Firedrake (AE 14) - Naval Cruise Book

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JOIN AT BEST SPEED By CAPT H. N. O ' Connor For an entire week, without pause, the ancient AE maneuvered like an old dowager, passing out mail, Christmas trees and the heavy, cold goods of war. Now, with the carrier ' s insatiahle appetite temporarily satisfied, she turned into the foul weather to seek her final customer before heading back to re-load in port. It was 0300 when she turned northward for a rendezvous 100 miles away. The exhausted crew dropped their dirty, sodden clothing at their bunks, turning in for the promised 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep. The round bottom and uninspired bow of the C2 hull acknowledged the power of 15 foot waves and howling winds — only the watch stood taut and alert. The traditional coffee cups came to the bridge half-filled as a guarantee that the pitching and rolling would not slop the sustaining beverage. 300 miles to the north, a non-descript freighter of Panamanian registry of 900 tons, S. S. IMPALA, filled with rice, tea, fish oil and furniture rounded a Vietnam cape. 28 men experi- enced the horror of the grinding crash of grounding. She backed frantically, came free and turned seaward. It was futile. She flooded up forward, became unmanageable, and then turned to beach herself, but to no avail. As the stern came up out of the sea, all hands tied pitiful canvas pads about their shoulders. Some made it down in one stove-in lifeboat, the others simply abandoned their fate to the screaming wind and waves. All day and into the next night, the lifeboat, survivors and bodies blew southward in a flotsam of stinking fish oil, straw baskets and wreckage. Among the debris swirled a hatch cover, a life ring and a solitary man clinging to his fragile life. The unstable hatch was inadequate for his whole body and only its edge provided security for those cramped fingers. On the FIREDRAKE, reveille had sounded after the promised 4 hours of rest. Steaming coffee, fresh donuts and scrambled eggs had provided sustenance for the breaking-out. man-handling and shoring of ammunition. The Christmas trees were carefully wet down with precious, potable water. In the hands of a radioman came the small yellow message: RENDEZVOUS WITH SACRAMENTO AT 1200 TOMORROW NEAR YOUR PRESENT POSITION. SACRAMENTO WILL HELO YOUR CHRISTMAS TREES TO YOUR CUSTOMER LATER. At 0230 on the SACRAMENTO, the lookout, his back braced against the wind and breathing shallow to avoid the stack gas, stared uncomprehending at the pitch black source of cries for help. A disciplined mind reacted — Man Overboard ! ' the dreaded cry rang out. From the black void of foaming sea and screaming wind came seven haggard men, one body and the graphic talisman — the eggshell wreckage of the lifeboat. Now, by highest precedence, out went the message : SAR ALERT. TO FIREDRAKE— JOIN AT BEST SPEED — at a point fully 50 miles farther north than scheduled. On the AE, 21 year-old machinery hummed, vibrated, and sent plumes of steamy protest at odd angles about the engine room. But at 0500 with searchlights swinging, she snapped precisely into station on the SACRAMENTO. Lip-wind, then down-sea and then reverse again. Planning to arrive at datum (the scene of rescue) at first light, the force, now FIREDRAKE. HENDERSON and SACRAMENTO scanned the sea with hundreds of wind-swept eyes. As the searchlights faded off, one by one, a vision of desolation was registered by all these sea-farers. The forces of nature had scattered the fittings and cargo of what had been the little cargo ship, to the mercy of the sea. Again the signals triggered away, this time by flashing light: PROCEED INDEPENDENTLY TO SEARCH AREA IN CLOSE DETAIL. As the old AE turned, halted, backed and went on- Skipper, there ' s a hatch and I think there is a man on it — yes, look — he ' s waving ! Delicately, the AE placed her stem just close enough to permit the crew to shout encouragement. To SACRAMENTO went the signal HAVE SURVIVOR IN SIGHT-SEND HELO. The high-speed popping of the big helo loudly proclaims its arrival. Blades cavitating, it swings nose high to brake its motion like a gull. Down from its bottom slides the web-thin strand with the yellow ring of rescue. The survivor, just moments away from despair and death, clings desperately to his hatch as the strange machine kicks up violent spray. At last ! The yellow collar drags into his waiting arms and he is raised skyward to safety, warmth and the comfort of mankind. ( )n the LIREDKAKE, the thrill of action, of satisfying accomplishment, passes through each man. Who was this nameless, almost faceless man? Are we responsible for saving his life? The Mexican would say Quien sabe? — but each of us knows that it is Christmas and that we ' 1 1 lined at best speed.

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DESTROYER CUSTOMERS: USS BAINBRIDGE (DLG(N)-25) USS WADDELL (DDG-24) USS JOSEPH STRAUSS (DDG-16) USS EDSON iDD-946) USS BARRY iDD-933) USS HAWAKINS (DD-873) USS HAROLD J. ELLISON I DD-864 1 USS MASON .DD-852) USS RUPERTUS iDD-851 ) USS SMALL iDD-838i USS CARPENTER i DD-825 USS HIGBEE DD-806 USS HARRY E. HUBBARD DD-748i USS SAMUEL N. MOORE iDD-747) USS BRUSH iDD-745) USS INGRAHAM (DD-694) USS WEDDERBURN (DD-684) USS VANCE tDER-387) Although ammunition replenishment is our spe- ciality, FIREDRAKE is often called upon by operal ing units unable to satisfy their needs during extended periods a) sea. Thus we transfer oil and water, deliver passengers, Heel freight, Christma trees or anything else vitally needed by our sistei units of the SEVENTH Fleet; and we ' re always willing td lend a welcome hand. SHIPS ALONGSIDE: USS TOPEKA (CLG-8) USS MARS (AFS-1 I USS HALEAKALA (AE-25) USS NAVASOTA (AO-106) USS CALIENTE (AO-53) USS GUADALUPE (AO-32) USS IMPLICIT iMSO-455) USS ESTEEM (MSO-438) USS WEISS (APD-135) Although comparatively small in size and less demanding of us, the destroyer is an impor- tant customer. She provides invaluable assistance to the U. S. and South Vietnamese ground forces routing the Viet Cong from their jungle hiding places by providing Naval gunfire support along the coastline of South Vietnam. She peppers the verdant jungle with shells from her potent 5 guns. She bows, swoops and skims gracefully over the seas, trailing her carrier charge like a loyal puppy. Sometimes she assumes the responsibility of lifeguard for men pre-occupied with transferring ammunition, and at other times she is at the receiving end to satisfy her own munitions requirements. —■ .

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Come back here, WEISS!!! I DON ' T believe it ! Whaddya mean ya can ' t fix it NOW 2 GUSHER! USS DIRTYFACE AOE-2 Mr. Clean ' s our division officer.