Hull (DD 945) - Naval Cruise Book

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CONINIANDING OFFICER Commander George A. Church Commander Church was born in Winston Salem, North Carolina on 15 February 1926. He enlisted in the U. S. Naval Reserve Aviation Cadet training program in 1943. In 1949 he graduated from North Carolina State University with a B. S. degree in Engineering. In 1951 he received a direct commission as Ensign in the U. S. Naval Reserve and was called to active duty. He was assigned to USS MURRAY CDDE 5765 as Gunnery Officer and Operations Officer. Next he served as Commanding Officer of USS ALBATROSS QEAMS lj, then as Officer in Charge of the Movement Report Center, Norfolk, Virginia. Commander Church attended the 1958-59 General Line School class at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and on completion was assigned as Executive Officer of USS VANDIVIER CDER 5405 until May 1960. He then became Navigator and Assistant Operations Officer for Commander Service Force SIXTH FLEET. Following another one year assignment at the Naval Postgraduate School, this time in the Engineering Science course, he served in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for his performance of duty. Later, while serving as Operations Officer of USS OKLAHOMA CITY QCLC 55 he was awarded a gold star in lieu of a second Navy Commendation Medal with Combat IIVH. Commander Church became the sixth Commanding Officer of USS HULL on 14 April 1967. As a result of his performance during the WESTPAC deployment from January to july 1968, he was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V and the Republic of Vietnam Navy Distinguished Service Order 12nd Classb.

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A DECADE or SERVICE HULL arr1ved at her homeport of San Dlego on 13 October 1958 joinmg the Pac1f1c Fleet as a member of Destroyer Squadron One Between 1959 and 1962 the destroyer made three deployments to the Western Paclfic She patrolled the Formosa Straits and other areas 1n the South Chma Sea expressing Amerlcan protectlon of Southeast Aslan Countrles ln thelr flght agamst communlsm As the lntroductlon of offenslve m1ss1les 1nto Cuba preclpltated another Cold War cr1s1s HULL sa1led from San Dlego 1n October 1962 to escort amph1b1ous forces to the Canal Zone to strengthen Amerlcan defenses and show her determmatlon to reslst any 1ntrus1on 1nto the Western I-Iem1sphere In Apr1l 1965 and agam 1n August 1966 the sh1p crossed the vast Pac1f1c carry out gunflre support mlsslons off the coast of South Vletnam She also patrolled the Gulf of Tonkm as a search and rescue shlp coordmatlng the rescue of numerous downed p1lots and recoverlng one Amer1can flyer herself On 19 january 1968 the veteran destroyer began her thlrd and most recent Vletnam deployment Conduct1ng shore bombardment m1ss1ons along the south coast and ln the Dem1l1tar1zed Zone I-IULL poured over 25 000 rounds of f1ve 1nch ammunltlon 1nto enemy strongholds and destroyed or damaged over 220 structures and bunkers On seven dtfferent occas1ons North Vletnamese gunners 1n the DMZ took her under f1re but ln each mstance she managed to escape damage wh1le d1rect1ng a barrage of her own f1re at the attackmg batterles As a result of her performance durmg thls deployment the sh1p was awarded the Navy Merltorlous Unlt Commendauon . . . I Q I Oc, I nr .. . . . 3 . . . . . . . . . C O . .. . 1.7 9 . ' 2 I U I ' - 7 . -7 V , .... ...-...-..... -.....L.....-..,.-.,...,.. - , .....4-......-,.f..-.,...c...,...:.4....,.--.44.s,.. -....,.......-..x.......,.-......,.......,,.-.-,........m..., .Y.. ..,..........,-. ,.

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THE MANY FACES CF A CAPTAIN A Captain must be many things. Certainly he must be a staunch warrior and a clever tactician. For in combat he will decide where and how the ship will fight. I-le will determine what becomes of his vessel and his men. In addition to being a competent naval strategist, he is also a judge charged with administering military justice. I-Ie is a personnel specialist, overseeing the procurement and training of his crew, and evaluating completely and fairly the per- formance of his officers. He is a manager and a coordinator who must be as knowl- edgeable about an engineering casualty as he is about the .status of the current budget. I-Ie isa ship handler -- the best. I-Ie is a teacher, imparting his vast store of knowl- edge to those who desire to learn. Yes, a Captain is many things, But, first and foremost, he is the commander of a United States Naval vessel -- an awesome responsibility. For someday he may be faced with making a decision, the results of which, could effect the destiny of not only his ship, but his country and the world as well.