Morton (DD 948) - Naval Cruise Book

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FASTEST GUN IN THE EAST FROM: 12TH MARINE RECIMENT TO: USS MORTON WE HAVE BEEN CREATLY IMPRESSED WITH YOU SO FAR. YOUR CALL FOR FIRE ANSWERINC AND RATE OF FIRE ARE ALMOST UNBE LIEVABLE. NICE HAVING YOU AROUND . BT ,K --1-751,14--Q.--T-x.w , ,A wr -.., FI ff FROM: USS PYRO TO: USS MORTON AS BEFORE IT WAS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOUR SALTIE . A VERY PROFESSIONAL UNREP BY SOME OUTSTANDING HUSTLERS . YOU HAVE BECOME A FAVORITE CUSTOMER. ...BT.. 9

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the area where the muzzle flashes were observed. When we went in to put more rounds on the sites, again we received enemy fire. One Cruiser and six Destroyers, in- cluding the Australian destroyer HMAS PERTH, were called in to assist us and direct their fi r e p owe r onto the sites. When the large group of ships left the next day MORTON and PERTH remained on station to continue firing. As the af- ternoon of 30 September passed unevent- fully, the crew felt safe in the knowledge that the relief ship would arrive early the next morning. Altho ugh still alert and serious, all hands expected our last night on the line to be quiet and routine . At about 0200 on the morning of l October, however, while firing into the DMZ, the lookouts spotted muzzle flashes in the same area as before . Seconds later shells were landing close to the ship, the ship was r etiring at flank speed, and crew members were scrambling to their Battle Stations. The rest of the morning passed quietly, but none of the crew will forget the sight of our relief ship on the horizon as we moved out to sea to be relieved. The 1967 MORTON WestPac Cruise was truly an eventful and action filled experience for all. Through it the ship and its crew came out unscathed. All of the cruise, however, was not spent off the coast of Vietnam. None will forget the many UnReps from supply ships 3 the anticipation of mail call , the fatigue of stowing projectilesg or getting up in the middle of the night to receive fuel. Nor will anyone forget our inport time, where repairs and maintenance were completed, and where the crew had a chance to re- lax and see the sights. Yokosuka, japan, Subic Bay, Philippines, Hong Kong, BCC, Ka go s hima , japan, all bring to mind unique and memorable experiences. The first taste of an exotic oriental food, a nightclub, the glamorous Hong Kong Hil- ton, the fantastic shopping deal in Hong Kong, or getting taken by the street vendor in Japan. These and many more are memories that the MORTON crew have of the 1967 WestPac Cruise. The USS MORTON has probably seen as much action as any de- stroyer in the Vietnam war. There were trying, exciting, happy and lonely times, but as the cruise drew to a close nobody doubted that again MORTON proved that she is the Saltiest Ship in the Fleet .

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rlmnlra '-1' fig 5 F , if FROM: CTC SEVEN ZERO PT EIGHT TO: USS MORTON FOR COMMANDINC OFFICER HAVE WATCHED YOUR FIRING AND YOUR VERY SUCCESSFUL DODGING WITH KEEN ADMIRATION. YOU HAVE EARNED OUR RESPECT. WELL DONE ...BT... S2 I I FROM: COMSEVENTHFLT TO: USS MORTON SAYONARA I. AS YOU LEAVE SEVENTH FLEET, I CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR OUT- STANDING PERFORMANCE IN THE WIDE VARIETY OF TASKS YOU HAVE ACCOM- PLISHED IN WESTPAC. YOUR WORK AS AN ATTACK CARRIER ESCORT, AND ON OPERATION SEA DRAGON, AS WELL AS THE EXCEPTIONAL JOB YOU DID WHILE OPERATING AS A NAVAL GUNFIRE SUPPORT SHIP, ESTABLISHED YOU A REPUTA TION THROUGHOUT THE FLEET AS A SHIP OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY, WE ARE SORRY TO SEE YOU GO. 2. BEST WISHES ON YOUR TRIP HOME, AND FOR A HAPPY HOME COMING. VADM JOHN J. HYLAND, USN . .BT. . . IO