Leftwich (DD 984) - Naval Cruise Book

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Qcm In Memorium LCDR Kenneth M. Kraper 13 January 1947 - EXCERPT FROM A TAPE RECORDING MADE BY LCDR KRAPER TO HIS SON PATRICK ON THE DAY OF HIS BIRTH 28 NOVEMBER 1981 I have a lot of mixed emotions because I wasn't with you this morning when you came into the world. Most 11 December 1982 of them because as a father I feel that's my place to be, that's where I wanted to be. On the other hand I've been with the Navy now for 74 years and think that it's a proud profession to be in - the security of your country. I think it is an honorable profession and my country felt that they needed me here as a way of helping to keep our freedom and I didn't have any qualms about coming. I love my country. 2

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USS LEFTWICH (DD-984) is the twenty-second SPRUANCE Class Destroyer to be designed and built by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Homeportcd in San Diego, LEFTWICH is assigned to Destroyer Squadron SEVEN. The SPRUANCE Class Destroyer is unique among today's warships in that it is the first major class to be powered strictly by gas turbine engines. LEFTWICH, as her sisters, is powered by four General Electric LM-2500 engines. Designed originally for large aircraft, these engines have been modified for marine use and produce 20,000 horsepower each. Her engines, in conjunction with twin controllable-reversible pitch propellers, are capable of moving LEFTWICH through the water at speeds in excess of 30 knots and give her a degree of maneuverability unequalcd by any other warship her size. Built with future growth in mind, LEFTWICH's design is modular in nature thus allowing for the easy installation of entire subsystems within the ship. This makes LEFTWICH a ship of the future as well as the present. Her modular construction and the consequent ease with which she can accept the installation of new weapons and electronics systems destines LEFTWICH to be a proving ground for new military technology. Crew comfort and habitability were also of prime consideration in LEFTWICH's design. Berthing areas are very spacious and considerable care was taken to equip the ship with features uncommon to most destroyers. Such features include a ship's library, crew's lounge, a well equipped gymnasium, and many other items aimed at crew comfort. Enhancing these specifically designed-in comforts is the added benefit of a much reduced required manning level resulting from the incorporation of the many automated weapons and engineering systems. As a highly versatile multi-mission destroyer, LEFTWICH is capable of operating independently or in company with amphibious or carrier task forces. Although equipped to handle a wide variety of mission areas, LEFTWICH's primary mission is Anti-Submarine Warfare. LEFTWICH possesses the most advanced ASW equipment in existence to facilitate her accomplishment of this complex and demanding task. The ship is equipped with a sophisticated sonar, the SQS-53, that is directly integrated with a third generation, digital computer system, the Naval Tactical Data System. In addition to her. sonar, LEFTWICH's ASW weapons suite, an Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASROCj and two triple barreled Mark 32 torpedo tubes, also complexes with NTDS. This integrated combat system provides LEFTWICH with an enhanced target information processing capability and an extremely fast threat reaction time. LEFTWICH also boasts two S-inch 54 caliber Mark 45 fully automatic gun mounts controlled by the digital Mark 86 Fire Control System. Also integrated with NTDS, these systems allow LEFTWICH to excel in her secondary mission areas of Naval Gunfire Support, Surface Warfare, and Anti-Air Warfare. In conclusion, USS LEFTWICH constitutes a destroyerman's dream as she incorporates the best of a technology unequalled by any other Navy in the world. Her exceptional propulsion system and fully integrated combat system combine with her modular construction to make LEFTWICH a platform not to be surpassed.

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Eulogy LCDR Ken Kraper's association with LEFTWICH was brief, too brief. Counting some of our pre-deployment time we knew him only a matter of a few months. He was embarked with us for only five weeks of this deployment. Many of you here probably didn't get to know him well and I would like to tell you a little bit about him. Ken was only 35 when he died. He would have been 36 in January. He came from the mid-west. He had had a couple of years of college behind him when he enlisted in the Navy in June 1967. He was picked up (or the NESEP program, went to Purdue University, and was commissioned in December 1973. He won his wings in March 1975. He served in Antartica with VXE6 and he had a tour in Washington as Aide and Flag Lieutenant to the District Commandant. In 1980 Ken became a LAMPS Pilot, one of that rare breed of aviator who is also a destroyerman. He went to sea in COOK last year for an Indian Ocean Battle Croup deployment. Having only returned from that deployment last March, he deployed with us this October as our DET OIC and Ship's Aviation Officer. A week ago last Saturday Ken Kraper and his aircrew were on duty flying their fragile machine on a mission in the pitch dark early hours, in the rain, with no visible horizon. They were coming aboard one of our sister ships under these conditions when something went wrong. We may never know what happened to cause the crash of MAGUS 34 into the sea, but we do know that at that instant LCDR Kenneth Michael Kraper gave up his life in the service of his country. I said that I wanted to tell you something about this man but I haven't touched the essential part yet. Ken Kraper was a very impressive fellow. When he Joined our ship I was immediately taken with his professional, mission-oriented attitude, his desire to do things right - smartly and safely, his enthusiastic and knowledgeable participation in CIC during ASW exercises whenever he was not in the air himself. But shortly I discovered much more about the person. Ken was that rare kind of guy that everyone instinctively likes. His quick wit, ready smile and easy laughter helped us all through some low points in our deployment. His humor was always positive - he never got a laugh at another's expense. He added fun and spontaneity to our wardroom. He was a friend and vve shall miss him. He was also a fine family man. had a few occasions to meet him together with his wife Mary. All the evidence of a rich, loving marital relationship was obviously present. Our loss has been devastating, but consider what it means to his widow, who, it happens, is pregnant with twins, and to his infant son Partick who will never know first hand the man his father was. Ken Kraper was, quite simply, a very fine man. We who knew him are all diminished by his death, but still so much richer for having known him at all. Eulogy delivered by Commanding Officer USS LEFTWICH (DD984) 21 December 1982