Hopewell (DD 681) - Naval Cruise Book

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T When first you receive this book and read this note, you and I, together with the others who comprise the Officers and Crew of HOPEWELL, will have just recently completed more than a six month's deployment to the oceans and seas, islands and lands, of the Western Pacific. In that time---and there is no need for me to remind you and your loved ones how slowly some of it passed---we will have steamed this aging 2100 ton destroyer over 43,000 miles, supported the Vietnamese War with more than 5,700 shells from HOPEWELL's main and secondary batteries, and visited briefly in ports of at least a half-dozen countries on two different continents. In many respects that is quite a remarkable record of accomplishment. This Cruise--- whether we made it willingly or unwillingly---caused each of us to sacrifice, devote, and expend half of one of the precious years of our life to its cause. It seems, therefore, only fitting that we should have some sort of permanent souvenir, reminder, or record of what occurred during those six months. This book fills that need. We made this cruise together and shared many of the same experiences Some of the more important ones are pictured on the pages of this book. Also, each of us had some experiences which were ours alone, or shared by only one or two others. These may or may not be pictured here, but undoubtedly as you turn the pages of this book, some of them will flash to your mind. Moreover, if-as the saying goes--one picture is worth a thousand words, this book should be a great asset in helping us try to describe in more detail to our friends, loved ones, and dependents just what our WESTPAC CRUISE 68-69 was like, where we went, what we did and saw. Generally as we journey through life---particularly the Service life which requires us to move frequently---we tend to forget the unpleasant and remember the pleaseant. Hopefully then, as time passes, each of you will forget the major hardships, the minor sufferings, and the numerous unpleasantries of the past six months and remember this WESTPAC Cruise, your good shipmates, the HOPEWELL, and even HTHE OLD MANH with fond memories. I know that T will long remember this cruise and always be grateful for the opportunity to have served with you in HOPEWELL. I wish to thank each of you for your part and contribution in making our cruise safe, satisfying and successful. Finally, as you continue your lifetime voyage through the years to come, whether in the Navy or out, my best wishes go with you for Smooth Sailing and Following Seas. Sincerely yo rs, W ' R. F. Wilson Commander, U. S. Navy Commanding Officer

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Gammamiing Dfficer' f 45 COMMANDER RUSSELL F. WILSON, USN COMMANDING OFFICER

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xecutive Uf icer i i LCDRR D DICKENS WHERE VE YOU BEEN9 No Where WHAT VE YOU BEEN DOING9 Notlung 15 NOVEMBER 1968 Underway for WestPac 21 23 NOVEMBER 1968 Br1ef1ng and l1bs at Pearl 27 NOVEMBER 1968 Cancelled due to lack of lnterest All hands are GOLDEN DRAGONS 1 DECEMBER 1968 Chop to SEVENTH FLEET 15 DECEMBER 1968 Cam Ranh Bay for br1ef1ngQ 16 DECEMBER 1968 Commence MARKET TIME dutles 25 DECEMBER 1968 UNREP cover PFC s treat one wounded MERRY CHRISTMAS 1 JANUARY 1969 Attack by a flshlng boat 4 JANUARY 1969 The great beer blast at An Thoz 14 JANUARY 1969 Plane guard for USS HANCOCK I 4 2 1 , . '- 1 ? ' I V i . , I 1 i 7 1 I ' o 1 I f n v