Norris (DDE 859) - Naval Cruise Book

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BCICIC to GUOnfdI1Gmo Bay on 27 February 1952, The NORRIS again proceeded to Guantanamo as part of an operating force. All hands seem d ' - for a cold New England Winter. e to agree that a southern cruise was lust the cure The NORRIS returned to Newport on 19 March and remained there for leave and upkeep until 28 March. A short cruise to New York City followed and ten days were spent there while addi- tional gear was installed. On 19 April, 1952 the NORRIS departed enroute to the Med't . I erranean. While In the Med. The NORRIS took part in hunter-killer excercises and operation 'beehive . Numerous ports were visited such as Tangier, Marseilles, Naples, and Gibraltar. The return trip to the States was broken by a short stay in the Azores. The NORRIS steamed int N o arragansett Bay on 27 .lune 1952. This cruise- was followed by a two month period in and around the Newport area . ' 26 August 1952 marked the departure of the NORRIS plus many other Deslant units to take part in operation Mainbrace . On 11 September 1952 ,we arrived firth of forth, Scotland for a few days of liberty in Edinburg, Scotland. Prior to Mainbrce. This- operation took place in the North Sea in company with Naval Vessels of the NATO Nations and was concluded on 24 Septem- ber. The next day 25 September The NORRIS entered Port and moored in the Thames River at southend-on-sea, England for a four day visit. During these four days all hands had the ooportun- ity to visit London. On the morning of 29 September, The NORRIS departed from Southend-on-sea. and via the English channel preceded to Newport, arriving on 12 October after an uneventful crossing The next several months were devoted to hunter-killer operations. During this period on 30 November, Command of the USS NORRIS changed hands. Commander A.A. Richards was re- lieved by Commander Elmer B. Fiorini, USN. On February 1953 The NORRIS steamed past Brenton Reef Light Ship and headed east to ioin the Sixth Fleet. After eighteen days The NORRIS drop- ped anchor off Golfe Juan on the French Riviera. The ports touched during this three months tour of duty with Sixth Fleet included Naples, Gibraltar, Bougie and Toulon. Besides the usual train- ing operations, The NORRIS took part in operation Rendezvous when she was ioined by British and Italian Destroyers. - The return trip was broken by a short stay in the Azores where the NORRIS spent the Easter holidays. The NORRIS entered Narragansett Bay on 12 April 1953, with a well trained and closely coordinated crew. The summer of '53 was spent in the U.S. Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, Penn. for the normal yard overhaul period. After a brief visit in Newport the NORRIS, with a last deep breath steamed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for a intensive refresher training course which drew the utmost in effort and application from all hands. Their ehf-IGGVOTS Wefe well rewarded 95 the NORRIS emerged from the cruise a seasoned and efficient ship-tops in the division. On 12 November 1953 The NORRIS moored in Narragansett Bay, Newport, Rhode Island. On 29 November 1953, Cqptq in Fiorini was relieved by Commander Robert S. Guy, USN, who reported to the NORRIS from Key West, Florida . 'On 5 January 1954 The NORRIS sortied out of Narragansett Bay for Duty with the Sixth Fleet On 20 Jqfluafy 1'954, The NORRIS Meamofea in AI9ie'S faking up her fishffvl Pfgsifiof' with Sixth Fleet as a ambassador of 900d will and NATOIS right mm' After C short vlsll lo Augusta Bay, Sicily, The NOR RIS proceeded to the Adriatic Sea Alone, as Task Force 65 deployed to Phaleron Greece. After leaving Greece the NORRIS became Task Force 64 which was to oper- qfe in fhe Adriatic Seq until 'I9 March. While there she visited Treiste, Venice, Aninna, Bari and 3,-indisi. Wifi, I-,ef four of Adriatic Duty completed, The little No steamed into Naples, Italy on 20 March which marked the half way point for NORRIS Med tour Number four. After Na les came fleet, operations. Between operations she visited in Aliconte, Slain, San Remo, Cahnes and Genoa. On 17 May the NORRIS passed Gibraltar to starboard which was a welcome sight for all hands. Newport was sighted on 26 May 1954. The long cruise WGS at GH end-

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'f' . -new--.w1.. .nlamnu-r-:v-31,..4u- 1:-u.u.,.,.. ........,........-1--- L---H Though built too late to see action in World War II, The USS NORRIS, named after the late Maior Beniamin Norris, USMC, who was killed in the battle of Midway, is nonetheless a well- traveled ship. The keel for this 2400-ton Destroyer was laid 29 August 1944 in San Pedro,CaI-- ifornia and was launched 25 February 1945. Finally, after three months of additional outfitting, testing and checking on 9 .lune 1945, the comission pennant was two blocked . Following commissioning, the new Destroyer sailed into the Pacific and commenced an exten- sive shakedown cruise off Southern Califronia. An enginering casualty forced the early return of the ship to the building yard, and it was there that she greeted the end of hostilities. By Sept. 1945 the NORRIS was again ready for sea and sailed from San Pedro Harbor to take up a new role as a training ship for the precommissioning training center at Treasure Island. At the end of this duty she steamed to Pearl Harbor, where she arrived on I7 December 1945. After leaving Pearl Harbor, in January 1946 until arriving in the States in February 1947 The NORRIS was engaged in patrol duty in the South China Seas with Task Forces 74, 71. On 1 May 1947 the NORRIS entered Puget Sound Naval shipyard for a much needed overhaul On 2 December 1947 The NORRIS proceded for another tour of duty with the 7th Fleet in China returning in August, 1948. In company with her China duty consorts The NORRIS entered the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Valleio, California for refitting and alteration. On 28 May, 1949 the division steamed out of the Golden Gate with barnd new silhouettes Hedgehogs had replaced the No. 2 gun mounts. On October 1949 the NORRIS was re-deployed to the Atlantic Fleet where she particpated in Huk-Lant exercises, Portrex and Caribex. On 5 July 1950, The NORRIS departed her home port Newport, Rhode Island, for ,duty in the Mediterranean area. Upon arrival in Greece, the NORRIS was ordered to proceed via the Suez Canal and Columbo ,Ceylon for duty in the Far East. From August 1950 to February 1951 she was attached to the U.S. Seventh Fleet, operating in Formosan and Korean waters. During her tour of duty she ran blockade patrols and conducted shore bombard- ment. During one of these patrols she received orders to leave the formation and investigate a Chinese iunk, sighted approximately forty miles off the Korean Coast north of the 38th parallel. The 21 exhausted and frost-bitten south Koreans found aboard the junk were transferred to the NORRIS and transported to Pusan, South Koria for medical treatment and shelter. The NORRIS returned to Newport, Rhode Island in early March 1951, and early in April moved to the Boston Naval Shipyard for a long over-due overhaul. In July the yard period ended and Commander Albert A. Richards, USN, Relieved Commander .I.L.P. McCallum, USN, as command officer. On 31 .luly 1951, The NORRIS proceeded to Guantanamo Cuba via Norfolk for a six week I- 'd9 W Y IWIIIIUSL PEFIOCI- This period contained just about everlything in the book,and Qrlprabbgizalgeyv nrt IlsteiI,I-but The NORRIS earned her '. satisfactory . In the latter part of 1951 . . oo pu 9 Gnfflex 52 0Pel'GfI0n, consisting of 30 days of drills and steady steam- Ing returning to Newport for the Holidays.

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