Myles C Fox (DD 829) - Naval Cruise Book

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19 55 .-- 1964 During the period 4 April to 28 April 1966, FOX underwent DASH qualifications off of Newport and Norfolk, Virginia. FOX participated in the annual cruise for midshipmen training and then went through an upkeep and tender availability period in Newport prior to deployment. From October until April 1967, FOX was deployed to WESTERN PACIFIC spending five months of this time with the SEVENTH Fleet in the South China Sea. Upon return to Newport, FOX conducted local operations. On 26 September 1967, FOX went in to the Shipyard at Boston, Massachusetts for a regularly sche- duled overhaul. Upon completion of the shipyard period on 29 January 1968, FOX conducted local operations before proceeding to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for six weeks of refresher training. On 2 April 1968, FOX returned to Newport for a rou- tine upkeep and leave period before deployment for the Med. at the end of April. FOX operated with the SIXTH Fleet until she returned to Newport on the 12th of October 1968. FOX then began a period of leave and upkeep during the Christ- mas season. Except for local operations the FOX remained in her homeport until February 1969, when she took part in a NASA test of a Mobile Quarantine Facility off the coast of Virginia. The FOX then returned to Newport to continue prepara- tions for a Mid- East deployment. During operation in Middle East waters, FOX maintained a high degree of read- iness while conducting her mission of goodwill. Such previously strange lands as Pakistan, India, Bahrain, countries of East and West Africa became familiar to the men of the FOX.iThe visits of goodwill enjoyed such great success that the received high commendation from the Commander Middle East Force. In September 1969, FOX returned to Newport for an extended inport period. On October 10th, the FOX welcomed a new Captain aboard, Commander Joseph L. DICK relieved Commander James D. MCLUCKIE as Commanding Officer. Shortly thereafter, the FOX was placed in a modified CADRE status at her homeport. The spring of 1970, found the menof the FOX preparing for their training cruise to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. For six weeks during May and June, the FOX under- went stiff training at Guantanamo. After her stay in Cuba, all aboard felt better qualified to accomplish their shipboard duties. l One month later, the FOX departed Newport to participate in the South Ameri- can operations known as UNITAS Xl. UNITAS exercises join the navies of the United States with those of otu' South American neighbors to increase the readiness of all to protect the westernhemisphere. During these operations, FOX was accomp- anied by the following U.S. units: COMCORTRON TEN taboard the FOXJ, USS HARRY E. YARNELL QDLG-171, COMSOLANT, USS JOHN WILLIS KDE-10277, USS PICKEREL QSS-5249, and two P3 anti-submarine aircraft. For the next four months extensive training was conducted with the naval forces of Venezuela, Brazil,Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, and Columbia. Men of the FOX toured the world famous cities of Rio de Janiero, Lima, and Caracas. The highly successful operation was capped by a return passage through the Panama Canal. Finally, on December 6, the FOX was welcomed home to Newport, and her crew enjoyed a long-awaited holiday period with families and friends. On March 12, 1971, the FOX entered the Boston Naval Shipyard for her regular overhaul period. The ship's stay in Boston was highlighted by ceremonies welcom- ing aboard her new Captain, LCDR Gerald P. ASTORINO. Upon completion of her three- month yard period, the FOX returned to Newport for the Fourth of July holidays. Two weeks later, she sailed for a brief rearmament stop at Earle, New Jersey, and a weckend's liberty in New York City. On August 9th, the MYLES C. FOX departed Newport for refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Before reporting for her duties in Cuba, the ship cooper- ated with the nuclear submarine, USS PULASKI, inthe latter's missile firing exer- cises near Cape Kennedy, Florida. For several days, the FOX acted as observation and safety ship while the PULASKI simulated firing intercontinental ballistic mis- siles. Then, on August 16th, the successful firing of a Poseidon missile capped the training exercise. Life for the next four and a half weeks at Guantanamo Bay demanded sacri- fices on the part of each FOX crew member. Twenty-hour days were normal. Yet, the hard work paid dividends when the ship received a satisfactory score on her Operational Readiness Inspection. Her successful refresher training period was enhanced further when the FOX scored well on her Naval Gunfire Support practice at Culebra Island. A tempermental hurricane, Ginger, stirred up a bit of trouble for the ship on her homeward journey, before finally permitting the FOX's return to Newport. 1964 -- 1972

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13 January 1945. HIP'S HISTORY CSS MYLES C. FOX IDD-8295 was launched at the Bath Iron Works Corporation, Bath, Maine on 13 Janum-y 1915. The ship was christened by Mrs. James C. Fox of Stamford, Connecticut, mother of First Lieutenant Myles C. Fox, LIS. Marine Corps. , , CSS FOX was commissioned 20 March 1945, at the Boston Naval Shipyard. After a vigorous shakedown cruise in the Caribbean, she departed from Boston in June and headed for the Pacificbto take part mi the fast moving climax of World War ll. FOX served with the famed TASK FORCE 38 in covering the occupation land- ing on the Japanese home island, and on 21 September she entered Tokyo Bay. Transferred to TASK FORCE 58 upon completion of the occupation campaign in Japan, she operated in the China Sea until her return to the United States in late April 1946. ' U i ,ifter several months of operations on the west coast of the United States, during which she underwent O ' t for a nine month cruise This cruise was highlighted overhaul at Long Beach, the ship rettuned to the rien . by the rescue of 600 survivors from a stranded passenger ship which had been overturned by a typhoon near Hong Kong. In May 1919, she was transferred to the Atlantic Fleet and to the Homeport of Newport, Rhode Island. ln 1950 and 1951, she made two six month cruises to the Mediterranean. In May 1952 she began to prepare for another cruise to the MED. In late August, the ship left Newport to participate in Operation MAINBRACE, the first large-scale NATO Naval maneuver, during which the ship crossed the Artic Circle. At the completion of MAINBRACE, she proceeded to Lisbon for another MED cruise. The ship returned to the United States in Februarv 1953, and from June to August midshipmen from the Naval Academy and NROTC students from civilian colleges were embarked for a training cruise in South America. A -' P 1' t ' d the Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia for three months of overhaul and major In the spring of 1954, I OX en ere conversion work. That fall she made a cruise to the Gulf of Mexico and she participated in Atlantic Fleet exer. cises. ln May 1955, 1956, and 1957 the ship deployed to the Mediterranean for four month tours of duty with the SIXTH Fleet. After the 1957 cruise, she joined a NATO exercise in Northern Europe and held the distinction of being further north of the Arctic Circle than any ship in the exercise. In 1959 she made another trip to the MED, this tour of duty with the SIXTH Fleet lasted until February 1960. In May, her homeport was changed I X ' ' I I' d t Ma ort, Florida. In 1960 and 1961, FOX again operated with the SIXTH Fleet from Nciipott, Rhode san 0 yp on Mediterranean cruises. During the 1961 cruise, she established new standards of excellence for her class and was awarded the Navy E for overall Battle Efficiency. In January 1964, the homeport was changed to Boston, Massachusetts in order for the ship to undergo Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization in the Boston Naval Shipyard. In the Boston Yard, the ship converted from a radar picket destroyer to a DD. Two new anti-submarine weapons ASROC and DASH were added, and the en- ' ' l' nt vas com letely overhauled to increase the ship's operational capabilities. Through commendable gineering p a i p cooperation between the shipyard workers and FOX crew, the FRAM MK I was completed a full month ahead of schedule at an estimated saving of some 5B760,000. After nine weeks of refresher training in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, FOX returned briefly to Newport before going to Cape Kennedy to participate in special operations with the nuclear submarine USS JOHN C. CALHOUN. FOX departed Newport, Rhode Island for the Mediterranean in July 1965 for a four month cruise, operation with the SIXTH Fleet and returned to Newport in November 1965. In January 1966, after routine upkeep and leave period in Newport during the holi- days, FOX deployed on Springboard Operations in the Caribbean returning to Newport on 22 February 1966. On 6 March 1966, FOX was assigned as a member of the GEMINI-8 team and de- parted for EASTLANT in company with the USS CALOOSAHATCHEE tAO-985 and the USS CHARLES P. CECIL QDD-8353, while in EASTLANT a distress signal was received from the merchant freighter MfV PALMA of Swedish registry. The PALMA had an uncontrollable fire in her forward holds and upon receipt of the distress mes- sage, FOX proceeded at best possible speed to aid the distress vessel. Upon arrival firefighting teams from the FOX worked day and night for three days in twelve-hour shifts combating the fire. FOX was later joined by firefighting teams from the USS CALOOSAHATCHEE and USS CHARLES P. CECIL. After getting the fire under con- trol and MXV PALMA Safely on its way to port, FOX was detached with congratu- latory messages from CNO, CINCLANTFLT, COMCRUDESLANT, and COMSOLANT for a job well done. 945 '-1954

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Lieutenant Commander Gerald P. Astorino, USN Commanding 0ffioer,USS Myles C.FoX fDD-829l f . - KY 1--, J 1,f',,h M9541 I rf W 1- - Wi Lieutenant Commander Gerald P. Astorino, USN, was born in New York City on January 23, 1936. After receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree from the Maine Maritime Academy in June 1958, he reported aboard the USS SAFEGUARD CARS 25j, where he served as Operations Officer untiljuly 1960. In August 1960, Lieutenant Commander Astorino became the Weapons Officer of the USS ARNOLD ISBELI. QDD869j. His next billet was that of Communications Officer for COMMANDER ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE FORCE PACIFIC, which he held from August 1962 until December 1964. Lieutenant Commander Astorino received his first Command at Sea when he became Commanding Officer of the USS KALMIA QATA 184, in January 1965. This tour was fol- lowed by two years of Post Graduate School in Monterey. California, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government and Inter- national Relations in June 1969. Following a tour as Executive Officer of the USS THEODORE E. CHANDLER QDD-7175, Lieutenant Commander Astorino relieved Com- mander Joseph L. Dick as Commanding Officer of the USS MYLES C. FOX QDD-829l on 16 April 1971. Lieutenant Commander Astorino and his wife, the former Joan de Bruin of San Francisco, California, have two children, Allison and Paul. Lieutenant Commander Astorino holds the Navy Commendation Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, the National Defense Medalg the Viet- nam Service Medal with four Bronze stars, the Armed Forces Expedi- tionary Medal, Koreag and the Vietnam Campaign Medal, with clasp 1960.