Gyatt (DDG 1) - Naval Cruise Book

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u. s. s. eYA1'r conenp , Care of Fleef Pos? Omen New York, New York I 'a 5 1 I 1 I S rl We departed Rapallo on 27 January and began a two-week operating period - the last during the deployment. The major portion of thig period was taken up with exercise BIG GAME., a bilateral exercise with units of the French Navy and Air Force and units of the SDKTH Fleet. Our participation was largely as an air defense and missile ship. If there was any one exercise during our deployment in which GYATT more than excelled, this was it, and it was only fitting that this, our last big exercise with the SIXTH Fleet, be our best. For both her work as an air control ship and utilization of her missiles, GYATT received much praise from the Force Commander at the end of the exercise. At the termination of this operating period, we anchored off Theoule, France, just south of Cannes for a visit from 8 February until lo February. '1'his was our last port visit during our cruise. Again everyone was able to enjoy the Riviera sights and sounds 5 and this time with the knowledge that home was just around the corner. Leaving Theoule, we stopped in Pollensa Bay 19 February and were officially relieved as a unit of the SIXTH Fleet by USS STICBLE, a DDR homeported in Norfolk. Around noon 19 February we upped 2-I1Ch0I' and headed for Gibraltar and the Atlantic after spending six hard, but const- ructive and enjoyable months in the Mediterranean. We 3I'I'1Ved ln Charleston 3 March. ..9..

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u. s. s. swxrr mos-H Care of Floei' Pos? Omoo New York, New York I N I XJIQ I' . I I 1 1 f 4 1 F Q - -. Three Christmas trees adorned GYATT--one on the mess decks, one in chief's quarters, and one in the wardroom. Also, our Mediterranean friendship lights were all replaced with alternate red, blue, and green bulbs and a six-foot star was displayed on the forward yardarm and burned at night. These decorations did much to help spread the Christmas spirit around the ship. In Bari we had quite an interesting thing take place concerning youngsters visiting the ship. Up until this port, we had been giving out SIXTH Fleet kites to children with no immediate reaction. However, the children in Bari were so impressed with them that they went right out on the pier, assembled the kites and began flying them, Some of them needed help so members of GYATT's crew willingly went out to assist. It was quite a sight to see GYATT sailors and Italian youngsters mixing and playing on the pier with kites as the com on factor. On leaving Bari, we went to sea for a week during which time we underwent our fifth of six underway replenishments during the deployment, participated in an air defense exercise, and in general, conducted basic SIXTH Fleet operations. This led up to our entry into La Spezia, Italy, for our second tender period. we were in La Spezia alongside GRAND CANYON from 10 January until 22 January. This time in La Spezia afforded us a chance to do some much needed work about the ship. Also, those members of the crew who wanted to go, and had missed opportunities before, had the chance to go to Florence, Pisa, or Rome as La Spezia is located close to all of these cities. Probably the most important event that happened to the ship in La Spezia, however, was our inspection by our new Squadron Commander, who was seeing the ship for the first time. His report of the inspection is something we can all be proud of as GYATT received an overall grade of outstanding. The morning of the 22nd we left La Spezia and steamed forty miles up the Italian coast to Rapallo for a port visit. we were in Rapallo with USS HENLEY, another SIXTH Fleet destroyer. The University in Rapallo staged a basketball tournament and invited our teams to participate. GYATT won third place in the tournament and each manber of our team was presented a medal. In return we gave the entire school a tour of the ship. .4p.

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LCDR. G. B. SHICK, JR -10-.