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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- mfg-, myswnf 1-we-: v - , - 5 1 A eras I I COMMANDING OFFICER Commander Maurlce Gene Whlte was born 1n Dayton Ohto on 22 November 1924 He en lmsted ln the U S Navy on 10 November 1942 and attended recrult tralnmg at the U S Naval Traxnmg Center Great Lakes Ill1no1s Upon complet1on of recru1t tralnmg he attended Class A Electrlclan School at Detro1t M1ch1gan and Interlor Cornmunlcatlon School at Washmgton D C In January 1944 he attended CVE precomm1ss1on1ng school at Bremerton Washmgton and was asslgned to USS SAGINAW BAY QCVA 825 He served ln SAGINAW BAY untll November 1945 when he was dlscharged as I'1rst Class Electrlclans Mate Commander WHITE was graduated from the Umverslty of Dayton IH 1951 He was cornmlssloned 1n September 1951 and has served as Torpedo Off1cer and Ma1n Propulslon Asslstant on USS STOCKHAM QDD 6835 Englneermg Offtcer on USS WADLEIGH QDD 6895 W D1v1s1on Ofhcer on USS SHANGRI LA QCVA 385 and Executlve Off1cer on USS TURNER QDDR 8345 Commander WHITE served hls shore duty as Semor Instructor of the Rensselaer Polytechnlc Inst1tute NROTC Un1t Troy New York He reported to FECHTELER from the Armed Forces Staff College where he was a student He holds a Masters Degree In Educat1on from the Un1vers1ty of Mlaml QFlor1da5 and a Master of Scxence Degree from Rensselaer Com mander WHITE IS marr1ed to the former Margaret Ann Rasor of Hlghland Park Mlchlgan Thelr fam1ly mcludes one daughter Cheryl Ann 22 9 ' - ll 9 s - H .. . . . . . . - Q an I . 4. .. . - ' . . . - . . 9 9 1 1 ' - ' -1 , . s 1 s - 4 . . . 1 - , , . . . . . 9 1 -