John King (DDG 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS JOHN KING CDDG-3 UNITED STATES SHIP HISTORY THE FIRST SHIP TO BEAR THE NAME JOHN KING AND THE SECOND OF THE GUIDED MISSLE DES TRO YERS TO BE CONS TRUC TED BY THE BA TH IRON WORKS IN BA TH, MAINE. JOHN KING WAS CHRIS TENED ON 30 JANUARY l96O BY MRS PAUL J. KILDA Y- WIFE OF A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM TEXAS. SHE WAS OUTFITTED AT THE BOSTON NA VAL SHIPYARD. U.S.S. JOHN KING WAS COMMISSIONED ON 4 FEBRUARY I96I AT THE BOSTON NA VAL SHIPYARD, UNDER THE COMMAND OF COMMANDER ALBERT M. SACKE TT, OUTFITTING WAS COMPLETED ON 4 APRIL I96I. EFFECTIVE 30 JUNE I96I, THE HOMEPORT OF JOHN KING BECAME NORFOLK. JOHN KING DEPARTED NORFOLK VIRGINIA ON 27 NOVEMBER I96I FOR A SHAKEDO WN CRUISE AND VISITED PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND, AMSTERDAM, THE NE THERLANDS, BERGEN, NOR WA Y, FLENSBURG, GERMAN Y, AND DUBLIN, IRELAND DURING THE PERIOD OF 27 NOVEMBER I96I TO I JANUARY I962. ON I JANUARY I962 JOHN KING LEFT DUBLIN, IRELAND AND S TEAMED TO THE MEDITERRANEAN WHERE SHE JOINED THE SIXTH FLEET. PORTS OF CALL IN THE MEDITERRANEAN INCLUDED ROTA, SPAIM THEOULE, GOLFE JUAN, AND CANNES FRANCE, LA SPEZIE ITAL Y. PALERMO, SICIL Y. THE SHIP RETURNED TO NORFOLK IN APRIL. FROM I0 JUL Y TO I4 JUL Y, JOHN KING WAS IN WASHINGTON D.C. HOSTING VARIOUS CONGRESSMAN AND SENA TORS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND APPROPRIA TION COMMITTEES, AMONG THEM THE HONORABLE MR. ROBERT MCNAMARA, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND THE HONORABLE MR. FRED KORTH, SECRETARY OF THE NA VY AUGUST 8, I962 COMMANDER C.H. CRANDALL JR. RELIEVED COMMANDER SACKETT AS COMMANDING OFFICER. UNDER COMMANDER CRANDALL 'S COMMAND JOHN KING PARTICIPA TED IN THE CUBAN BLOCKADE OPERATIONS BEING AMONG THE FIRST UNITS TO RESPOND TO THE CUBAN MISSLE CRISIS. JOHN KING DEPARTED FOR HER SECOND MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE ON 6 FEBRUARY I963. JOHN KING WAS RELIEVED OF HER SIXTH FLEET DUTIES ON I4 JUNE AND S TEAMED NORTHWARD ARRIVING IN KIEL, GERMANY ON 23 JUNE FOR THE KIEL WEEK FESTIVITIES. CONTINUING NORTHWARD, JOHN KING VISITED NAR VIK, NORWA Y. AFTER LEA VING NAR VIK SHE SAILED HOME ARRIVING ON JUL Y I7, I963. JOHN KING'S THIRD COMMANDING OFFICER WAS COMMANDER THOMAS J. HUGHES RELIEVING COMMANDER CRANDALL ON I4 FEBRUARY I964. THE FIRST PART OF I964 JOHN KING CONDUC TED INDEPENDENT SHIP EXERCISE AND TRAINING DRILLS. ON 4 APRIL SHE BECAME THE FIRST UNITED STA TES SHIP TO VISIT THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IN EIGHTEEN MONTHS BY VISITING SANTA DOMINGO. 3 AUGUST JOHN KING DEPAR TED NORFOLK FOR HER THIRD MEDITERRANEAN DEPLOYMEN71 SHE JOINED THE SIXTH FLEET ON I6 AUGUST WHERE SHE REMAINED AL TERNA TING BETWEEN AT-SEA AND INPORT PERIODS. JOHN KING SPENT THE CHRISTMAS OF 64 IN LA SPEZIE, ITAL Y AND NEW YEARS IN CANNES FRANCE. 4 JANUARY I965 FOUND JOHN KING UNDERWAY AGAIN FROM CANNES, ENROUTE TO VALENCIA, SPAIN FOR TURNOVER ON I8 JANUARY JOHN KING RETURNED TO NORFOLK 29 JANUARY ARRIVING A DA Y LA TE DUE TO HEA VY SEAS. ON IO SEPTEMBER I965 COMMANDER DEMING W. SMITH RELIEVED COMMANDER HUGHES AS COMMANDING OFFICER. JOHN KING'S FOURTH MEDITERRANEAN DEPLOYMENT STARTED ON 4 OCTOBER. DURING THIS DEPLOYMENT PORTS OF CALL WERE LIVERNO. NAPLES, AND TARANTO, ITAL Yi BARCEL ONA, AND PALMA SPAIN, VALE TTA, MAL TA, ATHENS, GREECE, AND BIZERTE, TUNISIA. ON 25 FEBRUARY I966 JOHN KING LEFT THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA, CROSSED THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AND ARRIVED IN NORFOLK ON 7 MARCH. DURING THE SUMMER OF I966 JOHN KING COMPLETED CRUISES TO THE CARIBBEAN AND THE NORTH ATLANTIC WHICH INCLUDED A SECOND VISIT TO KIEL, GERMANY. AFTER A THREE WEEK CRUISE IN EARL Y DECEMBER I966, JOHN KING ENJO YED HER FIRST CHRISTMAS IN NORFOLK IN THREE YEARS. JOHN KINGS FIFTH MEDITERRANEAN DEPLOYMENT BEGAN ON I0 JANUARY I96 7. SHE OPERA TED IN THE WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN FOR FOUR MONTHS WHERE SHE CONDUC TED OPERATIONS WITH BRITISH, ITALIAN, AND FRENCH NA VAL FORCES. JOHN KING RETURNED TO NORFOLK ON I9 MA Y. DURING THE MEDITERRANEAN DEPLOYMENT JOHN KING S TEAMED I9,6I7 MILES, BURNED l. 7 MILLION GALLONS OF FUEL OIL. DRANK l93,430 CUPS OF COFFEE AND 7592 GALLONS OF MILK, BOUGHT 46,5I4 SOFTDRINKS, AND SPENT S55,CXX7 ON FOOD. COMMANDER SMITH WAS RELIEVED BY COMMANDER WAL TER T. K OSMELA ON 26 MA Y l96 7 WITH COMMANDER K OSMELA AT THE HELM, JOHN KING ENTERED THE NORFOLK NA VAL SHIPYARD FOR HER SECOND REGULAR OVERHAUL SINCE COMMISSIONING. DURING THE OVERHAUL JOHN KING RECEIVED EX TENSIVE WORK INCLUDING NEW CAPABILITIES FOR ASROC MISSILE REL OAD, ELEC TRONICCOUNTERMEASURES, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE STANDARD MISSILE SYSTEMS. IN ALL OVER THREE MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF WORK.

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JOHN KING CHIEF WA TER TENDER U.S, NA VY RETIRED, DECEA SED JOHN KING WAS BORN IN IRELAND FEBRUARY 7, I865. HE ENLIS TED IN THE NA VY JUL Y 242 I893 AS A COAL PASSER ON BOARD THE USS VERMON71 ON SEPTEMBER 30 HIS RA TING CHANGED TO FIREMAM SECOND CLASS. THAN TO FIREMAN FIRST CLASS ON MARCH 3I, I895. JOHN KING WAS PROMO TED TO CHIEF WA TER TENDER ON I OCTOBER I909. HE WAS HONORABLE DISCHARGED AND RE-ENLIS TED IN THE NA VY SIX TIMES DURING HIS PERIOD OF UNBROKEN SERVICE. DURING THE PERIOD OF I893 TO IQCD HE SERVED ON BOARD THE USS VERMONI USS YORK, USS MASSACHUSETTS. FROM IEXD TO I903 JOHN KING WAS ASSIGNED TO THE USS DE TROI71 USS VERMON71 USS INDIA NS, AND USS VICKSBURG, JANUARY I903 HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE USS PISCA TA OUIA. LA TER THAT YEAR HE SERVED ON THE USS RAINBOW, USS SOLA CE AND USS HANCOCK, DURING HIS NEXT ENLISTMENT H904-I908j JOHN KING WAS ASSIGNED CONSECUTIVEL Y TO THE USS DES MOINES USS FRANKLIN, USS VIRGINIA. HE ALSO SERVED WITH THE RESERVE TORPEDO FLOTILLA. UPON RE-ENLISTING A T THE NA VAL RECRUITING STA TION N Y. IN JUL Y I908. HE WAS AGAIN ASSIGNED TO THE USS HANCOCK AND DURING THE FOUR YEARS TO FOLLOW HAD SERVICE ON BOARD THE USS WABASH AND USS SALEM, DECEMBER I9l2. JOHN KING RELIS TED AND TRANSFERRED TO THE USS FLORIDA WHERE HE SERVED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 24, I9I6. ON DECEMBER 26, I9I6 HE TRANSFERRED TO THE FLEET NA VAL RESERVE FROM ACTIVE DUTK TWO DA YS AFTER THE UNITED STA TES ENTERED WORLD WAR I ON APRIL 6, I9lZ KING WAS RECALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE RECEIVING SHIP AT NEW YORK. ON OCTOBER Il, I9I7 HE TRANSFERRED TO THE NA VAL HOSPITAL NEW YORK FOR TREATMENT. HE WAS RELEASED FOR FURTHER DUTY ON AUGUST 2Q I9l9 AND REPORTED TO RECEIVING STATION NEW YORK. ON NOVEMBER 3, I923 JOHN KING WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY AND TRANSFERRED TO THE RETIRED LIST OF THE U.S. NA VY. JOHN KING DIES ON MA Y 23, I938. KING WAS TWICE A WARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. THE FIRST TIME, '7-'OR EXTRA ORDINAR Y HEROISM IN THE LINE OF HIS PROFESSION A T THE TIME OF ACCIDENT TO THE BOILERS OF THE USS VICKSBURG ON 29 MA Y I90l, THE CI TA TION TO THE SECOND MEDAL HONOR A WARDED B Y G. O. 4QI9 OCTOBER I909, FOLLOWS 'QIOHN KING, WA TER TENDER, SERVING ON BOARD THE USS SALEM, FOR EXTRA ORDINARY HEROISM IN THE LINE OF HIS PROFESSION ON THE OCCASION OF THE ACCIDENT TO ONE OF THE BOILERS OF THAT VESSEL, I3 SEPTEMBER I909.

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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 .