Fechteler (DD 870) - Naval Cruise Book

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SHIP'S HISTORY USS FECHTELER DD 870 The present USS FECHTELER QDD 8705 is the second Destroyer honored with the name of FECHTELER. The first FECHTELER, a Destroyer Escort, was commissioned 1 July 1943. She was torpedoed and sunk on 5 May 1944 in the Western Mediterranean after participating in the North African-Sicily Campaigns. She received one Battle Star for World War ll service. The ship is named in honor of two Naval officers. One was Augustus Francis FECHTELER, who was born in Prussia on 1 September 1857 and graduated in 1877 from the Naval Academy. His distinguished career included command of 2nd, 6th and 7th divisions of the Atlantic Fleet, the Norfolk Naval Yard and the 5th Naval District. Rear Admiral Fechteler, recipient of the Navy Cross, died at the Naval Operating Base, Hampton Roads, Virginia, 26 May 1927. The second was his son, Frank Casper FECHTELER, born on 8 July 1897 in San Rafeal, California, who ' was a member of the Naval Academy class of 1918. He served aboard the Paducah during World War I, and was trained as an aviator finally serving aboard Langley QCV-lj. While preparing for the Pulitzer Trophy Race in 1922 LT. FECHTELER was killed in an airplane crash near Detroit on 18 September 1922. USS FECHTELER QDDR 8703 was launched 19 September 1945 by Bethlehem Steel Company, Staten Island, New York, and was sponsored by Miss Joan S. FECHTELER, grand-daughter of Rear Admiral Augustus F. FECHTELER. The ship was commissioned on 2 March 1946. In the spring of 1963 FECHTELER entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard to undergo Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization MK 1 conversion. After completion in December 1963, she was redesignated a DD. On 5 May 1964 FECHTELER departed Long Beach for WestPac as a mem- ber of Destroyer Squadron 19, The Greyhounds . During her 7 month deployment FECHTELER served with Task Force 77, fast carrier attack groups, supporting operations in Viet Nam and on Taiwan Patrol. She received the Navy Unit Commendation for Gulf of Tonkin operations 2 - 5 August, was awarded Armed Forces expeditionary Medal and received commendation from the Chief of Naval Operations upon her return for special operations off the coast of California. FECHTELER departed Long Beach, California on 10 July 1965, again with Destroyer Squadron 19 to meet the increasing requirements of the Seventh Fleet in Southeast Asia. During this tour she served with TF 77's carrier striking groups, as a Naval Gunfire Support Ship in South Viet Nam, and as Harbor Defense Ship in DaNang, South Viet Nam, On 13 January 1966 FECHTELER departed from WestPac arriving at Long Beach 1 February. From 8 July to 17 October FECHTELER underwent Shipyard overhaul at Long Beach Naval Shipyard followed by Refresher Training from 24 October until 3 December. On 25 February 1967 FECHTELER departed for WestPac where she served twice on the gunline off South Viet Nam, supported two amphibious landings, participated in Operation Sea Dragon, and spent 6 weeks on Northern Search and Rescue Station. FECHTELER returned to Long Beach after this successful WestPac tour on 25 August 1967,

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' V ix f SOUTHEAST ASIAN CRUISE 1967 The sea drowns out humanity and time: it has no sympathy with either for it belongs to eternity, and of that it sings its monotonous song for ever and ever. Oliver Wendell Holmes .li if -.l f I -avi' N- J '4f'.',JJ-39, XxbXI': jiiq-,N-4.44v,d ,,i x.49NQ, Ji! jg -f QIJJJJJ k1'4-vw N4-4.3 xx X Q -,fff 657: if J, '41-71 wg' 3Q 'y5n, J-3:53 Xx,i.:5O Xkncrcsiq- ' X ks 16' X X

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