Henry Wilson (DDG 7) - Naval Cruise Book

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I l 1. I1 11 11 W N. I If Wi LI if LI I! :E I . V I l l 1 5 I2 I II i I fa . i I.. I i I i ,I ,I I I i 5,1 I i -I E 1 I I I 1 . I CAPTAI JAME L. CUOK, JR. IW CQMMA DER DE TRUYER SQUADRUN NINET E During four action-packed months aboard, my staff and I have been privileged to share the WESTPAC adventures of the 'Magnificent SEVEN'. USS HENRY B. WILSON has steamed far and fast, shot hot and straight and has met every op- erational assignment With noteworthy competence To the Officers and Men of WILSON I For your thoughtful hospitality and many courtesies Thank You I For your splendid performance in combat WELL DONE ' I - . - ' I - f 7O I I , ' Z'

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.....,s.i...-. . ...-.,,..,,. ,,fv.f'1- f' ff . .,.,,.W V.,-.N r., .4 v . .1 ,-1:1 T x '- ' ,. ,, .U a 42 f'l,1UA ii 1 ., . . M1968 I . X,1:N:L,wm-- . The USS HENRY B. WILSON QDDG-75, nowthe flagship of Commander Destroyer Division 212, was the second ship of her class to be built from the keel up to fire Guided Missiles. The WILSON was built by DeFoe Ship- building Company at Bay City, Michigan, and was christened by Mrs, Partick J. Hurley, for whom WILSON is named, on 22 April 1959. Upon completion, she sailed for Boston where on 17 December 1960, she was commissioned and upon commissioning sailed for San Diego which has been her home port since then. On 6 January 1962, WILSON sailed for her first Western Pacific deployment, becoming the first ship of her class -to serve in that area. On November 4, 1966 after a hectic few weeks of refresher training, WILSON was underway for her fourth deployment to Wespac. WILSON sailed in company with USS Kitty Hawk, USS Ingersoll, USS Stodard, and USS Cogswell with ComDesDiv 212 and staff embarked on WILSON. Our first stop was Pearl Harbor where WILSON in shore bombardment exer- cises and then proceeded to Yokosuka, Japan where the award for Best Missile Ship in Exercise Baseline II awaited us. After Yokosuka, the ship stopped in Subic Bay, Philippines for upkeepbefore heading into the Tonkin Gulf for her first patrol, with ComDesRon 19- and staff now em- barked. From the Gulf, we headed for Hong Kong for a well deserved rest and relaxation. From Hong Kong we sailed for Subic Bay again where the ship received orders to proceed in support of Operation Deckhouse IV, a combined Navy! Marine Corps Amphibious landing. For several days we gave, gunfire support to the forces on the beach and then proceeded back to the Gulf for our second patrol. During her two patrols, WILSON partici- pated in several search and rescue operations and in conjunction with the other forces in the area, rescued both Navy and Air Force pilots. Upon completion of this patrol we again stopped in Subic Bay to prepare for a new assignment, Naval Gunfire Support in South Viet Nam. On the gun line , WILSON fired over 2000 rounds of 5 inch ammunition in support of US Army, Marine Corps, and South Vietnamese Army operations, earning the reputation of being a very sharp shooter. During this period, the ship had the privilege of hosting several Navy, Marine, Army, and ARVN gun- fire spotters who gave us a first hand account of our effectiveness. Upon completion of our commitments on the gun line , WILSON re- turned to her home away from home, Subic Bay, and then set sail for Yokosuka once again for a brief interlude before returning to the United States. On the way home, after an interesting and diversified cruise and a job well done. . X