Saint Paul (CA 73) - Naval Cruise Book

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FOREWORD The heavy cruiser Saint Paul s tlurd Vietnam deployment began March 20, 1968, when she steamed westward past Point Loma s Cabrillo monument, and out into the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean The sight of San Diego fading mto the distance could not help but evoke reflective thoughts of home of those whom we were leaving behind and also of that which lay ahead Both apprehensiveness and confidence were born of those thoughts. Thus began Saint Paul s third combat deployment to WESTPAC operations in the Vietnam conflict Ahead lay seven long months away from home and loved ones. But also ahead were seven months that would break all previous records for naval gunfire support During her 103 days on the gunhne off both North and South Vietnam, Saint Paul fired a record total of 64 055 rounds making a total for the Vietnam conflict of more than 93 000 rounds These figures established the 23 year-old Saint Paul as Top Gun having fired more rounds during a single deployment, and more rounds in all her deployments than any other warship The months of this cruise rolled past with adventure entertainment, quiet hours of letter writing uplifting mail calls wedged thinly between long periods of strenuous, difficult work paid visits to the ports of Pearl Harbor Hawau Yokosuka Japang Hong Kong, B.C.C., and Keelung Taiwan Saint Paul also spent a regunnmg period in Subic Bay, Republic of the Pluhppines during which her well worn eight inch and five-inch guns were replaced with new ones Every port and many at sea highhnes meant farewells being said to departing shipmates Others were congratulated upon reenhstmg and continuing their naval careers This then was a cruise colored many hues with the forming of fast friendships, of tolling together to accomphsh a purposeful and important mission. It was a time of tediousness countered by excitement of long months relieved by visits to exotic ports peopled by persons with fascinating customs It was periods of Spartan seriousness tempered by joyous laughter And because of the sum of all these things and because of their effect upon each of us, we shall not forget Vietnam 1968 and our part in Saint Paul s mission. During short respites from the 24-hour-a-day tiring schedule, the Fighting Saints 3 .' 1 i 1 ll i 1 u E

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IET M 1968 VIETNAM 1968, the story of a combat deployment in a heavy cruiser, is more than anything else the story of the men who manned and fought this historic and powerful weapon which we call the 'gFighting Saintf, The reader who leafs through these pages, whether today in 1968 or tomorrow in 1980, will tind that this book is dedicated to the idea that it was the minds, the energy and the strength of men-this crew-which made this cruise memorable. For this reason, VIETNAM 1968 is dedicated to the men of Saint Paul, and its contents are arranged so as to give them the largest share of the story that these 132 pages seek to illuminate. ,fi XS... , X

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