US Navy, DD Samual Moore Vietnam 1965-1970

USS Hancock (CVA-19) underway, circa 1957. CAPT Charles Joseph Odend'hal, Jr., Commanding. AJ-2 Savages from VAH-6 "Fleurs" are amidships, AD Skyraiders aft. Destroyers USS Samuel N. Moore (DD-747) and USS Maddox (DD-731) are to starboard and port of Hancock, respectively.

USS Samuel N. Moore (DD-747), September 8 1958.

I was initially Combat Information Officer (CIC) as a lowly ensign. CIC was where electronic int flowed from radar and vhf communication. Here we determined position and directed fire.

Destroyers are multiple purpose vessels with carrier duty, submarine screens and search and rescue of pilots primary assignments.

USS Samuel N. Moore (DD-747), 18 November 1963.

The ship was nicknamed "Ramming Sammy" because it had been involved in a number of close calls with its carrier and escorting destroyers.

After I was promoted to navigator and Lt(jg) I came off the watch list. After our second tour in the Gulf of Tonkin we came home via Brisbane and Sidney, Australia and Naoier, New Zealand, and I had a chance to navigate across the South Pacific. Our last six months aboard we were assigned to train reservists while based in Tacoma, Washington. This included a summer cruise north into Alaskan coastal waters.