USS Conyngham
DDG 17 - The Crews

Former crew members, or families and friends thereof, are invited to email the members name, rank or rate, contact information and the years they were on the ship. Photos or text documents (*.txt) will also be accepted if of reasonable length.

My name is Jim Morgan. I served onboard the gusboat from May 1985 thru January 1987. My rate/rank was a boatswainsmate seamen. I was very glad to finally see a web page on my old ship. I would appreciate it if you could post my name and e-mail address on the page. I would like to hear from some of my former shipmates. I have never recieved any information on any reunions and would like to attend one. My health isn’t real good and this is something I felt compelled to do while I still had the chance. Thank you very much.

From: [email protected] (Chuck Fry)
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 1997 12:31:54 -0400
Subject: GUS' BOAT MEMORIES

Hi Shipmates

I went to the ADAMS Class homepage and was looking at the photo's of DDG-17.

I was remembering some things I thought I'd pass along.

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I remember everytime before pulling into port, we had to go over the side and paint the ship (rust spots anyway). I was on deck division part of the time I was on Gus' boat and that was part of my job. I couldn't (and still can't) swim with a lick. I remember when painting the bow we had to swing the platform we were on and catch a couple strokes at the hull as we swung in.
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I remember the ship played "The Wearing Of The Green" after underway replenishments.
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I was on forward lookout. We were experiencing a terrible storm. The waves were breaking over the bridge and hitting us above on the flying bridge. There were two of us on lookout. One talker and one with binoculars (if I remember correctly). We would time the waves and just when we thought it would hit us (it was too dark to see) we would duck down and the wave would go over us. Sometimes we'd hit 2 waves close together and when we looked up the 2nd one would get us. This went on for 2 or 3 days as I remember. Finally the skipper brought us inside on the bridge.
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I also remember standing watch one day on the flying bridge. Me and the other guy with me decided to check out what it was like up on the fire control radar. We climbed up there and what a feeling riding on the radar. It seemed like the world was swinging below us. We were probably dumb for doing that. We could've been killed.
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I remember we had to polish our lockers before we were allowed to go on liberty. The boatswain would check it before he would let us go.
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I remember the strip in Norfolk and locker clubs. You had to wear your uniform when you came aboard or left the ship so they had locker clubs where you could rent a locker and change there before you hit the beach. Remember 'Big O Naval Tailors', 'Kilroy's' and 'Anchor Navy Tailors'. I got a set of gaberdines(sp?) from Anchor. I had liberty cuffs, a dragon under the flap on back and the flap on my trousers.....hahahahaha....they seen me coming..
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I remember visiting Dubrovnick(sp?) Yugoslavia. We were the first ship to visit there in like 30 years? I remember we had a soviet guard (KGB no doubt) standing guard at the dock the whole time we were there.
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I remember the 'sea bat' when it was pulled on me. It was on the signal deck. After they pulled it on me, I was given a broom and told I could bat others. This one guy, a friend of mine I think, looked in the box, we swatted him and he turned around after about the 2nd or 3rd time and said "stop it...I'm trying to see this thing"
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I remember going mess cooking. I worked for a CS with a french name but I don't remember it. I worked in the Chief's mess. When I first got there, I looked inside the coffee pot and seen how 'dirty' it was. I thought I'd make an impression so I cleaned it out real good....wrong thing to do. I made coffee the next morning and everyone was complaining. I had to sit there all day and keep making coffee and poor it out until the pot was 'seasoned' again.

So many memories and I was only aboard her for little over a year (from Feb 71 to early '72 when I got 'brother duty' in Jacksonville, Fl).

It's nice to share these memories.

I'm now retired from the Navy. I eventually changed to aviation (mistake on my part I would say) and I'm living in my hometown of Rivesville, WV.

If any of you make it this way, look me up.

Chuck
"Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!"

Hi Charles,

I vaguely remember the name 'pappy'. Can't say I remember you though.

Back then though, seamen and PO1's didn't mix up much either.

My combat station was in CIC (boogie tote).

I remember when something was breaking out in the middle east just as we were on our way to be relieved in Rota.

The ship turned around and headed for Israel. I remember the CO coming over the 1MC and announcing that the ship had received word someone was sent to intercept us (I hope this isn't classified anymore....hehehe).

We were sent to general quarters to load up the 5" guns (at that time, my GQ station was in the forward magazine) and the missile launcher etc.

After we loaded up, we stood down from GQ and went to condition 3.

At about 3 am in the morning, the voice came over the 1MC...."General quarters,,,general quarters.....all hands man your battle stations....this is not a drill." We all thought this was going to be it. The Syrians were sure on us now.

Come to find out, there was a fire in radio central.

You probably remember that.

I do remember the Russian Frigate following us around trying to foul up our UNREPS and all.

I've been reading some of these e-mails, trying to think of a good story to share with this group..and I can remember one good one. I was part the decomissioning crew, so of course I was part of the fire incident that hastened the ships trip to mothballs but.....I wonder how many of you remember reading about this:

I think it was late 89' or early 90' when we visited Ireland. Our destination was Cobh, County Cork. We had a great time there, I hung out with guys from the Irish Navy (Yes, the Irish DO have a Navy!). When we were riding past their flag ship (An FFG with a helo), one of them said "Aye, that's OUR Aircraft Carrier, and a helluva lot of good it does us...the pilot can't fly the helicopter at sea because he gets sea sick". You've got to love the Irish humor. Anyway, to make a long story longer, we left the Cobh and headed home...about half-way home rumors start circulating that there was a stowe-away aboard. It only took a day for the truth to surface. We did have a stowe-away, an Irish National female. She was hiding in the cable space above the (can't remember the Nav term for it....) (ships refrigerator) Apparently, she had been there for the better part of two weeks being fed by the guy(s) that had arranged the whole thing - sleeping, eating, urninating and defecating in the space! When we got to port, she was taken off, and some time later she was on a flight back to Ireland but, she faked a seizure and the plane had to come back...apparently she was wanted in several countries for miscellaneous crimes. I don't know what eventually happened to the guys involved in the incident (they were BM's... crazy bastards)

Date: Sun, 03 Aug 1997 09:06:42 -0500
From: Chris Nichols [email protected]
Subject: [Fwd: Re: GUS' BOAT MEMORIES]

A little clarification from a former shipmate on that story...I was pretty sure we picked her up in Ireland...but, he seems to be pretty detailed....

CN> I think it was late 89' or early 90' when we visited Ireland.  Our
CN> destination was Cobh, County Cork.  We had a great time there, I hung
Actually she was snuck onboard in Copenhagan, Denmark.

CN> home  rumors start circulating that there was a stowe-away aboard.   It
CN> only  took a day for the truth to surface.  We did have a stowe-away,
CN> an Irish  National female.  She was hiding in the cable space above the
CN> (can't  remember the Nav term for it....) (ships refrigerator)

Reefer deck.

CN> Apparently, she  had been there for the better part of two weeks being
CN> fed by the guy(s)  that had arranged the whole thing - sleeping,

The chiefs learned of it on the evening of the CPO initiation and Doc got her into the chief's mess, unconcious and dehydrated. When the CMC went up to the bridge to tell the CO, he thought it was another Chief prank and kicked him off the bridge. We had to get the XO to come to the mess, see her for himself and then go up to the bridge to get the captain.

CN> eating, urninating and  defecating in the space!  When we got to port,
CN> she was taken off, and  some time later she was on a flight back to
CN> Ireland but,  she faked a  seizure and the plane had to come
CN> back...apparently she was wanted in  several countries for
CN> miscellaneous crimes.  I don't know what  eventually happened to the
CN> guys involved in the incident (they were  BM's... crazy bastards)

The 3 guys were mess cranking at the time, and can't recall their rates, nor their fate. Captain Rose was accused by the girl's mother to have kidnapped her, and there was a warrant for his arrest put out by Ireland. It was later learned that the girl was a habitual runaway and all charges were dropped.

Have to admit, upon returning to Norva, it was the first time I saw all the bigwigs waiting for us on the pier. Mike Borda was there (was CCDG 8 at the time), Surflant, Cinclant and the Desron Commodore. At Rose's going away party, the CPO's gave him a nice scrap-book which not only had the story of the girl, but the great color, front page photo of the ol' Gus Boat bow, showing us hosing down the GreenPeace zodiacs as we came into Copenhagan...another incident that got Rose in trouble with ol' Mikey!

Kim :)

  .+'''+.    [email protected]

W H E A T   Kim 'Buc' Wheat

  `+.,.+'    Fido: 1:275/102

___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30

DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER PICKING UP TWO CUBANS WHO HAD JUMPED OVERBOARD FROM A RUSSIAN TRAULER OFF OF THE COAST OF GITMO DURING A SHAKE DOWN CRUISE IN THE SUMMER OF 67 ? WE WERE TOLD THAT 4 MEN HAD JUMPED BY THE TWO WE HAD RESCUED.

A SEAMAN BY THE NAME OF SANDAJAS COULD SPEAK ENOUGH SPANISH TO ACT AS AN INTERPRETER.THEY TOLD HIM THEY HAD JUMPED AT 0400 HRS UNDER GUN FIRE ; IT WAS 1500 HRS WHEN WE SOUNDED MAN OVERBOARD. WHEN THE MOTOR WHALE BOAT GOT THEM OUT OF THE WATER ;YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN MORE GRATEFUL PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE. I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO KISS THE COXSWAIN .

WE WERE TOLD THAT IF THE CASTRO GOVERNMENT HAD ASK FOR THEM BACK BEFORE THEY COULD BE GIVEN POLITICAL ASSYLUM THEY WOULD BE EXECUTED ON SIGHT. THE SKIPPER HAD A BOAT SENT OUT FROM GITMO TO GET THEM ;THEY DEPARTED WITH A BLANKET OVER THEIR HEAD.WE CONTINUED TO LOOK FOR THE OTHER TWO BUT HAD NO SUCCESS.

THESE GUYS WERE WILLING TO RISK IT ALL;I AM GLAD THE GUSBOAT WAS THERE TO HELP THEM; HOWEVER IT WAS BITTER SWEET KNOWING TWO OTHERS WERE LOST.

BUTCH CRYDER
BM3 CREW OF 66/67

Hi Shipmates

Robin Battaglini here. I enjoyed the sea stories. Here are a few more:

GUS and GIG

I have many fond memories of Gus. Was her Captain from June 1974 to October 1976. Command is an ego trip, but at sea, things happen often to ensure humility. Scene: Med cruise 1976.

The ship held down a Soviet sub for eight days. We were the toast of ComSixthFleet (former Gus CO). Spectacular missile shoots. Breakaway song--"Hustle", an energetic Van McCoy special. We ran at 28 knots whenever we could and blantantly broke as many rules as we could (caught hell from my bosses often) in the name of swagger. We were alternatively catching Kudos for professionalism and hell for highjinks.

Funny stories usually happen around gigs.

We "raided" a tight anchorage of several Soviet ships, including their quasi-Aircraft Carrier and several cruisers/destroyers East of Crete. We "took" their parking place by laying to "across" their anchorage line. We then launched the gig. I embarked to inspect the sides of the Soviet ships. By flashing light, I was told not to come closer. Did anyway, and responded by telling the Soviet Admiral his sides were rusty. Dam fool thing to do, but it was fun.

Another gig story on that Med cruise:

Our gig was HOT. The engineers had really souped it up. There was no finer gig in the Atlantic Fleet. We were all pretty proud of that gig.

We were sent to Kithera anchorage along with USS Connole to spend a couple of days of maintenance. Connole's CO was Commander (later Rear Admiral) Dick Pittenger. My XO was Lcdr (later Rear Admiral) Mack Gaston. Dick invited Mack and me over to his ship for an anchorage BBQ. We declined, stating that we had our own function to attend. There was a Soviet ship in that anchorage too, that day. I directed the XO to inflate two of the big life rafts, to tether them alongside and to fill them with beer which we had (legally) stored in the ASROC magazine. We had been carrying it for a ship's picnic ashore. Drinking on ships at that time was not legal, but technically, it is not forbidden in boats (including life rafts). I asked my reluctant XO to position himself to personally observe how many folks went into and out of the water and then told the crew that they could go for the gusto. Miraculously, we did not lose any sailors, my XO had a few more grey hairs and both the Russians and the CO Connole (he was senior to me) were pissed. We had upstaged them both and had had a laugh on the system (plus a couple of beers).

Dick Pittenger then challenged me to a gig race. I chuckled, for my gig was HOT. Well, during the race our gig lost two cylinders and I had to watch the Connole CO literally run rings around me and I had to pay off a not insignificant bet. Our Chief Engineer came to greet me as we came back aboard, hat in hand. I instantly laughed it off. (He offered to pay off the bet---Jack Daniels. I refused, knowing that I could hold it over his head for the next twenty years.) A little humility is good for a cocky Ship, Captain and Crew.

We got even though. We won the HOOK'EM award over the Connole. The Signal Gang made a HUGE Hook Em Flag, proudly flown as we steamed into Naples harbor in front of the renowned ASW Squadron, including Connole. The Italians were treated to a loud version of "Hustle" that fine day.

What great fun.

Hello Captain! - Great to read your reminiscence of the Gus Boat. I was on the signal bridge (artist for the Hook 'Em Flag) during your tenure. The crew referred to you (fondly at times) as "Battle Stations Battaglini" in deference to your penchant for readiness.

I recall the Gig as a great source of pride and a major moral booster.

Our "raid" on the Soviet anchorage off Crete was great fun! It seemed like we had been at sea forever. Butch Goodin and I took the flashing light message from the Soviet Admiral advising you to keep your distance. Seems to me it was a rather colorful exchange. We studied the Soviet ships at length. Watched their movies through the "Big Eyes". Felt a certain sense of sorrow for the Soviet crews. Their living conditions were particularly "Spartan". That was my third Med Cruise. After three years of harassment by the Soviets and their Eastern Bloc cohorts (playing chicken at refueling, unshielded signal search lights at night, etc.), we truly applauded your audacity to shovel a little their way. CAN DO!

The "drink in" at Kithera was another inspired action. The crew was getting pretty restless. Without some form of major relief, you may have been reenacting Bogart's scene with the strawberries! Somewhere in my closet, I have some great pictures of the crew guzzling brews in the briny with an attentive shark guard on station. The faces tell it all.

Thanks for the memories Skipper!

Greetings to all Shipmates I have been getting all the memories form every one and thought that I would add some of my own.

I remember being in Augusta Bay Sicilly at the fuel piers. The entire task force was at anchor. The Big boys were in the outer harbor and the Small boys were in the inner harbor.Every one was running small boats back and forth. We finished our fueling and when we got underway Capt. Battaglini issued the order, "All ahead FLANK" . We ran through every one doing 30 Knots with the Hussle blasting over the 1 MC. We cleared the Breakwaters and kept going.

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I remember the night we swapped paint with the Daniels. I was on watch in CIC sitting by the NC2 Plot. The next thing I knew I was flat on my back on the NC2. We were doing 25+knots when we hit. As soon as we hit we applied Right Full Rudder. The Ship made a Huge lean to Starboard. We sounded GQ. The guys coming up from the compartment said that there was water in all the Passageways. All they knew was that we hit something, the ship was leaning to one side, and there was water in the Passageway. What would go through your mind?

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I remember the Ceremony with the French Navy where we had a Honor Gaurd and it POURED for the entire time. When we got back we were soaked to the bone.

There are so many more Stories to be told if you want to let your shipmates know about just drop a note. I will be using some of them in the newsletter.

Len

Len - Swapping paint with the Daniels! I'll never forget that morning. I had slept in the Signal Shack that night. Woke up around dawn. Poured a cup of Java and walked out to admire a beautiful Mediterranean Morning. Placid sea. Smooth as glass. Rosy glow of the sun on the horizon. The USS Daniels steaming off our port beam on a parallel course. A little too parallel. The Daniels kept on our beam, but came closer and closer. Both ships were really tooling along. I yelled down to the bridge. There was a flurry of activity ... and CRASH! I remember the Daniels mast directly above me and the Gus Boat yawing sharply to starboard. The forward lookout and I both thought we were goners. As quickly as it started, Gus righted itself and the two ships parted. I can still taste the adrenaline! Thanks for dredging up that memory Len! - D

From: [email protected] (KIM WHEA)
Date: 97-08-06 20:21:15 EDT

Hah!! I remember that night well....was dreaming of mermaids onboard the mighty J. Daniels and suddenly found myself flung outta the middle rack and standing up against my locker!!

That was the med of 78'....when I called for orders in 89' and the Detailer gave me a choice of either DDG 17 or the Farragat, I knew it had to be the Great Gus-Boat to take!!!

 Kim :)



  .+'''+.    [email protected]

 W H E A T   Kim 'Buc' Wheat

  `+.,.+'    Fido: 1:275/102



___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30

I think we're going to need a listserv, hope this list I composed works correctly :) I remember that cruise also (who can ever forget it??) lol While in the Russian anchorage our trash kept building up higher and higher! We started getting a flashing light msg from the Soviets telling us we had to move... due to their flag ship was arriving. I was (at the time an OSSN and had been thinking of crossing over to a SM so while the signal bridge was off limits to 99.9% of the crew I was still welcomed up there.

Finally the Capt. (Bat.) decided to listen to the Soviets and we departed the anchorage... I think about 3-5 miles out... dumped our trash, then due to my Nav detail in CIC I had to leave the Signal bridge... I believe it was the best precision anchorage we ever did... to land right smack dab in the same location we'd left... lol The flag ship was about a mile off when we dropped our hook and the dirty looks we got from the Soviets was outstanding.

Hey, we departed just like they wished!

btw for the collision we were in total EMCON I remember the aft lookout yelling to the bridge and scope talker that they were going inside the skin of the ship.

Tutor

http://www.wwn.net/tutor/index.html

Hi Gang--Ron McPhail--RD1 during the 66 Med cruise.My memories of the Gus Boat were oriented more toward what members of the crew did rather than the ship.Maybe some will find the following amusing.During that cruise there were four of us that pulled liberty together,three RD's(now OS's) and a QM.We were a little spirited and sometimes we would act up a little after getting back from liberty.After a couple of beers I'm not sure if any of us were that far out of the jungle.Anyway on that cruise we had a brand new RDSN aboard that wasn't that far out of mommy's arms,he was really gullible.When we pulled into Genoa,Italy,we teased him that we were going over and visit the local ladies.We hoped we didn't bring any crawlies(crabs) back.When we got back from liberty,he had made little rat guards (I guess they were crab guards to him) on each strand of the laceing on his bunk.Thats a lot of Guards. And thats the truth------------Ron

We had a new ET report to the Gus Boat. This kid was a real Space Case. One day Danny Rice came into the compt. and told everyone that a storm is coming and to expect 40' seas starting around 6pm. Well this ET who had the top bunk right by the ladder leaned out and asked , "What will happen?" We told him that if it is not tied down it will be lost. (The sea was like glass that night) The next morning when they woke him up he had tied himself in the rack with 3 bed sheets. This is the same kid who we put out for the mail buoy watch. See me in person for that one.

_________________ Back in June of 76 you remember the evacuation of Beirut. Well the Gus was there and we were 18 miles off the coast in a Defensive mode. We were to protect the ship doing the evacuation. About 1pm we picked up 2 surface contacts coming out of the southeast. We started tracking them and they were doing over 40 knots. The Capt asked the Signal Bridge if they had a visual SM1 Gooden responded " It looks like some kind of Patrol craft". Capt Batt." Do you see a Flag"? "SIR it is a Missile Craft with a Missile on the rail No flag" This went on for about 10 min. We finally found out that they were Israelie Boats from Haifa. They stowed their missile and Circled us. We exchanged salutes then we were able to breathe once again.

Len G