Gyatt (DDG 1) - Naval Cruise Book

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the has and the I freely admit a preference for better things of life. Thus it been with unlimited satisfaction pleasure that I have commanded GYATT during her recent deploy- ment to the Mediterranean where she proved herself to be the best in the Sixth Fleet. I dedicate this Cruise Book with pride to each and every 1Tl8.I'l GYATT number ONE. aboard, to those who made the . . HANCOTTE, JR. C mmander, U.S. Navy Commanding Officer USS GYATT CDDG-lj -34

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X. Q2-551 'fi K 'T' ., .- JL CDR. JOHN J. HANCOTTE, JR., USN Commanding Officer -2-

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XJ A 4 ' 5 I I I P' 'J xxXxeu-- -- N . u. s. s. ewm moe-uv X 'Q ' Care of Floef Pos? Omoo New York, New Yorlz 4h.cjD GIATT departed Charleston, South Carolina, on Thursday, 3 August 1961 with Destroyer Squadron SIX to join the United States SIXTH Fleet in the Mediterranean, GYATT fitted well into a fleet such as this. Converted in 1957 into the Navy's first guided missile destroyer, she is armed with Terrier surface-to-air missiles launched automatically from a twin launcher. She operates well as an air defense ship as her missiles give her the capability of seeking out and destroying aircraft approaching at supersonic speeds, Most of the time on the way over was spent participating in ext- ensive training drills to help prepare us for our deployment. On most of these drills GYATT was judged excellent. Also, for the crew's enj- oyment, we staged a mustache growing contest. First prize of a wrist- watch was copped by Robert A, COLE, M 2, of Milton, Florida and second prize, a transistor radio, went to larry A. HODNE, BM3 of Carroll, Iowa. On the morning of IL August we traditionally entered the Mediterranean when we passed the Rock of Gibraltar abeam to port. Two days later we anchored for several hours in Pollensa Bay off the island of Mallorca, one of the Balearic Islands south-east of Spain, for an official turnover to the SIXTH Fleet. GYATT relieved USS RUSH, another U,S, destroyer. That same day as we left Pollensa Bay we were assigned duties as a rescue destroyer for the aircraft carrier INDEPENDENCE, and we were in the middle of a rescue operation within hours. One of the AAD aircraft from the carrier ran into trouble, and her pilot was forced to eject. we were able to move in and pick him up within 30 minutes from the time he left his plane 15 miles from GYATT. The pilot was in good condition and was returned to his parent carrier the next morning. For this action GYATT was one of the first ships during this deployment to receive a Ewell donen, On the morning of the 18th we anchored in Golfo di Palmas, Sardinia, for a day of conferences aboard the Fleet Flagship SPRINGFIELD, and the carriers, INDEPENDENCE and INTREPID, On 27 August we arrived at our first port-of-call-Athens, Greece, Highlighting the visit to Athens was a visit to GYATT by his Royal Highness, Prince Peter of Greece and fifty delegates of the Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers for a daylight cruise on 29 August. The Prince and our other guests received a missile demonstration during the cruise and were served a buffet luncheon on the ship's fantail after returning to port. ..4..