Grand Canyon (AD 28) - Naval Cruise Book

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GRAND CANYON poti rnl to the destroyer Canyon . Gran d A two Jay mission of mercy was recently climaxed when a young sailor taken ill at sea was transferred to the destroyer tender Grand Canyon from the salvage ship Opportunt; in a mid — Atlantic emergency medical evacuation. The tender raced to rendezvous with Opportune, -i2s miles Southwest of Sao Miguel, Azores, through gale force winds and high seas. Seaman Apprentice John I ' .. Tellis of Ruston, Louisiana, was described as in good condition after suffering a serious att.uk of motion sickness, with occip- ital headaches, and other serious The small boat arrives alongside the tender with the patient, SA Tellis 15 THOUSAND TON SEA AMBULANCE STORY BY J03 R. BENSON complications. He was under continuous observation and treat- ment by the tender ' s medical department, under the direction t .t LT J. bright, the ship ' s doctor. The ailing man was di s- covered after he failed to report ti his assigned duty station on Opportunt; Tellis was found in his hunk by a hospital corpsman in what appeared to be a semi- conscious condition. Since stormy weather prevented t he corpsman from making adequate- tests, a radio message for assist- ance was sent out. Grand Canyon, enroute to Rota, Spain, to begin her l6th Mediterranean deployment, not- ified Opportune she would join her to provide assistance. Since Grand Canyon has complete med- ical facilities on boatd, it was decided to transfer the man in order to perfotm the necessarj tests and administer treatment, if the situation required. PHOTOS BY PH2 J. MARCHAEL lursi taced back at best speed through gale force winds and 2 to aid the stricken sailor. Over 22 hours later, the two vessels rendezvoused and ex- changed medical informal!- radio. Despite choppy seas, it was decided that an emergency medical transfer was nec and Tellis was transferred by small boat to the Grand Canyon. A medical examination de- termined it better that Tellis remain on board the destroyer tender for treatment and obser- vation. Thus the Opportunt continued on her journey while Grand Canyon reversed course once again to continue her tran- sit to the Mediterranean Sea - a 1 5 thousand ton ambulance with a l ' SO pound patient. The Newport-based Grand Canyon is - presently serving with the SIXTH Fleet in the Med and is commanded by aptain James W. Haves, [r. „d rhe Grand Co 1 by I ' ' CRUISER-DESTROYERMAN MAGAZINE JANUARY 1971

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medevac Grand Canyon Rescues Ship ' s 111 Sailor Oth er A young sailor taken ill at sea was transferred to the Newport- based destroyer tender Grand Canyon from the Salvage Ship Opportune Nov. 4 in a mid- Atlantic emergency medical evacuation. The transfer climaxed a two-day mission of mercy for the Grand Canyon as she raced to rendezvous with Opportune 425 miles southwest of Sao Miguel, Azores, through gale force winds and high seas. Seaman Apprentice John E. Tellis, 18, of Ruston, La., was described on Nov. i in good condition after suffering a serious attack of motion sickness, with headaches, complicated by a serious prostate condition. Ke is under continued observation and treatment by the ship ' s medical department, under the direction of I.:..]. Wright, Medical Corps, USN, the ship ' s doctor. After failing to report tc his assigned duty station on the Opportune Tellis was found in his bunk by the hospital corp- sman in what appeared to be a semi-conscious condition. Since stormy weather prevented him from making adequate tests, a radio message for assistance was sent out. Grand Canyon, on her way to Rota, Spain, to begin her 16th Mediterranean deployment, notified Opportune she would join her to provide assistance. Since Grand Canyon has complete medical facilities on board, it was decided to tran- sfer the man to perform the necessary tests and administer treatment, if the situation required. Reversing course, Grand Canyon raced back at best speed through gale force winds and 25-foot seas to aid the stricken sailor. More than 22 hours later, the two vessels rendezvoused and exchanged medical information by radio. Despite choppy seas, it was decided that an emergency medical transfer was necessary and Seaman Tellis was tran- sferred by small boat to the Grand Canyon. A medical examination determined it better that Tellis remain on board the destroyer tender for treatment and ob- servation. Thus the Opportune continued on her journey while Grand Canyon reversed course once again to continue her transit to the Mediterranean Sea, a 15,000-ton ambulance with a 150-pound patient. The Grand Canyon is com- manded by Capt. James W. Hayes Jr., of 149 Canconchet Drive, Portsmouth. Newport Daily News 46

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rota November 8: arrival Rota. GRAND CANYON enters Rota Harbor about 1200 to embark Commander Service Force Sixth Fleet and his staff. After a five-hour turn- over GRAND CANYON departs Rota and sets course for Naples. 48