Du Pont (DD 941) - Naval Cruise Book

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The Gunlme DU PONT spent a total of seventy five days on the gunline During that period her primary mission was to provide naval gunfire support for the Third Marine Division and the 12th Marine Regiment which oper- ated in the area of the DMZ of Vietnam In this capacity she fired more than twenty thousand rounds from her 5 inch guns. During daylight hours DU PDNT answered calls for fire from spotters on the beach, in swift boats and in spotter planes, with rapid and accurate fire on numerous tar et After g s. dark, she provided harrassment and interdiction fire on pre-selected targets and answered calls for fire in defense of Marine positions ashore. During the tour on the gunline DU PONT was taken under fire on four separate occasions by North Viet- namese coastal defense batteries. On 28 August 1967 while maneuvering to come to the aid of the USS RDBISDN KDDG-123 DUPONT was hit on the barrel of Mount 52. FN Frank I.. Bellant was killed and eight men were wounded by shrapnel from the blast. In addition the after deckhouse was essentially destroyed and Mount 52 was put out of commission. While in Vietnamese waters, CDMDESRDN 22, embarked on the DU PONT, served as Gunline Com- mander. In this capacity he controlled the assignment of all ships concerned with gunfire support from the DMZ southward to the Mekong Delta. Throughout the gunline period the crew was standing port and starboard watches. Underway replenishments were almost a daily occurrence and on several occasions DUPONT replenished swiftboats which came alongisde. Her tour on the line was notably successful and her contribution to the cause of freedom has not gone unnoticed by the enemy. SK1 Day works out the 50 calibre mm: --A --YY 1 '

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Manila We arrived in Manila on 26 September 1967, our first port without an adjacent repair facility and thus devoted three days to exploring the Philippine capital.

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Killed In Action Frank L. Bellant, FN Wounded In Action Joseph A. Griffin, Jr., GMG2 James C. Young, lVllVl2 James R. Abrasniewsky, BM3 James M. Doll, RD3 John R. Layne, CYN3 Glen A. I-lester, SN Wayne G. Miller, SN Russel P. Rader, SN