Sunday, May 19, 1968

FAMILY GRAM

19 May 1968

Dear Family and Friends,

The skies are clear and the sea calm as JOUETT cuts a deep furrow across the South China Sea. We are heading toward the Philippine Islands after 35 days at sea, and I would like to recount to you some of our experiences during this past period.

Certainly the latest chapter of JOUETT's history has been one of the most exciting, as the men of JOUETT found themselves right in the middle of three dramatic rescues of downed U. S. airmen. The first incident took place just an hour before darkness on a Sunday in late April. The evening meal in JOUETT was suddenly interrupted by the announcement over the ship's broadcast system "SAR ALERT. DOWNED AIRCRAFT BEARING 251 DEGREES, RANGE 38 MILES." The Officer of the Deck, LT. Ted Huckabone, immediately increased speed to 27 knots and turned the ship into the wind. JOUETT'S Search and Rescue helicopter, called "Clementine Two", was airborne in a record three minutes, even while the distressed aircraft was still in the air.

Our Commodore, Captain Emerson, assumed personal control of the rescue operation, and put his "Blue Ribbon" team into action. First he ordered "Clem-Two" in the direction of the falling aircraft and simultaneously directed our companion ship, the USS DENNIS J. BUCKLEY, (DD 808), to proceed at top speed to assist. Over the radio the burning aircraft's wingman reported "Two chutes in the air, falling free". This was good news, and meant the plane crew had safely parachuted from the aircraft. As the rescue forces raced to the scene, additional carrier-based planes appeared overhead to mark the location of the survivors in the water.

"Clem-two", piloted by LTJG Skip Yates, and co-piloted by LTJG Lennie Devries, skimmed over the wavetops at maximum speed and arrived on the scene within fifteen minutes of the initial SAR Alert. On the JOUETT we heard the helo report by radio, "Both men are OK and in their rafts." Less than two minutes later, the downed pilot and his bombardier-navigator had been hoisted into the hovering helicopter. Commodore Emerson, in direct radio communication with Commander Task Force Seven-Seven, reported "The rescue has been completed successfully, both pilots are aboard Clem-two enroute JOUETT."

There was high excitement on JOUETT at this, our first rescue, and many of the crew lined the foc'sle to welcome the return of the helo and her rescued flyers. The survivors of the downed Phantom attack bomber emerged from the helo, looking wet but very happy to be safe aboard JOUETT. Resting after the ordeal, the pilot, LCDR D. E. Hernandez of San Diego, recalled that "The helo was on the scene before I had time to complete my ditch routine. It was terrific," and LTJG D. J. Lortscher of Rylander, Wisconsin, the second survivor, recalled thinking while approaching JOUETT, "It's the smallest flight deck I've ever landed on, but it sure looks great from here." JOUETT's first Search and Rescue Effort was completed in just twenty-nine minutes, from the time of the first alert to the time when the rescue helicopter touched down on JOUETT's deck.

It never rains but it pours. Ten days later JOUETT found herself again at the heart of a rescue effort, resulting in the lightning-quick recovery of the two-man crew of another downed Phantom fighter-bomber. It was Wednesday, 8 May, and again out of Combat Information Center came the announcement, SAR Alert". Again Commodore Emerson put his rescue forces into action. JOUETT could be seen to ring up all available speed and swing into the wind. "Clem-two" was airborne in minutes. Friendly aircraft in the area of the crash reported seeing two good parachutes, and that meant both flyers were out of the aircraft. But they landed in the water not far from the coast of North Vietnam and protective fire had to be laid down on the beaches by the friendly aircraft, in order to protect the downed airmen. Our rescue helicopter was "On Top" within sixteen minutes of leaving JOUETT, and was hoisting the first airman aboard. After a hot meal and a few hours of rest on JOUETT, the flyers were on their way back to their carrier with a special JOUETT touch. Their flight suits were washed and pressed by our ship's laundry, and the flyers were able to wear the same uniform home that they left in.

As if to prove conclusively that it never rains but it pours, JOUETT's third rescue followed just twenty hours after her second. This time the downed aircraft was a "single-seater", an A-4 Skyhawk fighter-bomber with just one pilot aboard. In the most hazardous rescue of the three, JOUETT's helicopter had to fly deep into enemy territory and rescue the downed pilot from dense jungle. But the "Can Do" attitude is found in the helicopters that ride JOUETT, just as much as it is found in JOUETT herself, especially when one of our own is in distress. The pilot was found in short order by a courageous helicopter crew, and when they returned to make JOUETT's two hundred and fortieth helo landing, they had their pilot on board. Commodore Emerson spoke for all when he said of this rescue, "It's truly marvelous to see such prompt response."

During this period on station, the tempo of helicopter operations increased to as many as a dozen launches and landings per day. Our previous period on station saw the 200th safe landing, and as this last period drew to a close, we celebrated the 300th safe landing with a large cake. Some of the other statistics of this cruise show JOUETT to be quite a steamer. As of today, we have spent 109 days at sea and 16 days in port since leaving San Diego.

I have been speaking of the exciting events in the ship's life, but much has happened in the lives of her crewmembers, too. Just prior to coming on station, JOUETT held an Awards and Recognition ceremony for the crew. Commodore Emerson presented JOUETT Outstanding Service Awards to eleven deserving members of the crew. The JOUETT conceived award is an engraved plaque, bearing the ship's seal, and is presented in recognition of sustained superior performance. Even to be eligible, one must have a year of such noteworthy service. The names of the latest recipients of the Outstanding Service Award appear at the end of the Familygram, along with a list of the many crewmembers of JOUETT who were recently advanced in rate. At the awards ceremony, each of these men were called forth and given the rating badge of his new rate. Next day on the JOUETT, many new rating badges could be seen on many proud sleeves.

Some of our wonderful Plankowners, members of the original commissioning crew, have left JOUETT for new duties, and the word "Plankowner Departing" has been heard all too frequently of late. CDR Addams departed JOUETT a few weeks ago to assume command of the guided missile destroyer COCHRANE. As executive officer, he was a tremendous influence in transforming JOUETT from a thing of shipyard iron into a living thing, and the warm sendoff that all hands gave to him showed that they thought well of what he had done. One departing JOUETT man for whom we have special hopes is Missile Fire Control Technician Second Class Boulden Griffith. He has been selected for officer training under the Navy Scientific Education Program, and ahead of him lies four years of college and a commission in the regular Navy.

While we were sad to see some of our crew members go, we were glad to welcome aboard other new faces to the crew. LCDR John A. Walker is our new executive officer. He comes to JOUETT from staff duty with Commander Service Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet, and has his home in Kailua, Hawaii. Another event in the lives of some of our crewmembers was reenlistment. Chief Fire Control Technician Glenn H. Underwood, Chief Machinist's Mate Lynn G. Russell, and Boilerman Technician Second Class Frank Z. Leopard all reenlisted for continued active service in the Navy.

A number of congratulatory messages have come in recently, and I would like to share with you quotations from some of these:

From USS TICONDEROGA: "Your superb performance this past line period

most appreciated by the Tico Tigers. Best air

control flight following and target area coverage

witnessed to date. Well Done."

From USS BON HOMME

RICHARD: "A resounding well done. In addition to your

savvy in station keeping, communications and air

control, we especially commend you for your

comprehension of the problem, common sense, and

instant support when needed."

From Rear Admiral COUSINS: "Outstanding performances were noted with

pride and admiration. Please convey my personal

'Well Done' to all concerned."

These messages give a pleasant taste to this departure from station, and confirm the feeling in every member of our crew that JOUETT has done her job, and done it well.

I hope to write to you again soon and tell you not what we have done on station, but what we have seen during some well deserved liberty. Until then, my best wishes go to each one of you.

ROBERT S. HAYES

[Map of Southeast Asia showing the Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam, China, Formosa, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo, with JOUETT's operating area marked in the Gulf of Tonkin and South China Sea]

JOUETT OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARDS

CS1 Michael F. COLLINS FTG3 Gary D. FULCER

MM1 Louis J. FACCINTO MM2 Travis E. PRIOR

EM1 Claude T. LONG GMM2 George "R" BESHEARS

GMM1 Claude H. GUNNERSEN MR1 Alan F. HARRIS

HM2 Earnest F. PAYTON BT1 James E. LECHNER

RM3 Gordon S. GANTT

ADVANCEMENT IN RATE

RM3 Stanley P. ANDERSON EM2 James A. BEARD

GMM1 George R. BESHEARS EM2 Dweyane C. BETTGER

YN2 Richard M. BROWN MR3 Franklin R. CARROLL

RM3 Joe E. CARSON RM3 Ben F. COKER

EN3 Allen S. COLEMAN EM3 William E. CORDILL

SMC Maxie L. DOUGHTERY DC3 John H. DAVIS

BT3 Tommy G. DIEHL RD3 Michael E. DOBLE

CS3 Lindsey B. DRAIME GMG2 John C. L. EBERT

SD2 Venancio O. ENCARNACION SFM3 Allan K. ETMUND

IC2 John FERNANDEZ SM3 Ralph A. FINOCCHIO

SH1 Henry J. FISCHER STC Brook E. FOX

SFM3 James D. GARD SF1 Thomas A. GRAHAM

BT3 James L. GREEN GMG3 Richard L. GREEN

DS2 Gerald D. GUILD EM3 Michael C. HALLMARK

BT2 James E. HARDESTY RM3 Patrick N. HARRIS

CS3 Perryl L. HENDERSON GMG1 Joe A. JACOBS

RD3 John P. JEFFRIES RD3 Richard L. KAPPENBERG

RD3 Francis J. KEARNEY MM2 Frank L. KERR

ETR2 Donald L. KNAPP SH2 Joseph M. KUCHINSKI

YN2 Rollins D. LOW CS2 Michael R. LOWERY

MM2 Lyman M. MAXWELL BTC Eddie J. L. MCKIBBEN

BT2 William J. MITCHELL MM3 Richard W. MOBLEY

SH3 William F. NELSON SK1 David C. NIELSON

ETR3 John S. NOVAK FTG1 John H. OLESON

EN3 Chester B. RASMUSSEN SD2 Jose L. REYES

MM3 Walter K. RICHARDSON FTM2 Eugene H. SAMSON

SM3 Robert A. SEBASTYN ETR2 Roy V. SIFERT

MM2 Henry G. SKOWRONSKI QM3 Richard W. SMITH

IC3 Terry L. SMITH RD2 William R. SMITH

ETN2 Richard K. SPORE RD3 Ralph P. STOGSDALL

RD3 Douglas H. SWEET CS3 Patrick L. TIERNEY

GMM2 James E. TOLE BT3 Milton J. VICKNAIR

EM3 John C. WALKER BT3 Robert C. WELDON

YN3 Eric R. J. WESTLUND RM3 Wayman E. WISNER

YN3 Bailey WOODS BT3 John D. YOUNG

MM2 Michael L. YOUNG FTM2 Richard L. ZELINSKI

MM2 James J. ZIMMERMAN