Just A Sea Story – From 50 Years Ago
About this time in 1965 I was on my way to the Gulf of Tonkin aboard the USS England DLG-22. I was an 18 year old E-4 “seeing the world” curtesy of Uncle Sam.
The England was a “Double-ended” missle ship with missle launchers (Terrier anti-aircraft) fore and aft, and the only guns we had were 3 inch anti-aircraft mounts roughly amidships although we did have several Ma-Deuce rail mounted machine guns during this cruise. We also usually operated with WWII tin-can with the usual 5 inch mounts. It was our “shotgun” escort for some adventures over the next few months. We also did Plane Guard for various carriers as well.
My memory being what it is the attached piece of paper does come in handy. Add that I ran into a Navy carrier pilot from VN at the grocery store today here on Pine Island that stirred memories and you get to read this post.
During this trip we got fired on by shore batteries on occassion and we had to react to various threatening small craft, etc, but this isn’t intended to be exactly a “War Story”. More like an old movie “flash back” that I get to post about – with documentation. (Grin)
And during later trips things were much the same, but by then it was just our job.
Category: Geezer Alert!
UNIT AWARDS FOR ENGLAND DLG 22
24 Unit Awards were found.
“Cited unit” is the overall organization submitted for a unit award. A cited unit can be a single ship or command, or it can be comprised of many “participating” units. For example, a battle group contains many ships, squadrons and other units. If an individual command shows as having received a unit award, with a different organization (such as a battle group) listed under “Cited Unit”, it was part of that larger organization that received a unit award.
If the recommended award column (Recmd Award) contains a dashed line, the award entry was likely made prior to March 2004, when the new awards database (NDAWS) was put on line. In these cases, we will not be able to identify the Recommended Award level.
If approved award block (Appr Award) is blank, award is still in process and has not had the final adjudication entered into the database.
Unit awards go through a rigorous approval process, and it is possible that the approved award level (Appr Award) may be different from the recommended award level (Recmd Award). The approved award level is the final adjudication of that award.
Cited Unit Merit Start Merit End Merit
Mons/Days Recmd
Award Appr
Award Campaign Award
Remarks
ENGLAND DLG 22 31-Jan-1965 02-Mar-1965 3/31 – AE – I
ENGLAND DLG 22 12-Mar-1965 21-Mar-1965 1/10 – AE – I
ENGLAND DLG 22 03-Jan-1966 06-Jun-1966 6/155 – NU – –
ENGLAND DLG 22 13-Jan-1966 12-Feb-1966 2/31 – RG – –
ENGLAND DLG 22 13-Jan-1966 12-Feb-1966 2/31 – VS – –
ENGLAND DLG 22 23-Feb-1966 21-Mar-1966 2/27 – RG – –
ENGLAND DLG 22 23-Feb-1966 21-Mar-1966 2/27 – VS – –
ENGLAND DLG 22 11-Apr-1966 09-May-1966 2/29 – RG – –
Thank you for your service!!
What type helo, ZP? Early variant of the H-2 Seasprite, I’ll bet.
I’ll see if I dig up a pix from that cruise book later. I wasn’t an airdale.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaman_SH-2_Seasprite
From Wiki. I especially like the pic- that yellow helmet sit in my closet as I type, ’cause that’s me!
Well done, shipmate! BZ indeed.
Your story reminded me of the USS Barb, the only submarine that ever took out a railroad train.
I’m sure most of you have heard about the adventures of Eugene Fluckey, “Lucky Fluckey”, but, on the off chance that it’s new-to-you, check it out,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Barb_(SS-220)
Fluckey’s book, “Thunder Below”, is an engaging read, particularly the part where they run out of torpedoes and decide to just use the mounted machine guns until there was nothing left to fight with.
Ah hell, they even decided to just ram a ship when they had nothing else to work with.
Pfft.
USS GEORGIA (SSBN-729), later SSGN has taken out sea, air, and land targets.
And all without firing a shot.
I have not heard that before, so I looked her up and this story was at the top of the stack.
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/12/18/uss-georgia-collides-with-buoy.html
This can’t be real good for somebody’s career.
I saw a segment on The American HistoryChannel about the submarine sinking the Japanese train, but I thought they said it was the USS WARD. I better double check that.
How about the AT-6 pilot that called in Naval gunfire to trap a NorK train in a tunnel during the Korean war.He was flying FAC and spotted the train, he fired on it as it intered the tunnel and it did not come out the other end. He radioed the local fire direction center and the only asset they had was the Battleship Missouri. He called in the coordinates for the exit and when that was hit he closed the back door with a salvo of 16 inch fire. At the time the BB was located over twenty miles from the tunnel. It was said that those guns could hit single truck from almost 25 miles away. With an analog fire control computer.
Great Memories, and one hell iof a achievement,
Thanks for sharing this, Zero. Always enjoy reading the BTDT experiences. No telling how many flight crews are grateful for the presence of the USS England.
Also, thanks for letting me look at your cruise book of that adventure. Had heard quite a few sea stories from other sources over the years, so it was nice to see some real pics, get a pictorial sense of it from through the eyes of those who lived it.