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The 80's

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Operational History

1981 Cruise book

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13 May 1980 - POD

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Compliments of shipmate Evan Caffrey BT2 '79-'83

Shown in the foreground is Japanese Haruna class Hiei DDH (142)  In the background is Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7)

Photos courtesy of shipmate Doug Edens BT2 '80-'83

Shadowing Hull was this Kara class Russian cruiser

Photo courtesy of shipmate Doug Edens BT2 '80-'83

                                                                       "Bear in the Air"

                        See story by Randy Andrew in "Crew Stories and Accounts" below.

Photo courtesy of shipmate Doug Edens BT2 '80-'83

The Humanitarian Service Medal was first authorized by Executive Order 11965 of 19 Jan 77.

Five Vietnamese boys adrift in a battered fishing boat

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Picture compliments of Evan Caffery BT2 '79-'83

see Picture History (80's) for additional photo and comments

12 Mar 1982 - Hull Familygram

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Compliments of shipmate Evan Caffrey BT2 '79-'83

21 Feb 1983 - Letter from the Mayor of Ologopo City, P.I.

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Compliments of shipmate Evan Caffrey BT2  '79-'83

0I Mar 1983 - On 30 January 1983, Barbour County (LST-1195) deployed to the western Pacific in company with New Orleans (LPH-11), Durham (LKA-114), Schenectady (LST-1185) and Denver (LPD-9). After stopping in Hawaii for two days of boat exercises, the unit crossed the Pacific and arrived in Subic Bay on 22 February. While in port there on 1 March, Barbour County suffered a small fire that damaged her degaussing cables. A damage control party from Hull (DD-945) helped the tank landing ship's crew put out the fire.

Pictures taken by Leon Hemme SM2 '59-'62,  the last crew member to walk her decks, is dated 22 Sept 1997. Hull sits between John Paul Jones and Oklahoma City.

During Leon's visit he placed Hull back in commission.

SUNK AS A TARGET: The veteran of 20 Vietnam combat patrols made her final sacrifice on 7 April 1998. Not in the breaker's yard, but in the eastern Pacific Ocean as a test bed in the development of new weapons employment tactics.

SINKEX Program (click to enter site)

Hull's final resting place (click photo to expand)

Letter compliments of Leon Hemme SM2 '59-'62

Anecdotal Stories

A story by Randy Andrew GMG1 '82-'83

Having served in USS Hull (DD-945) as a GMG1 from June '82 till her decommissioning, I was aboard for that final deployment. It was a long one, 8 months (part of the USS Enterprise Battle Group) that would see us go as far North as the Bering Straits, West to the Indian Ocean, South to Australia and back East to San Diego.

I want to share with you one of my memories from that deployment.

We had set up a couple of tables with bench seats up on the 03 level to use as a "class room" and had framed it in with round pipe and threw tarps over and around it to keep the wind from blowing books and paper all over.

We didn't see any Russian "Bear" aircraft until we got up around Alaskan waters. I recall that the first time a "Bear" came out to fly around the battle group that after buzzing all of the ships, they came back and flew around us a couple of extra times. (Figured that they just wanted to check out the shiny 3 guns, you know, no big deal.)

Well, the next morning I'm back on the fantail by MT.53 having my morning coffee and as I always did, looked to see where the battle group was. Not long after, here comes the "Bear" out for his daily fly around. You would think that they would want to check out the carrier to see what was sitting around on deck but, they were making a bee line for Hull. They flew a little closer this time and once again made several passes. (Ok, we really have them gleaming after our 3 shiny guns.)

This becomes a daily event for the rest of the week and then it dawns on us. They are trying to figure out what is under the "classroom tarp"! They must have shot up a mess of film. Of course this had everybody talking about it around the ship and didn't take long for the "Hey, why don't we's...." to come out. My personal favorite was to stencil "Danger, Stand Clear of Missile Blast" on it as I thought that would really have them guessing.

But, the Captain wouldn't allow us to "antagonize" them. Oh well, we had entertainment for awhile.....

V/R,
Randy
 

Some additional memories of Randy Andrew
 

I can't recall the class that the Russian ship that came out and shadowed us. Speaking of that Russian, I had put MT 53 on the beam (090) for flight quarters and that damn Rusky came over to see what we were up to and I was down on the mess decks when they passed the word for me to lay to MT 53 on the double. So I get down there and everybody is screaming to get MT 53 back to "Gun Stow" ASAP. Turns out the OOD had turned the ship to run parallel with the Rusky and there sat MT 53 aimed right at it. The kicker was, I didn't have any LP air left in the flask and could not air drive her around in time. Obviously, it was my fault for the OOD "pointing" the gun at the Rusky.....

Not sure of the DDH' s name, but I do like the arrangement of MT 51 & MT 52. They pull into San Diego every so often.
 

With reference to the Vietnamese boat rescue: I got to shoot their boot with the M-79 grenade launcher, knew it wouldn't sink it, it was made out of Teak, but damn I had fun trying. Sent the motor whale boat over with some gas and diesel to set her afire and then stood off while it burned down so as not to create a sea hazard.

V/R,
GMC(SW) USN-Retired
USS Hull (DD-945) '82-'83

Anecdotal Stories  (Caution - Usually told through the fog of time, perhaps a beer or two, and sometimes graciously embellished) Please, no tales intended to humiliate.

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