Stickell (DD 888) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS STICKELL DD-888 COMMAND IRIISTORY - is named for the late Lieutenant .Iohn Stickell, U.S. Naval Reserve. Lietg2ia?1'fIg?cl?cgil ieliigagiiwthe Naval Service after a tour in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He served with the 108th Bombing Squadron in t.he Pacific and was awarded the Navy Cross, Dis- ' ' ' ir Medal for his action, tmgflflfeleltklafxfylgfolsfsdviagnaiwfarded for his gallant actions against the 'enemy during action over the Marshall Islands in 2943. Seriously wounded and in great pain, he .risked his own life to save his crew. Lieutenant Stickell's expert airmanship and tenacious devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. . g USS STICKELL was built by the Consolidated Steel Company in Orange, Texas during 1945 and was commissioned in October of that year. She joined the Atlantic lfleet for a short period and then proceeded to the Pacific Fleet in early 1946. From 1946 1.0 1950, she Pefflelpaled In three Far East Tours as part of the occupation forces. After the outbreak of the Korean War, the ship received five engagement stars for action against Communist aggression. 1 On December 31, 1952, STICKELL was decommissioned for the purpose of becoming a radar picket destroyer. Nine months later, on September 1, 1953 she was recommissioned a DDR . During the ten years that followed, STlCKELL's assignments were VUOSUY In the meld of Anti-Air Warfare in the Atlantic and through several Med cruises. STICKELI, was 21 leader IH the anti-air warfare field and was awarded the DESLANT Anti-Air Wilffliff? TFOPIIY in 1951- l Having served well as a DDR, STICKELL entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Ma.V 1963 for a nine month FRAM Mark I conversion, where she traded her anti-air specialties forthe latest ASW equipment including ASROC and DASH. She rejoined the fleet in early 1964 SS H strai ht DD. . Since 1964, STICKELL has sailed in nearly all corners of .the world and has participated in many types of operations including Med Cruises, ASW Exercises, Gemini Space shots, Midshipmen Training Cruises to Northern Europe, Dominican Republic emergency, Tonkin Gulf, South China Sea, and an around the world cruise in 1966. After her last Med Cruise ending in March 1970, it appeared that STICKELL was a strong candidate for retirement after some twenty five years of service to the nation. Her remaining days of commissioned service seemed certain to be short when, the official word was received that STICKELL had been placed in a Modified Cadre status. Life started to slowly drain from the ship as the number of personnel on board started to decrease with no replacements ordered in. Activity in the engineering spaces slowed down. Fewer and fewer repairs were being completed due to lack of funds, lack of experienced personnel and lack of incentive that is always Pfesem in a ship that is about to be de-commissioned. However, in September 1970, this all changed when the official word was received that STICKELL must fulfill at least one more major assignment, a six months cruise back iIll0 the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. She Wes Scheduled to dePl0Y in January 1971 and return to Norfolk in .luly. lt had been nearly four years since a shipyard overhaul, and none was scheduled prior to deployment. ln addition, funds were limited for making the necessary repairs for the cruise. llowever, on 7 January 1971, after months of a backbreaking effort hy her crew, t.o repaff the 6'H8'lf16'6I'1Hg Plant, STICKELL departed Norfolk, on schedule, for a 35,740 mile voyage that ended in Norfolk on 29 June 1971. This - - is the story of that voyage. A

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fANDING O 'FICER I A d CDR. A. J. Buchanan U. S. Navy NAN graduated from the Ursinus College, Wyoming Seminary and did orge Washington University. He reported to USS STICKELL on 26 N 0- Politico-Military Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. He RUCHAMKIN KAPD-8.92 and has been Executive Officer of the USS WILLIS 5 DE SOTO COUNTY KLST-11712. His other assignments at sea included ead i n USS ROBINSON IDD-5622 and USS CALOOSAHATCHEE KAO-982. HANAN has completed tours at the Bureau of Naval Per o I s nne and as l and Staff course at the U.S. Naval War College. VAN is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He and Mrs. Buchanan with their three daughters.

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CU MANDING O FICER . . xv or af, CDR. A. J. Buchanan U. S. Navy BOOM BOOM Commander BUCHANAN graduated from the Ursinus College, Wyoming Seminary and did graduate studies at George Washington University. He reported to USS STICKELL on 26 No- vember 1969, from the Politico-Military Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. He has commanded the USS RUCHAMKIN CAPD-891 and has been Executive Officer of the USS WILLIS A. LEE IDL-41 and USS DESOTO COUNTY fLST-1171j. His other assignments at sea included billets as department head in USS ROBINSON IDD-5621 and USS CALOOSAHATCHEE IAO-981. Ashore Commander BUCHANAN has completed tours at the Bureau of Naval Personnel and as a student at the Command and Staff course at the U.S. Naval War College. Commander BUCHANAN is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He and Mrs. Buchanan reside at Virginia Beach with their three daughters.