Higbee (DDR 806) - Naval Cruise Book

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rescued the S. S. MATUA from Duff Reef, on which she had run aground. After visiting the three parts of Australia the ships departed for the Philippines and Yokosuka, Iapan, participating in the Operation Beacon Hill as a radar picket ship. The HIGBEE then, after being detached from Task Force operations and undergoing a few repairs, visited the ports of Hong Kong and Sasebo later rejoining the division to visit the Iapanese port of Minamata and Yokosuka prior to departure for Long Beach. ' The division departed Yokosuka, Iapan on 16 May 1957 and made stops at Midway Island, Pearl Harbor, and arrived in Long Beach on 1 Iune 1957 for a leave and upkeep period. During August the schedule called for operations and then a yard period for her regular overhaul. Following the yard overhaul, the HIGBEE went through intensive underway training in San Diego. The HIGBEE with DesDiv 31, left the states for WestPac on 7 December 1957. The first stop was Pago, Pago Samoa where the natives had prepared a show of their native dances. Next stop was Melbourne, Australia for a five day stay. Many sailors got to see the last day of the Davis Cup Matches upon arrival. The good will tour also took the ship to Perth and Darwin. After Darwin, the HIGBEE departed for the Philippines and Yokosuka, Iapan to join the Seventh Fleet Operations. While with the 7th Fleet the HIGBEE and DesDiv 31 visited Kobe, Sasebo, Hong Kong and Moji. She also participated in the Formosa Patrol and Operation Strongbackf' On 12 May 1958, Commander E. E. HOLLYFIELD, Ir., USN relieved Commander Ray H. MILLER, USN as Commanding Officer. Following a brief repair period in Yokosuka, Iapan the HIGBEE, IAMES E. KYES, and SHELTON departed for CONUS. Enroute to Pearl Harbor she escorted and operated with the HMAS MELBOURNE, one of Australia's sleekest carriers and arrived in Long Beach on 17 Iune 1958 for a well earned rest. Once rested, the HIGBEE began an intense schedule of type training, plane guarding, sortie ex- ercises and tender availabilities. The first two weeks of August 1958 saw the HIGBEE, with DesDiv 31, on her first midshipman cruise. Midshipmen from all parts of the country were indoctrinated on shipboard life while the ship was plane guarding the U. S. S. BON HOMME RICHARD CCVA 315. Midway through the cruise, the HIGBEE went into San Francisco Bay for logistics and liberty. During the second week of opera- tions, the HIGBEE rescued a jet pilot who had bailed out of his crippled aircraft. On 25 October 1958 the HIC-BEE and her sister ship U. S. S. SHELTON CDD 790D hosted a guest cruise. The two ships steamed out to Santa Catalina Island, performed a highline transfer and maneuvered for the guest, returning to Long Beach in the afternoon of the same day. Following a quiet Christmas and New Years in Long Beach DesDiv 31 departed LONG BEACH on 27 February 1959 for her 1959 WestPac cruise. STATISTICS Full Load Displacement 3450 Tons Overall Length 390' 10 Beam 40' 10 Speed 35 Knots Armament: Six 5 !38 Cal. dual purpose guns, plus three twin 3 f50 cal. rapid fire AA batteries The USS HIGBEE DDR-805 earned one battle star on the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre service ribbon for participation in the following operations. 1 starfThird Fleet operations against Iapan-Iuly, August 1945 y Other Ribbons and Medals include: AMERICAN CAMPAIGN RIBBON UNITED NATIONS SERVICE MEDAL VICTORY MEDAL WW II NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL CHINA SERVICE MEDAL KOREAN SERVICE MEDAL 151

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The HIGBEE steamed for WestPac for her third Korean Combat tour, joining Task Force 77, cn the 4th of December 1952. She was assigned to screen carriers against possible air and submarine attacks. This duty completed, the HIGBEE was ordered to join the Formosa Patrol. During this period, President Harry S. Truman announced that the patrol was no longer to defend the mainland of China from invasion by the Nationalist Chinese Forces. While on this patrol, the HIGBEE visited Takao, Formosa and the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong. After another short in port stay in Iapan, the HIGBEE was assigned to Task Force 95 on the West Coast of Korea. There the HIGBEE acted as a screening unit during task force combat maneuvers, and also patrolled far North of the front lines, observing enemy movements and shelling troop con- centrations in support of the United Nations Forces. On 12 Iune 1953, she left Yokosuka for the United States. She arrived in Long Beach on the 3Oth of that month and entered the shipyard to undergo a six month face lifting designed to increase the combat capabilities of the vessel. Major structural alterations were made to the ship, a new height finding radar was installed, along with an enlarged Combat Information Center, and im- proved fire control system, and 3 !5O caliber antiaircraft batteries replaced the 4OMM mounts. On September 13, 1953, Commander Maurice H. PLINKSKOPF, USN, assumed command of the HIGBEE. After a period of refresher training on 9 February 1954, the ship deployed once again to the Western Pacific. During this overseas tour, the ship participated in Operation Flaghoist, a realistic reenactment of the original landing on Iwo Iima during World War II. The HIGBEE was one of the many ships that-together with the Air Force, Army, and Marine units-took part in the operation. The HIGBEE joined Task Force 95 in the Yellow Sea and operated with the Australian aircraft carrier SIDNEY, and then cruised to the water adjacent to Okinawa for Hunter-Killer exercises with the HMAS SIDNEY, U. S. S. BENDOVA, and a division of Canadian destroyers. The HIGBEE was then ordered to Formosa Straits where the ship engaged in routine patrol duties, and the ship's personnel performed the collateral function of training men of the Chinese Nationalists Navy in various technical skills. Other ports of call of the HIGBEE before returning included Hong Kong, Sasebo, and Subic Bay, where several of the ship's company enjoyed a brief rest at the Bagio Best Camp. The ship returned to the United States, arriving in Long Beach on 7 August 1954. The HIGBEE was selected to attend the Centennial Anniversary of the Mare Island Shipyard in Vallejo, California. On the return voyage to Long Beach, the ship joined in the search for a downed pilot in the ocean area of Monterey, Calif. The HIGBEE spent Christmas holidays in Long Beach, then on 3 February 1955, the ship deployed for the Far East, crossing the Pacific in company with CruDiv 5, DesDiv 91, and the other ships of DesDiv 31. The ship along with two other ships rendered a courtesy call to the port of Bangkok, Thailand. She rejoined Task Force 77 for operations. The HIGBEE was then ordered to take part in extensive joint maneuvers involving U. S. surface and air units in Operation Point Blank. For her performance while on picket station during this operation, the HIGBEE was commended by several higher commands. On 27 May 1955, Commander William R. KUBTZ, USN, assumed command in Yokosuka, Iapan. After brief operations near Okinawa, the ship spent a short period in Iapan, during which time she was called on a Search and Rescue mission for a downed plane. The ship then visited Hong Kong, and proceeded through extremely heavy seas during the return trip to Yokosuka. On 31 Iuly 1955, the ship returned to her home port, Long Beach, where she entered the shipyard for a period of about three months. During the overhaul, the crew's mess was extremely modernized as a part of the Navy's increased emphasis on habitability. On 15 December 1955, the HIGBEE completed her alterations and repairs and prepared for a brief but intensive refresher training period as a prelude to deployment to the Far East. On 7 February 1956, the HIGBEE again departed for a Far Eastern cruise as a unit of Destroyer Division 212. The ship arrived in Yokosuka after a week's stay in Pearl Harbor. Following a tender availability the HIGBEE departed for Okinawa to join a Hunter-Killer Task Group. Upon completion of this operation she escorted the USS SHANGRI-LA CCVA-385 to Hong Kong for a week of rest and recreation. Following Hong Kong the HIGBEE participated in several carrier task force operations and a two week stay in Subic Bay, P. I. Following Task Force operations she had a ten day availa- bility in Sasebo, Iapan, Commander Ray H. MILLER, USN, relieved as Commanding Officer. Com- pletion of patrol duties marked the end of operations for the HIGBEE and she was sent to Kobe, Iapan for three days of rest and recreation. 17 Iuly 1956 found the HIGBEE. back at Yokosuka for a tender availability prior to departing for Long Beach. On 12 August 1956 she arrived back in Long Beach for another state side tour. On 7 Ianuary 1957, the HIGBEE, a member of DesDiv 31, again departed for Qngther WeStPqC cruise. Seven days later the ships departed Pearl Harbor bound for Suva, Fiji Islands: Brisbane, Cairns and Darwin, Australia on a good will tour. A few hours before arriving at Suva, the division m4..

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COMMANDINC5 OFFICER CDR. E. E. HoLLYF1ELD JR., USN BORN-20 August 1921 lenkins, Kentucky COMMISSIONED United States NavalAcademy Assistant Gunnery Officer U.S.S.REID CDD 369D Sunk December11,1944 U. S. Naval Gun Factory Gunnery School U.S.S.SARSFIELD QDD 837D First Lieutenant Gunnery Officer Navigator Executive Officer U. S. S. LSMR 513 Commanding Officer Amphibious Group Two U.S.S.b4T.CDLYL4PUS CALSC 81 Control Group Officer U.S.NavalAcademy Execunve Deparhnent U. S.S. SYMBOL CAM 123D Commanding Officer U. S. Naval War College Chief Of Naval Operations .' Operational Coordinator Fleet Operations U. S.S. LOS ANGELES QCA 135D Navigator U.,SiS. HIGBEE CDDR 806D Commanding Officer MARRIED-Betty Yvonne Walden bday 29,1945 Three Chndren Edward Reid, Helen Lyn -6- lune 9,1943 1943-1944 1945 1945-1947 1947-1948 1948-1950 1950-1952 1952-1954 1954-1955 1955-1956 1956-1958 1958- n, Amy Frances