Biddle’s last day as PIRAZ or SAR in the Gulf of Tonkin was 27 October 1969. USS Long Beach (CGN-9) took over our North SAR job.
My journal entry for the day began: “We actually got relieved on time!”
I also expressed thanks that we were leaving the Gulf. “Truxton [then DLGN-35] (PIRAZ) and Long Beach are really screwing up.”
Things looked good. We were on our way to Hong Kong for six days liberty!
My journal also noted “Weather’s getting rough. And most of the way to Hong Kong is in the trough.”
We had learned earlier that we would be spending additional time in the Gulf in November, not in our former roles as PIRAZ and SAR, but as a plane guard. That additional time period qualified us for the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and combat pay. “Money and medal!” my journal noted.
I had a little bit of worry (maybe more than a little) as we approached turnover about some Naval Gunfire Support graphics. I have no recollection of what those might have been, but I noted in my journal that, as I was preparing for turnover with the Long Beach Intel Officer, I couldn’t find them. “I hope I didn’t sign for them,” I wrote. The next day’s journal entry: “I never did have those graphics.” Whew!