Thursday, October 5, 1967

USS JOUETT (DLG29)

FPO SAN FRANCISCO 96601

Bremerton, Washington

5 October 1967

Dear Family and Friends of JOUETT,

Now is an appropriate time to report to you on JOUETT's activities during the past six months and to share with you our plans for the future.

Since joining the Pacific Fleet on the 23rd of February, this newly constructed guided missile frigate, with a crew of 406 officers and men, has led a vigorous and exciting life. Early in our schedule a series of tests and training exercises took the ship to inland waters we had never heard of before: Hood Canal, Bangor, Dabob Bay and Carr Inlet; all in the state of Washington. Other bodies of water which soon became familiar sights in the binoculars of JOUETT lookouts were Puget Sound, Admiralty Inlet, and the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Our geography lesson was not complete until we had also transitted the Strait of Georgia and the San Juan Islands for operations near Nanoose, Canada; and visited Vancouver, the bustling metropolitan seaport and business center of British Columbia. Everywhere our ship sailed we saw evidence of the great lumber industry of the Pacific Northwest as the tiny tug boats slowly pulled large log rafts and as JOUETT dodged stray logs floating in these waters. The weather was surprisingly mild, but it did rain a lot.

A 700 mile voyage south took JOUETT to San Francisco Bay where we loaded missiles at the Naval Weapons Station at Mare Island. Our entry took place around midnight so we didn't get the same view of the impressive Golden Gate Bridge as we did at noon time on our departure.

San Diego was the next stop, and it was a happy homecoming for over a third of our crew who have dependents residing in the "home port".

In May we commenced a special seven week training phase called Shakedown. Shakedown is to a ship what Boot Camp is to a new recruit. The training starts with basics and gradually increases in breadth, complexity and intensity. We fired our guns and launched torpedoes, Terrier missiles and ASROCS. For the first time we really proved to ourselves that JOUETT was one of the most versatile, powerful, and complex combatant ships yet built. While performing dozens of seamanship, engineering and navigation drills we developed a high level of team work and ship spirit. Sometimes we made mistakes, but seldom the same one twice. This was a period of much work and little play. Day and night we trained and drilled. Over one third of our crew were serving in their first ship. Another third were rusty after a year or more of duty or school ashore. The results were dramatic in terms of increased ship proficiency and added individual self confidence. Not a man was injured and our scores were among the highest possible. We graduated from Shakedown a tired but happy and proud crew. We had steamed over 8000 miles, spent 28 days at sea and burned over 650,000 gallons of fuel.

For all new ships it is routine to return to the shipyard after shakedown to receive a major "tune up" - just as a new car returns to the garage for its first thousand mile check. JOUETT is also receiving a substantial increase in communications equipment and some of the latest electronics hardware to assist us in doing any task assigned. Our ship has received a number of habitability improvements that will make living aboard more comfortable. These include increased capacity of air conditioning, additional bunks, a clothing store, a soft ice cream machine and an additional candy vending machine. Our athletic gear locker has been stocked with golf clubs, tennis rackets, boxing gloves, fishing tackle and softball equipment. In addition we have outfitted our helo hangar with a punching bag, wrestling mats, weight lifting equipment and a ping pong table.

JOUETT's stay in Bremerton has given us a golden opportunity to travel through the Pacific Northwest. Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia, are just four hours away. Then there are Seattle, Tacoma, and Portland, Oregon. The scenery is spectacular, especially in the cloudless warm summer days. For the camper, hiker or just tourist, the Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier National Park, and the Cascade Mountains are within three hours travel. Fishing of all kinds, especially salmon, is always available. Our more athletic crew members have organized sports teams in softball, tennis, bowling, and golf.

As the summer draws to a close we are all anxious to complete the shipyard period and get back to sea. We hope to arrive in San Diego in mid October and for most of us this will be a joyful reunion with our families and friends.

The remainder of October and November will be a busy period of training with other ships and aircraft of the Pacific Fleet. From early December until mid-January JOUETT will be in-port making final preparations for deployment on 16 January.

During the past six months 3 officers, 34 petty officers, and 30 non-rated men have received promotions. About 40 percent of the crew have taken examinations this summer for advancement to the next higher rating.

As you probably know, the officers and men who were attached to JOUETT on 3 December 1966, the day of Commissioning, are termed "Plankowners". They have received elaborate certificates and miniature plankowner plaques testifying to this distinction. About 10 percent of our Plankowners have been detached for shore duty, service in other ships, or return to civilian life. Replacements have been received and the entire crew is now stabilized for deployment.

It was my pleasure in July to present JOUETT's Outstanding Service Award, consisting of a letter of Commendation and an appropriately engraved plaque, to the following senior petty officers:

Master Chief Steam Propulsionman Edward B. Gray

Senior Chief Fire Control Technician James C. Cook

Senior Chief Storekeeper Joseph S. Harris Jr.

Chief Shipfitter (now Warrant Officer) Terrance A. Vickers

Hospital Corpsman First Class William H. Ford

It is my plan to continue letters such as this during the coming months and during deployment. If you have questions that I might be able to answer, please don't hesitate to write to me. I know that you are our most loyal supporters and thus very important to JOUETT.

Sincerely,

Robert S. Hayes

Captain, U.S. Navy

Commanding Officer