Category: USS Biddle

These recent days, 50 years ago, with Biddle back on the line in the Gulf of Tonkin, I spent more time than usual aboard helicopters. Biddle moved back and forth between SSAR and PIRAZ a couple of times within a few days, which meant I was on the road . . . uh . . . in the air often. 

One trip was of particular note in my journal. On 9 October 1969, we lifted off at 0700, which would not normally be difficult, but I had gotten into my rack at 0230. Here’s my journal entry about the ride: “Flew to LONG BEACH. Nasty trip. We went really high — above the clouds. The pilot has a thing about clouds. We had both doors open, so a good draft, and it was bitchin’ cold. I shivered for about 15 minutes straight. While shuttling between LB and MAHAN, our helo broke a wheel spring, so it flew home, leaving me. I then flew over to the MAHAN, and rode up with her to BIDDLE, then flew home.”

My very first helo ride had been back in June, when LT Libbey and I had gone ahead to the Gulf. Taking us from USS Kearsarge to USS Chicago was Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Seven (HC-7), Detachment 110, known affectionately as the “Big Mother Truckers.”

They handed us a welcome-aboard card with information and advice in case of emergency. Their last bit of advice was: “Do not panic! This is a right reserved for the aircrew only.”

Helicopters did much more for Biddle, of course, than give the intelligence nerd rides. They brought us supplies, movies, mail. Sometimes they landed on our helo deck, sometimes they hovered and lowered materiel to the deck. Those were brief visits. 

As SSAR, we carried for weeks at a time a helicopter detachment — pilots and crew members, probably also from HC-7. Their job, nearly every day, was to go to points off the coast of North Vietnam and be ready to conduct search-and-rescue missions for US pilots if needed. During our deployment, the US was not conducting bombing missions into North Vietnam, but US planes were conducting reconnaissance missions. I would receive information about the times and routes and would brief the helicopter pilots beforehand. My other interaction with at least one of the pilots, also nearly every day, was to play bridge with them after the movie. (Neither they nor I was on the watch list when Biddle was on the line. They were not ship’s crew. I was 24/7.)

Here’s a brief (1:06) video from the films taken by GMG2 George Boyles or GMG2 Jerome Kuczmarski. It shows helicopters in the various roles.

Landing and taking off from Biddle took both ship’s crew and aircrew, coordinating many elements. Here’s a gallery of photos from the cruise book showing a landing on board.

There were also celebrations. Not on every landing, though I always thought a safe landing deserved a celebration. Biddle took note of significant landings, including #300 and #600, as evident in the photos from the cruise book below.

But it was one of the last landings on board that deployment that . . . ahem . . . took the cake. On 13 November 1969, a helicopter from the USS Coral Sea (CV-43) landed after a routine flight, the purpose of which has been lost to history. I wonder if the crew was surprised at what happened on their arrival. For that landing was the 700th on Biddle since her commissioning, and 439th during this deployment, more than 150 more than in the 1968 deployment. 

But was there a cake? The cruise book does not have such a photo. It was, however, the occasion for a group photo of air and ship’s crew.

Here are other cruise book photos related to helicopters.

On our first day back in the Tonkin Gulf after Japan, 2 October 1969, tragedy struck. A C-2 Grumman Greyhound, a COD (Carrier Onboard Delivery) aircraft, crashed into the Gulf enroute from NAS Cubi Point in the Philippines to the USS Constellation (CV-64).

The six crew members and 21 passengers onboard remain listed as missing in action. Their bodies were never recovered.

The Biddle was among the ships assigned search-and-rescue duties that day. In my journal for the day, I wrote: “All we saw was wreckage, and pieces of bodies.” That may well be true, but, thankfully, I don’t have in my memory now images of body parts floating.

Exactly three months earlier, on 2 July 1969, a C-2 on its way back to Cubi Point from the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) had experienced a failure in the engine gearbox and propeller assembly that caused the loss of the entire propeller assembly on its port side. The propeller penetrated the plane’s fuselage, causing decompression at over 20,000 feet. The pilot, LCDR Peter Kennedy, was able to bring that plane safely to Cubi Point, actions for which he was awarded the Air Medal with Bronze Star. It was the first award for heroic achievement flying a COD.

Wrapping up Japan
While in port in Yokosuka, I had seen two OCS classmates who were the two other OCS students designated Special Duty (Intelligence). On 22 September, Mike Alin, who was assigned to USS Stoddert (DDG-22), came by and woke me up. He left later that day to go to Hawaii, to join his wife, who was in her eighth month of pregnancy.

Four days later, on the 26th, Clarence Pautzke, assigned to the USS Waddell (DDG-24), came by and we spent some time in the Officers Club. The three of us didn’t know each other at OCS, but we had received intelligence training together in Norfolk. Funny, huh, that we all ended up deployed to the Gulf of Tonkin together, too. Methinks we were part of an experiment. Wonder how it worked out.

The 26th was also our last full day in Japan. At some point that day, I had gone over again to the Exchange for a final buying spree. According to my journal: “Bought a pachinko machine, some clothes for family, filters, paintings, bronzeware, etc.” I think my parents later dumped that pachinko machine, but I still have the bronzeware.

As we left Japan, we had also said goodbye to LTJGs Rogers and Marsters, who had been notified previously of early release from active duty. LTJG Meyers hung around with us a while longer, and had a more interesting departure from the Biddle soon thereafter.

On a roll . . . and pitch
My journal noted that, on our departure from Japan, we had rough weather. On 27 September, I wrote: “Rolling 15-20 degrees. Didn’t feel especially great, but didn’t get sick. We were skirting Typhoon Elsie.” The next day: “Now we’re pitching, instead of rolling. Buried bullnose 45 times in two hours. 10-degree pitch.”

Stats
Through the end of September, I had compiled statistics about the deployment thus far, and entered them in my journal.

As noted, the stats are for me, not the Biddle. Remember, I had been ordered to leave the ship in Subic and go ahead to the Gulf back in June, so I had more days on the line . . . and not in port . . . than the ship. Basically, I was on the line just short of 50 percent of the time, in transit 30 percent, and in port almost 20 percent. You can also see that I was counting the days. Eighty-two days to go!

Quite a few of us took a Navy-sponsored tour of Tokyo on 21 September 1969. As you can see from the satellite view, the naval base at Yokosuka is maybe 60 miles south of Tokyo, on Tokyo Bay.

According to my journal: “Saw a couple of Olympic stadia (sic). [The 1964 summer games were held in Tokyo.] Went to a Japanese restaurant [duh] and had sukiyaki and beer. Very good. Ate with chopsticks. Then went to a shrine (Shinto), Tokyo Tower, and a show. Got back at about 1900.”

Someone, I’m guessing ENS Curran, took a couple of pictures of me at the restaurant. One downside of photography back then was you couldn’t check immediately to see if the subject was in focus!

The “show” to which I referred was somewhat of a surprise, considering our presence at it was Navy-sponsored. Here is the cover of the show program, with “pasties” added to keep the blog family-friendly. 🙂 The show wasn’t all uncovered women; there were clothed singers and comics. I don’t remember them really, but I still remember that young lady in the front.

Here’s a gallery of cruise book photos of Japan, most of them, I expect, taken on a tour such as this.

And here’s a couple of galleries of photos I took on the tour. First is of the swim/diving venue for the 1964 Olumpics.

And a temple.

A couple of days earlier, I had reported in my journal that I had joined LTJG Meyers, LT Libbey, LTJG Marsters, and LTJG Rogers on a sweep through the Navy Exchange. “Almost bought the place out.” This was mostly about cameras. I purchased a Nikon FTN w/50 mm lens for $233, a Tamron 80-250 mm zoom lens for $120, and various filters, lens caps, etc. Still have that iconic Nikon. Of course, I have not used it for many years.

 

On 17 and 18 September, 50 years ago, the Biddle held two ship’s parties in Yokosuka. I assume there were two so that those who had had duty could attend. I was lucky and went to both. My rating, according to my journal: “Wasn’t bad. Good show, free drinks.”

LT Bergquist and I (in background) paid rapt attention to CAPT Olsen.

Definitely a highlight from one of the nights was a solo by whom I believe was BTCM Schultz. The caption is the same as was in the cruise book.

It was also amusing to see the XO up on stage, being instructed in the intricacies of the hukilau.

And, of course, we had a Japanese cowgirl sing some country.

The rest was pretty standard (gallery below), but the evenings were a pleasant break and a chance for the whole crew to relax and have some fun together.

Fifty years ago today, Biddle arrived in Yokosuka, Japan, for 12 days of R and R.

I’ll post some things from that experience in the days ahead, but want now to look back at some events.

On Labor Day, 1 September, Biddle was running south, away from Tropical Storm Doris. The Chief of Naval Operations had been scheduled to visit us that day, but it was canceled because of the weather. I expect CAPT Olsen was more disappointed about that than I was.

Doris had developed into a typhoon on 2 September and, my journal notes, “Some CTs and Marines are seasick.” I also reported that “I didn’t feel absolutely great yesterday after dinner.”

Back on station on 3 September and we learned that the ship that was to relieve us — USS Jouett (DLG-29) — had been diverted to chase “some trawler.” 

On 5 September, we went up to PIRAZ again. First me, then Biddle. Flew to USS Sterett (DLG-31) at about 0800 and came back at 0945. First time in a helo while it was raining. USS Long Beach (CGN-9) relieved us late that afternoon and we returned to SSAR. I think the combination of the weather and the diversion of Jouett had led to this game of musical chairs.

On 8 September, we learned Jouett was coming. They had apparently lost the trawler in the Paracel Islands. That same afternoon, we were told we would be getting a special fly-by. Two F-8s would fly alongside the ship and fire a couple of cannon bursts. Picture/movie time! Everybody was out on deck with cameras. 

Here’s what happened, according to my journal: “SWC announced they would come on the port beam in about 8 minutes. About seven minutes later, SWC announced the jets were seven miles away. Thing was, it was difficult to hear him, because of the jets overflying us, from our stern. Just about nobody got pix.”

Jouett finally arrived at 2230 on 9 September. We were relieved about 0100 on 10 September and began a high-speed transit to Subic. Just after we were relieved, my journal reports, someone came up on the guard net and said, “Goodbye Vietnam! You suck!” Nobody knew who it was.

On 11 September, LTJG Meyers, LTJG Rogers, and LTJG Marsters learned they were on the list of junior officers to get early release from active duty, at the end of September. ENS Roberts was to take over as Communications Officer, ENS Curran was to become Missile Ordnance Officer, and ENS Graham was to become RPS Officer and Assistant CIC Officer. Here are cruise book photos of the officers involved.

The reduction in force was due to the drawdown in Vietnam. In the middle of 1971, I was on that list, too. But that’s another story. 🙂

It was common, I believe, 50 years ago that Navy crews on extended deployments at sea were given the opportunity to grow beards and mustaches, options not allowed otherwise by regulations. Biddle‘s crew in 1969 was given that chance.

These had to be manly beards, however. At some point during the first period online, the XO inspected crew members with face hair and selected “the best among them.” I chose not to compete (meaning I had failed at hirsuteness).  And then we went back to facial hair by regulation, i.e., none.

As our cruisebook reported about beards, “They started sprouting after Hawaii, were judged in the Gulf of Tonkin, and were shaved off before Subic.”

In 1970, when Admiral Elmo Zumwalt became Chief of Naval Operations, one of his early “Z-grams” changed regulations and permitted beards and mustaches. After things got a little “hairy,” regulations began to narrow what was permitted. Finally, in 1984, CNO Admiral James Watkins banned all beards, permitting mustaches that didn’t extend below the bottom of one’s upper lip. Current regulations are about the same, though waivers for beards can be granted by commanding officers for medical or religious reasons.

On 24 August, 1969, Biddle returned to SSAR duties after spending a few days as PIRAZ. And I was given a helicopter ride. I’d been on the helo several times, but this one was a little special.

I brought ENS Curran’s camera along on the flight to USS Chicago. The pilots took a couple of turns around the Biddle to give me a chance to get some good pics of her. One is above, one below.

Arriving at the Chicago, we were told to stand off for a while. LTJG Jaeger, one of the helo pilots, thought this would be a good time to show me some of what a helicopter could do. I remember sitting alongside one of the helo’s walls, facing a large open space where the machine-gunner was.

According to my journal, “Jaeger decided to put on a show. He’d go about 90 knots, then climb until he was turning only 10, then turn and fall. Nice.”

“Nice” was what it was not, except in retrospect. The turn was usually to port, which meant I was staring out that open space across from me and seeing only water thousands of feet down. I remember straining the safety harness and shivering. I was wearing a short-sleeve khaki shirt. No jacket.

They did this several times and occasionally Jaeger would sneak a peek from the pilot’s chair to see if I had given up my breakfast yet. I hadn’t, but I was very happy when I heard we had been cleared to land.

 

Back on the line since 15 August, having relieved the Chicago, we had a VIP visitor on 19 August.

The Honorable John W. Warner, Undersecretary of the Navy, arrived via helicopter and spent several hours on board. Likely on tour of Navy units in the Vietnam area, he had a special reason to visit Biddle.

In ceremonies on the foredeck, he presented the Biddle with a Meritorious Unit Commendation. The award was for Biddle‘s previous service in the Gulf of Tonkin, specifically 3 March – 15 July 1968. Warner shook hands with crew members who had served on the earlier deployment and took a tour of the ship.

My journal noted that on 18 August, I “spent the night making a chart for the secretary’s visit.” The entry for 19 August reported that Captain Olsen had forgotten Warner’s name in his introduction. Also, Warner “never saw my chart.”

If anyone can help with the ID of the sailor at left in the photo above, please do.

Here’s a gallery of other cruise book photos from the visit.

Warner wasn’t a big name at the time. In his early 40s when he visited, he had had an interesting career to that point, however, but with much more to come. He enlisted in the Navy just before the end of WWII. Discharged in 1946, he left as a Petty Officer Third Class. He graduated from college and entered law school in his native Virginia. He interrupted his law studies to enlist in the Marines in 1950 and served as an officer in the Korean War.

Married to a wealthy banking heiress, Warner invested money and time in both of Richard Nixon’s presidential campaigns. When Nixon was inaugurated in 1969, he appointed Warner to the undersecretary post.

Warner became Secretary of the Navy in 1972 and served in that position until 1974. The Warners had divorced in 1973 and John Warner married Elizabeth Taylor in 1976. They divorced in 1982. He was elected U.S. Senator from Virginia in 1978 and served in the Senate for 30 years. He chose not to run for reelection in 2008. The USS John Warner (SSN-785), a Virginia-class submarine, was commissioned in 2015. 

 

After a “wonderful” week in Subic Bay, Biddle made the short trip to Manila, capital of the Philippines, on 10 August 1969. It was a brief visit — three days. We anchored in the outer harbor, which meant we used the liberty boat to get to and from shore.

Manila was in many ways a major step up from Olongapo, but it had its own particular charms. On our first night, I joined Ensign Graham and LTJG Meyers in a visit to “The Nile.” According to my journal, “The guy outside knocked twice on the wall, twice on the door, another guy peeked out, and opened up.” When you went in, there was a sign: “Please deposit your firearms at desk.” 

The Nile was a casino. We left. We finished the evening at the Manila Hilton.

On the middle day of our three, had the duty.

Here’s a gallery of cruise book photos of Manila.

Ensigns Roberts and Graham joined me on a walk around downtown Manila on 12 August. We decided to lunch at the Army-Navy Club. Very “colonial” atmosphere and look. ENS Roberts, I assume, took this picture there.

Later, I connected with the officer-in-charge of our spook squad and we went to the Sheraton to catch an Australian singer, Wilma Reading.

My journal for that night, obviously written another day, notes that witnesses reported that upon arrival at the ship I had something of a kerfuffle with the OOD about my willingness to give up a lifejacket I had used as a pillow on my ride back to the ship.

Time to get back to business. We left Manila on 13 August to return to the line.

 

On 3 August 1969, Biddle pulled into Subic Bay and tied up. Except for a few hours in Guam on 20 June and in Subic on 24 June, when the ship had first arrived there, I had been at sea for 53 days. So . . . of course . . . I had the duty when we arrived this time.

We learned it was also the 8th straight day of rain in Subic, and I learned in time that pretty much if it was Subic, it was raining.

My first real day in Subic was 4 August. My first target was the Exchange. “Looked over all the goodies,” my journal noted. With almost two months of pay and nowhere earlier to spend it, I was “flush.” 

Went out on the town [Olongapo] that night, along with ENS Graham, LTJG Armentrout, LCDR Wendt, LT Morris, and LT Daniels. According to my journal, our itinerary began with the “Top 3 Club.” My journal notes that my raincoat was stolen and that “Graham’s girl told him to get me out because they were going to roll me.” Ah, Olongapo. Finished the night at “Pauline’s.”

My journal for 5 August also notes that I remembered being at Pauline’s and then I woke up in my rack. What happened in between, as Jimmy Buffett puts it, “I haven’t a clue.”

I bought a reel-to-reel tape deck at the Exchange on 6 August. According to my journal, “I was going to get an Akai for $238, but I finally decided on a Sony for $195. The whole setup [can’t remember what else I got] cost me $389.”

Additional stops for me during our five-day stay in Subic were the “Chuck Wagon” and “D’Cave.” I also had duty again, so it was more a three-day stay for me and most of the rest of us.