Norris (DD 859) - Naval Cruise Book

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W Q ff Commander Robert F. Massimi, en- tered the U.S. Merchant Marine in 1944. After serving six years in the Deck Depart- ments of various Merchant Ships, he at- tended the Maritime Service Officer Can- didate School and received his license as a Third Officer in the Merchant Service. After two years as a Deck Officer on m e r c h a nt vessels, Commander ,Massimi was commissioned as Ensign, USNR. His first tour was on USNS D.C. SHANKS QTAP- 180j as Communications Officer. In 1953, he at t e n d e d Explosive Ordnance Disposal School and was assigned to USSPHIL- IPPINE SEA QCV-475 upon graduation. Released to inactive duty in 1955 , Com- mander Massimi attended the University of Maryland for one year. He was then selected for a Regular Navy commission and sent to CIC Officer's School. From 1956 through 1959 he served as OperationsOfficer aboard USS HYMAN QDD-7325 and then as MMANDI G OFFICER R. F. Massimi Commander USN Executive Officer of USS KYNE IDE-75145. In 1959 C ommander Massimi was ordered ashore as a student at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., under the Five Term College Program.He received his Bachelors Degree in Inter- national Relations in June 1961, and was assigned as Executive Officer of USS HAZELWOOD IDD-5315. In 1962 , Commander Massimi assumed command of USS RHODES QDER-3841 and in 1963 began a tour of duty on the Staff of Commander Cruiser, Destroyer Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, as Assistant F0rC6 Personnel Officer. From January to June 1966 he attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. Commander Massimi is married to the former Valerie Marie Gallotta Of Providence, Rhode Island. They have tWQ children, Nancy Anita, 3, and Robin Lisa, 2.

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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.

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CRUI E BOOK FOREWORD To all Norrismen, We have steamed together some 45,000 miles in just a few days short of seven months. During that time we have spent about 56 days in port and almost 150 days at sea. You have all come to know your ship and your shipmates extremely well and now the time is upon us when many close friendships must of necessity come to an end. Many of you will now go your separate ways, some in this fine Navy of ours and some not, but in any case I am sure that you will not soon forget your deployment on the good s hip NORRIS. She has treated us well and richly deserves our praise. I For the young men, I must say that although you perhaps have not recognized it in your- selves, you have grown, matured, and broadened in the past seven months. You are now men with the ultimate responsibility that manhood demands. I only hope that as you go forth from this ship you go as men with agreater understanding of your responsibilities to your country, your families and yourselves. That no matter what profession you may choose, this period will have, in some way, better prepared you for your future. To the 'fold timers I extend my thanks for your excellent support and hard work without which the ship would have never achieved the envious record she so richly deserves.You were the backbone of the ship and my steady right hand. Godspeed to all of you who will be leaving us. We, together, suffered through some bad times and enjoyed some good. I am sure that as time softens memory the good times will be more fondly remembered and the bad almost totally forgotten. 'This is as it should be and I hope that as the years pass we will have the op- portunity to meet once again. The deployment to Southeast Asia was made to do a job. We did it! I am proud of everyone of you. Warmest regards to all of you, ROBERT F. MASSIMI