We are seeking information on the USS Davis and her crews. Files and photos may be emailed to us and we will incorporate them into this page.

I was aboard Davis from April of 1962 to Jan. of 1968, a long time, but a good time.

I do have three cruise books, including around the world cruise to Vietnam and Med. cruise and USS Liberty pictures from June 1967. I could provide you with a lot of sea stories if you wanted them. I came aboard as 3rd class BT and got off (out) as 1st class BT.

Home e-mail is, [email protected]

Date: Sat, 16 Aug 1997 20:54:57 -0500
From: warrant [email protected]
Subject: Former USS Davis (DD-937) crew member

My Name is Arestides(Steve) Cavadias and I served on the USS Davis (DD-937) from June 78 to July 80. I reported as an MM2 and left as an MM1, workeing out of main control. I was reassigned to the personnel Exchange Program Athens Greece in 1980. CO's at that time frame was Alan B Flanagan and G.W.Dunn M-Divo was Ltjg Kitchen our MMC was MMC Ron E. Keller. I would like to hear from former shipmates. You could contact me at [email protected]

Respectfully Steve.

Date: Mon, 15 Sep 1997 23:57:03 -0500
From: Arestides Cavadias [email protected]
Subject: USS Davis (DD-937)

Hello again Richard

Going thru my boxes in the garage (now that my household goods are in)and I came accross some info that would help in building the Davis

The USS DAVIS (DD-937) was commissioned on 6 march 1957, bearing the name of WWII hero Commander George F. Davis who, as Commanding Officer USS WALKIE (DD-723) bravely gave his life in a victorious dual with four Japanese Kamikaza aircraft.

Since her first commissioning in 1957 Davis led a full and widely travelled existence. In the course of eight Mediterranean, two indian Ocean deployments Three western Pacific tours, A Great Lake cruise and numerous Atlantic and Caribbean operations the ship earned numerous awards ranging from battle Efficiency "E"'s, a pair of meritorious Unit Commendations and Navy expeditionery Medals. The USS Davis and her crew have always proved ready to respond quickly whatever the mission. She was on station during numerous crisis situations since her 1st test in the Cuban blackade of 1962. Davis was again in the Caribbean in 1965 during the Dominican Republic troubles, steaming in the mediterranean in 1967 when the Arab-Israeli War broke out, and in the Indian Ocean when the Iranian crisis took place. The ship went into combat for the 1st time in 1966 during her first WESTPAC deployment in the waters off Vietnam. She repeated this journey twice more in the next six years. Despite the heavy operational load Davis has had the opportunity to take part in exciting tasks like the 1963 recovery operation for Astronaut Gordon Cooper and also to visit many fascinating ports on six continents.

In 1970 she was Decommissioned to undergo a modernization program aimed at improving her antisubmarine capabilities in the decade of the seventies. The ship was rebuilt from the main deck up and the latest in ASW sensors and weapons systems were added to the already considerable Naval Gunfire Support capabilities. Since the remodernization, Davis proved her worth in the ASW and the NGFS areas during a 1972 Vietnam deployment and a 1974 Mediterranean cruise. This resulted in a Meritorious Unit Commendation for Vietnam and the ASW "A" Award for her excellence in that mission area during 1974.

USS Davis completed a comprehensive overhaul at the Charleston Naval Shipyard in 1975. Following refresher training in the spring of 1976, Davis participated in Unitas XVII, an annual operation with the Navies of South America. In early 1977 USS DAVIS participated in the annual Caribbean Exercise and was awarded Top Gun and Top Hunter in Naval Gunfire Support and antisubmarine warefare respectively.

After an Indian ocean deployment Davis participated in a Great Lakes cruise which took her and her crew up the St Laurence thru the canal all the way to Detroit. In 1979 Davis left for a Mediterranean cruise but after her port visit in Livorno she was diverted to the indian ocean where she operated for 2 months returning to the Med for upkeep and then back into the Indian ocean to relieve the USS LaSalle while she tended to the yards. This later earned Davis and her crew two Navy expeditionery medals. In 1980 she overwent another overhaul at the Charleston Naval Shipyard and after completing many local ops and a North Atlantic tour she was Decommissioned.

Length Overall        418 feet
Maximum Beam          45 Feet
Navigation Draft      21 Feet
Displacement          4000 tons(full load)
Propulsion            Steam Turbine-70,000 horsepower
                      (four boilers burning DFM)

Armament              Two 5"54 caliber dual Purpose Gun mounts
                      Antisubmarine Rockets, Homing Torpedoes

Complement            18 Officers
                      290 Enlisted
Speed                 In excess of 32 knots
Range                 In excess of 2,000 miles
Her Motto             Vigilantia Pro Pacem

Richard, I do hope the above info will help you bring this beautiful gals life to the surface. She deserves it!

Thanks Again
Respectfully

Arestides "Steve" Cavadias

Date: Wed, 24 Sep 1997 19:44:47 -0400
From: Mark Reiman [email protected]
Subject: USS Davis (DD-937)

AHOY Richard,

I reported to the Davis on November of 1975. I was then a BTFN right out of "A" school. The ship was still in drydock and I can still recall how afraid I was of the whole darn experience. To boot my sea bag got lost by the airlines.

I went to GITMO the winter of `76 and got to become a SHELLBACK on 1 August 76 at Lat 0000/Long. 40 deg. 04.5 min. west. That was a thrill.

I hung out another year trying to get the Davis to pass Engineering Drills. But alas, despite M and B div. putting in countless 80 hour work weeks the place was still a death trap. I know some people don't like to hear that but they'll get over it.

I left that November and in December went to the USS Dyess (DD-880).

I loved being on the Davis for the most part. I only wish I knew what happened to some of my former shipmates. BT2 Dean Ray Russle, BT3 Dan Murphy, BT3 Ron Triller, and a few others. I still have my cruise book from UNITAS.

Smooth Sailing,

Mark N. Reiman

From: Rich Schetroma
Date: Wed, 08 Oct 1997

Dear Richard,

I read on your "E-mail page" that there may have been some E-mail lost. Since it has been a while since I submitted this information, I thought that I had better re-mail.

I you had already received this info, but are backed up with you Destroyers Online work load, I apologize for clogging up your E-mail.

My co-worker, Stanley Strzempek, would like to submit the following history of the USS Davis DD 937 from commissioning in 1957 through the WESTPAC cruise of 1969. (I mis-spelled Stan's last name when I sent you the previous pictures that you have used on the USS Davis DD 937 listing and on the Destroyers Online Index--Sorry about that!) Since I was typing the info for him, I made it an html document trying to save you some editing time, but you are naturally free to use it in any form that you wish. The pictures are scanned from his cruise book, however the paper the book was printed on did not produce the greatest images, but I hope that you can use them.

Rich Schetroma