Remey (DD 688) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 10 text:

MEDITERRANEAN cnuiss ssrirzman-necsmssn 1953 by THOMAS L. DAVIDSON, YN3 DONNELLY J. WOLF, PN3 When the Screaming REMEY left the U.S.A. Twas on 16 September for ClUlfe 0 5lOYf A Operation Mariner was it's name, With the U.N forces all in the game. With the WADLEIGH and YOUNG we left on a course To rendezvous with the others that made up our force Then the BEARSS, WILSON, DAMATO we found, And the carrier SIBONEY, the hunter-killer hound. On ASW we couldn't be beat, Then we found ourselves in the ambulance seat, With a sick pilot from the SIBONEY, We dashed to England, 700 miles away. 27 September late at night, we delivered our patient, Fulfilling our plight. Six hours later, our job well done, All engines ahead flank we gave her the gun. The day was clear, the course was right, But at rendezvous point there was no one in sight. For two days we steamed in search of our force, Twas then we discovered they had set a new course. When we finally rejoined with the task force that day, To England was the order, we returned for a stay. With Plymouth the port, hospitality fine, Though the stay was short, we had agood time. Then anchors aweigh and England astern Underway for the Med where our medal wie earn. Algiers our first stop, where customs are strange, We knew we were in for quite a change. The alleys were many, the lights they were few Of food there was plenty, still we liked Navy stew. The men in their turbans, the women in veil A visit to the Casbah and then we set sail. I Cagliari, Sardinia was the next spot Where the REMEY again made a non-scheduled stop. With our steam built-up and motion quite jerky We re'oi d h l l ne t e task group to move on to Turkey.

Page 9 text:

.,...,...P......,,...,., .. .. ,. ,.,.....-if-.-wg. f-www., . . . . 1 . ,ef.. .Af G . VM, WY... . Fw, .w Q . In f -f-'wg' ,P fl P.. ra W 1 1 fit' S i 'lag w - H... -cf ... ...ere . , - eds.:-,ici -.1 ' ...M SHlP'S HISTORY USS REMEY DD688 was launched in July 1943, by the Bath Iron Works Corporation, Maine. She was commissioned at Boston Navy Yard, Charleston, Massachusetts, September 30, 1943, with Lieutenant Commander Reid P. Fiala, USN, Commanding. Her sponsor was Miss Angelica C. REMEY, daughter of the. namesake, the late Rear Admiral G. C. REMEY, U. S. Navy. USS REMEY is a 2100 ton destroyer, 376' 6 in length, 39' 5 beam width and is capable of speeds in excess of 3.0 knots. At the present time there are aboard approximately 300 enlisted men and 17 officers. The armament includes the main battery of five inch guns, several 40 millimeter anti-aircraft guns, depth Charge batteries and other anti-submarine weapons. During a period of twenty months, dating from January 1944, the REMEY participated in a series of leapfrog advances along the insular invasion route to Japan proper. Ten U01 battle stars were earned on the Asiatic-Pacific Area Service Medal. REMEY was decommissioned 10 December 1946. She was recommissioned at San Diego, California on 14 November, 1951, with Commander T. C. Williamson, U. S. Navy, in Command. Since joining the Atlantic Fleet in February 1952, 'REMEY has taken part in various fleet exercises including a concentrated six weeks training period at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Hunter-Killer At- lantic Fleet Operations. Commander V. C. Langan, U. S. Navy, relieved Commander Williamson on Sept. 3, 1953. ...-, ,, Y, WEN- --V- '-f,f,,m,L,- V- -..:?.-......fA-..e,,,.f- - - -

Page 11 text:

For the crew while in Izmir tim-,-y pulled quite Q grunt, They made up a si iteduie for a mighty boar hunt, The 688 again led the pack, We killed the most boars, too many to bring back, For coffee, sandwiches and all things to eat, The canteen in Izmir just couIdn't be beqt, With the wind in our hair, salt spray on our face, The floating hotel again set the pace. An Island they said was our next destination, Maybe temples of gold!! Gosh, what imagination. Crete was the Island, the question what's there? But there was a city so why should we care? The midnight oil did burn that night, For stores we did carry with all of our might, A smoker was planned for the ships while in port, The schedule was jokes, with boxing the sport. The screws were turning, the force in a screen, We proceeded to Greece with much to be seen. The tours we were offered were many and great, The sights we encountered were of historical date. As we stood by the Acropolis with wonder and awe, ln our minds we could picture the ancient Greek Law The columns of marble though centuries old, Still stood in the ruins with the story they told. As Athens and Pireaus faded from sight, We took up a course for the great Roman might. When we neared the last port while our stay in the Med, A towering volcano loomed up dead ahead. Mount Vesuvius they called her, Though she was a bit still, We could see at a glance she was quite a big hill. Now Naples l'm sure the crew will remember, A beautiful city in all of its splendor. Two points of interest they said we would see, Were that of Pompei and also Capri. The Redskins again accomplished quite a feat, ln fleet athletics, we just couldn't be beat. With a hearty congrat from 62.l, The A was awarded, for the championship we won. Pick up your anchors was the word and sound, All engines ahead full, we're now homeward bound. The States sure looked good as we ceased to roam. We are now surer than ever, that There's no place like home