Saturday, June 1, 1968

JOUETT FAMILY GRAM

Dear Family and Friends of JOUETT

My last letter to you told some of the events which have involved JOUETT while "on station" -- that is, at sea, patrolling in Tonkin Gulf. Days "on station" comprise the great majority of our time this cruise, almost 80% of the total. This is a high figure, even compared to other Navy ships who serve in the SEVENTH Fleet. Nevertheless, since that last Familygram, JOUETT has had some time away from "work", and has seen some interesting places. I would now like to tell you about them.

First, as the Gulf of Tonkin was disappearing in our wake, we took the occasion to hold a "Fantail Frolic". The announcement published in the Plan of the Day, stated that during the Fantail Frolic attendees were forbidden to be dressed in a regulation Navy Uniform. Every man had to wear something out of the ordinary, an odd hat, or no hat, or perhaps a pair of bermuda shorts. But in no case could full uniform be worn. The crew responded with enthusiasm, and came to the fantail dressed more for a day at the beach. The weather was beautiful, warm, clear sky and just a slight breeze to ripple the blue water. Berets, straw hats, and swimming suits abounded. Refreshments included hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, coleslaw, chilled punch, and a big cake to celebrate the 300th landing that day of JOUETT's own Clementine II helicopter. For entertainment, LT Ted Huckabone warmed up on an accordian and the JOUETTEERS played "country and western". Then came the high point of the Frolic, the announcement of the winning entries in the ship's Flag, Song, and Nickname Contest. As you may know, every ship in the Navy has its unique insignia, representing its history, mission and spirit. Many ships go beyond this and adopt their own flag, song and nickname. JOUETT did just this by staging a contest, and providing ALL Hands a try at designing a JOUETT flag, writing a JOUETT song, and conceiving a JOUETT nickname. As it turned out the choice of nickname was a natural. JOUETT has been known to her own crew as the "Jolly J" for some time, and now it is official. You may see our flag flying from the foretruck in a very short while. And the JOUETT song, as you can see, last page, shows plenty of the spirit that has run through JOUETT ever since her nucleus crew formed.

What does the name Hong Kong conjure up in your mind? International city? Ancient China? Shopping Mecca? Jewel of the Orient? That is what we thought of the name, and that is what we found her to be. Hong Kong is only a stone's throw from Subic Bay--a day and a night of steaming. But it is as great a change as one could find in Southeast Asia. At Subic Bay one finds an American directed Naval Base, busy night and day with the sounds of ships loading and unloading and ship repair. The best, almost only, recreation is an island with beaches and ball parks created by the U. S. Navy. But in Hong Kong one finds a British Crown Colony, where many nations of the world show their flags. Hong Kong is a colony of thousands of strange sights, sounds, and smells, of color and contrast, of fantastic bargains for the shopper, of rickshaw and a walla-walla rides, of smart cosmopolitan night spots, of food delights to satisfy the gourmet. Over four million people are crampacked into this 391 square mile area of rugged hills called Hong Kong. This teaming population, representative of all nationalities, is comprised of a few very rich and hundreds of thousands of very poor living side by side in luxury and poverty.

There were more than fifty ships in the harbor when JOUETT arrived with our crew smartly lined up at quarters. We moored to a huge anchored buoy right in the downtown section of the harbor. With our national flag flying from the flagstaff, we felt like personal representatives of the U. S. A.. When the British Commodore of Hong Kong paid a formal call on the ship, we knew that we were.

The city of Hong Kong is situated on Victoria Island, and the water between island and mainland forms the harbor. Where the city extends over onto the mainland, it is called Kowloon. Behind Kowloon are the New Territories, where the city's water is stored, and much of the city's food is grown. The New Territories reach inland twenty-five miles to a river; beyond that river one can see a fence and an outpost, and there Red China begins. A number of us went up to that vantage point just so that we could state we had seen "Red China".

Hong Kong has as many facets to it as one of the gems for which it is famous. There is the downtown financial center with its skyscrapers and marble banks, as solid as New York or London. The banks of the United States, Britain, Red China and the rest of the world stand shoulder to shoulder, and do a thriving financial business. In this section are also the great hotels and shopping districts, frequented by the millions of tourists who come here each year.

- - - There is the artisan section, where skilled Chinese - - - many of them refugees from Red China, ply their trades. Silks, jade, bamboo, ivory, mahogony are the materials in which the craftsmen express the orient.

When one sets out to see the sights, he finds out that he can tour the island in a day, but that it might take a week to see all of the city. For outside of the city, the attractions are fewer, though no less interesting. Victoria Peak stands above the city and dominates the island. A tramway climbs up the steep side; from the top you can see Hong Kong at your right hand, and at your left, Repulse Bay on the far side of the island. What an impressive sight of the harbor. And there in the middle of all the ships we could see our sleek grey JOUETT. Halfway around the island is Aberdeen. Aberdeen is a floating city, and one can hardly see the water in that cove of the island, for the acres of junks that cover it. Because of the scarcity of land in Hong Kong, families live in houseboats tied one to another. It is said that some of these people have never set foot on land. Here also are famous floating restaurants, where one can choose one's own carp from a glass tank, and see it prepared before him. Carp is one of those Chinese delicacies that rather surprise the American visitor.

The fantastic bargains for the shopper dominate the scene for the tourist in Hong Kong as they dominate no other city of the world. Famed as a "Free Port", Hong Kong is flooded with imported goods from every country, in addition to its own manufactured goods. Shopping was one of the major attractions for JOUETTmen. The items brought on board ran from men's clothing, shoes, jewelry, watches, cameras, teak furniture, carved ivory, tape recorders, hi-fi equipment, transistor radios, rattan ware, perfumes, and linens. Needless to say, almost everyone was "broke buying bargains" by the time we departed.

Unfortunately, JOUETT arrived in Hong Kong during a spell of rainy weather, and there was seldom a time when Victoria Peak was not shrouded with clouds. Our photographers had to be nimble to get good pictures from the top. The crew enjoyed the visit to Hong Kong immensely. But I believe it gave pleasure to the city, too, to have a ship visit her without a single Shore Patrol incident. JOUETT left Hong Kong with an unblemished liberty record still intact. And indeed, before we knew it, we were headed back to Subic and resumption of our previous duties.

One last item to tell you. As you may recall, a few months ago a number of our men received JOUETT Outstanding Service Awards. In Subic Bay, we presented additional Outstanding Service Awards to some very deserving men. Recipients were Chief Fire Controlman Glenn H. UNDERWOOD; Chief Electronics Technician William B. KENDALL; and First Class Radarman Richard F. TANNER.

With the passing of the months it was inevitable that we should have some transfers and some new arrivals in ship's company. We said our farewell to key officers who had been with JOUETT since her precommissioning days: Lieutenant Commander Robert S. MALONE, USN, the Engineering Officer, went on to his new positon as Executive Officer of the USS BUCHANAN (DDG 14). Lieutenant Commander Robert E. LANTSBERGER, SC, USN, the Supply Officer, went on to duty on the staff of Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet. Lieutenant Robert J. TERHUNE, USN, Gunnery Officer, was transferred to duty as an Exchange Officer for two years with the Royal Netherlands Navy.

Our newcomers include: Lieutenant Carl JAFFEE, USN as Engineering Officer. He came from a year's duty with the U. S. Navy Support Activities, Danang, South Vietnam. Lieutenant William WITHROW, SC, USN, reported on board from the Puget Sound Nval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington. He relieved as Supply Officer. Finally, Lieutenant (jg) Lawrence V. FAIRCHILD, USN, came from duty in the Guided Missile Cruiser CANBERRA. He is JOUETT's new Gunnery Officer.

We are back in Tonkin Gulf performing the familiar job of search and rescue and air defense. We like our assignment and derive great satisfaction from doing something necessary and doing it well. With so much fine experience behind us, we truly consider ourselves full fledged members of the Navy Tonkin Gulf "Yacht Club". In comparison with the beginning, it all seems "down hill" from now on.

Please keep the letters coming. The sweetest of all sounds these days is "Mail Call".

Sincerely,

ROBERT S. HAYES

CAPTAIN, U. S. NAVY

COMMANDING OFFICER

"THE FRIGATE 29"

by FN Robert J. McNEIL

1. The U. S. built a great Ship

and put some sailors on it;

To prepare themselves for the future,

and the readiness of her plans.

To sail across the ocean,

where every man took notion;

Of the pride and all her beauty,

that was shared by all its hands.

CHORUS:

The JOUETT is a fine ole Ship,

the greatest of her kind;

A D-L-G that will always be,

"the frigate 29"

2. The Captain has command,

He pledged his honor to it;

To fight the best He can,

with the help of every man.

We share our pride in JOUETT,

cause we know that we can do it;

To fight for the rights of freedom,

and protection of our land. - - - CHORUS

3. We search the sky for danger,

for our pilots better safety;

To cover them on missions,

while bombing on the land.

We're known for quick detection,

which offers us protection;

We'll work with other units,

and unite to take our stand.- - - CHORUS

4. The pilots never worry,

when in trouble they may hurry;

To cross the ocean for us,

whenever in a bind.

With Clem 2 and Big Mother,

to the rescue of another;

For the pilots called us Loveland,

it wasn't hard to find.- - - - -CHORUS

5. We've seen the many beauties,

of countries while off duty;

Hawaii, Guam, or Subic,

and don't forget Japan.

Hong Kong and maybe others,

will recognize our colors;

And the value of the battle,

that we fight in Vietnam.- - - -CHORUS