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********** 1959 **********
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The next three pages - 59, 60, 61 - are taken out of the log books of the LT as they were written. This is as accurate as you can get on dates and places the LT went or visited. Hope they bring back some good memories.
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Thursday, January 1, 0945, commenced diving operations off fantail to recover lost .45 caliber pistol
1110, secure diving operations, did not recover pistol.
Friday, January 2, 0700, set storm condition III.
Wednesday, January 7, 00-04 storm condition III set.
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ASW Exercise
Western North Atlantic
Friday, January 9 to Friday, January 30, 1959
22 Days At Sea
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Monday, February 2, 0700 underway, enroute to Newport NAVBase to Davisville, RI. Drydock inspection of hull
2103 - moved to Pier 1
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Monday, February 9, 0840 YTB-280 is coming along side to port indented the ship's side to a depth of 2 1/2 inches over a space of 5 ft long and 8 ft high in the vicinity of frames 58-60. No personnel casualties.
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Wednesday, February 11, 1430 transferred Skrocki, Alfred J. MMC, to US Naval Hospital, Newport, RI for treatment.
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Tuesday, February 12, 1307 - exercised the crew at In-Port Fire Drill, compartment A-101-CLM, section one provided
1315 - secured from In-Port Fire Drill
1316 - set the Special ASW Exercise Team
1322 - secured the Special ASW Exercise Team
1325 - exercised the crew at Gereral Quarters
1340 - secured from Gereral Quarters
1340 - exercised the crew at Abandon Ship Drill
1345 - secured from Abandon Ship Drill
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Saturday, February 14, 1002 Cdr. C.R. Beyer, USN, relieved Cdr. C. M. Brooks, Jr., USN, as commanding officer.
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Tuesday, March 3, 0100 transferred Sederquest, R.D. Jr., FN, USN, to US Naval Hosp., Newport, RI for treatment. Diagnosis: fractured nose.
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ASW Exercise
Western North Atlantic
Monday, March 9 to March 20, 1959
12 Days At Sea
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Tuesday, March 24, 1000 Brown, D.F., FT3, USN, re-enlisted for a period of six years
Walker, J.E., CS2, USN, re-enlisted for a period of six years
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ASW Exercise
Western North Atlantic
Monday, March 30 to April 14, 1959
16 Days Out of Newport
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Monday, April 27, 1314 fire in welding cable in Mount 42 gun. Mustered the fire party and crew, all present. Fire was extinguished immediately by CO2 gas. No personnel casaulties.
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ASW Exercise
Western North Atlantic
Monday, May 4, 1959 to Monday, May 11, 1959
7 Days At Sea
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ASW Exercise
Western North Atlantic
Saturday, May 23, 1959 to Friday, June 5, 1959
14 Days At Sea
Operating With:
USS Wasp CVS 18
USS Lloyd Thomas DDE 764
USS Keppler DDE 765
USS Fred T. Berry DDE 858
USS Norris DDE 859
USS McCaffrey DDE 860
USS Harwood DDE 861
USS Blandy DD/DL 943
P.W. Page FN – injured, falling bucket of bolts, 5 stitches left eyebrow
Friday, June 5 – arrived Newport, RI
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Midshipman / Quebec Canada Cruise
(NROTC Training Cruise)
ASW Exercise
Monday, June 22, 1959 to Monday, August 7, 1959
47 Days Before Returning To Newport
Operating With:
USS Wasp CVS 18
USS Lloyd Thomas DDE 764
USS Keppler DDE 765
USS Fred T. Berry DDE 858
USS Norris DDE 859
USS McCaffrey DDE 860
USS Harwood DDE 861
USS Blandy DD/DL 943
Monday, June 22 – underway from Newport, RI
Monday, June 22 – arrived Boston, MA
Wednesday, June 24 – underway from Boston, MA
Monday, June 29 – entered St. Lawrence River, dropped anchor 12 miles from Quebec
Tuesday, June 30 – docked at Wolfe’s Cove, Quebec, Canada
Tuesday, July 7 – underway from Quebec, Canada
Saturday, July 18 - looked for man overboard from the USS Saratoga CVS 60
Sunday, July 19 – recovered wheel chock and flour sack. Secured from man overboard search
Thursday, July 23 – anchored at Grovesends, Hudson Bay, NY
Friday, July 24 – docked at Pier 86, New York City
Thursday, July 30 – underway from Pier 86 at 0516
Friday, August 7 – arrived Newport, RI
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ASW Exercise
Western North Atlantic
Thursday, August 13, 1959 to Monday, August 24, 1959
12 Days At Sea
Operating With:
USS Wasp CVS 18
USS Lloyd Thomas DDE 764
USS Keppler DDE 765
USS Fred T. Berry DDE 858
USS Norris DDE 859
USS McCaffrey DDE 860
USS Harwood DDE 861
USS Blandy DD/DL 943
Saturday, August 18 – Wasp on fire. Commenced pumping water at 1634. Secured at 1656
(Operated with USS Tarawa CVS 40 after the USS Wasp fire)
Quote from USS Lloyd Thomas Information Page:
"During August of 1959, the Lloyd Thomas was given special commendation for the excellence of her assistance to the USS Wasp CVS-18 during a fire and explosion at sea."
My recollection of the Wasp fire:
When we pulled along side the Wasp we were so close that our mast was almost hitting the flight deck as we rocked back and forth caused by the turbulence of the water with the ships so close together. Some members of the Wasp crew were yelling at our people to spray them and the deck around them because of the heat from the fire heating up the deck plates. We obliged them. One of our crewmembers from the fire control team inadvertently hooked up a firehose to our fresh water supply and we sprayed the Wasp with our fresh water. As it was August and summer, it was not a good time not to have fresh water, not that any time is a good time. We went on fresh water rations for approximately 3 to 4 days - no showers or washed clothing, and the drinking fountains were opened 1/2 hour before and after each meal until the evaporators could catch up on making water. It wasn't bad enough that the compartments stunk due to so many people jammed into a small space and poor or no ventilation, one can only imagine what the ships compartment smelled like after 3 or 4 days of this. We were washing our socks in ditty bags off the fantail. Nothing like having your socks washed in salt water. It felt so great when we could finally take a shower.
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Thursday, September 3 – fire in the Beacon Locker at 1457. Fire under control at 1507
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Saturday, September 19 – underway for dependents cruise – 0900 to 1530
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Monday, September 21 - Underway at 0816 for ASW Exercise, engineering drills. Picked up peanut buoy. Arrived Newport at 1634
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Tuesday, September 22 – underway at 0730, returned 1750
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Wednesday, September 23 – underway at 0716. Gunnery exercise, engineering drills, returned 1810
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Thursday, September 24 – underway at 0730. ECM Exercise, competitive BECCE exercises, gunnery exercises.
Competitive 15 knot economy run
Friday, September 25 – returned to Newport, RI
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ASW Exercise
Western North Atlantic
Wednesday, September 30, 1959 to Thursday, October 8, 1959
9 Days At Sea
Operating With:
USS Forrestal CVS 59
USS Lloyd Thomas DDE 764
USS Keppler DDE 765
USS Fred T. Berry DDE 858
USS Norris DDE 859
USS McCaffrey DDE 860
USS Harwood DDE 861
USS Blandy DD/DL 943
Thursday, October 8 – Arrived Newport, RI
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ASW Exercise
Western Atlantic Operating Area
Monday, October 26, 1959 to Friday, October 30, 1959
5 Days At Sea
Operating With:
USS Wasp CVS 18
USS Lloyd Thomas DDE 764
USS Keppler DDE 765
USS Fred T. Berry DDE 858
USS Norris DDE 859
USS McCaffrey DDE 860
USS Harwood DDE 861
USS Blandy DD/DL 943
USS Wasp back in service
Friday, October 30 – arrived Newport, RI
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Bermuda Cruise
ASW Exercise
Western North Atlantic
Monday, November 9, 1959 to Friday, November 20, 1959
9 Days At Sea - 3 Days In Port
Operating With:
USS Wasp CVS 18
USS Lloyd Thomas DDE 764
USS Keppler DDE 765
USS Fred T. Berry DDE 858
USS Norris DDE 859
USS McCaffrey DDE 860
USS Harwood DDE 861
USS Blandy DD/DL 943
Friday, November 13 – entered Hamilton Harbor and moored at the Naval Station
Monday, November 16 – departed Bermuda at 0711
Friday, November 20 – arrived Newport, RI at 1417
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ASW Exercise
Western North Atlantic
Monday, December 28, 1959 to Monday, January 11, 1960
14 Days At Sea
Operating With:
USS Wasp CVS 18
USS Lloyd Thomas DDE 764
USS Keppler DDE 765
USS Fred T. Berry DDE 858
USS Norris DDE 859
USS McCaffrey DDE 860
USS Harwood DDE 861
USS Blandy DD/DL 943
Underway at 0830 hrs.
RD Adams SN - Injured, going through hatch
Monday, January 4, 1960 - encountered heavy seas - 5 to 15 ft waves
G.A. Reynolds FA - injured, placed on binnicle list
Bridge lost steering control - after steering has control
Heavy weather detail set
Wednesday, January 6, 1960 - heavy seas, 15 to 22 ft waves
Sunday, January 10, 1960 - waves back down to 5 ft
Monday, January 11, 1960 – arrived Newport, RI at 1450
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********** 1959 **********
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