Truett (FF 1095) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 7 text:

COMM D HI TCRY USS TRUETT QFF-10955 is named in honor of BMC Quincy H. Truett, USN, who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism while serving as a member of the River Patrol Flotilla FIVE in the Republic of Vietnam. TRUETT was the first Knox Class Frigate named after a Chief Petty Officer. The ship is one of 46 Knox Class Frigates originally designated ocean or destroyer escorts CDEJ, which later changed to the designator, frigate QFFJ. Her keel was laid at Avon- dale Shipyard INC, Westwago, LA on 27 April 1972 and she was launched on 17 February 1974. TRUETT was commissioned DE-1096 on 1 June 1974. The ship is designed for optimum performance in lo- cating and destroying submarines while screening sup- port forces and convoys at long ranges from their home bases. In addition to her primary mission in anti-subma- rine warfare QASWJ, TRUETT is fully equipped to per- form effectively in several additional missions, including destruction of enemy shipping, reconnaissance, and fully integrated Battle Group operations. TRUETT'S principal armament centers around the high speed homing torpedo. Placed in the general area of an enemy submarine, the torpedo will seek out and de- stroy its prey. The ship has a formidable offensive capa- bility because of her triple threat torpedo launching sys- tem, which consists of two twin torpedo tubes mounted amidships, the anti-submarine rocket QASROCJ launcher mounted forward, and the light airborne multi-purpose system helicopter, considered the primary weapons sys- tem. In addition, TRUETT is armed with a 5 !54 rapid fire gun, which provides anti-air and anti-surface defense as well as shore bombardment capability, and with the Harpoon missile system which provides long range attack capability. For self-defense TRUETT is equipped with the MK-15 close-in weapons system CCIWSJ which is de- signed to meet the threat of an anti-ship cruise missile. TRUETT'S complex electronic suite and integrated bow-mounted variable depth sonar and tactical towed ar- ray sonar QTACTASD, permit detection and classification of a wide spectrum of submarine emissions. The ship is 438 feet long with a beam of 47 feet, maxi- mum draft of 27 feet, and has full load displacement of 4,200 tons. A highly reliable engineering plant powers a steam turbine producing 35,000 shaft horsepower to drive a single five bladed, twelve ton propeller. Featuring automatic combustion control of her two boilers, which operate at steam pressures of approximately 1200 pounds per square inch, she is capable of speeds in excess of 27 knots. TRUETT'S complement consists of 20 officers and 265 enlisted men.

Page 6 text:

..... , QUINCY H. TRUETT CHIEF PETTY OFFICER UNITED STATES NAVY CITATION: For extraordinary heroism on the night of 20 January 1969 while serving with River Division 551, engaged in armed conflict against North Vietnamese and Viet Cong communist aggressor forces on the Kinh Dong Tien Canal in the Republic of Vietnam. As Patrol Officer of two River Patrol Boats CPRB'sD in company with an Armored Troop Carrier CATCJ and two other PBR's, Chief Petty Officer Truett was aboard the fourth boat in the column when the entire unit came under intense enemy fire. PBR 8137, the boat ahead of Chief Petty Officer Truett, was taken under extremely heavy fire and began to burn, forc- ing the five occupants aboard into the water. Observing the men struggling to reach the safety of a ditch, Chief Petty Officer Truett ordered his PBR into the area of the burning craft to recover the men in the water. Without regard for his own personal safety, he deliberately exposed himself to the blistering enemy fire, positioning himself on the bow of his boat to provide covering fire and to assist the men from the water. Because of several bright fires from grass huts burning along the canal bank, Chief Petty Officer Truett was completely visible to the enemy during the entire rescue. Mortally wounded after he had helped rescue the last man from the water, Chief Petty Officer Truett, by his outstanding valor, concern for his shipmates' safety and inspiring devotion to duty, contributed directly to the safe recovery of the crew of PBR 8137. His selfless efforts were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. I

Page 8 text:

- X- ss , f . A -.. f, ,is...N. A X,... .........- ..,,., ' COMMANDER JOHN O'NEILL JR. UNITED STATES NAVY Commander John O,Neill, Jr. Was born in Wilson, North Carolina on 24 October 1945. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1968 and received his commis- sion from the Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I. in July 1969. Since commissioning, CDR O'Neill has served in USS NANTAHALA QAO-605, USS GARCIA QFF-10403, USS MARVIN SHIELDS QFF-10605, Commanding Officer of USS CHEHALIS QPG-945 and USS WELCH 4 QPG-935, Executive Officer of USS MERRI- MACK QAO-1795 and on the staff of Staff Com- mander Second Fleet. Tours ashore have includ- ed U.S. Naval Destroyer School, Surface Warfare Officer's School Command, and Naval War Col- lege. CDR O'Neill assumed command of USS TRUETT QFF-10955 on 01 October 1986. CDR O'Neill is married to the former Betsy F. Kite of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina and they reside in Virginia Beach with their two chil- dren, John and Kelly.