USS FINCH DER 328

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USS FINCH (DER 328)

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FINCH was to sail again, and in its third life undertake yet a third mission. This final revival was destined to be her longest, and as implied, her last. Remaining inactive for only 17 months, the conversion of the FINCH from Coast Guard Cutter to a Radar Picket Escort Vessel (DER) began at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 1 October 1955. The ship's Combat Information Center (CIC) was enlarged and relocation of the crew's messing spaces were among some of the major modifications made to the ship. She was fitted out with the most modern radar and communications equipment and the superstructure was changed, no longer retaining her original Destroyer Escort profile. Lieutenant Commander James K. Athow of Tacoma, Washington assumed command when the ship was re-commissioned as USS FINCH (DER 328) on 17 August 1956. Upon completion of conversion, the FINCH underwent extensive shakedown training at San Diego, California and then proceeded to her new home port, Seattle, Washington, arriving on 17 December 1956. The ship became a member of Escort Squadron FIVE, where, with other Radar Picket Vessels, FINCH was a part of the Western Continental Air Defense System, whose mission was to detect and report aircraft movements over the water areas adjacent to the western coast of North America. The ship was also assigned an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) mission. In the year to follow, FINCH would perform its assigned tasks rotating between its home port and one of several numbered Picket Stations at sea. Although a naval vessel, once the ship arrived on Picket Station, she would fall under the operational control of the U.S. Air Force, and once again revert to Navy control upon departure from picket duties. On 3 January 1958, Lieutenant Commander John A. D'Zamba reported on board and relieved as Commanding Officer. In the next month, on 10 February, the ship got underway for, and arrived at, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington where it was to remain for a month to receive the installation of new a Air Search Radar. Additional Picket Station assignments continued and, in July and August, FINCH was awarded the Anti-Submarine "E" and Engineering "E" Awards in recognition of her exercise Excellence ("E") in these areas of squadron competition for the year. Although Pier 91, Seattle, Washington had become a familiar berth for the ship in recent times, a change was soon to occur. FINCH departed Seattle on 2 September 1958 enroute to Picket Station THREE. This latest assignment was brief, as on 10 September the ship was relieved on station and set course for her newly assigned home port, Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii. FINCH arrived at her new home port on 16 September 1958 and soon departed for 24 days of duty on Barrier Patrol. With only one patrol completed, she entered Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard on 20 November commencing a regular scheduled shipyard overhaul period which included entering Dry-dock #1 on 2 December and departing the dry-dock shortly before Christmas on 22 December. Once out of the shipyard, the new year, 1959, witnessed the resumption of duties on the Pacific Barrier and relief of the

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Commanding Officer by Lieutenant Commander Edwin J. Burke on 20 September 1959. Christmas of this year was to be spent at sea. The ship's routine was to change following return to port from picket duties on 14 February 1960. Instead of picket assignments, the next three months were devoted to type training, upkeep, and rare recreational visits to Hilo on the main Island of Hawaii, and to Wailuku, on the island of Maui. These visits were identified as being for R&R (Rest and Recreation) and furtherance of the People-to-People Program. FINCH departed Pearl Harbor on 16 May 1960 now bound for San Francisco, California which was designated her new home port, arriving 22 May. The remainder of 1960 found itself being similar to the preceding year with the ship resuming picket duties and once again spending Christmas at sea. The period 29 June 1960 to 20 July 1960 will, however, long be remembered by Lieutenant Henry C. Morris, Jr., FINCH's Executive Officer, who temporarily was required to assume command of the ship during this interval due to the hospitalization of the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Burke, who resumed command upon FINCH's return on 20 July from their first West Coast picket since 1958.

1961 The year began with what could be called routine operations, alternating between the southern stations of the Barrier and home port, interspersed with brief local underway periods for type training. The routine was modified slightly on 11 April when, in lieu of returning to her normal berth at Treasure Island, San Francisco, California, FINCH departed Picket Station NINE and proceeded to Port Angeles, Washington for a brief port visit. She also made another port visit to Vancouver, British Columbia, departing that port on 17 April. One more picket assignment followed. On 23 May, FINCH off loaded ammunition. This was necessary prior to the ship entering Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, San Francisco, California, and then entering dry-dock on 1 June during her regular overhaul period. She left dry-dock on 28 June and while still in the middle of overhaul, on 15 July, Lieutenant Commander Edward P. Stilwell (left in photo on next page) relieved Lieutenant Commander Burke (on right) as Commanding Officer. August 18th marked FINCH's completion of final sea trials signifying the end of her overhaul period. Now there were brief underway sessions to shake out some of the minor bugs that usually followed an overhaul, reloading ammunition, the conduct of OOD (Officer of the Deck) training, exercising at drills, and familiarization with newly installed equipment. All had been proceeding well until the morning of 13 September when the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Stilwell was taken ill and it appeared he might be hospitalized. With the ship scheduled to sail on 21 September for Underway Training at San Diego, it appeared that the new Executive Officer, who had relieved Lieutenant Morris on 17 August, might similarly be required to assume temporary command. Lieutenant Commander Stilwell's strong insistence at not being hospitalized precluded two weeks of hospitalization, but he was required to remain at home on strict bed rest. The ship completed preparations without any problems, and Lieutenant Commander Stilwell, although still recovering from his illness, felt well enough to rejoin for FINCH's departure for San Diego. With Refresher Training (RefTra), schooling and daily underway exercises completed, the ship returned to San Francisco and was once again

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ready to resume picket duties and responsibilities. FINCH had already made three patrols to stations on the Western Contiguous Radar Barrier by the time that 1 February 1962 had rolled around. That morning the ship got underway enroute to Picket Station TWENTY-SEVEN. For the next four days it appeared that this would be logged as another routine, and quiet, picket. The seas were relatively quiet and all was proceeding well until the evening meal when the seas began to grow, and the barometer was falling. Lieutenant (junior grade) Dean Lommen had just relieved as Officer of the Deck on the mid-watch and the ship was experiencing heavy seas that had been generated by a major storm south of Alaska. In the short space of about six hours the seas had grown to become violent as the result of two wave systems, composed of mountainous ground swells and wind driven waves. These caused the ship to pitch and roll heavily, with occasional sudden snapping motions whenever a huge out of cycle wave hit the ship upsetting her normal movements. Then, shortly after mid-night, it was during one of these sudden snaps in the ship's roll that Lieutenant (junior grade) Lommen was thrown across the open bridge and into the bridge blast shield breaking the bone in his leg above his knee. The Commanding Officer assumed control of the ship and searched for a course with less violent rolling motion while Chief Hospitalman Stanley A. Norell and the Executive Officer tended to the OOD, immobilized his leg and got him into a Stokes stretcher between rolls of the ship. Lieutenant (junior grade) Lommen was finally moved, an inch at a time, to the Captain's sea cabin and "packed" in the Captain's transom bed to keep him from being thrown out. Removing the OOD from the bridge required approximately an hour and a half, as it was soon learned by observing the ship's clinometer, FINCH was taking rolls frequently measuring up to 67 degrees (from the vertical), and with very few registering less than 45 degrees. When daylight finally began to break about 0320 hours, it was discovered that the two wave systems had the ship locked to a course which restricted the ship's rolling motion to no less than the 45 degrees being experienced with the smallest rolls. It wasn't until mid-morning that the seas began to show signs of abating and a reversal of course was attempted in order to return to San Francisco and off-load Lieutenant (junior grade) Lommen for hospitalization. The ship returned to Picket Station only briefly and then returned to home port on 16 February. This non-routine picket was being interrupted because FINCH had been selected for a special assignment. FINCH received orders to take on provisions, stabilize the crew and prepare to deploy to Pearl Harbor for an assignment with Joint Task Force EIGHT. On 26 February 1962, the ship sailed from San Francisco enroute to Pearl Harbor, arriving there on 5 March. The next four weeks were consumed with a brief local underway period, briefings, and preparations for the ship's new assignment as a Picket Vessel in "OPERATION DOMINIC" which involved the testing of Nuclear Weapons. On 3 April FINCH departed Pearl Harbor bound for Christmas Island, approximately 1200 miles South of Hawaii, where the Commanding Officer received an additional briefing and then the ship assumed station on 9 April. Testing had not yet started when on 17 April FINCH was ordered to proceed to Fanning Island, a coral atoll about 165 miles West of Christmas Island, to evacuate a civilian and return him to Christmas Island. Since detailed navigation charts for Fanning Island were not on hand, the ship had to rely on

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radio instructions from Pearl Harbor in order to safely approach the atoll, locate the entrance and effect the safe pick-up of the civilian. Returning to station, on 19 April, duties were resumed to intercept shipping and aircraft approaching Christmas Island. On 25 April all hands were buttoned up on the ship's interior as FINCH maneuvered to safely position itself for witnessing the first Nuclear detonation of the "OPERATION DOMINIC" Nuclear test series. On 29 April Lieutenant Commander Stilwell transferred by high-line to the USS Forster (DER 334) to brief her Commanding Officer prior to FINCH's departure from station and return to Pearl Harbor arriving on 2 May. For the two weeks that the ship remained at Pearl Harbor, the time was spent on brief daily underway periods to conduct type training exercises, while in-port time was devoted to replenishment, rest and recreation. Underway once again on 17 May, the ship headed for her assigned test station. On station on 20 May, duties were resumed and in the following week another Nuclear detonation test was conducted. No sooner than the all clear was announced, the ship left station and set sail for Christmas Island arriving on the 28th, remaining at anchorage overnight. The next day, the 29th, FINCH set sail in company with USS Newell (DER 322) on a course due South. Shortly thereafter, the ship's entered the Domain of Neptunus Rex, receiving a visit from Davey Jones who issued summonses to the vast majority of the crew. Having duly crossed the equator on 30 May and with the ships having been cleansed of "Polly-Wogs" both ships continued their journey south to conduct a visual inspection of Jarvis Island, which was situated in close proximity to the test area, and insure that it still remained uninhabited. On 31 May FINCH got underway from Christmas Island to rendezvous with USS Chipola (AO 63) to top off on fuel, then returned to Christmas Island in order to take on two 1000 pound generators. Once the equipment was loaded, the ship sailed for Papeete, Tahiti which lay approximately 1260 miles south by southeast from Christmas Island. The crew experienced an unexpected, and rare visitation opportunity on 4 June while the ship remained in port and took on a cargo of 30 barrels of gasoline, special monitoring equipment and 4 passengers. On 6 June FINCH set out from Tahiti with the destination being Taiohae Bay located at the island of Nuka Hiva, Marquesas Islands, about a two day sail to the northeast of Tahiti. FINCH's mission was to assist in setting up a radiation monitoring station on the island using the equipment that had been previously loaded on board. There were no piers or other berthing facilities in Taiohae Bay, nor did the primitive environment of the island allow setting up the monitoring station without the use of the two 1000 pound generators that had been transported on board ship. A problem existed in how to get the generators ashore from the ship's anchorage position. Invention became the mother of necessity as FINCH's crew constructed a raft using gasoline drums,

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shoring and some wood planks. It was tested by the combined weight of twelve of the crew and upon proving its ability to support the weight, the generators were loaded onto the raft and it was all towed ashore by the ship's boat. In the space of one day, the crew had constructed the raft, landed the equipment and supplies, hauled the generators a half mile up a hill to the monitoring site at the local hospital building and set up the station. In the same space of time the crew also made repairs to four generators whose combined output was of considerably less generating capacity and served as the island's only source of electricity. With the task completed, FINCH returned to Papeete, Tahiti and was welcomed with the news that normal ship visit quotas were being waived, and the ship could remain for two days of rest and recreation, which allowed the opportunity to hold a ship's party. The ship returned to Christmas Island on 17 June in time to witness another Nuclear detonation and then departed for Pearl Harbor. The ship arrived at Pearl Harbor on 21 June and on the same day received a message from Commander Joint Task Group EIGHT POINT THREE commending FINCH on her outstanding performance of duty on the special independent mission to Tahiti and Nuka Hiva in support of Joint Task Force EIGHT. A message of congratulations was also received from the Commander-in-Chief, U. S. Pacific Fleet. The ship returned to the Christmas Island test area on 4 July, only to depart on 6 July to assume station in the Johnston Island test area. The final high altitude detonation took place in the evening hours of 8 July and lit up the sky as far away as Hawaii (750 miles) making the night sky appear as if it were daylight. With the tests over, the ship departed the Johnston Island test area and returned to Pearl Harbor on 13 July where Lieutenant Commander Stilwell was summoned to the Squadron Commander's office. There he was informed that FINCH had won the Battle Efficiency "E" as the top DER (out of 12) in the Squadron. On this high note, and following a brief stay to refuel and replenish, FINCH departed Pearl Harbor enroute to its home port of San Francisco, concluding a five month deployment on 27 July 1962 with its return home. The crew now relaxed and turned their thoughts to home, which could very well have been the topic of conversation at this early morning coffee and "flag bag scuttlebutt" break pictured at right. The remainder of 1962 would see more routine assignments on the Western Contiguous Radar Barrier. Another highlight did occur on 6 October when the ship was formally presented with the Battle Efficiency "E" Award for Fiscal Year 1961- 1962. The year 1963 began on Barrier station and the Commanding Officer had received

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a promotion to the rank of Commander. On 22 March he was relieved by Lieutenant Commander Leslie A. Taylor, Jr. while FINCH was in port in San Francisco. The new Commanding Officer would experience six Barrier assignments, interspersed with a few side visits to San Diego, before the ship entered San Francisco Naval Shipyard for regular overhaul on 22 November 1963. FINCH completed her shipyard overhaul period on 26 February 1964 and departed for San Diego where she continued her maintenance period with a Tender Availability (TAV) and Restricted Availability (RAV) until 12 March. From 13 March until 1 May, the ship underwent Refresher Training (REFTRA) and then departed San Diego to resume Barrier operations. As in 1963, FINCH was to experience six Barrier assignments, returning to San Francisco during off-station periods with a couple of additional brief visits to San Diego for maintenance periods alongside a Destroyer Tender. During the summer Lieutenant Commander George I. Thompson became FINCH's new Commanding Officer on 20 July 1964 at ceremonies conducted in the ship's home port of San Francisco. Unlike the preceding year, the ship was to spend the Christmas holiday season at sea on station.

1965 Having spent the past two years on Barrier assignments, FINCH was to see a dramatic change to her routine. The year began on station, then returning to San Francisco on 7 January. Three more station assignments would follow before FINCH would break routine and sail in a different direction. The ship had returned to home port on 28 April 1965 and would remain in port until 3 June, making preparations and provisioning to sail on 3 June, in accordance with orders, and proceed to Pearl Harbor. As part of the preparations and prior to sailing, the ship had undergone a period of about ten days in dry-dock at San Francisco. The ship arrived at Pearl Harbor on 9 June and remained there, conducting type training exercises, until 19 June where upon she once more set sail, with the destination being the island of Guam. At sea, enroute on the 23rd of June, FINCH's home port was officially changed to Guam and she was assigned as a unit of Escort Squadron SEVEN. No sooner than arriving at Guam on 29 June, then the ship was underway again on 5 July and enroute to Subic Bay, Philippine Islands. FINCH was now sailing familiar waters, and as she had been in 1945, she was involved in a war and was sailing to face an enemy. She was to become a part of Task Force 115, being assigned to the operational control of CTF 115, the Coastal Surveillance Force Commander, responsible for the conduct of Market Time Operations off the coast of Vietnam. With its home port in Guam, Mariana Islands, FINCH's underway responsibility as an active unit of Task Force 115 was the denial to aggressor units of access to the South Vietnamese waters and coastline for logistic support of Communist guerrilla forces. The first Market Time patrol commenced on 10 July and they were to continue for the remainder of 1965, with off station visits to Hong Kong, FINCH's port of departure for home as DE 328 in 1946, and Manila, Philippine Islands. One off station break did result in a return to its home port, Guam, during 9 September - 22 November, and included a two week period in dry-dock once more for maintenance.

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1966 The commencement of 1966 saw FINCH operating as a unit of the U.S. SEVENTH Fleet, actively engaged in Market Time Operations (Area 3), her patrol and surveillance duties being highlighted by the firing, on 15 January, of 134 rounds of 3"/50 ammunition at a Viet Cong infested village two hundred and sixty miles northeast of Saigon. Continuing patrol operations after six days in Hong Kong late in January, FINCH's next major unscheduled event was the successful daylight recovery of Fireman Apprentice Earl D. BLANTON who, on 23 February, during a morning underway replenishment with USS Kennebec (AO 36), was swept over the side by unusually high seas. March saw FINCH in Kaoshiung, Taiwan alongside the USS Dixie (AD 14) for the first twelve days of the month for tender availability, with the ship returning to Market Time Area 1 on 15 March. She remained in various northern patrol areas until departure for Bangkok, Thailand on 21 April 1966. FINCH returned to Market Time Area 6 on 1 May, remaining on station until 13 May whereupon the ship departed for an Operational Readiness Evaluation in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, on 16 May. This in turn was followed by a ten day visit to Kaohsiung, Taiwan prior to returning to her home port of Guam, arriving on 2 June. During this five month period of operations

with the U.S. SEVENTH Fleet FINCH conducted thirty-four underway replenishments and detected 6,843 surface contacts transiting the Market Time area. Shipyard availability occupied the ship from early June until final inspections by the Staffs of Commander Destroyer Flotilla FIVE and Commander Escort Squadron SEVEN in September. Within this period, on 7 July,

Lieutenant Commander Myron A. Skubinna relieved as Commanding Officer. In the midst of the ship's final inspections 6 -10 September, it was confirmed by Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet that FINCH was named the recipient of the Battle Efficiency "E" for the period 1 October 1965 to 30 June 1966. FINCH departed Guam on 1 October 1966 for another tour of duty with the U.S. SEVENTH Fleet, commencing Market Time Operations on 9 October. During October, she was assigned the southern sector of Area 6 in the nine patrol areas established along the Vietnamese coast. Patrolling a fixed-line barrier FINCH steamed independently, identifying all contacts which entered her area of responsibility. Summary contact reports and/or sighting reports were filed furnishing operational commanders with the

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name, call sign, ship's registry, port of embarkation, and ultimate destination as well as position and time of sighting. On 12 November 1966, FINCH was relieved by USS Hissem (DER 400) and proceeded to Kaohsiung, Taiwan for an availability period alongside USS Hector (AR 7), departing Kaohsiung on 20 November and returning to Market Time Area 6 for resumption of patrol on 24 November. FINCH was assigned the northern sector of Patrol Area 6 and commenced working in concert with PCFs (swift boats) conducting coordinated operations. In her relatively new capacity as mother ship for PCFs and their crews, FINCH directed swift boat investigations of contacts entering the control area during the late evening through early morning hours. When not pursuing coordinated operations, FINCH again steamed an assigned fixed-line barrier. On 6 December FINCH departed Market Time Area 6 (North), having been relieved by the USS Newell (DER 322), and proceeded to Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines for repairs and upkeep, and then returning to Market Time Operations on 22 December. Assigned again to the southern section of Area 6, FINCH relieved the USS Brister (DER 327) and resumed patrol of the surveillance area until after the commencement of the New Year. During the calendar year 1966, FINCH steamed 54,452 miles, consumed 740,742 gallons of diesel fuel, and, conducted 57 underway replenishments.

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FINCH remained on station until 17 January in Market Time Area 6. Aside from the routine inspections of coastal junks and sampans made by the ship's boarding parties, the patrol was relatively uneventful. The calm was disrupted, however, on the night of 11 January when Boatswain's Mate 1/c George Thompson fell overboard during a refueling operation with USS Neches (AO 47). After an emergency breakaway, Thompson was safely recovered. Upon relief by USS Vance (DER 387), FINCH departed station and sailed to Hong Kong, arriving on 20 January and remaining for five days of rest and recreation. The ship departed Hong Kong for its home port with a brief diversion to Kaohsiung, Taiwan to refuel, then was greeted by family and friends upon her arrival in Apra Harbor, Guam on 30 January. The next day FINCH hosted her family members to a day at sea with a dependents' cruise. Following this she commenced an

eight week restricted availability period at the U.S Naval Ship Repair Facility, Guam. From 3 February to 1 March FINCH completed her interim dry-docking in USS Arco (ARD 29) and on 15 March received a visit from Vice Admiral J. J. Hyland, USN, Commander U.S. SEVENTH Fleet. With completion of the availability period on 29 March, the ship received surprise administrative and pre-

deployment inspections and then was engaged in local operations and exercises until 24 April when it departed for Yokosuka, Japan for a period of Refresher Training. Having completed her training and passed her Operational Readiness Evaluation, FINCH returned to Guam on 29 May 1967. Local independent ship exercises and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercises with units of Submarine Squadron FIFTEEN occupied the crew's time. There were, however, occasional periods of diversion with the opportunity to show off the ship, as on 18 June FINCH launched COMNAVMARIANAS' (Commander Naval Forces, Marianas) Visit Ship Program by hosting 1066 open house guests. A change of venue was to occur, as FINCH commenced her Western Pacific deployment on 8 July 1967 and proceeded to Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines. On 13 July the ship departed for Kaohsiung, Taiwan for duties with the Taiwan Patrol Group. The Commanding Officer, USS FINCH (DER 328) relieved Commanding Officer, USS Savage (DER 386) as Commander Taiwan Patrol Group, CTG 72.1, as FINCH took station in the Taiwan Straits. Until 10 August, the ship remained on Taiwan Patrol monitoring ship movements and collecting intelligence data in the Straits. When not on patrol, the ship made port visits to Kaohsiung and Keelung. On 10 August, FINCH proceeded to Hong Kong, British Crown Colony, to relieve USS Wilhoite (DER 397) on 11 August and provide administrative support as SOPA ADMIN (Senior Officer Present Afloat Administrative) Hong Kong. While acting in this capacity until 2 September, the ship was required to coordinate three typhoon evasion sorties by U.S. Naval ships in port. After US Camp (DER 251) assumed SOPA ADMIN on 2 September, FINCH got underway for Sasebo, Japan. From 5 September to 14 September the ship underwent a tender availability period (TAV) alongside USS Klondike (AR 22). The crew had an opportunity for some relaxation during this period in the form of a ship's party. FINCH departed Sasebo on 14 September for Market Time Operations in Area 2 and arrived to relieve USS Newell (DER 322) on 19 September. After a routine Market Time patrol, USS Lowe (DER 325) relieved FINCH on 10 October. The ship then proceeded to Hualien, Taiwan for a People-to-People port visit and from 13 to 16 October held open house for 2693 Hualien citizens. In furtherance of the People-to-People Program, FINCH held a special on board reception for members of the Ami Cultural Village, and engaged in a softball game with a local team. On 17 October, FINCH sortied from Hualien on storm evasion in the face of Typhoon Carla. Although the ship experienced heavy seas and high winds, she sustained only minor damage to topside equipment. While on storm evasion, FINCH participated in a Search and Rescue mission by escorting two crippled Taiwanese fishing vessels to the safe lee shore of Taiwan. The ship then proceeded to Kaohsiung to take up the duties of Taiwan Patrol on 20 October. The deployment's second Taiwan Patrol passed smoothly and was completed on

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13 November. On 16 November, the ship once again sailed for Vietnamese waters, relieving USS Camp (DER 251) in Market Time Area 3 on 19 November. About half way through this patrol, on 28 November, FINCH participated in a Naval Gunfire Support Mission in a position north of Qui Nhon, Republic of Vietnam by firing 105 rounds of 3"/50 caliber fire on a suspected Viet Cong troop concentration area. Relieved of duties on 10 December, the ship spent 12-16 December in the port of Hong Kong for crew rest and recreation, then returning to Market Time Patrol on 19 December, this time in Area 1. FINCH spent Christmas 1967 at sea on Market Time patrol and had been deployed from home port and families since 8 July. On 26 December, relief came in the form of USS Hissem (DER 400), and the ship departed Vietnamese waters and, with her deployment nearing an end, began her long journey home. After a brief stop at Subic Bay, 28-30 December, FINCH navigated through the San Bernadino Straits and pointed her bow for Apra Harbor, Guam and a well deserved rest concluding a deployment that would number five days short of six months. The year 1967 was at an end and could also have been measured by the total of 189 days that the ship had spent at sea underway, or the 684,710 gallons of diesel fuel consumed while underway.

1968 New Year's day 1968 found FINCH still enroute home from deployment and upon reaching Guam on 3 January safely reunited her crew once again with families and loved ones, just as she had done so many times before. The ship plunged into her annual restricted availability at the U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility, Guam on 13 January. While the focus of activities was material improvement of the ship, time was found for varied outside activities. On 18 January FINCH welcomed the Republic of China Ship Ta Tung (ATF 54) to Guam. While wardrooms exchanged greetings, the crews played softball. Softball figured prominently in organized leisure activities, followed closely by bowling. Lieutenant R. C. Newton, USN, the ship's Engineering Officer, clinched the COMNAVMARIANAS (Commander Naval Forces, Marianas) Lightweight Boxing Crown on 17 February. In subsequent weeks he went on to compete in other matches and take the All-Navy Runner-Up spot in his class. FINCH completed her restricted availability with sea trials on 9 March and for the next month she concentrated on training and readiness, getting underway for local operations. During this period, she provided submarine target vessel services and received valuable Anti-Submarine Warfare training in return from units of Submarine Squadron FIFTEEN. Easter Sunday, 14 April, FINCH greeted her new prospective Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Robert L. Grimmell. The following day, she departed for Yokosuka, Japan and annual refresher training with Fleet Training Group, Western Pacific. The first day of training, 22 April, saw a lot of action. At 1000 hours, under gray

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but dry skies, Commander Skubinna turned over command of FINCH to Lieutenant Commander Robert L. Grimmell. The fantail ceremony was held as the ship lay moored at Berth 9, U.S. Fleet Activities, Yokosuka, Japan. Vice Admiral W. F. Bringle, USN, Commander of the SEVENTH Fleet was in attendance at the ceremony. Within three hours of assuming command, Lieutenant Commander Grimmell had the ship underway for the Training Battle Problem, inaugurating an intensive period of training which was to last for the next three weeks. FINCH completed her training period, and after a brief period of upkeep in Yokosuka, set sail for home port on 16 May. The tempo of ship life shifted upon return to Guam on 20 May. During the first week back, the ship was once again subjected to Administrative and Pre-deployment inspections. During 27-29 May, FINCH got underway to conduct independent drills and calibration exercises, then commenced an upkeep period which lasted until 16 June. At 0800 hours, on 17 June 1968, FINCH stood out of Apra Harbor, Guam enroute to Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines on the first leg of her six month deployment. As in her prior deployment, she reverted to the operational control of Commander, SEVENTH Fleet, occurring this time on 19 June, and the ship reached Subic Bay two days later. After loading final stores and conducting several gunnery exercises, she made the short transit to Vietnam and relieved USS Falgout (DER 324) as Commander Task Element 115.2.2.2 in Market Time Area 5 on 25 June. FINCH's patrol period in Vietnam was relatively quiet except for one short visit to Nha Trang Harbor and three quick trips to Cam Ranh Bay. Daily routine consisted of tracking, inspecting, and boarding Vietnamese cargo junks. PCF (swift boat) boat crews lived aboard FINCH and alternated duty days, changing when the boats came to be refueled from the ship. The routine was broken about every three days with an underway replenishment. The only other interruption came on 3 and 4 July, when FINCH delivered her Fourth of July fireworks against thirteen suspected Viet Cong trails and assembly areas. She departed Area 5 when relieved by USS Haverfield (DER 393) on 29 July. By 31 July, FINCH had moored to Buoy B-28, Hong Kong Harbor, British Crown Colony and had relieved USCGC Cambell (WHEC 32) of duties as Senior Officer Present, Administrative, Hong Kong. Hong Kong, the favorite port of the Western Pacific, proved no disappointment in FINCH's two week stay in spite of the existence of the Hong Kong Influenza Epidemic. In hopes of researching this new disease, personnel from Naval Medical Research Unit TWO, Taipei, Taiwan, with the aid of the ship's "Doc", Hospitalman 1/c Roger G. Kennedy, drew blood samples from approximately 125 of the 140 man crew on the 2nd and 13th of August. A third drawing was made on 26 August when the ship was in Kaohsiung. "Doc" Kennedy was to later make a final drawing during the week of 18 November. Numerous throat swabs were taken in this span of time, and data was kept on the number of men who caught the disease. With the help of the Army 406th Medical-General Laboratory and the U.S. Public Health Service, it was discovered that the Hong Kong influenza was a variant of the Asian Flu and was unaffected by present vaccines. It was later noted, that as a result of this "perfect

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controlled experiment", the virus recovered from the men of the FINCH, 70% of whom caught the flu to some degree, was made into a new vaccine which was made available on 1 December; first to the Armed Forces, and then to the general population. It was further noted that the availability of this new vaccine would benefit all of South East Asia and the rest of the world if the disease spread during the winter as it was expected. FINCH was relieved of SOPA ADMIN, Hong Kong duties on the afternoon of 13 August by USCGC Bibb (WHEC 31) and the next day departed Hong Kong Harbor for Kaohsiung, Taiwan, for assignment to Taiwan Patrol Duty. For the next month, the ship operated out of Kaohsiung as a unit of Task Group 72.1, spending about 70% of her time on patrols in the Straits. FINCH returned to Kaohsiung on 2 September from patrol and moored in a nest with USS Markab (AR 23). At 1600 hours, 3 September, all U.S. Navy units present in port were ordered to get underway and sortie south to avoid typhoons Wendy and Agnes. The next morning USS Kretchmer, which had been on patrol, rendezvoused with FINCH. The two ships proceeded to the lee of the Babuyan Islands just north of Luzon Island in the Philippines. Until the ships returned to Kaohsiung on 8 September, they put the time on storm evasion to good use by conducting numerous dual ship exercises. The remainder of the patrol period passed quickly. From 16 to 18 September FINCH made a return transit to Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines for upkeep. During this in-port period uninvited guest Typhoon Elaine forced the cancellation of the ship's party and the only diversion was the arrival of the battleship USS New Jersey (BB 62). FINCH's stay in Subic Bay ended in a rough transit to Vietnam on 1 October. Arriving on Market Time station on 3 October, the ship relieved USCGC Winona (WHEC 65). The entire patrol period turned out to be fairly routine with the exception of 7 to 9 October when the ship was called upon to provide direct gunfire support in the vicinity of Cape Batangan, Republic of Vietnam. Following relief by USCGC Owasco (WHEC 39) on 19 October FINCH returned to Taiwan Patrol from 22 October to 23 November with intervening in-port periods in Kaohsiung and Keelung. On 22 November, FINCH's crew, Commanding Officer, and "Doc" Kennedy were honored by the Commanding Officer of the Naval Medical Research Unit TWO, Taipei, Captain Watten, who presented plaques and certificates of appreciation for the ship's part in the research of the Hong Kong Flu. The ship set sail the next day for Yokosuka, Japan. FINCH reached Yokosuka on Thanksgiving Day, 28 November 1968, and moored alongside USS Markab. The Yokosuka upkeep period had two beneficial effects. First, it gave the ship and crew a head start on the upcoming restricted availability, and secondly, it also provided a last chance for the crew to blow off steam before returning to the rigors of an overhaul in Guam. A ship's party was held on two consecutive days, 9 and 10 December, to allow all hands the opportunity to participate, and to make up for the party canceled earlier by Typhoon Elaine. Two days later, FINCH departed on the deployment's last transit -- the return home to Guam. In a modest shipboard ceremony held during the rough transit, FINCH celebrated the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of her first commissioning on 13 December 1943. As it

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would lagter turn out, this would also be the last anniversary celebration that the ship could anticipate or experience in active duty as a commissioned ship. Two days later, she departed SEVENTH Fleet and returned to the operational control of Commander Cruisers-Destroyers, Pacific. The ship ended her deployment on 16 December as she tied up in Apra Harbor at U.S. Naval Supply Depot, Guam. The next day she off-loaded her ammunition and fuel and then entered restricted availability at the U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility, Guam on 18 December bringing the year 1968 to a close. In the course of FINCH's six month deployment the ship was underway at sea on 112 days, steaming a total of 25,396 miles, and consuming 532,776 gallons of fuel. The crew, on the other hand, during this same six month period, consumed 7,969 pounds of beef, 3,445 pounds of lettuce, 4,224 pounds of bread, 19,090 pounds of fresh potatoes, 758 gallons of ice cream, and 1,200 pounds of coffee. The ship also dispatched 7,212 pounds of mail, and in return received 11,210 pounds of mail.

1969 On 1 January, FINCH was still in the midst of her annual restricted availability at the U.S. Naval Repair Facility, Guam. The two weeks from 12 to 26 January were spent in dry-dock, USS Arco (ARD 29). Due to the deactivation of several DER's, FINCH learned that her home port was changed to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, effective 15 January. This marked the second time that FINCH would call Hawaii home. Her post availability sea trials were held on 11 February, and two weeks later, on the 24th, FINCH sailed for her new home port, arriving at Pearl Harbor on 5 March. Only two days passed since her arrival at Pearl Harbor, as on 7 March, with the numbers "139" painted on her bow, the ship got underway to participate in the filming of the movie "Tora, Tora, Tora." FINCH played the role of the USS Ward (DD 139), which sank a midget submarine near the entrance to Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. The next week saw the ship preparing for refresher training, which began with a Training Readiness Evaluation (TRE) on 13 and 14 March. From 24 March to 18 April, the Pearl Harbor Fleet Training Group instructors put the ship through its paces, both at sea and in-port, running seemingly endless drills and evolutions. These included various gunnery exercises and a morning of shore bombardment conducted at Kahoolawe Island, Hawaii. In the interval, 19 to 30 April, FINCH lay alongside the USS Royale (AD 29) at Ford Island for a tender availability period. With FINCH's deployment to the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) scheduled for 19 May, the ship was surprised to learn on 2 May that she was to be deactivated and that the deployment was canceled. With this news in hand, the crew redirected their collective energies to prepare the ship for an INSURV Inspection, held on 10 and 11 June, to determine the further serviceability of FINCH. Their efforts were rewarded when the results were in and the verdict was "fit for further service." It was decided that FINCH would be placed in "mothballs" and, accordingly, she sailed for Bremerton, Washington on 7 July 1969. On board was Lieutenant

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Commander R. L. Johnson, who would relieve as Commanding Officer at a brief change of command ceremony that was held upon FINCH's arrival at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on 14 July. Deactivation work began on the following day under the watchful eye of the Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility at Bremerton. As 2 August dawned, the officers and crew left the ship and moved onboard the EX-USS Euryale (AS 22), alongside which the FINCH was moored. On 26 August the ship was towed across the Puget Sound to the Lake Union Dry Dock Company shipyard in Seattle for the industrial period of her inactivation work. At this time the crew moved onboard the barracks ship APL 10, which had been towed to Lake Union for that purpose. The FINCH entered dry-dock on 4 September, remaining until 29 September when she was re-floated and was towed back to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. A week later, on 3 October 1969, for the third and what would be the final time in her career, the FINCH was placed out of commission and in reserve at Bremerton, Washington. The last of FINCH's crew were finally transfered the following day, 4 October 1969. During the span of a little over eighteen and one half years that FINCH was in active service, as a Destroyer Escort, Coast Guard Cutter, and Radar Picket Vessel, she served honorably in times which witnessed three wars; World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. On the occasion of each assignment at sea, she performed her mission well and carried her crews home safely. It is estimated that in the course of her existence, FINCH was home, away from home, for approximately 2,607 young men who will remember, and always be remembered with FINCH in history.

1974 On 27 September 1974, the Inactive Ships Facility, Bremerton Washington sent a message (INACTSHIPFAC BREMERTON WA 272014Z SEP 74) to the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, DC which began "1. IAW REF A EX-FINCH (DER-328) RELEASED FROM NAVAL CUSTODY 27 SEPTEMBER 1974 TO SUCCESSFUL BIDDER LEVIN METALS, CORP., SAN JOSE CALIFORNIA.........."

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_________________________ _ __________________________

USS FINCH DER-328

PORT VISITS (1956 - 1969)

_____________________________________________________________ Mare Island Naval Shipyard Manila, Philippine Islands (Commissioned) Kaoshiung, Taiwan San Diego, California Bangkok, Thailand Seattle, Washington Apra Harbor, Guam Bremerton, Washington Yokosuka, Japan Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Keelung, Taiwan San Francisco, California Sasebo, Japan (Treasure Island) Hualien, Taiwan Port Angeles, Washington Nha Trang, Vietnam Christmas Island Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam Fanning Island Cape Batanyan, Vietnam Papeete, Tahiti Kahoolawe Island, Hawaii Nuka Hiva, Marqueses Islands Ford Island, Hawaii Guam Bremerton, Washington Subic Bay, Philippine Islands (Decommissioned) Hong Kong

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NAME RANK ARRIVAL Athow, James K. LCDR 17 Aug 56 Scott, Clyde L. LT 17 Aug 56 Burch, William J. LTJG 17 Aug 56 Carter, Robert E. LTJG 17 Aug 56 Edson, Theodore M. LTJG 17 Aug 56 Fitzgerald, John R. LTJG 17 Aug 56 Lombardi, Richard E. LTJG 17 Aug 56 Needham, William L. LTJG 17 Aug 56 Slocomb, Richard S. LTJG 17 Aug 56 Stark, Donald D. LTJG 17 Aug 56 Wachob, James R. LTJG 17 Aug 56 Russell, William E. Jr. ENS 17 Aug 56 Brown, Robert H. AG3 17 Aug 56 Pierce, Henry L. BM1 17 Aug 56 Parker, Paul F. BM2 17 Aug 56 Duggan, Harold D. BM3 17 Aug 56 Mahoney, James F. BM3 17 Aug 56 Norman, Hal W. BMC 17 Aug 56 Harrison, William R. BT1 17 Aug 56 Bosnengo, John E. BTFN 17 Aug 56 Stevens, Joseph L. CS1 17 Aug 56 Alcorn, Gail E. CS2 17 Aug 56 Drummond, James E. CSC 17 Aug 56 English, Jerrold R. CSG3 17 Aug 56 Horn, Robert D. CSG3 17 Aug 56 Skidmore, Harold W. DC1 17 Aug 56 White, Robert R. DK2 17 Aug 56 Howell, Wyman S. EM1 17 Aug 56 Landis, John B. EM2 17 Aug 56 Douglas, William G. EM3 17 Aug 56 Sidebottom, Larry R. EM3 17 Aug 56 Stuchell, Nathan L. EM3 17 Aug 56 Turner, William E. EM3 17 Aug 56 Woody, Melvin R. EMC 17 Aug 56 Hodge, Clarence A. EN1 17 Aug 56 Rudd, Malcolm T. EN1 17 Aug 56 570500 Durbin, Thomas L. EN2 17 Aug 56 Goldman, Monroe O. EN2 17 Aug 56 Hunter, Ralph L. Sr. EN2 17 Aug 56 Imlay, Ellsworth E. EN2 17 Aug 56 Vigliaturo, Daniel A. EN2 17 Aug 56 Wymore, Edward J. EN2 17 Aug 56 West, Philip H. EN3 17 Aug 56 Breckenfeld, Herbert G. ENC 17 Aug 56 Mizeski, Joseph J. ENC 17 Aug 56 Anderson, Chester W.. ENCA 17 Aug 56 Kiogima, Charles W. END3 17 Aug 56 Boone, Robert D. ENFA 17 Aug 56 Davis, Floyd E. ENFA 17 Aug 56 Jones, Alfred E. ENFA 17 Aug 56 Bordenkircher, Walter L. Jr. ENFN 17 Aug 56 DeWitt, Solon W. ENFN 17 Aug 56 Nick, Ernest H. ENFN 17 Aug 56 Bradfield, Milton H. ET1 17 Aug 56 Jewett, Oliver H. ET3 17 Aug 56 Slane, Vernon W. ET3 17 Aug 56

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NAME RANK ARRIVAL Backstrom, Einar W. ETCA 17 Aug 56 Mattson, George E. ETRSN 17 Aug 56 Smith, Arthur O. FA 17 Aug 56 Smith, Freddie E. FA 17 Aug 56 Bentley, Billy C. FN 17 Aug 56 Bergmann, Gerard FN 17 Aug 56 Craycraft, Clarence FN 17 Aug 56 Crayne, Larry M. FN 17 Aug 56 Elms, Alvin D. FN 17 Aug 56 Gomez, Ernest (n) FN 17 Aug 56 590900 Hansen, George M. FN 17 Aug 56 Harmon, Donald W. FN 17 Aug 56 Hazelgrove, Carl E. FN 17 Aug 56 La Grant, Edward J. FN 17 Aug 56 Moore, John W. FN 17 Aug 56 Newton, Lloyd L. FN 17 Aug 56 Reed, Wally P. FN 17 Aug 56 Robb, Russell A. FN 17 Aug 56 Roberson, William L. FN 17 Aug 56 Slaughter, Oliver MM3 17 Aug 56 Traver, Wayne E. FN 17 Aug 56 Tsuboi, Tadamasa FN 17 Aug 56 Jones, Lloyd E. FP2 17 Aug 56 Watts, Malcolm G. FT1 17 Aug 56 Hoover, Wayne L FT3 17 Aug 56 Van Atta, Clarence C. GM1 17 Aug 56 Walker, Lacy L. GM2 17 Aug 56 Bruhn, Gary J. GM3 17 Aug 56 Burneskis, Peter GMC 17 Aug 56 Paccioretty, Albert A. GMM2 17 Aug 56 Douglas, Pasley J. HMC 17 Aug 56 Morris, Bentley H. Jr. IC1 17 Aug 56 Calhoun, Robert L. IC3 17 Aug 56 Ward, Ronald R. EM1 17 Aug 56 Fraser, Dale H. MR1 17 Aug 56 Jackson, John D. PN1 17 Aug 56 Bowman, William L. PN3 17 Aug 56 Lance, Marcus S. QM1 17 Aug 56 Le Claire, William H. QM3 17 Aug 56 Parker, James G. QM3 17 Aug 56 Parillo, Stephen J. QM3 17 Aug 56 Jockisch, Arthur R. QMC 17 Aug 56 Dunn, James L QMQ3 17 Aug 56 Downs, Harrison "F" RD1 17 Aug 56 Hall, James N. RD2 17 Aug 56 Alaga, Nick J. RD3 17 Aug 56 Bates, Warren W. RD3 17 Aug 56 Bishop, Raymond N. RD3 17 Aug 56 Freire, Richard M. RD3 17 Aug 56 Gates, George K. RD3 17 Aug 56 Hayes, James P. RD3 17 Aug 56 Hill, Benjamin B. RD3 17 Aug 56 Lindstrom, John F. III RD3 17 Aug 56 Pfeifer, Karl R. RD3 17 Aug 56 Summerford, Bernard H. RD3 17 Aug 56 Steadman, Victor M. RDC 17 Aug 56

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NAME RANK ARRIVAL Fine, David (n) RDSN 17 Aug 56 Van Wert, Edward B. RDSN 17 Aug 56 Boxell, Jesse S. RM1 17 Aug 56 Paxton, Haven RM2 17 Aug 56 Freeman, James A. RM3 17 Aug 56 Mathis, Charles W. RM3 17 Aug 56 Powers, Richard L. RM3 17 Aug 56 Wall, Jack M. RMCA 17 Aug 56 Owen, Charles L. RMSA 17 Aug 56 Rogers, Arthur W. RMSA 17 Aug 56 Sharples, Richard D. RMSA 17 Aug 56 Tison, Clyde W. RMSN 17 Aug 56 Alexander, Howard W. SD1 17 Aug 56 Berberabe, Emilio SD3 17 Aug 56 Cavender, Cecil L. Jr. SH2 17 Aug 56 Buffington, Arthur G. SH3 17 Aug 56 Mowbray, Arthur E. Jr. SK1 17 Aug 56 Lun, Bobby (n) SKG3 17 Aug 56 Azevedo, Ernest M. SN 17 Aug 56 Benge, Thomas A. SN 17 Aug 56 Blieu, Claris W. SN 17 Aug 56 Christofferson, Dennis L. SN 17 Aug 56 Eaton, Gerald K. SN 17 Aug 56 Ferguson, Olin D. SN 17 Aug 56 Gandy, Joseph Jr. SN 17 Aug 56 Godbey, Velmer L. SN 17 Aug 56 Goldbeck, Dean R. SN 17 Aug 56 Gomez, Alberto SN 17 Aug 56 Henninger, Edward D. SN 17 Aug 56 Herrington, Fred A. SN 17 Aug 56 Houver, William M. SN 17 Aug 56 Jacobson, Wesley J. SN 17 Aug 56 Jeffers, James A. SN 17 Aug 56 Johnson, Edward L. SN 17 Aug 56 Mastel, Fred W. SN 17 Aug 56 Maxwell, Claude H. SN 17 Aug 56 Mitchell, Junior H. SN 17 Aug 56 Molina, Benito SN 17 Aug 56 Muise, Ronald A. SN 17 Aug 56 Pedigo, Leonard C. SN 17 Aug 56 Smith, Donald E. SN 17 Aug 56 Stewart, Willie F. SN 17 Aug 56 Valdes, Leo J. SN 17 Aug 56 Watkins, Mitchell A. SN 17 Aug 56 Wiggin, Carl R. SN 17 Aug 56 Wolford, Elmer D. SN 17 Aug 56 Yarmak, Alexander J. SN 17 Aug 56 Rea, Gerald E. SO1 17 Aug 56 Daniels, Juddie C. Jr. SO2 17 Aug 56 Graves, Howard H. SO3 17 Aug 56 Jennings, Keith M. SO3 17 Aug 56 Clark, George Jr. TA 17 Aug 56 Fulgencio, Rodolfo C. TE1 17 Aug 56 Daffern, Harold F. TE3 17 Aug 56 Howland, James R. TEP2 17 Aug 56 Teague, Norman TM2 17 Aug 56

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NAME RANK ARRIVAL Peterson, John H. TN 17 Aug 56 Gourley, Francis G. YN1 17 Aug 56 Flores, Felizardo P. YN2 17 Aug 56

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