Norris (DD 859) - Naval Cruise Book

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VIETNAM DEPLOYMENT OF USS NORRIS DD-8591 I GULF or R Q Tomuu ..ir1:1:2Es2s2s22:e:s:s2s2z2s2s. mp '5:2:2:g. w '7 gy 96 C20 Haw., THAILAND N JL Q 1 scum cHlNA sen CAMBODIA A? b Q6 ro A .. 43, ...,,.... ., K' Q Ooavfa ,, GULF 6 ' or smm Q Q P x 4 OCTOBER - 25 APRIL 1966 1967

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hip's Histor On 4 October USS NORRIS CDD-8595 steamed out of Newport Harbor in company with five other DESRON TWENTY ships en- route to the Western Pacific. For the first time since WW II NORRIS was returning t o the South China Sea, where she had served eighteen months of continuous duty in 1945- 1946. Coincidentally, her mission today re- mains the same twenty years hence, specif- ically, shore bombardment in support of ground forces. Through the Panama Canal and across the Pacific NORRIS men repeatedly drilled and trained, exercising at battle stations in order that each man would soon become a proficient and integral part of the whole. Teamwork was emphasized and individual precision required. Enroute to her duties, NORRIS made brief but interesting stops at Pearl Harbor for seven days, Yokosuka,Japan,for three, and Subic Bay, Philippines, for one day. On the gray and humid dawn for 21 November, as NORRIS was approaching her station 1500 yards off the coast of the III Corps Area, she was requested to answer an emergency call for fire.Before she had re- ported on station, she fired twenty rapid rounds from her 5 f 38 cal. forward mount against an enemy small-arms enplacement on the beach. From that early dawn until 19 December, NORRIS fired her guns contin- uously, day and night, in emergency and in harassment, until in one brief month she had expended over 6200 rounds of ammunition. She was credited with the rescue of an un- derwater demolition team, twice the pre- vention of enemy occupation of friendly hamlets, and in general the discouraging of a large enemy build-up in the Rung Sat area. Her fire was reported to be accurate and effective. Targets, spotted during the day from the air, consisted of enemy supply de- pots, entrenchments, infiltration routes, personnel, sampans, and rice cashes. In one instance her gunfire support allowed the crew of a PBR not only to avoid an ambush but also to bring back two Viet Cong, one killed in action, the other wounded. On 21 December NORRIS arrived in Subic Bay to allow some well-earned rest for the crew, and to re-barrel both her for- ward and after mounts. Christmas, while dampened by separation from friends and family, at least could be celebrated in are- laxed atmosphere away from the gunline. On 31 December, NORRIS departed Subic and transited to Hong Kong to spend two weeks as SOPA QADMINl , the liason between visiting U.S. Navy Ships and the British Shore facilities. Then on 13 January NORRIS steamed back to the gunline and, while suffering rough seas and foul weather, acted as an escort for Marine convoys trav- eling the beach route from DaNang to Hue. Twenty three January, found NORRIS once again departing the coastal water enroute to Yokosuka, Japan and their efficient ship- yard facilities. After a two week visit, NORRIS re- turned to III Corps Area, republic of Viet Nam, arriving 18 February. In the next 10 days NORRIS was back in her element, the scene of her first encounter, and she fired another 1200 rounds into the area. She then moved north into II Corps Area and con- tinued to pummel the elusive enemy. On 3 March she fired her guns for the last time on the deployment, with a grand total of over 8,600 rounds expended. For the next week she tried her skill at another mission, that of plane guarding for a fast attack carrier striking force. On 9 March NORRIS was dismissed from her duties and pro- ceeded to Subic Bay and places west. The transit home was an ideal com- bination of steady steaming and interesting ports-of-call, with enough of each to allow maximum interest in minimum time. Port stops included Singapore, Malaysia, India, Aden, Arabiag Port Suez and Port Said for tr an sit onlyg Pireaus, Greece, N apl e s, Italyg Barcelona, Spain, and Gibralter. Also included in the itinerary was a dip below the Equator in which Neptunus Rex received due adoration and a sacrifice. On 25 April, exactly 203 days after departure, NORRIS steamed proudly intoNewportandwel- comed aboard long - departed friends and relatives.