Fletcher (DD 992) - Naval Cruise Book

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During the time FLETCHER was in Townsville, Australia a very interesting and embarrassing thing happened to one of our shipmates. Two of the more adventurous crew members CDS2 Bill Brassard and ET2 Stephen Burroughsl set out to climb Castle Hill, which is actually abi g rock. During his climb DS2 Brassard cut the tips of his fmgers on his left hand. Undaunted he continued his climb. He was approaching the end of the near vertical climb when he lost a hand hold with his injured hand and fell approximately 15 feet to a small ledge on the rock face. DS2 Brassard survived the fall with only a bruised pride and a shaken confidence. With this in mind he decided it best not to attempt the rest of the climb with out a rope. He called out to his friend ET2 Biuroughs and asked him to try to fmd a rope to help finish the climb. About 30 minutes passed when Burroughs returned with some good and some bad news. ET2 Burroughs had located a climbing rope, but it belonged to the local Fire Department. It wasn't long before the parking lot on top of Castle Hill was full of police cars, fire trucks and news crews from the local television station and newspaper. The news crews made sure that DS2 Brassard's rescue was well dociunented ensuring his very own spot on the Six O'Clock News. By 7 P.M. Brassard had to put up with an endless number of rock climbing jokes about himself. Brassard took the ribbing in stride, along with the free-beer that was offered as well.

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- COS1 Buchanan made the local paper durmg our v1s1t to Darwln Austrahaj Llsa Heames 11 of Wulag1 School studles hehcopters onboard USS Fletcher w1th U S sa1lor OS1 Denrus Buchanan ' Q xWwQ 'n., ,, l Q,,Q,g S l X i Ii l l l l 1 X

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