Dyess (DD 880) - Naval Cruise Book

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On 2 May 1967 DYESS cast off from Newport ' s pier two and pointed her bow seaward. Bound for the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean and a two -month stint in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, DYESS sailors felt mixed emotions -Sadness upon leaving families and friends behind, yet relief from the rigorous months of training, inspections and preparations for the cruise and for the shipyard overhaul upon the ship ' s return to Newport. No one on board knew then what the cruise might hold for their ship or the dramatic role she was to play as the result of changes in world affairs. DYESS and her Squadron Twelve sister ships rendezvoused with the USS SARATOGA (CVA-60) and other ships from Norfolk and Charleston for the ten day Atlantic transit to Gibraltar. The cros- sing was made safely and according to schedule with a gain of much valuable training and experi- ence for a formerly ' green crew. DYESS had been designated drone control ship for the task group and carried a team of oper- ators and repair technicians aboard as well as 13 propeller- driven drones to be used as targets for anti-aircraft warfare drills. Many hours were well spent flying and firing at the little orange at- tackers with our five inch guns and then recovering them to be repaired and flown again. On one of the firing days DYESS distinguished herself by winning the infamous ' ' Long Rifle Award for hitting a drone and saving the recovery team the trouble of retrieving it . . . ' 9: P

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Chef Bravo Our man in action ' Bahrain beef, Why ' Mr. Willcox has the key ' ' I put myself into my work.

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r • », The mail helo is perhaps the most we come sight a de- stroyer sailor could ever see (except for land, of course). Refueling and highline scenes such as these are a part of any day ' s work when de- ployed for many days but each time alongside the floating gas station is a completely new and different experience. Why don ' t they hit it sometime? We ' re going to fix this? 14 tons of chow and parts ! Mail call Is Mr. Chagaris going to ride this? My Whistle! Here comes some more of Mom ' s soggy fudge ' 400 degrees, Sir I '