Keppler (DD 765) - Naval Cruise Book

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supporting U.S. and Republic ofVietman troops, KEPPLER played host to some of our boys who were stationed ashore with the marines and RVN forces. To these fellows a hot meal and our abbreviated Navy Showers were a luxury. Quite unexpectedly, on March third, KER- PLER was ordered to proceed North to join the Heavy Guided Missile Cruiser CANBERRA and an old friend, the Destroyer Ingersoll, for intensified operations against logistics craft and coastal radar sites trackingAmerican air- craft. The first few days on this mission were fogbound and the ship's efforts were oriented toward surveillance, but the fog finally lifted and the task unit began an aggressive inter- diction patrol. There were long hours of patient watching and waiting as KEPPI.ER'S radar scanned the coast of North Vietnam for enemy barges and the guns roared with feroc- ity as they destroyed their targets with deadly accuracy. Shore installations and water traffic alike were brought under the sights of the ship's main battery. So effective were the unit's efforts, that coastal shipping immediately made for port when they glimpsed the ap- proaching mastheads and the coastal artillery batteries were put on the alert. Saturday II March, I967 is a day that is now proudly recorded in KEPPLER'S history. For on this date she provided maximum counter-battery shot against powerful enemy fire and her crew reacted magnificently when her forward gun mount was hit in the third battle of the day. The months of hard training now paid off as the wounded crewmen were expeditiously evacuated from their stations by the heroic and competent action of their ship- mates while the engineers pressed the plant to capacity to get the ship out of the heavy rain of enemy fire. KEPPLER finished her last at-sea period HAWK and then plane quarding for KITTY steamed for subic Bay. After spending Easter in the Philippines, KERRLER effected a mid- night departure for her next port-of-call, Singapore. On March 29th, the equator was Crossed and the traditional ceremonies were 9ftlOyed by Shellbock and RoIlywog alike. The initiation into the Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order ofthe Deep was accomplish- ed to the full satisfaction of the presiding ruler of the day, his maiesty, Neptunus Rex . April Ist saw the departure of the ship from Singapore, the last Asian port we were to visit on the deployment. Tropical uniforms and sunbathingwere the order of the day as the ship transited through the intense heat of the Indian Ocean en route to Massawa, Ethiopia. After spending a day in Massawa to refuel the near empty tanks, KERRLER departed for Port Said and the Suez Canal on I3 April. Most memorable in the transit of the Suez Canal is the searing heat enveloping the ship and the Egyptians hawkingtheir wares on the fantail. e chin the waters of the Mediter- Upon r a g ranean, the ship set her course for that island of Mythologicol fame, Crete. The ship next spent three memorable days in ValIeta,MaIta, making many friends and enjoying some wel- come rest and relaxation. The ship then weighed anchor and steamed for Naples, where two day tours to Rome were arranged, considered by many to be a high- light of the cruise. The Island of Maiorca, Spain, was next on the agenda and the site of another ship's party for KERRLER. The Mayor of Inca, second largest city on the island, entertained a de- legation of the crew from each ship in the division with a dinner party. Sunday, April 30th found the ship entering the harbor of Gibraltar. The day was spent by many KERRLERMEN intouring The Rock , ascending it's heights via cable car. The antics of the apes that inhabit ledges of the Rock amused most of us. A brief stop at the Azores for fuel cul- minated the list of ports ofcall onKERPLER'S around the world cruise. On Monday, May 8th, KERRLER entered Newport amid Brass bands, welcome home signs and water spraying fire- boats, happy to be home, secure in the know- ledge that the Mighty K had accomplished ALI. her missions with distinction and had vindicated her motto- R EADY .

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'92-P-. I , if X if fo I ,, dfglg E ,HM X , .. , , - I . m n -:A S . Ig? conlunmnrn sxivrmtll rllixir I fi gjg ' I TAKES PLEASURE IN coNIMENoING ,Su fi L- 'I ,I USS K E PPLER IDD- 7651 X3 5 for s ervice as set forth in fha following Cl TA Tl ON 5 ,I FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN ACTION OFF THE COAST OF NORTH VIETNAM I- Y t DURING THE PERIODS l8 JANUARY TO 5 FEBRUARY AND 6 TO ll MARCH I967. SERVING i E , 3 A5 A MEMBER OF A SPECIAL TASK UNIT INTERDICTING ENEMY WATERBORNE LOGISTICS 6 I A 'fb 1 TRAFFIC, KEPPLER OPERATED IN HOSMLE WATERS, nssrnovmc on DAMAGING NUM- LXEQS ' : f -I EROUS ENEMY LOGISTIC CRA:-'T AND ON oNE OCCASION comms UNDER ACCURATE I ! 'ij 1 yi 5 AND HEAVY FIRE FROM ENEMY SHORE BATTERIES. KEPPLER PERFORMED WITH SKLLL, S A EFFICENCY AND AGGRESSTVENESS DQFLICTINCI MAXIMUM DAMAGE UPON THE ENEMY Y 1 'Q I WHILE MDTIMIZING DAMAGE TO HERSELF. OPERATING FOR LONG PERIODS AT MAXIMUM , I l ies READINES5 AND UNDER AUVERSE CONDITIONS WITH RESOURCEFULNESS, KEPPLER UP- . fbj Q 15. - HELD THE HIGHEST 'rnADrnoNs or THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE. 9 amid 93:2 VIE. am ,S.N.vy . EI -1. 'I' Emma. SEVENTH Flon :' I' . I EM' 'af 5.95 442-Q -wifi'-RW,L9.,m1R.e.a5' fr 'Mba -' I UNREPS FUEL REARMING RERLENISHMENT VERTREPS -- 42 7 9 3 AOE REARMING REPLENISHMENT REPLENISHNIENT 6 9 INFLIGHT REFUELINGS 19 JP-5 DELIVERED 8650 GAL. 260 ,ll4 l3Ql5 FLIGHT HOURS 2.4229 -i DAY I 8.8 N IG H T 1 -9 42.2 HOURS T RPEDOS FIRED I ROUNDS FIRED 3656 RECORD FIRING 468 ROUNDS IN 7 MINUTES M 651350 PERCENTAGE OF TIME AT SEA am 5 4LY 215 A