Date: Wed, 30 Apr 1997 21:24:15 -0300 From: "warren o. wheeler" Subject: USS MacDonough (DLG-8) later (DDG-39) I served on the MacDonough as an Ens./Lt(jg) from June 1963 to June 196x. I reported shortly after graduating from college (NROTC at Georgia Tech). It was an interesting experience and I have a few facts which might be added to the web site at Destroyers on Line. 1. The ship was almost new in 1963 and her skipper, CDR Frank Bergen was the second C.O. His XO was LCDR Bill Grigg. In June, 1964 CDR Bill McDaniel assumed command with LCDR Paul Laudermilch as XO. We made two Med cruises to the Sixth Fleet. May, 1963 through late October 1963 and July 1964 through December, 1965. 2. MacDonough was the flagship of DesRon Six. 3. In late October while returning to Charleston from the Med, we were caught in a hurricane. It was a rough time. The Task Group had slowed to let the hurricane pass on its way north and then DesRon Six was detached to go into Charleston south of the storm. But the storm stopped off the Virginia coast, moved south and got us. 4. During the 1964 Med cruise we spend 4-6 weeks at sea with T.G. 60.2 patrolling in the vicinity of Cyprus due to some flap between the Greeks and Turks on the island. We made an emergency sortie from Naples in mid July and stayed for most of August. 5. In September, 1964, MacDonough was in Trieste, Italy, moored next to USS Boston (CAG-1). At about 0100 one night we had a bad fire in the after fireroom. A fuel line ruptured and sprayed fuel on the face of the operating boiler. One or the watch standers, a man named Hebistreet (BT-2) was killed (asphyxiated). Two other watch standers got out up the escape trunk. We had to go back to Naples for 4 -6 weeks of repairs alongside the Destroyer Tender. 6. When I was aboard she was DLG-8 and a beautiful ship. I think that this class and the Charles F. Adams class of DDGs were the last class of US destroyers which looked like a proper destroyer. Later classes were stuffed with electronice and have a boxy look. I think that our ship designs have lost the sense of proportionality. 7. We had a 5" 54 cal gun mount forward, two 3" 50 cal twin mounts on the OI level aft, ASROC, Terrier AAW missiles and Mk 46 torpedoes. The 3" 50 mounts were removed when the ship went in the yard at Charleston for an overhaul in the Spring of 1965. I left before the yard period was over. 8. Some crew members who I remember. Weps Officer. Lt Blair Ireland Chief Engineer. Lt. Bob Klementz Communcations. Ltjg Bob Bilbry (he was from Florida) Navigators. Lt Eric Healy (a Brit). Lt Dave Marsh. DCA. Ltjg George Stallos ASW. Lt Dick Nitzke Supply. Lt Jere Pope. Ltjg Bill Gegenheimer. Ens. John Kauffman. Ens Dankevitch. Ens Rick Weidman Chiefs: Jack Mullins (EMC). He was my chief and a good one. From Columbus, Miss. A friend from Columbus told me that he died a few years ago. Windam (YCN) ran the ships office. Arker (HMC) the corpsman gave me a shot any time he could catch me. 9. I could probably come up with quite a few stories about my time on the Macdonough.

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