Hickox (DD 673) - Naval Cruise Book

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European cruise SEPTEMBER ' 54 - FEBRUARY ' 55

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CDR. ROBERT W. POND, JR., USN Commanding Officer It is with pride that I, as Commanding Officer of the HICKOX, take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the officers and men for the excellent work they performed on our cruise to Northern European and Mediterranean ports. Since I have been aboard I have been extremely proud to serve with these men. It is a feeling which has continually grown through our association and which reached its zenith during this past cruise. In the many and wonderful countries that we visited, it was an important role that these sailors played. Every act, every word, every mannerism was watched and heeded by those they met. Many of the ports saw the HICKOX — the first American warship to ever enter there, and the sailors of the HICKOX, the first Americans that some of these people had ever seen. The way they behaved ashore — the way they shined their shoes, or wore their hats, or cleaned their blues, meant much, for to them this was the American Way. These were American men representing American families . . . Americans representing America. At sea they held their own with the best of them — replenishing, fueling, plane guarding, ASW, screening, firing, and doing all those many things expected of a destroyer. And doing them well. Small heroics were common and together went to make up the ex- cellent teamwork so essential to naval operation. NATO ships were impressed and said so. Yes, this was the part each individual played in the scheme of things and played it well. Witness to the fact that the American sailor is still the best good will Ambassador that our country has and that the tin can sailor is the best sailor in the world.