Gearing (DD 710) - Naval Cruise Book

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GUNNERY DEPARTMENT The mission of the Gunnery Department has not basically changed since man first put to sea floating on a log. The department is responsible for maintaining the ship ' s hull, decks, and topside equipment and machinery; and for the operation and maintenance of the ship ' s weapons systems. By far the most important equipment in the department ' s inventory is its men. The Boatswain ' s mates and seamen who main- tain the ship ' s deck gear, the gunner ' s mates who operate and maintain the ship ' s main and secondary batteries, the Sonarmen and Fire Control technicians who solve the fire control problems and operate the computers which directs the weapons, the torpedomen who maintain our AS ' weapons . . . these men are the heart of the department. The Gunnery Officer heads the Department and is responsible to the Commanding Of- ficer for all weapons, ordnance equipment, deck equipment, ammunition, and far the inspection, operation, and utilization of this equipment. His battle station is the flying bridge, where he is in overall control of the weapons and directs their use timely and effectively. The Gunnery Officer has three assistants; the ASW Officer, the First Lieutenant, and the Cx Division officer and Main Battery As- sistant. The ASW officer, heading the F Division, is responsible for the ASW wea- pons and fire control systems as well as the surface fire control systems. He conducts Anti-Submarine attacks from his battle sta- tion in the Sonar Control Room. The First Lieutenant is in charge of all deck seamanship equipment, the ship ' s boat, ground tackle, and is responsible to the Gun- neiy Officer for the proper maintenance of this equipment and the exterior of the ship. He heads the D Division, which is com- posed of Boatswain Mates and seamen. The G Division Officer and main battery assistant is responsible to the Gunnery Of- ficer for the maintenance and operation of the ship ' s 5-inch battery and 40-mm anti- aircraft mounts. He is in charge and re- sponsible for the proper stowage and main- tenance of the ship ' s ammunition allowance. His Division is made up of Gunner ' s mates and seamen. As you can see, the field which the Gunnery Department encompasses is large and de- versified. Nearly everything that can be seen from the exterior of the ship is under the cognizance of this Department. The men in t his department are responsible for main- taining the appearance of the ship and the smartness of seamanship evolutions. They have a high tradition to uphold in GEAR- ING.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER, U.S.S. GEARING DD-710 k SAMUEL F. McMURRAY, LCDR, USN Lieutenant Commander McMurray was bora in Madisonville, Tennessee on 12 July 1926. He attended schools in Tennessee, California and Florida. After graduation from high school in 1943, Commander McMurray at- tended the University of Tampa foi- one semester and later attended Duke University under the Navy V-12 Program. On 20 February 1946, Commander McMur- ray was commissioned an Ensign, USNR and ordered to active duty aboard the USS COLUMBIA (CL-56). When the COLUM- BIA was decommissioned, Commander Mc- Murray served aboard the USS RANGER (CV-4) for several months. Leaving the RANGER for a tour of duty aboard the USS WRIGHT (CVL-49), Commander Mc- Murray then reported as Commanding Of- ficer of the USS HAWK (MSCO-17). In 1952 he reported for shore duty at the U.S. Naval Schools, Mine Warfare, Yorktown, Virginia, where he served for two years. Re- turning to the mine Force in 1954, he be- came Commanding Officer of the USS DOMINANT (MSO-431). He was relieved as CO of the DOMINANT in March of 1956 to take over as Commander, Mine Division 43. In August of 1957 Commander McMur- ray reported to Duke University for duty under instruction, receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering on 8 June 1959. Commander McMurray reported as Executive Officer of the GEARING in September of 1959. Commander McMurray is married to the former Virginia Taylor of Durham, North Carolina. They have three daughters, ages 11, 8, and 5.

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