Leftwich (DD 984) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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LCOL W. G. Leftwich, Jr., USMC Lieutenant Colonel William G. Leftwich, Jr., was born on April 28, 1931 in Memphis, Tenn., and graduated from Central High School in that city. He was commissioned a Marine Second Lieutenant on June 5, 1953 upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy. As brigade captain in his senior year at the Naval Academy, he was specially commended at graduation for exemplary officer like qualities which contribute to the development of naval spirit and loyalty within the Bridgade. Upon entering the Marine Corps, he completed The Basic School at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, VA., in January 1954, and later served as a rifle platoon commander with the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, N. C. During 1955-56, he served with the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa. On his return to the United States, he was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, where he was promoted to captain in July 1957. He then began a three-year assignment at the Naval Academy, serving as a company officer. An excellent athlete himself, he also voluntarily performed collateral duty as assistant varsity tennis coach and battalion football coach. In 1960, he rejoined the 2nd Marine Division, serving as a company commander until 1962 when he was named aide-de-camp to the Commanding General. In June 1963, he was assigned as aide to the Commandant, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico. He was promoted to major in July 1964. He later completed a course of study in the Vietnamese Language prior to reporting for duty in Vietnam in January 1965 as Assistant Senior Advisor to the Vietnamese Marine Brigade- Joining Task Force Alfa, he participated in 27 major operations against the Viet Cong in the central highlands of Vietnam, and spent more than 300 days in the field. He was wounded in the battle of Hoai An, March 9, 1965 and, besides the Purple Heart, was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism. According to his citation, he ... played a major part in all phases of the successful relief of the village of Haoi An, which was under heavy enemy attack by two Viet Cong battalions ... By his own personal example ..., he led the attack ... Despite injuries by enemy machine-gun bullets in the back, cheek, and nose, he went to the aid of a mortally wounded comrade ... and delayed his own evacuation until he could call for additional air strikes and brief the task force commander of the situation. He returned to the United States in January 1966, served as an instructor at the Basic School, then completed the Command and Staff College in June 1967 and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in November 1967 while serving as a systems analyst with the Manpower Management Information Branch, G-1 Division. He later became head of the Systems Analysis Section. In 1968, LtCol. Leftwich was selected by the Under Secretary of the Navy to be his Special Assistant and Marine Corps Aide. He served in this capacity under the Honorable Charles F. Baird, and Mr. Baird's successor as Under Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable John W. Warner. In April 1970, he began his second tour of duty in Vietnam, serving initially as an infantry battalion commander with the 2nd Battalion, First Marines. On June 30, he assumed duty as Commanding Officer of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced). On November 18, 1970, LtCol. Leftwich was killed in a helicopter crash during an emergency extraction of one of his reconnaissance teams. In accordance with his practice of accompanying every emergency extraction called for by his reconnaisance teams, he was serving as senior extract officer for such a mission on the day of his death. The team had incurred casualties and requested an emergency extraction from enemy-infested territory in an area beginning to be enveloped by dense fog. The team was extracted under LtCol. Leftwich's personal supervision, then, the helicopter began its ascent, it crashed into a mountainside in enemy territory, killing all aboard. A partial list of his medals and awards includes: The Navy Cross, the Silver Star (posthumous), the Legion of Merit with Combat V and two gold stars, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with one gold star, the Purple heart with two gold stars, and various personal awards from the Republic of Vietnam. LtCol. Leftwich was survived by his wife, the former Jane Ferrer, and two sons, William G. Ill, and Scott F. He was also survived by his mother, Mrs. Mattie H. Leftwich of Memphis. His father was deceased.