Henry Tucker (DD 875) - Naval Cruise Book

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Captain John H. D. Williams USN Captain John H. D. Williams, Captain of this ship from December 1965 until July 1967, was relieved in Yokosuka and departed the ship for duty with US Naval Security Group Headquarters in Washingto-n, D.C. Under Captain Williams, TUCKER won the coveted E for Battle Efficiency. Lieutenant Commander George E. O'Brien USN The Executive Officer is Lieutenant Commander George E. O'Brien, a graduate of the US Naval Academy, Class of 1957, whose previous ex- perience includes duty in USS SALEM CCA-1393, USS BARRY QDD-9333, Commanding Officer USS HUMMINGBIRD QMSC-1923 and instructing at Holy Cross College. Commander O'Brien is married to the former Nancy L. Hogan of Baltimore, Maryland and has two children, Cathleen 9, and Tory 8.

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Commander Sheldon D. Kully USN Commander Sheldon D, Kully, Captain of USS HENRY W. TUCKER, was born in San Francisco, California, on 8 January 1927. He received a BS degree from the University of California and in January 1951, upon completion of Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Naval Reserve. Commander Kully's previous sea duties included serving as Commu- nications Officer aboard USS H,W, BUTNER QT-AP-1131, Weapons Officer in USS JOHN W, THOMASON QDD-7605 and Executive Officer in USS HENDERSON QDD-7855. Some of the most exciting shore billets in the Navy have been held by Commander Kully. He came to this ship from the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C. He served as Assistant Naval Liaison Officer in Hong Kong for three years and shared his wealth of knowledge of that enchanting city with his shipmates on this cruise. He is a 1965 graduate of the US Navy War College and attended the Naval Intelligence School in Washington, D.C. where he studied Chinese fMandarinJ, A Naval Opera- tions Staff, Officer for COMUSMACV, J-3, he assisted in preparing for US Navy participation in Vietnam, including Naval Gunfire Support, am- phibious ranli Market Time operations. ' commander Kully has two children, Elizabeth Ann, 9, and Mark, 7.

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WE TPAC 67 After a vigorous period of training and a delightful cruise with dependents, USS HENRY W. TUCKER fDD -8 755 de- parted for a six months' cruise to the Far East on 19 June 1967. Two days before Christmas, with Santa Clause riding the signal bridge, TUCKER returned to Long Beach, California. In the intervening months the men of this ship met every commitment, from the routine of refueling helicopter a few miles off Haiphong to the emergency of searching for sur- vivors of the disaster on USS FORRESTAL QC VA -593. This cruise book is the story in words and photos of those intervening months - the long hours of watch standing and maintenance, the 3,548 hours underway and 53,434 nautical miles travelled the exciting times in the combat zone, humorous moments - and tragic ones. From Long Beach, TUCKER steamed to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii in company with USS RUPERTUS CDD -8515 and USS HOPEWELL QDD-6815. Four days in Hawaii were devoted to briefings and sightseeing. Leaving the delicious fresh pine- apple and the beach at Waikiki, we enjoyed smooth sailing to Midway Islands for a brief refueling stop, photography sessions with the crazy Cooney birds and a walk on the dazzling white sand beach. Underway again, joy reigned in the enginerooms as the snipes received reports of TUCKER outdistancing her companions in economy speed trials. Rougher cruising, practice going to General Quarters - GO,GO,GO,'You WESTPAC sailors - dodging a whale on a collision course and then, Japan and four days in Yokosuka, our first Oriental liberty port. Highlight of Yoko was the colorful change of command ceremony when Commander Kully took the helm from Captain Williams. Since the primary objective for this fighting ship was the Gulf of Tonkin, TUCKER turned South, stopping only briefly to refuel at Buckner Bay in Okinawa, still strategically valuable as it was in World War Il, when TUCKER first fought in those waters. After four days in Subic Bay in The Philippines - and some memorable nights in Olongapo - TUCKER sortied with the East Coast carrier FORRESTAL for air operations in the Tonkin Gulf. The demand on destroyers off Vietnam was heavy - carrier operations, submarine detection, rescue and gunfire support. Only five of the ship's next 95 days would be in port. Arrival on Yankee Station and all proceeded routinely Lmtil Saturday, 29 July. At 0320 on that fateful day FORRESTAL lost a man overboard. After a search lasting for hours by TUCKER, RUPERTUS, small boats, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, FORRESTAL left the scene to meet a commitment for a strike on North Vietnam, a strike destined never to leave the carrier. TUCKER remained to continue the search for the lost man. We recovered the life ring thrown over for him and continued searching until the cryptic order CLOSE TO ASSIST AT BEST SPEED was received from FORRESTAL. . Not knowing what to expect, we prepared for any emergency and steamed at flank speed toward the carrier's position Lmtil we sighted the pillar of smoke that marked the fiery disaster., We assisted in the search for survivors by retracing FORRESTAL'S debris -covered path and then provided an escort for a FORRESTAL rendezvous with the hospital ship USS REPOSE CAH 165, to which dead and wounded were transferred. The tragic loss of life saddened us all as we recalled the Navy Hymn's poignant plea, O hear us when we cry to Thee For those in peril on the sea. TUCKER continued plane guarding for USS CONSTELLATION CCVA-643 and USS ORISKANY CCVA-345 as they latmched attacks on the enemy. A few days of ASW exercises with the submarine USS CUSK fAGSS -3483 and a highly successful DASH torpedo launch provided awelcome change. Finally the ship made port - Subic Bay - for five days of upkeep and an R and R trip to Manila for some deserving personnel.