Oklahoma City (CLG 5) - Naval Cruise Book

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HIP' CHA GE of C MA Q Q On 5 August, 1964, the OKCITY received a new Commanding Officer when Captain Harry A. Seymour relieved Captain Emmett P. Bonner. The cyeremony had an added note of tension and a noticable lack of invited guests. Early that morning every able ship had left and others were making hurried preparations. Their destination: South China Sea and the Gulf of Tonkin. We sailed the next morning with our new CO. ...NDEP RTI H... and ...WARRI I GH... CAPT E. P. Bonner GAPT H. A. Seymour f S

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,pw ABOVE-Palm trees line the sea wall for the first time since Hawaii. ABOVE RIGHT-Motor whale boat on patrol. Due to the proximity of the fighting and the notorious bombings, every security measure was taken. A quiet and beautiful setting, marred by ' uneasiness and tension. BELOW-A fishing village along the river.

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ali I lv 6 August, 1964+That morning the ship was a hub of activity as preparations were made to get underway for a then unknown destination. Because of the recent happenings in the Gulf of Tonkin, it was generally believed that we would be going in that direction. It was not until we were about two days out of Yokosuka that the ofhcial word was passed. . . .the ship will proceed to the South China Sea for an indefinite period .... This announcement served to remind the men that although the OKLAHOMA CITY was serving as SEVENTH Fleet Flagship, she was primarily a fighting ship. As we approached the Station area the tension mounted and the rumors ran wild. Condition Three watches were a part of the daily routine for the first couple of weeks and then when they were c ance lled all that was left to do was wait. On 31 August, after 25 days of patrol, the ship pulled into Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines on a standby basis. The crisis was over for the OKLAHOMA CITY, and in December the ship was presented the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for her part in the operation in the critical are-at