4 May 1951 at Charleston, S. C. After recommissioning she made shakedown and re- fresher training cruises and ■was overhauled in the Phila- delphia Navy Yard. She participated in Operation MAIN- BRACE, the first full scale naval operation of NATO, in the North Atlantic. Returning to her home port, New- port, Rhode Island, for the Christmas Holidays 1952, she was off again in February 1953 on Operation SPRING- BOARD in the Carribbean. Provisioned and made ready for sea, the U.S.S. DORTCH sailed from Newport, Rhode Island on 27 April 1953 as part of Destroyer Division 301, enroute to Korea. The following pages depict that voyage. COMMANDER J. F. RICE, USN Commanding Officer On 27 April, 1953, the U.S.S. DORTCH (DD 670), a gen- eral purpose destroyer, steamed out of Newport harbor ' with a very definite purpose. Her eighteen officers and three hundred men were resolved to accomplish three things — to steam west- ward to North Korea and engage with the enemy there; to continue around the world and show our good will toward free people everywhere; and finally to return home, experienced and ready to steam out again whenever the occasion might arise. We accomplished what we set out to do. During the crucial months preceding the armistice -we operated off Korea as part of the famous Task Force 77. During the same period we en- tered Wonsan Harbor and delivered direct gunfire against enemy gun positions. Later after the armistice was signed we helped enforce its terms, operating off the western coast of Ko- rea. Then continuing around the world we made good friends in each of the ports we visited — Manila, Saigon, Singapore, Co- lombo, Cannes, and Lisbon. Finally we arrived in Philadelphia to be ready after normal overhaul to steam anywhere in the world again, guns firing if necessary. We accomplished what we set out to do, but we came home with more than just pride in accomplishment. We returned with a deep appreciation of what -we had left here at home and of the cause for which we had been fighting. During long hours of steaming -we had gained a new insight regarding the value of freedom and a deeper understanding of the struggle to preserve it. It is this appreciation, this insight, and this under- standing of which the following pages will always be a re- minder. C IC2 LCDR R. W. BELT, USN Executive Officer LT D. F. AREL, USNR Administrative Officer LTJG D. M. PUGH, USN Gunnery Officer LTJG R. C. LOESCH, USN Engineering Officer LTJG R. L. MOTTER, USN Operations Officer LTJG R. M. BREWER, USNR Operations Officer ENS J. B. WEIDLER, USNR Supply Officer JUNIOR OFFICERS Row One: ENS J. A. Loftus, USN; ENS R. Prezioso, USN; ENS O. B. Ross, USNR; ENS E. J. Ready, USNR. . . . Row Two: ENS W. A. Burrows, USNR; ENS M. R. Berk, USNR; ENS B. A. MacPherson, USNR; ENS W. E. Cornish, USNR. . . . and these are the men that fought and worked the ship — the men that represented the United States through- out the world . . . 1st DIVISION First Division — Frame 72 forward. Twenty- four hours a day these men were either turn- ing-to, on duty, or on call. There was endless activity and very few dull moments. There was our deck force, the work horses of the navy. In fair weather they kept busy topside, clean- ing, painting, preserving. Heavy weather drove them below decks, but the work went on, over- hauling tackle, splicing and cleaning — always cleaning. In their spare time they stood watches, manned lifeguard and rescue stations, rigged for fueling, and manned high lines and replen- ishment stations. Our three gunners mates were small in num- ber, but mighty big in production and know- how. Keeping our guns shooting was their main job, and they came through like the profession- als they are, but this never stayed them from taking some seamanship operations, training, and the endless battle against rust. Ping — Train — Listen Those are our sonarmen, or Ping Jockeys . Their job is to protect the ship against submarines. The hours are long, the procedure painfully monotonous, and the contacts few, yet without them we would have been helpless against submarines and mines. With them we were a powerful offensive weapon against any submarine. Last, but far from least, were our fire-control technicians. These were the boys who made the guns hit the target, repaired complicated elec- tronic equipment, and maintained the complex computers. They did a job and did it -well, com- parable to electronic and mechanical engineers. More than one night we found these men ' work- ing long hours overtime to fix inoperative equip- ment. Row One: A. W. Hogard, H. Sackstein, ENS Hurt, B. W. Nun- nelee, F. R. Martin. . . . Row Two: B. W. Robinson, F. J. Car- roll, F. R. Carlson, D. F. Peters, G. R. Barnard, R. i. Harrington. . . . Row Three: I. P. Shaw, W. A. Casebier, R. M. Watkins, M. J. Cupina, R. L. Emmons. . . . Row Four: D. L. Hunter, R. C. Queitzsch, G. Pohevitz, R. C. Hegeman. Row One: 0. R. McGlauflin, L. D. Drawdy, ENS Loposer, L P. Foucault, BMC, A. M. Arcuri, H. F. Caudle. . . . Row Two: LaRoy Hawkins, S. P. Brookshire, J. L. Stoneham, M. L. Clements, G. J. Gyorek, R. H. Laborde. . . . Row Three: T. C. May, R. De- long, P. R. Chappell, F. D. Sheppard, J. E. Barbour. . . . Row Four: D. R. Feaster, G. D. Campbell, R. J. Kress. 2nd DIVISION Second division — Frame 72 aft. That is quite a responsibility and we had the men who could handle it. Torpedo men, gunners mates and deck force made up the team that was responsible for the after part of the ship. The gunners mates kept maintenance on the fire power of the ship. Our guns were ready at a moment ' s notice to defend our ship against enemy attack. Although the torpedoes were never called up- on in action, the Torpedomen played their part on the team, keeping ready at all times. Whether it be 1200 or 2400 the deck hands were on station to take on fuel or transfer per- sonnel. Even though the rough seas and bad weather were against them, the -work was car- ried out without casualty. These were the men who made the team. Row One: G. A. Davis, Wolf, R. C. Harding, Driver, R. S. Angstman, Row Two: T. M. Croghan Spencer, B. J. Stevens, Jorgenson. . . . Row Thi L. Scott, B. P. Albritton, Stinson, W. I. Petty, Jr. Fegan. . . . Row four: Davis, J. A. Prather, Penny. I. W. J. W. , C. G. G. F. Row One: W. A. Greer, T. P. Heraty, D. E. Watson, C. J. Bro- gan. . . . Row Two: R. M. Bena- vides, C. G. Cothron, L. G. Cates, ENS M. R. Berk, E. E. Meray, R. C. Williams. . . . Row Three: T. E. Blanchette, W. F. Hendricks, Jr., R. J. Orcutt, R. G. Westlake, J. E. Hartley, Jr. . . . Row Four: R. E. Johns, V. M. Combs, E. E. Fogleman, B. W. Ennis, Jr., F. O. White, C. P. Williams, J. W. Cockrell. . . . Row Five: G. R. Brinkman, J. E. Patton, Jr., J. S. Lynch, P. B. Bowling, D. W. Fry, S. H. Green, Jr., Schaler. H VJ 0 and C DIVISION The O and C Division ' s make up the operation department of the ship. Their main functions are to keep the ship in reliable com- munications at all times and its navigation also, which may be plotted and controlled from either the bridge or the combat information center (C.I.C.). The department consists of quartermasters, radarmen, radiomen, yeomen, and electronics technicians. The QM ' s. were responsible for all communications by lights, Hag hoists, and sema- phore. The RD ' s. primary duties are the opera- tion of various radar equipments and voice com- munications. The RM ' s. Chief Concern was C.W. communications and the performance of all radio equipment. The YN ' s were kept busy as ship ' s secretarys, handling all paper work. And last of all the ET ' s; responsible for the maintenance of all electronic equipment on the ship. This is in short the function of the opera- tions department and its personel! c ' r_ fi ' Y V Row One: I. j. Post, T. W. Lewis, E. O. Brumet, J. O. Fleisler, R. E. Bon Jour. . . . Row Two: D. K. McKeen, N. C. Eble, E. D. Olson, J. W. Keith, G. W. Nelson. Row One: J. E. Bailey, L. J. Gil- holy, J. O. Cox, Page, R. W. Wiencek. . . . Row Two: B. M. Schmitz, J. W. Lassiter, F. W. Stone, W. W. Imlach, B. D. Thomas. . . . Row Three: R. E. Clark, l. Israel, W. J. Dial, J. J. Rogers, R. H. Allison, W. M. Murray. . . . Row Four: Billie Davis, Curtis Elswick, Jr., H. C. Bauer, W. F. Brumleve, L. E. Weinstein, R. A. Goff. E DIVISION These are the men who steamed the ship 58,000 miles engineering-wise. Twenty-four hours a day they did everything asked of them, answered all bells, from the tense slow speeds of Wonson harbour to the strains of full power. They come from Massachusetts to California, from Minnesota to Louisiana, yet they are as close knit a team as you ' ll find anywhere. The Navy has a much overworked phrase Well Done. It means as many things as Aloha. In this case it means a thousand words of praise. WELL DONE! Row One: D. A. Weeck, R. F. Kalin, T. C. Darst, Jr. . . . Raw Two: D. E. Hilderbrand, J. L. Cox, T. F. Fashbender, A. C. Gingras, R. L. Wilson, L. J. Lemke. . . . Row Three: N. B. Harwood, C. R. Day, E. F. San- ders, J. K. Kirby, M. W. Sim- cox, L. M. Wirtz. . . . Row Four: J. L. Curry, R. W. Hicks, R. W. Neely, W. H. Briggs, D. L. Rose, T. A. Andrus, C. H. Lynch. . . . Row Five: R. D. Clary, J. F. Boyce, A. A. Becker, L. H. Campbell, Jr., C. J. Moss. Row One: L. E. Diamond, W. I. LaCaze, ENS R. R. North, R. C. Stewart, T. M. Rudd, J. A. Ed- dins. . . . Row Two: H. R. Bush, J. May, V. D. Nickolson, W. T. Dihrberg, C. E. Blancherte, B. L. Katherman. . . . Row Three: E. J. Puska, B. I. Collins, I. E. Had- don, Jr., C. H. Weberg, C. D. Bird, M. H. Poindexter, R. E. Farris, J. E. Glover. . . . Row Four: W. J. Hinton, A. J. Grosse, A. F. Pendergrast, O. Forsberg, S. M. Gonzales, H. G. Girardi. R DIVISION ' R ' stands for repair, but the main job of the division is preventing the need for repair. The division is made up of three separate groups or gangs divided as to the equipment they main- tain. These are the shipfitters, the electricians and the auxiliary gang. The shipfitters make up the basic group of the damage control organization. They also do most of the ship ' s force repair work, maintain the damage control equipment and lockers and maintain the ship ' s fresh and salt water systems. These men hold or are striking for Damage Con- trolman, Pipe fitter and Metalsmith rates. The electricians maintain the ship ' s power system, the ship ' s lighting system and the ship ' s intercommunication systems. The electricians are best known to the crew as the men that show the evening movies. These men hold or are striking for Electrician ' s Mate or IC Elec- trician ' s Mate rates. The auxiliary gang, or the ' A ' gang as it is commonly known, maintains most of the mis- cellaneous equipment aboard ship. A lot of the equipment has a direct bearing on the comfort of the ship. They maintain the heating system, the refrigeration system and most of the galley equipment. This includes the ice-cream machine. The ' A ' gang also maintain and operate all the internal combustion engines found on the ship. Enginemen, Machinery Repairmen and Machinest Mate rates are held by men in the ' A ' gang. Row One: J. D. Conn, J. A. Schultz. . . . Row Two: F. E. Bisson, W. G. Heirholzer, W. R. Hammock, R. F. Schuler, C. 1. Wessel, L. J. Allen. . . . Row Three: C. K. Weikle, R. L. Smith, L. M. Zulauf, B. G. Belling, E. H. Rogers, Jr. . . . Row Four: T. W. Kendzior, A. G. Repetny, J. J. Cooncy, J. R. Michels, K. L. Covill, D. A. Warznyak. . . . Row Five: C. G. Hall, J. J. Cifaratta, Jr., E. A. Frary, J. F. Christensen, J. A. Barker, C. C. Young. tlCJJ S DIVISION If you can possibly imagine just how many potatoes, chickens, loaves of bread and candy bars it takes to feed a crew of three hundred and twelve hungry men for a period of eight months, you will realize that Supply had its hands full circumnavigating the globe. And spare parts, too . . . everything from a Dixie cup to a Coke machine. Here are just a few of the figures: 43,269 pounds of meat, 57,625 pounds of potatoes and 38,832 candy bars!!! It wasn ' t an easy job to get that chow out during some of those periods of rough weather we hit, either. Those thirty-five degree rolls certainly did raise havoc in the galley. And it was always an ordeal to locate stort when we pulled into some of those foreign ports. One storekeeper reported having to pick our own pears from an orchard in Sasebo, Ja- pan. Everyone seemed to change into Dress Blues when the stores came aboard, too. The Medical Department had it ' s job to do, too. In the hot climates of Panama and Japan it was Athlete ' s Foot and heat rash and in the cool weather of France and Portugal it ' was running noses and sore throats. The combined efforts of the Medical Department and the APC tablet kept the crew in healthy shape. Bow One: D. E. Sheets, R. R. Drew, A. R. Porter, S. B. Wallace, O. R Hammond, J. A. Mello. . . . Row Two: D. V. Peterson, H. F. Kramer R. L. Olds, ENS J. B. Weidler, V. L. Hofstener, J. R. Parker, A. M Yeaton. . . . Row Three: V. Hoskins, I. M. Durham, T. L. Beaudreau G. E. Morgan, J. M. Sch Row Four: F. R. Radcliffe, Kuster, C. D. Carlson, R. R. W. Topolskl, R. . E. Loehr, W. E. Bertz, E. Longo. ... on our way to engage an enemy half way around the world. Back to Asia, where the rumbling had scarcely died away from the last great war. Back to show the Com- munists that America ' s borders reach to any land where there is conflict for the rights of man . . . OUTWARD BOUND w, Jfc fc. heocf. ' ° sf ' oefc a  d th e p  eific the At- o he ' If . •ches and traa . ntsee ing list or e -  ot California. Patrol bombers come and go around the clock from one of the Navy ' s busiest bases. Downtown San Diego stretches to the Bay. We tied up to the tender, upper left hand corner. Point Lorna is in the background, and between Point Lorna and the city lies North Island, one of our largest Naval Air installations. Honolulu A real liberty port . . . that was agreed by all. We basked in the tropical sun, visited the luxurious hotels and climbed the great mountains from where the wondrous beauty of the island could be seen. Hawaii was to be the last taste of the American way of life for many long months that laid ahead of us and so we were out to enjoy ourselves. Crossroads of the world— Where do we go from here? Home Sweet Home . . . Hawaiian Style , ian tBanyonsoddto scenic beauty. Bertz, Topolski, Allen and Longo take a swim at Waikiki with Diamond Head as a backdrop. - --I •ssr££ % ,- t Panorama of whole island . . . Sand, few trees and goonies. Half way around the world we had our first glimpses of Asia, Land of the Rising Sun, temples, Fuji, rikishas, chopsticks, nevah hoppen and Babysan. Our first port was Yokosuka. Here we easily got used to the strange people and their way of living. We found a people who were willing to help us to learn their ways and were equally will- ing to understand ours. From the hovels of Hoka- date to the great city of Tokyo, there were a great many things learned from the great and proud na- tion, Japan. As you gazed into all those smiling faces, you wondered. . . Through these portals pass the world ' s greatest Navy. 1 At least somebody welcomed us . . . the merchants It sure didn ' t look like Main Street, USA. PS ° nd  yles WerT - C 5fran 9e, too. reet shops At first it was hard to read the signs. Cone y ' s and. Portable restaurants serve the gutter trade. Man, dig that crazy raincoat. Some subtle Jap must have lined up the horse . . Grunt and Groan, Jap style. Abanes and Stone wonder who adopted who. Temples were everywhere. Could Mr. Hurt have been here before? Ginza Many of us will remember the ports of call from our own private investigations. Others supplemented their learning by participat- ing in the organized tours that were avail- able. In Tokyo it was Madame Finch, a former teacher at the University, who en- lightened us with her many stories. On this tour we visited the Meji Art Gallery, the Shrine of the Dean, the Theatre, Diet Build- ing and had dinner at the Ambassador Hotel. Remember the sight of the second atom bomb at Nagasaki. On this tour we saw a contrast of the Old and the New Japan. Dick, our guide, a senior at Nagasaki Uni- versity, showed us Madame Butterfly ' s house and related one of the old legends as to how Geisha girls had their origin. ATOf C 8QHJ CENT EH ■ w e  s w mm UK MCKttir te 1 mmr.  ' : « w amm m mtmam m mm r «u  -«  . : imkmu nmm . •Tim v • • ! ?•  « a «.: waurwr atuwo tnt j mum mm mam w Twuu turn UTS wm ■■.. .   By air and sea we brought the war to North Korea. Task Force 77 fans out to attack. . . . and there we were right in the middle of WW 2V4. Darken ship, GQ and all the things we had been drilling on, only this time it was for real. Night off the bomb line was better than any 4th of July fire- works display. The persistant rumors of a truce, then a complete reversal by President Rhee, and finally the happy day when the truce was no longer a rumor. v 38tfi PARALLEL Seoul ' From Wonsan to Inchon On the 14th of June we steamed into Wonson in broad daylight and opened fire on shore installa- tions. Fueling at sea became more common-place than going to the corner for a coke. We were finally going home; it was still half a world away but as we continued on our way it became more of a reality, and day by day the word grew— home— homE—hoME—hOME— HOME! HOMEWARD BOUND Maw a We came in past Corregidor with Battaan on the port and caught sight of Fort Drum on the horizon. For just one fleeting moment you wondered if anyone really remem- bered, and then we were sailing on into Manila Bay. The Phillipine Navy treated us to the sights of Manila around Dewey Boulevard and the Walled City as well as the President ' s resi- dence. The jet age seems far away with Carimetta trans- portation. First stop alongside the dock in Manila. Old walled city ' s famous churches stand in ruins. All gone IBIC BAY § X I PHILIPPINE Cold beer, dockside cafe. No mama, no papa, no Uncle Sam. L. Green and the ship ' s team proved too much for the Fearless Fondulac crew, pictured below. It was a pitchers ' duel ... 39 to 3. French Indo China where the threat of war had been hovering and boiling over for years. The streets dotted with the colorful uniforms of the French Legionnaires. Saigon, a slumbering, rum- bling volcano about to erupt, with the Communists only a few short miles away. H or fc r x Mf £jp - ' wr jfeutt ( k  — - 4 - - ' - V 07j7 frH . jftpM I . ?S;1TZ - Large, modern department stores . . . : Translation: Roomy trunk, throw your mother-in-law in the back. . . . and majestic churches lend a touch of West- ern civilization in the heart of Asia. Little girls are just little girls. While strolling in the park. wQ li Neptune takes over command from Skippei r ,.in I w Sa di vn Next we visited the British Crown Colony of Singapore just 60 miles north of the Equator. The highlight of the tour was the Tiger Balm Gar- dens which was a mammouth display showing early Chi- nese culture. We were joined by the carrier Lake Champlain Street Scene? Image of Lord Buddha, 300 tons, 50 feet high, 1000 lights. 366 Race Course Road, Singapore. . . . and so with the addition of an Attack Carrier our task force of Good Will took H. Greeley ' s advice and went west, by the water route across the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean. Colombo Main Street Bargain Basement Water Barge The trip to Candy at Columbo, although undertaken by only a few, produced many interesting stories and if we had had another day, many more would have gone to see the elephants bathing. Feminine Fashions, Far East Beautiful rolling hills and plush hotels. Pleasure yachts for the world ' s wealthy dotted the basin. Remember Gizal and you think of our wonderful tour of the Riviera. Perfume direct from the factory at Grass, the long hike up the mountain to a com- manding view of the coast, Monte Carlo and all its splendor plus the long ride through the country was enough to show us why so many people spend their vacation here. Souvenier hunting, sightseeing and a chance to stretch your legs were about all an off season Riviera had to offer. It was too chilly for the famed Bikini and the can-can gals had been canned away for the winter. However, we found a wonderful fall climate, friendly people and well chilled beer. Entering harbor after 1 5 days at sea. Believe it or not, our first thought was of fresh food. World famous Monte Carlo. Stetson— French style. Parlez Vous Francaise, you all (Southern France) Cova do Iria, near Fatima, where Lu- cia de Jesus Santos and two other small children are reported to have had apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1917, has become a Roman Catho- lic center of pilgrimage. Father Kelly, Navy Chaplain, led our pil- grimage and all faiths were invited to take part. ™ i T 3 Welcome Home Ko-War Destroyers Des Div-301 PHILADELPHIA recently welcomed the first four destroyers to return to the city from the Korean war zone. The return marked their completion of a 58,000-mile around-the-world cruise. The destroyers, a part of the US Atlan- tic Fleet, were the first group of US Naval vessels to arrive in Philadelphia right after duty with the Pacific Fleet since the outbreak of the Korean War. dear Admiral John H. Brown, Jr., USN, planned the welcoming cere- monies in honor of the 1260 officers and men on board the ships of Des Div-301. Families and friends were invited to a reception held immediately on arrival of the destroyers at the US Naval Base, Philadelphia. The welcome mat was rolled out and fire boats and a dirigible were on hand to greet us, but the greatest sight was the familiar faces lining the pier, as loved ones waved, whis- tled, laughed and cried. It might be added that there were a few moist eyes among the crew. It all seems to add up to everyplace is fine to visit, but there is no place like home. HOME!! From the Bridges of Toko-Ri to the Bridges of Delaware Bay. . . . U.S.S. BEHIVE could easily be applied to ship board life. Activity was endless. Work progressed steadily, but time was always available after working hours for a new joke or an old sea story, a game of pinochle or cribbage, the latest movie, a letter home, Sunday services, a little sun bathing, or just an old fashioned nap. This is how we passed the time . . . SHIPBOARD LIFE Radio constantly guarded all circuits. Countless drills, constant maintenance and a can do spirit brought many a well done in the months ahead. The crew seemed to always be able to reach, down, lift themselves by their boot straps and do any task as- signed. From our guns came 4,181 rounds of ammunition with slick precision. Titivating the ship The Deck force has a vital part in al- most every phase of shipboard life. Whether it be steering the ship, bringing fuel aboard, transferring human life by highline, the men of the deck were available. Neither the time of day nor raging sea caused them to falter. A perfect record for safety was maintained no matter what odds nature laid in their path. Anchors Aweigh! Fueling at sea ..Aft Although too small a ship to be assigned a chaplain, regu- lar church services were held. Chaplain Kelly came aboard by highline and conducted Catholic Services. With no or- dained minister available, various members of the crew organized and conducted regular non-denominational services. A Happy Hour on the back porch My trick! In port at one of our 14 stops. Shielding the carriers with a smoke screen, one of our many tasks in our 3,619 hours underway. v ' ■HS Never too hot for a bull session. Holiday routine. More news again today— steaming as before. Chief Olds works late in Photo-lab! —r- ' I I HLnbM Fahs becomes a chief. CPO Quarters Keeping station. 2,080 sights were taken by Chief Saxby. Stand-by to write. Engineers take well deserved rest. Full Power 34.5 knots. Fuel oil-2,767,808 Gallons Water Consumption— 2,102,735 Gallons Engineering miles— 57,002 A ringer for Santa Claus. Ei ' lS • iUS Cruise book committee caught resting. Standby!! autographs autographs ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ALBERT LOVE ENTERPRISES ATLANTA, GEORGIA