The Most Amazing Thing I Ever Saw Without a doubt, the most amazing thing I ever saw was a sixty foot high wall of water roaring towards the bow of my ship. At the time, we were in convoy with four other ships including the battleship, the USS New Jersey. We’d been in a growing…
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Combat Actions of the U.S.S. Turner Joy (DD-951) As witnessed by LCDR Jim Chester US Navy (Retired) Another event that happened on that last day of the war that is unique in the Vietnam War Experience is surreal and still sends chills down my spine to this day just thinking about it. Shortly after rearming…
Chapter Four-Part I Combat Actions of the U.S.S. Turner Joy (DD-951) As witnessed by LCDR Jim Chester US Navy (Retired) Assigned to the Combat Information Center (CIC) as leading Operations Specialist holding the rank of E-5 and rate of OS2 aboard the destroyer USS Turner Joy (DD-951), the last all gun destroyer ever built for…
This book is the epitome of the unexplainable things that happen in heavy combat and how history is altered and legends are born. On January 27, 1973, while engaged in very heavy combat just below the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in what then was First Military Region, Republic of South Vietnam, I participated in and witnessed…
My name is Tracy Birch, and I had the pleasure to serve aboard the USS Turner Joy as my first ship out of Naval Training School in Chicago, IL (my hometown also). I reported aboard in April 1981, and was immediately put to work as an Electricians Mate Fireman Apprentice (E2). Our first tasks were…
The USS Turner Joy (DD-951) was rushed overseas early in December, 1972 to use its new 5” 54cal MK 42 Mod 10 gun mounts that could reliably fire 40 rounds per gun per minute. With the 3” 50cal automatic twin mount rated at 50 rounds per barrel per minute, the Turner Joy could put out…
BATTLE OF BRANDON BAY. The 3 ships formed up in a loose line abreast about 1945, all at four boiler, split plant operation, running lights off and about 2030 we went to General Quarters (GQ), (Battle Stations) and we started our run at 35,000 yards from the beach building up to 32 knots. Soon we…
Did you read the History of the T.J.? If so I got a little sea story to tell you about the part concerning the T.J. firing the last round of Naval Gun Fire Support in Vietnam. We had gotten word early in the morning on the 27th that the Cease Fire would go into effect…
My name is Gerry Roberts CT3. About the TJ on August 4th 1964. I remember that night very well. I was the telephone talker between the XO and Captain Barnhart…I was sick as a dog that day with strep throat, but my Chief had a bottle of Johnson and Johnson’s mouth wash which I gargled…
While on board the TJ, the crew had participated in squadron training practice. After winning two of these there was a red E with two hash marks below on the stack. Upon winning three of these games in a row, there was a gold E painted on the stack. I thought that this Gold E…
CIC port section had the watch and making approach to fire WBLC’s located just north of Cape Mui Ron, North Vietnam. Range to the beach was 4 miles when the first rounds started falling; first hit was reported forward mast. Numerous near misses were reported by lookouts. Actual damage sustained, Littman BTFN – shrapnel in…
I saw some names in the 4-7-07 issue that I remembered. Can you forward my e-mail? Jerry O’Rand, TMSN, 69-72. I was Jerry’s replacement in 72 and served on the TJ until 7- 73. Jerry gave me his knife and marlin spike when left the tube deck for the last time. Our office for the…