Mataco (ATF 86) - Naval Cruise Book

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CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS l 1 A we, Y-.. in Chief Engineer Ronald M. Lindquist en- tered the naval service in December 1955 up- oncompletion of recruit training. He served aboard the USS MARYSVILLE QE PCER-8571. He decided that a naval career had a lot to offer and reenlisted in April 1958 and then went on a tour of shore duty at Sanford, Fla, From there he served one year in Vietnam and on board the USS MONT BAKER QAE- 141, Chief Lindquist reported to MATACO on January 1968. Chief Electrician Mate Margarito A, Endozo first entered the service of the U,S, Armed Forces as a private in the Army, in May 1946. After receiving an honorable dis- charge in 1949, Chief Endozo returned home to the Philippine Islands where he spent the next 7 years. In 1956 Chief Endozo enlisted in the U.S. Navy in which he has since c served on continuous active duty. During his twelve years of service in the navy, Chief Endozo has served on the USS FORT MAR- ION QLSD-225, USS MIDWAY QCVA-413 and USS PARIC UTIN QAE-189 in addition to MA- TACO. Chief Quartermaster Robert T. Upton entered the Navy in August 1958. Upon com- pletion of recruit training he served aboard USS RECLAIMER QARS-429 and USS BOL- STER QARS-381. In 1961 he ,reenlisted as V a third class Quartermaster and then went to USS JASON KAR-83 and on to a tour of shore duty as an instructor where he was advanced to Chief Quartermaster. From there he served on COMPHIBGROUONE g Staff and on board USS ESTES QLCC-22. He reported aboard MATACO in December. 1969. BMC Terry L. Pierson entered the na- val service in December 1959. Upon c0111- pletion of recruit training he served aboard the Fleet ASW Base, San Diego, USS TOR' TUGA QLSD-265, USS WHETSTONE QLSD' 279, U.S. Naval Recruiting Station, Mil- I waukee, Wisconsing one year at Midway IS' land with the Gooney Birds and now C8-11S MATACO his home away from home.

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Ensign Robert L. Hern graduated from Clarks Summit-Abington High School, Clarks Summit, Pa. Upon grad- uation he entered San Jose State College where he received a B.A. degree in Phy- sical Education in 1969. Mr. Hern en- tered the U.S. Naval Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island and was awarded his commission in November 1969. He then reported to his first duty station as Supply Officer, MATACO in December 1969. Chief Warrant Officer Warren K. Nel- son entered the Naval Service in May 1947 . Bos'n Nelson first served aboard USS J .C. OWENS QDD-7763. He left the service briefly but returned in 1951. Bos'n' duty assignments have included USS PITTS- BURG QCA-723, USS BRAMBLING QAMS- 42J, the U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Recruit Training Com- mand, San Diego fCompany Commanderlg USS PICKAWAY QAPA-2221, where he was appointed Warrant Officer, USS VESUVIUS QAE-159 and with Beachmaster Unit ONE in Yokonika, Japan and a Naval Air Sta- tion, North Island, Calif. Mr. Nelson re- ported aboard MATACO in March 1968 and is presently 1st Lieutenant. Warrant Officer Richard L. Brisby is from Norwalk, California. Mr. Brisby joined the Navy in May 1954. Since that time his duty assignments has included USS ROMULUS QARL-223, NAVCOMFAC, Yokosuka, Japan, USS CACRONADE QIFS- lj, USS HASSAYAMPA QAO-1455, Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, Naval Advisory Group, Saigon, South Viet- nam, USS TIOGA COUNTY QLST-11415 and in June 1968 Mr. Brisby was appointed Warrant Officer. He reported on board MATACO in October 1968 as Engineering Officer .

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TRAVEL LOG September 4th 1969 seems like a long forgotten da now, W' '1d ' - - - -' ering the separation with their men for the next seven rhonths. Albfast colfltheelwlililstjleglsrlgrltltifsdstliivearririidfnlg ogdggrwfy End n' n . Slowly t e MATACO slips from the berth and heads out the San Die o ch nn l h f 32 000 'l month cruise. The day is bright, but spirits are low. Wh t ld h g a' e on t e start 0 a ' ' ml e' 7 ' gf 311, from the oldest sailor to the newest boot , his fiafstvifrhe at iexaqyage bl-mg' That same question was m the mmds Point Loma llghf fades Ovef the hOIiZOn, steady on course 2670 , destinationg Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On the morning off 11 September, we arrived in Pearl Harbor. Visits from the staff, stores loaded aboard and a last check for spare partsi wo nights of liberty in Honolulu can brighten the spirits of any crew. We are now reafly ready. As the MATAC slips quietly past the memorial of the USS ARIZONA, the pilot house is still. Honors are rendered to the sailors of another war. Then Hawaii .fades in the swells of the beautiful blue Pacific. n On September 21st we arrived at l31k1n1 Atoll. An LCU was sunk in the lagoon and MATACO was asked to help raise it, Forltwo days the divers pumdped voids and patched leaks, then MATACO pulled the half sunken craft toward the beach. There it was grounded, pumpe dryl and reiloated. Our first job was a success. On September 23rd we took Y C-502028 S in tow and headed for Fniwetok. T e next. day we released the tow and started for our homeport , Subic Bay, R, P, As we entered Subic Bay on the morning of the 2nd of October, the reen mountains looked welcoming after weeks at sea, but there was work to be done. Fuel and stores were low. Many tgings that can only be done inport were wait- ing, so it was 'turn to for the men of MATACO. On the evening of October 9th, MATACO took the after section of the Destroyer EVANS in tow. The next afternoon it was sunk quietly at sea. On the 11th of October we pullednalongside a strange looking craft in Subic Bay. YHLC -2 CRANDELL was a heavy lift craft used Harbor Clearance unit ONE.. Waltzing Matilda was taken in tow and we then started out the chan- nel, Ong Mati da would veer from side to side trying to get anything within its reach. When we arrived in Vung Tau, MATAC had traveled 8O0m1les, YHLC -2 1, 100' miles. We released the YHLC -2 in Vung Tau, RVN on the 16th of October and headed up the coast to DaNangi In DaNang we picked up AFDL-22, a oating drydock, and started back down the coast to Cam Ranh Bay. We re- leased the AFDL in Cam Ranh Bay and Igpt some long awaited mail. There is nothing more welcome than a letter. By the 22nd of October we were bac in S ic Bay. After a short rest, we left Subic Bay enroute Sasebo, Japan on the 3rd of November. The trip to Sasebo was rough. The gales swept through the Bashi Channel. MATACO rolled and pitched and rolled, but on the Sth day of November, arrive in Sasebo with only minor storm damage. A two day turn around, and we left Sasebo for Guam with YFRN -412 in tow. We arrived in Guam on the 18th and departed on the 20 of November with a section of the world's largest drydock AFDB 1 Few will for et T hoon Lorna 520 rolls and turkey sandwiches for Thanksgiving Subic Bay never in tow, - , g yp , . looked so good as when we passed Grande Island and released AFDB-1 on December 2nd. The next day we tried to ' ' ' It then ca sized and sank. provide services for the Philippine Navy. After faulty starts one run was made at the target. p Oh well, it was an old target anywaty. On December 7th we departed or Vung Tau and picked up the YHLC -2 and returned to Subic on the 16th of Dec- ember. Then'two days were spent providing target services for the Royal British and Australian Navies. They were crack shots. ' On December 21, we departed Subic, for Singlaplcijre, and as fate would have it at 11A. M. Christmas Day MATACO crossed the Equator. There were now 70 more S e acks in the Navy. After three days of R and R in Singapore we departed on the 29th of December with YFNB-27 in tow, with destination DaNang, RV . We returned I0 Sllble OH the 7th of January. , . 3 On 13 January we de arted Subic and arrived .Hong Kong on the 17th ofjanuary for 5 days of R and R, We left Hong Kong with a fresh coat of paint and latest styles for the states. Where? back to Subic Bay to pick up YOG-71 and take it to DaNang. We left DaNang on the 31st of I anua? bound for Sasebo and arrived there on t e 5th of February. After h two weeks o upkeep and a target tow we departed or t e states. The MATACO'S work however, was not yet finished. Arriving in Pearl Harbor on the 7th of March, we refueled d f S Francisco d d d EX-RENSHAW D -449 'n row boun or an . an eparte on the 9th mth A - Q J 1 ' d S We released the two and head- The Golden Gate was a welcome sight after 7 months away from the Unite tates. . g ed for our home, San Diego, Each person can best remember his own feelings, as the lines went over in San Diego, journey's end,