Richard B Anderson (DD 786) - Naval Cruise Book

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WESTPAC 70 USS R.B. ANDERSON IDD-7861

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PLMBQ. MEAN M10

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ANDERSON'S DEPLOYMENT Anderson made a quiet departure from Long Beach on 27 July 1970. A ' th W t r brief visit to Hawaii was the most exciting part of the transit to e es e n l imens red earth and white sand beaches adorned the Pacific. Flora spec , , islands. After brief refueling stops in Midway and Guam, Anderson reached its home-away-from-home, Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines. This was l' se of the port to which the crew was to become most accustomed. the first g imp . Upon leaving Subic Bay, the ship proceeded to the Gulf of Tonkin for a short line period with the attack carrier USS Bon Homme Richard. After completing 1 rdin duties Anderson accompanied Bon Homme Richard and USS p anegua g , Davidson QDE-10455 to Singapore. The British people were very congenial to their American cousins and many Anderson sailors took part in tours of the surrounding area. Singapore was indeed the first of many exciting stays in foreign lands. y Anderson sailed out of Singapore and then dipped just far south enough to arouse King Neptune from the deeps. During the traditional crossing the equator ceremony, the pollywogs felt Neptune's wrath in more ways than one. It could be said that the episode was a spine tingling experience filled with gastronomic delights. After a short three day period for replenishment in Subic Bay, the next assignment found the ship southwestward bound for the Gulf of Siam, where for the next three weeks over 1400 rounds of 5 inch! 38 caliber ammunition were fired by the shipis guns in support of the 21st ARVN Division's operations in the U Minh forest area of South Vietnam. On completion of the Naval Gunfire Support assignment, Anderson joined the attack carrier USS Oriskany for a transit to Yokosuka, Japan. Along the way a young lady, with the unlikely name of Joan, kicked up her heels and played havoc with the menof DD-786. She was indeed an unwelcomed passenger.