John King (DDG 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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JOHN KING WAS DETACHED FROM NGFS UNITS AT POINT ALLISON AND ON I9 JANUARY WAS SENT TO POINT JOEY. ARRIVING 20 JANUARY. TWO CALLS FOR FIRE MISSIONS WERE FIRED IN SUPPORT OF RVN TROOPS ASHORE. IMMEDIA TEL Y FOLLOWING ORDERED FURTHER SOUTH TO POINT SASHA IN THE VICINITY OF PHAN THIET, ABOUT 90 MILES EAST OF SAIGON, AND OPERA TED IN THAT AREA FROM 2I JANUARY UNTIL AFTER THE CEASE-FIRE ON 28 JANUARY. DURING THIS PERIOD, JOHN KING FIRED 37 MISSIONS IN SUPPORT OF RVN UNITS AT A TIME WHEN THE CITY WAS RECEIVING HEAVY PRESSURE FROM LARGE ENEMY CONCENTRA TIONS IN THE SURROUNDING HILLS. TWO DA YS PRIOR TO THE CEASE-FIRE, THE SENIOR U.S. MILITARY ADVISOR, A U.S. ARMY COLONEL, AND HIS COUNTERPART, THE PROVINCE CHIEF CAN ARVN COLONEL j, CALLED BY VOICE RADIO TO EXPRESS GRA TITUDE FOR THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY JOHN KING TO DEFENDING PHAN THIEF FROM LARGE SCALE ENEMY ATTACKS DURING THE PREVIOUS FEW DA YS. THESE TWO OFFICERS CREDITED THE SHIP WITH SUCCESSFULL Y DEF YING THE ENEMY THEREB Y MAKING NEUTRALIZA TION B Y FRIENDL Y FORCES POSSIBLE. THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT OF 27 JANUARY, AND MORNING OF 28 JANUARY JOHN KING FIRED MORE THAN 4617 ROUNDS AS ENEMY TROOPS MADE FINAL ATTEMPTS 'TO OCCUPY TERRITORY AROUND PHAN THIET. THE LAST ROUND WAS FIRED TEN MINUTES BEFORE THE CEASE-FIRE TOOK EFFEC71 FOLLOWING THE CEASE-FIRE, THE PROVINCE CHIEF ONCE AGAIN CAME ON THE RADIO TO EXPRESS GRA TITUDE FOR SUPPORT PROVIDED BY JOHN KING IN THE CLOSING HOURS OF THE WAR. FOLLOWING THE CEASE-FIRE, JOHN KING PA TROLLED OFF-SHORE PHAN THIET 28-30 JANUARY AND DEPARTED FOR SUBIC BA Y ON 30 JANUARY. AFTER A ONE DAY ANCHORAGE IN SUBIC BA Y, TO OFFLOAD LONG RANGE BOMBARDMENT AMMUNITION, THE SHIP PROCEEDED TO SASEBO FOR AN UPKEEP PERIOD. THE UPKEEP PERIOD WAS FOLLOWED BY A PORT VISIT TO KEELUNG. ON 28 FEBRUARY, JOHN KING WAS AGAIN IN THE GULF OF TONKIN, IN THE VICINITY OF HAIPHONG AS CTU 78.06 C COMMANDER MINE COUNTERMEASURES SURVEILLANCE UNIT2. THIS TASK UNIT PROVIDES SURFACE SUR VEILLANCE OF THE MCM AREA, PERFORMING NOTIFICATION DUTIES IN CONNECTION WITH MERCHANT SHIPS APPROA CHING HAIPHONG, AND WAS PREPARED TO PROVIDE MUTUAL SUPPORT TO THE MCM TASK FORCE IN THE MR' R M EVFI-,IIS UNTIL 7 MARCH WHEN JOHN KING HEARDED FOR HONG KONG. JOHN KING ARRIVED IN HONG KONG ON 9 MARCH AND DEPARTED ON I5 MARCH FOR SUBIC BA Y, R.P. FOR ANOTHER UPKEEP PERIOD. THE PERIOD 8 MAY THROUGH I3 MAY FOUND JOHN KING IN THE GULF OF TONKIN, FOLLOWED BY A PORT VISIT IN YOKOSUKA, JAPAN FROM I9 THROUGH 2I MAY. THE SHIP TRANISTED EAST TO PEARL HARBOR ON THE 28TH AND 29TH OF MAY, THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL ON THE NIGHT OF 9 JUNE, AND HOME TO NORFOLK, RETURNING ON THE I4TH OF JUNE FOR A LONG AWAITED STAND DOWN. ON 24 AUGUST I973 COMMANDER E.A. SPADONI WAS RELIEVED OF COMMAND BY COMMANDER R.C. WILEY AS COMMANDING OFFICER. UNDER COMMANDER WILEY'S COMMAND JOHN KING UNDER WENT A OVERHAUL TO HER 2A BOILER AFTER SUFFERING A FLARE-BACK ON 8 MAY I974 WHILE CONDUCTING ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE EXERCISES WITH THE USS CA VALLA. DURING THE OVERHAUL PERIOD U7 MAY - I3 AUGUSTQ THE SHIP ALSO CONDUC TED MUCH NEEDED OVERHAUL AND MAINTENANCE ON THE ENGINEERING AND ELECTRONICS EQUIPMENT IN ADDITION TO AN EX TENSIVE 'FACE-LIFTING CONDUC TED BY SHIP'S FORCE. JOHN KING LEFT NORFOLK NA VAL SHIPYARD ON I3 AUGUST AND SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED SEA TRIALS ON 2A BOILER. THE SHIP RETURNED TO NORFOLK ON 23 AUGUST. AFTER A QUICK WEEK OF INPORT PREPARA TIONS JOHN KING GOT UNDERWA Y ON I6 SEPTEMBER FOR NORTHERN MERGER A NA TO EXERCISE BETWEEN AMERICAN AND BRITISH NA VIES. COMPLETING NORTHERN MERGER ON 27 SEPTEMBER JOHN KING DE TACHED TO PROCEED TO ARENDAL, NORWA Y FOR A FOUR DA Y, PORT VISIT. ON 3 OCTOBER SHE GOT UNDER WAY TO JOIN VARIOUS OTHER UNITS. ON II OCTOBER JOHN KING ALONG WITH USS MCCANDLESS ARRIVED IN GOTEBERG, SWEDEN BEING THE FIRST AMERICAN NA VAL UNITS TO VISIT THIS PORT SINCE I96 7. DURING THIS THREE DAY PORT VISIT THE SHIP WAS VISITED BY OVER SIX THOUSAND GUESTS AND THE CREW WAS HOSTED TO A GALAXY OF PARTIES AND TOURS. ON I4 OCTOBER JOHN KING GOT UNDERWAY AND TRANIS TED THE DOVER S TRAITS FOR A PORT VISIT IN PL YMOUTH, ENGLAND. AFTER A SHORT VISIT, THE SHIP LEFT PL YMOUTH TO JOIN AMPHIBIOUS SQUADRON EIGHT, FOR THE RETURN TRANSIT. JOHN KING ARRIVED IN NORFOLK ON 30 OCTOBER. UPON HER RETURN TO NORFOLK SHE ENTERED A UPKEEP PERIOD PREPARING FOR THE UPCOMING OPERATING PLANT PROPULSION EXAMINATION COPPEQ WHICH WAS SUCCESSFULL Y COMPLETED ON I4 AND I5 NOVEMBER. FROM I6 NOVEMBER TO 2 DECEMBER JOHN KING REMAINED IN UPKEEP. ON 2 DECEMBER THE JOHN KING WAS UNDERWA Y FOR TRAINING IN THE VACAPES OPAREAS WHERE SHE SUCCESSFULL Y COMPLETED FIRING TWO STANDARD MISSILES AGAINST A DRONE TARGET. ON 6 DECEMBER JOHN KING RETURNED TO NORFOLK TO COMMENCE HER CHRISTMAS LEA VE PERIOD AND TENDER A VAILABILI TY. IN MAY OF I975 JOHN KING BEGAN A TEN MONTH OVERHAUL WITH THE NORFOLK NA VAL SHIPYARD. WHILE SHE WAS IN THE YARDS ON 2 JUL Y COMMANDER F KELL Y RELIEVED COMMANDER R.C. WILEY AS COMMANDING OFFICER. THE REGULAR OVERHAUL ENDED 20 FEBRUARY I976. DEFICIENCIES NOTED DURING THE POST REPAIR TRIALS WERE OUICKL Y CORRECTED, THUS ENABLING JOHN KING TO COMPLETE HER ROH AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. DURING THE MONTHS OF MARCH TO JUNE JOHN KING CONDUC TED VARIOUS MISSILE AND GUN SHIP QUALIFICATION TRIALS SUCCESSFULL Y PASSING ALL QUALIFICATIONS WITH HIGH SCORES. DURING HER REFRESHER TRAINING KIO MA Y-I5 JUNEQ SHE WAS CALLED AWAY ON A SEARCH AND RESCUE KSAR2 MISSION NORTH OF JAMAICA. A CA YMAN ISLAND FISHING VESSEL, THE NEDDOB, WAS ADRIFT IN EIGHT FOOT SEAS WITH A JAMAICAN GUNBOAT STANDING BY BUT UNABLE TO TAKE THE FLOUNDERING FISHERMAN IN TOW. NOT WITHOUT DIFFICUL TY, A 5 IN TOWING HO WER WAS PASSED TO THE NEDDOB. A ARDUOUS ELEVEN HOURS, EIGHTY MILE TOW TO SAFETY OF OCHO RIOS, JAMAICA FOLLOWED. WHILE ENTROUTE BACK TO RESUME REFRESHER TRAINING THE FOLLOWING RADIO MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED FROM THE NEDDOB: 'FOR C.O. AND ALL HANDS USS JOHN KING, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KIND COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE, PLEASANT SAILING . ON I5 JUNE, WITH REFRESHER TRAINING SUCCESSFULL Y COMPLETED JOHN KING STEAMED EAST TO THE ATLANTIC FLEET WEAPONS

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ON I8 JANUARY 1968 JOHN KING DEPARTED NORFOLK NA VAL SHIP YARD. ON 28 MA Y AFTER AN EMERGENCY RECALL JOHN KING DEPARTED TO SEARCH FOR THE USS SCORPION CSNN-5891 OVERDUE WHOSE LAST KNO WN POSITION WAS JUST NOR TH OF THE AZORE5 ISLA NDS. AFTER AN UNEVENTUAL JOURNEY, JOHN KING RETURNED TO ITS HOME POR T. NOVEMBER 4th 1968 FOUND JOHN KING UNDER WA Y IN COMPANY WITH USS RICHARD E. BYRD CDDG-232 AND USS CONNYNGAM IDDG-179 FOR THE SIX TH MEDITERRAN DEPLOYMENT WHERE SHE RELIEVED U.S.S. SEMMES IDDG-I8Q. JOHN KING JOINED THE SIX FLEET ON I5 NOVEMBER A T RO TA, SPAIN FOR OPERA TIONS IN THE WESTERN MEDITERRA N. DECEMBER 23 JOHN KING ANCHORED A T BEA ULIEU, FRANCE FOR THE HOLIDA Y SEASON. ON 4 FEBRUARY 1969 COMMANDER OSCAR C. CHISUM, RELIEVED COMMANDER KOSMELA. WHILE IN THE MEDITERRA NEAN THE JOHN KING PARTICIPA TED IN VARIOUS OPERA TIONS SUCH A5 NA TIONAL WEEK ll, DA WN PA TROL 69. ON I5 MA Y JOHN KING LEFT THE MEDITERRANEAN AND ARRIVED IN NORFOLK, ON 27 MA Y. THE REMAINER OF 1969 JOHN KING PERFORMED VARIOUS DUTIES. ONE OF THE MORE NO TABLE IS ON 5 NOVEMBER WITH JOHN KING ACTING A5 OPERA TIONAL EVA ULA TION PLA TFORM FOR THE STANDARD MISSILE, SUCCESSFULL Y FIRING I8 MISSILES. JOHN KING GOT UNDER WA Y ON 5 MARCH 1970 FOR HER SEVENTH MEDITERRANEAN DEPLOYMEN71 COMDESRON 32 SHIFTED HIS FLAG TO JOHN KING FOR THE DEPLOYMENF DURING THE DEPLOYMENT SHE CONDUCTED OPERA TIONS IN THE WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA WHICH CONSISTED OF CARRIER TASK GROUP OPERA TION5. IN AN AT SEA CEREMONY ON 25 AUGUST I9 70 COMMANDER J.K. STORMS III RELIEVED COMMANDER O.C. CHISUM A5 COMMA NDING OFFICER. ON I6 SEPT JOHN KING RETURNED TO NORFOLK FROM HER SEVENTH DEPLOYMENT, COMDESRON 32 SHIFTED HIS FLAG FROM THE SHIP. JOHN KING ENTERED THE NORFOLK NA VAL SHIP YARD ON 8 JANUARY I9 7l FOR HER REGULAR OVERHA UL DURING THIS SIX MONTH OVERHA UL THE WEAPONS SYSTEMS RECEIVED THE TARTAR DIGITAL UPDA TE AND THE ENGINEERING PLANT WAS CONVER TED TO RECEIVE NA VY DISTILLA TE FUEL. THE EIGHTH MEDITERRENEAN DEPLOYMENT FOR JOHN KING CAME ON 23 SEPTEMBER. IT FOUND HER BEING TASKED WITH ESCORT DUTY TO THE USS SARA TOGA AND USS INDEPENDENCE. THE SHIP ALSO PAR TICIPA TED IN NA TIONAL WEEK XI, OPERA TIONS QUICKDRA W WITH ITALIAN NA VAL FORCES AND HELD SURFACE GUNNERY EXERCISES. ON 3l JANUARY l972 THE SHIP WAS HONORED BY A VISIT FROM ADMIRAL ZUM WAL T, CHIEF OF NA VAL OPERA TION5. ON 30 MARCH 1972 JOHN KING RETURNED TO NORFOLK AND BEGAN A STA NDO WN PERIOD WITH A CHANGE OF COMMAND ON 31 MARCH WHEN COMMANDER EUGENE A. SPADONI RELIEVED COMMANDER STORMS AS COMMA NDING OFFICER. 7 SEPTEMBER JOHN KING GOT UNDER WA Y TO PARTICIPA TE IN EXERCISE STRONG EXPRESS IN THE NORTHERN A TLANTIC. HER ROLE IN THE EXERCISE WAS TO ESCORT A CONVOY OF MERCHANTS FROM LIBSON. PORTUGAL TO PL YMOUTH, ENGLAND. UPON COMPLETION OF THE EXERCISE SHE PULLED INTO RO TTERDAM, HOLLAND AND THAN ON TO KRISTIA NSA ND, NOR WA Y. THE SHIP ARRIVED BA CK TO DESTRO YER AND SUBMARINES PIER ON I6 OCTOBER. ON 1 DECEMBER 1972 JOHN KING DEPAR TED FOR HER FIRST WESPAC PASSING THROUGH THE PANAMA CA NAL ON 8 DECEMBER. AFTER A THREE DA Y PORT VISIT TO MA NZANILLO, MEXICO, JOHN KING GOT UNDER WA Y ENROUTE TO PEARL HARBOR, HA WAII. JOHN KING SPENT CHRISTMAS ON PEARL HARBOR, HA WAII ARRIVING ON 23 DECEMBER AND DEPARTING 26 DECEMBER FOR SUBIC BA Y, PHILLIPINE ISLANDS. AFTER A BRIEF STOP FOR FUEL A T GUAM, THE SHIP ARRIVED IN SUBIC BA Y ON 7 JANUARY 1973. ON I5 JA NUARY l973. JOHN KING COMMENCED ITS FIRST TOUR OF COMBA T DUTY. WITHIN MINUTES OF ARRIVING A T THE GUNLINE A T POINT ALLISON EARL Y ON I5 JANUARY, JOHN KING RECEIVED ITS FIRST NA VAL GUNFIRE SUPPORT CNGFSQ MISSION. TWENTY-NINE MISSIONS WERE FIRED BETWEEN I5 AND I8 JANUARY. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT EVENT OCCURRED IN THE EARL Y MORNING HOURS OF I8 JANUARY WHEN THE RVN I47TH BRIGADE WAS A TTA CKED BY SEVEN BA TTALION SIZE ENEMY TROOP CONCENTRA TIONS SUPPOR TED BY SEVEN TANKS. OVER SEVERAL HOURS, JOHN KING ASSISTED IN TURNING BA CK FOUR ASSA UL T5 AND BL UNTING THE OVERALL A TTA CK. DURING THIS ACTION THE SHIP RECEIVED HOSTILE FIRE FROM ENEMY SHORE BA TTERIES. FOLLOWING THIS ACTION, COMDESRON I5 STA TED IN A MESSAGE TO JOHN KING, YOUR RAPID RESPONSE TO THIS EMERGENCY AND OUTSTANDING SHOOTING ARE NO TED WITH PLEASURE. WELL DONE. I I -F-6 Y . Yrr, ,..-. .,.. ,....., .,.. ,l,,.,.., ,,,,,,,mV .

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RANGE, TO TAKE PART IN OPERATION MOBILE SEA RANGE A MISSZE IZIi!,Ni:?NEdjE,IE,C6i'L1:EA9G-AINS T A UNAUGMENTED TARGET DRONES FL YING PROFILES. THE FIRING WAS HELD IN A HEAVY ECM CH - CROINQBQI FOUND, JOHN KING IN WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA MAKING ALL NECESSARY PREPARA TIONSOLZBC-.'gLi-IJLRIJQITQIEZ gg-:NbSA Y QCDTH BIRTHDA Y. THE BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION ABOARD JOHN KING WAS INDEED EXCITING AND MEM EPENDENCE DA Y PORT VISIT PARTICIPA TED IN VARIOUS LOCAL PALM BEACH AREA FESTIVITIES. UPON CONCLUSION OF THE IND OF OVER THREE MONTH CELEBRATIONS, JOHN KING PROCEEDED TO NORFOLK ARRIVING ON 8 JUL Y, THUS ENDING HER MINI-DEPLOYMENT S A TERS. IN OF I97 7 FOUND JOHN KING IN HER HOME PORT WHERE SHE WAS BUSIL Y READ YING HERSELF FOR CARIBEX I-7 7, WHERE IN THE FIRST WEEK OF EXERCISES, JOHN KING DISTINGUISHED HERSELF BY ACHIEVING TWO DIRECT MISSILE HITS. AFTER A BRIEF PORT VISIT IN FREDRIKSTAD, S T, CROIX, JOHN KING RESUMED HER ROLE AS A TOP MISSILE SHIP, WHEN SHE AGAIN SCORED A DIRECT HIT FOR THIS PERFECT THREE FOR THREE SHOWING, JOHN KING RECEIVED COMSECNDFL T'S A WARD AS TOP MISSILEER OF CARIBEX I-7 7. ON 3l MARCH, JOHN KING STFAMFD FROM NORFOLK FOR THE MEDITERRA NEAN SEA, AND HER NINTH FL EET DEPLOYMENT. ARRIVING A T GIBRAL TER ON I2 APRIL, JOHN KING FFFFCTFD A QUICK TURNOVER WITH USS CLAUDE V. RICKFTTS CDDG-51 AND STEAMED THE NEXT DA Y TO NAPL ES, ITAL Y, WHERE SHE JOINFD IN THE ACTIVA TION OF THE NA VAL ON CALL FORCES MFDITFRRA NEAN CNA VOCFORMED 1. THIS NA TO FORCE WAS COMPOSFD OF JOHN KING, THE ITALIAN DFSTRO YFR INDOMITO, TURKISH DESTRO YFR CAKMAK, BRITISH FRIGA TE HMS MOHA WK, AND BRITISH OIL ER RFA TIDFRFA CH, ON 25 APRIL, IN PALFRMO, SICIL Y, DURING THE HEIGHT OF NA VOCFORMED ACTIVITY, JOHN KING UNDER WENT A CHANGE OF COMMA ND, IN THIS TIME HONORED CEREMONY COMMANDER THOMAS A KFLL Y III WAS RFLIF VFD OF HIS DUTIES AS COMMA NDING OFFICER BY COMMANDER JFRR Y D. BE VFRIDGF. JOHN KING ON 28 MA Y IN COMPANY WITH USS CHARLES F. ADAMS KDDG-22 ARRIVED IN PALERMO, ITAL Y FOR A TWO WEEK MAINTENANCE A VAILABILITY WITH THE LOCAL CIVILIAN SHIP YARD. JOHN KING WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SHIPS TO PAR TICIPA TE IN THIS NEW PROGRAM OF U.S. WARSHIP MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY FOREIGN CIVILIAN SHIP YARDS. UPON COMPLETION OF THE A VAILABILITY JOHN KING TOOK PART IN VARIOUS NA TO EXERCISES THE MOST NO TEWORTHY IS NA TIONAL WEEK XXIII. JOHN KING ACTING AS A MEMBER OF THE ORANGE FORCE WAS ABLE TO STA Y 'AFL OA T UNTIL THE FINAL DA Y OF THE FXFRCISF. THIS SUCCESS WAS A TTRIBUTFD IN PART TO HER COMOFLA GE OF A ITALIAN NA VY HULL NUMERALS IN PLA CE OF HFR REGULAR THRFF . ON B OCTOBER JOHN KING ARRIVFD A T GILRAL TAR FOR TURNOVER WITH USS TRUETT IFF-I0952. AFTER A RAPID TURNOVER, JOHN KING DEPAR TED THF MFDITFRRA NEAN ARRIVING ON 2l OCTOBER AFTER ALMOST SEVEN MONTHS ABSENCE. - AS THE END OF I977 CALENDAR YEAR ARRIVFD JOHN KING ENTERED A RESTRICTED A VAILABILITY WITH A NUMBER OF NORFOLK AREA SHORE AND SEA REPAIR COMMANDS AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF MAJOR ENGINEERING PLANT MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. WITH THE BEGINNING OF I97s THF PROPOSAL TO MO VE JOHN KING TO PHILADELPHIA NA VAL SHIP YARD TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS TO HER ENGINEERING PLANT WAS UNDFR CONSIDFRA TION. THE DECISION WAS FINALIZFD IN MID-JA NUARY AND ON 3Q JANUARY JOHN KING ARRIVED IN PHILADELPHIA NA VAL SHIP YARD AND COMMENCED A FOUR MONTH OVERHA UL OF HER MAIN PROPUL SION PLA NT. JOHN KING DFPAR TED THF NA VAL SHIP YARD ON I9 MA Y AND CONDUCTED VARIOUS TRAINING OPERA TIONS SUCH AS NGFS OUALIFICA TIONS, SELECTED RFFRFSHFR TRAINING IN GUANTA NAMO BA Y, CUBA WITH EMPHASIS PLA CED ON ENGINEERING TRAINING. IN THE MONTH OF JUL Y JOHN KING TOOK PART IN COMP TUEX 4-78. i ON 3 OCTOBER NEARL Y ONF YEAR OF PREPARA TION WAS CLIMAXED WHEN JOHN KING GOT UNDER WA Y FOR HER TENTH MFDITFRRA NEAN DFPLOYMFNT. ON 2 NOVEMBER, JOHN KING DFTA CHED TO PROCFFD TO TUNIS, TUNISIA WHERE SHE ARRIVED ON 3 NOMEMBER. DURING THE SHIP'S VISIT TO TUNIS, THE COMMANDING OFFICER, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OF THE SHIP'S OFFICERS AND CREW MEMBERS, PARTICIPA TED IN A WRFA TH LA YING CEREMONY A T TUNISIA 'S SEDJOUMI MONUMFNT, A MEMORIAL TO ALL TUNISIA NS WHO DIED IN THEIR FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE. ADDITIONALL Y, THE STA Y IN TUNISIA WAS MARKED BY AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO JOHN KING BY THE TUNISIAN CNO. THE CHRISTMAS OF 78 WAS SPENT IN NAPLES, ITAL Y. WITH THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR AND JOHN KING IN THE MIDDLE OF HER TFNTH DEPLOYMENT TO THE MFDITFRRA NEAN CONDUCTING VARIOUS ASW EXERCISES ALONG THE COAST OF SPAIN AND PAR TICIPA TING IN NA TIONAL WEEK xx VI. ON I5 MARCH JOHN KING DEPAR TED THE MFDITFRRA NEA N. SHE ARRIVFD IN NORFOLK ON 4 APRIL TO A LARGE WEL COME. DURING THE BRIEF RFSPITF AFTER HER DFPLOYMFNT, COMMANDER WILLIAM G. COLLINS, JR. RFLIFVFD COMMANDER BEVERIDGE AS COMMA NDING OFFICER. DURING THE MONTHS OF JUNE AND JUL Y JOHN KING CONDUCTFD TRAINING AND A BOARD OF INSPECTIONS AND SURVEY IINSUR Vp. ON I6 AUGUST SHE GOT UNDER WA Y FOR A DFPFNDFNTS' CRUISE. ON I8 AUGUST THE SHIP LEFT TO UNDFRGO NGFS OUALIFICA TIONS AND TO PAR TICIPA TE IN COMP TUEX 3-79 WHERE JOHN KING WAS TO POSE AS A KARA CLASS CRUISER. JOHN KING WAS COMMFNDFD BY COMSECONDFL T FOR HER SKILLFUL OPERA TION AND SUCCESSFUL DFCFPTION DURING THIS EXERCISE. JOHN KING RETURNED TO NORFOLK ON I SEPTEMBER AND REMAINED THERE FOR UPKEEP UNTIL IO SEPTEMBER IN PREPARA TION FOR DFPLOYMFNT TO THE NOR TH A TLANTIC. ON Il SEPTEMBER THE SHIP DFPAR TED FOR OCEAN SAFARI, A NA TO EXERCISE REOUIRING CL OSF COORDINA TION WITH OTHER FOREIGN UNITS. BETWEEN OPERA TIONS JOHN KING ENJO YED A PORT VISIT TO KRISTIA NSA ND, NOR WA Y AND COPFNHA GEN, DENMARK. JOHN KING LEFT COPFNHA GEN ON 22 OCTOBER AND TRA NISTED TO RO TTERDAM IN THE NETHERLANDS. SHE LEFT FOR NORFOLK ON 27 OCTOBER AND ARRIVFD IN NORFOLK ON 9 NO VEMBER, THE SHIP WOUND UP THE YEAR MAKING PRFPARA TIONS FOR THE OPFRA TIONAL PROPULSION PLANT FKAMINA TION WHICH WAS CONDUCTFD I0 TO I2 DECEMBER. AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL FXAMINA TION, THE SHIP STOOD DO WN FOR CHRISTMAS AND PREPARED FOR CARIBBEAN OPERATIONS AND REGULAR OVFRHA UL IN I9BO AFTER COMPLFTING CARIBBEAN OPERA TIONS JOHN KING FNTFRFD THE PHILADELPHIA NA VAL SHIP YARD IN APRIL OF I9SO FOR A REGULAR OVFRHA UL. DURING THE OVFRHA UL SHE WOULD RECEIVE A UPDA TED WEAPON SYSTEM, MAJOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT UPDA TES, AND RE VITALIZED ENGINEERING PLANT BEFORE IT WAS SCHEDULED TO DEPART IN JUNE I9SI. ON 7 APRIL I9SI THE TWFNTY-ONF YEAR OLD DESTRO YFR GOT UNDERWA Y FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN A YEAR TO CONDUCT SEA TRAILS. JOHN KING SUCCESSFUL Y COMPLETED SEA TRAILS AND RETURNED TO PHILADELPHIA ON I0 APRIL AFTER ACCOMPLISHING NUMEROUS SYSTEMS TEST. THE OVFRHAUL PERIOD WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL JUNE I9sI. ON 3I MA Y, JOHN KING RECEIVED A NEW COMMA NDING OFFICER AS COMMANDER STANLEY J. PR YZBY RELIEVED COMMANDER COLLINS. TWO WEEKS LA TER SHE LEFT PHILADELPHIA AND RETURNED TO NORFOLK ON I5 JUNE. FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR EFFORTS WERE TURNED TOWARDS RFTURNING THE SHIP TO A FIGHTING MAN O' WAR. NUMBEROUS UNDER WA Y PFRIODS IN THE VIRGINIA CAPFS, NFARL Y FOUR CONSFCUTIVF MONTHS OF WEAPONS OUALIFICA TIONS AND EIGHT WEEKS OF RFFRFSHFR TRAINING IN GUANTA NAMO BA Y FNSURFD THA T THE CREW MFMBFRS OF JOHN KING WERE READY FOR ANYTHING. THE SHIP RETURNED TO NORFOLK ON JI DECEMBER AFTER STOPPING IN PORT EVERGLADES, AND MA YPOR T, FLORIDA. THE FIRST PART OF I9S2 WAS BUSY FOR JOHN KING AS SHE CONDUCTFD VARIOUS FXFRCISFS MAKING PRFPARA TIONS FOR HER FIRST MFDITFRRA NEA NXINDIAN OCEAN DEPLO YMENT. JOHN KING GOT UNDFR WA Y FOR THE MEDXIO ON S JUNE. DURING THIS DFPLOYMFNT SHE WAS SCHEDULED TO VISIT MANY POR TS. HO WE VER DUF TO REAL WORLD EVENTS SHE SPENT A GREA T DEAL OF TIME OFF THE COAST OF BEIRUI LFBANAN. ONF OF THE LONGEST UNDER WA Y PERIOD WAS OVER 57 DA YS. SHE WAS LA TER A WARDED THE NA VAL EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NA VY. POR TS THF SHIP DID VISIT WERE NAPLES, ITAL me ALEXA NDIA, EG YP72 AUGUSTA BA Y, SICIL Y, AND RO TA SPAIN. JOHN KING RETURNED TO NORFOLK I6 NOVEMBER. THE FIRST PART OF I9s3 JOHN KING UNDER WFNT VARIOUS INSPFCTIONS, DEFENSE NUCLEAR SAFETY INSPECTION, NUCLEAR TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY INSPECTION, 3M INSPECTION AND INSUR V. SHE ALSO CONDUCTED A CHIEF OF NA VAL OPERA TIONS SPECIAL OPERA TIONS PROJECT FOR MINE WARFARF. JOHN KING ALSO PAR TICIPA TED IN ANTI-SUBMARINF WARFARE EXERCISES. ON I4 MA Y, IN A SHIP BOARD CEREMONY COMMANDER RONALD F. BISHIP ASSUMED COMMAND RELIEVING COMMANDER PR YZB Y AS COMMANDER OFFICER. W'T' 1