| USS Haynsworth DD700 |
| * Editorials * |
|
|
||
|
Tribute to the crew of 1962 |
|
|
We were young, healthy and strong. We wore our Dress Blues and Dress Whites with pride and walked with a swagger like so many Destroyer Men before us. Our ship was the USS HAYNSWORTH DD700, Nicknamed the Happy H, she was a proud ship with a long and distinguished history. Many of us came on board in 1961 and left our ship in 1963. We came on board as young boys, ages 18 to 21 and grew up very quickly and left our ship men. Late in 1961 while on a Mediterranean Cruise, the US NAVY fore filled their promise to us TO SEE THE WORLD. We visited 13 Countries, many of them again on our second Med Cruise. The Haynsworth was assigned the task of delivering 55 tons of emergency dry food to flood ravaged Africa. We had boxes of Dry Food everywhere. If you were not careful getting out of our rack for watch, you could kill yourself. The weather was hot. The Temperature in the Engine Rooms and Fire Rooms ranged from 105 to 130 degrees. Except for doing your rounds, you stood your watch near the outboard ladder or the Air Intake Blowers. The compartments were not much better so many men slept on the O 1 Deck at night. This was a challenge for the Sailor who had to wake you for the next watch. Finding you was an adventure. Then came the big day, we crossed the equator and King Neptune with his crew of Pirates came on board. If you were lucky, you were a Pirate. If you were not a Pirate, you were a polliwog and were about to earn the right to be a Shellback. Mombasa Africa was a clean city with Marble Buildings. At the time, it was a British Colony but there was much unrest and we could not go on the beach without a buddy. The City was a Duty Free Port so you did not have to declare anything when you got home. October 1962, we stood off Cape Canaveral as a rescue ship and witnessed the takeoff of astronaut Commander Walter Schirra on his historic six-orbital flight. We manned the rail to witness this historic flight then did flank speed 200 miles out to sea in case Commander Schirra had problems and had to come down early. Later that month, the USS Haynsworth DD700 and her three sister ships were ordered to Cuba and went in harm’s way as part of the Naval Quarantine of Cuba. Not only were we standing two 4 hour watches a day but working eight to twelve hours a day to get the Haynsworth in fighting order. On top of this, there were Battle Station Drills and Damage Control Drills. You slept when you could and somehow stayed awake on watch. To today, my wife does not understand how I can fall asleep two minutes after closing my eyes. The Blockade effectively checked the Communist threat to the security of the Western Hemisphere. When we came home and arrived at May Port, Florida for supplies and repairs, we found the Base and Armed Camp. There were at least 20 Thousand Marines living on LST’s and Troop Ships. These Marines were waiting to invade Cuba. The Mobilization of our Services proved to President Kennedy that the entire process had to be revamped. Everything had to be streamlined to insure that it would work in a time of emergency. We as a Crew earned the following medals for the above participation and action, The NAVY EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL, the ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL and the NATIONAL DEFENSE MEDAL. In February 1963 the USS Haynsworth DD700 deployed to the Mediterranean for the second Med Cruise. We were sent there to participate in operations in the Red Sea, Black Sea and the Gulf of Aden with the 6th Fleet. When we entered the Black Sea via the Straits, we were met and shadowed by a Russian Tin Can. She was a Sumner Class Destroyer which we sold them in 1944. This detail was called the Casket Detail because if war started with Russia, we would have to attach ourselves to the Turkish Navy and fight our way out of this Hot Spot. The Haynsworth was a good ship with an outstanding crew. We Plane Guarded for the USS ENTERPRISE and the USS INTREPID. During our time on the Haynsworth, we rode out one major storm and one Hurricane. During the Hurricane the ship took a 40 Degree Roll and one Sailor in M Division was getting into his rack and was thrown across the Isle and broke his nose. At times because of the bad weather, we were down to 10 Percent Fuel and had to refuel in bad weather. Getting down the inboard passageway was an adventure in bad weather. You had to hang on to lines strung above you on the overhead. When you did get to the Mess Decks, you were given a Sandwich and Coffee Cup full of Soup. Other Adventures included a salt water shower when the Forward Engine Room Evaporator had problems and the After Engine Room Evaporator had to make water for the Boilers only. We took on Non-Drinkable drinking water on while in Jaboody. To compensate for the bad drinking water, everyone ran the water fountains longer than normal and turning the faucets on just to get rid of the water. The Cook made 10 extra loafs of bread once a week because he knew the Engineers and other Watches were going to swipe the extra loafs. It was evident when a Boot was walking around in 85 Degree Heat with a jacket on. Remember Creamed Chip Beef on Toast, (SOS) for Breakfast (AHH, the good old days.) At times we took a beating but the Haynsworth always brought us home safe and sound. God Bless and keep the Haynsworth Crews and their loved ones safe. 32 Waltuma Ave Edison NJ 08837 wayneswaylik@yahoo.com 732-738-0191 |
||