Strong (DD 758) - Naval Cruise Book

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S STRONG IDD-7581 Cans or PLE-Pr Posr OPI-'ice New Yoelg Nm Yonk 09801 7 Feburnly 7967 To the Crew: 7?1is cruise book serves a two fold plltpose. First, it is a reminder that you were part of a mighty NA TO Fleet dll:-ing exercise STRAIGHTLACE in the North Atlantic and the diversified SlXTH FLEET which serves to protect the interests of our country and those of olu- friends overseas. Secondly, it serves as a memen to of the many good times you hnd visiting foreign countries and working alongside yolu- fellow crew members on a fine ship. You can be justly proud of yolu- accompl ishnen ts. The STRONG sailed to Gefmgny in August and extensively throughout the Mediter- ranean from October to Febllraly, participe ting in mnjor fleet exer- cises, and fleet replenishnents in conjunction with lznits of the United Sta tes Fleet and NATO Forces. We had many challenging deffnnds placed upon Us, but in all, your individual and te-Sun performance held high the great esteem I have for you. I hope you will look back in the years ahead and sho YO'-ll' pqrticipn tion in these two cruises. w pride in iraqi L. F. BRQJN Co'U1Iun,der, U.S. Na Colnlllanding Office Uss STRQVG IDD- 7582

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0104 Qf ni ',,,.4luadi5- 'is - C -btw' 412,51 The l.'SS STRONG QDD-T581 is the second U.S. Destroyer to bear the name of Rear Admiral james Strong who commanded the USS SIONONGAHELA during the Civil War. The first STRONG was sunk on 5 july 1943 by japanese torpedoes and shore fire in the historic battle of Kula Gulf during the Solomon Islands Campaign. Bethlehem Steel Corporation launched STRONG on 23 April I9-14, and she was commissioned on 8 March 1945. She then participated in the Pacific Islands occupation operations until january 194' at which time she was decommissioned. Recommissioned in early 1950, STRONG deployed to the Mediterranean until February 1951. Returning to the U.S., she operated in the western and northern Atlantic until May 1952. When the Korean conflict began, she deployed to Korean waters as part of Task Force 77 and assisted in a surprise attack on Yalu River hydroelectric plants. This 50,000 mile cruise ended in December 1952 after STRONG passed through the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea. She operated with Task Force 77 again in 195-1 and returned home via the Cape of Good Hope, logging 45,000 miles. NATO exercises, involving eleven allied nations, occupied STRONG during 1956. Shortly thereafter hostilities broke out in the Near East and STRONG was sent to stand by off llaifa, Israel, and later to escort the Attack Transport CAMBRIA, which evacuated a truce team from the town of Gaza. ln 195' STRONG deployed in the Caribbean Sea followed by another trip to the Mediterranean and more NATO exercises. The year 1958 brought STRONG another Sixth Fleet deployment which took her through the Suez Canal and into the Persian Gulf where she saved thirteen Bahrenians in distress. STRONG participated in the 1959 New York llarbor review of Second Fleet ships and in Proiect Mercury, during which she recovered the Big joe capsule off Puerto Rico, the first recovery of its kind in history, STRONG underwent a shipyard overhaul in 1960 followed by refresher training, Second Fleet fall exercises, and patrol duty in the Caribbean. ln February 191-1 STRONG sailed to the Medlterrancan for seven months, returning in August. This cruise included par- ticipation in the movie, The Longest Day , and rescue of a British ship off Aden. In the winter of 1961-62 STRONG participated in several anti-submarine exercises high-lighted by a combined Canadian- l.T,S, exercise. ln March 1962, she entered the Charleston Naval Shipyard where she received a FRAM MKII rehabilitation and modernization overhaul for the remainder of the year. The ship left the yard in December with greatly improved anti-submarine warfare capabilities and considerable better living conditions. The year 1963 began with refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and anti-submarine exercises in the Western Atlantic. During june of that year, the Royal Canadian Navy acted as host to DD-'58 while entertaining her in Halifax, Nova Scotia. DD-'58 deployed again to the Sixth Fleet in October 1963. The climax of her tour came during the participation in the 1963 l.'S Iranian Civic Action project in the Gulf of Oman, pro- viding medical care to small coastal villages largely inacess- ible from land. After STRONG's return to the States in March 1964, she participated in the Cuban surveillance operation and ASW operations. ln November she had Drone Anti-Submarine Heli- copters installed to increase her ASW capabilities. ln january 1965 STRONG deployed to the Mediterranean to join the U.S. Sixth Fleet. During her deployment she partici- pated in ASW exercises and in the annual joint USfSpanish exercises. In March STRONG played the role of buoy tender in the Pachino Target Buoy Area, After a stop in Cannes, France, STRONG returned to Charleston in june. STRONG departed Charleston in july 1965 for the Dominican Republic where she remained on station off the coast of Santo Domingo for 30 days during the Dominican Crisis. STRONG returned to Charleston in September 1965. In December 1965 STRONG entered the Charleston Naval Shipyard for a regular overhaul. After a successful overhaul STRONG departed Charleston in April for her underway refresher training at Guantanamo Bay,Cuba returning to Charleston in june. The month of August found STRONG on a North Atlantic NATO exercise with a visit to Wilhelmshaven, Germany. In late September STRONG deployed to the Mediterranean as part of the U.S. Sixth Fleet.