Topic: [Found] Some interesting sites dealing with my military service.

[Ken (OP)]

Thought that some of you might find this interesting. 



The second Guide (MSO-447) was launched 17 April 1954 by the Seattle Shipbuilding & Drydocking Corp., Seattle, Wash.; sponsored by Miss Ann L. Larson; and commissioned 15 March 1955, Lt. John E. Lowell in command. Her hull classification changed from AM-417 to MSO-447 on 7 February 1955.

Guide spent the first year of her career in coastwise operations off California. This duty included surveys for the Navy Hydrographic Office in the San Diego-Long Beach area and in San Francisco Bay approaches. She departed Long Beach 1 October 1956 and arrived in Yokosuka 31 October for minesweeping exercises that took her off the coast of Korea, the Marianas Islands, and along the coast of Japan. She returned to Long Beach 15 April for 2 years of training along the western seaboard. On 2 April 1959 she again deployed for the Far East, expanding duties to include joint mine exercises with the naval forces of Japan, Korea and Nationalist China.

Guide returned to Long Beach from her second Asian tour 15 October 1959 and resumed operations along the California seaboard for the next 2 years. On 1 May 1961 she sailed on her third tour of duty with the 7th Fleet, arriving in Yokosuka, Japan, 29 May 1961.
... I was onboard for the 1959 Asian tour and enjoyed it greatly.
And, although my enlistment was supposed to continue on until June of 1961 the Navy let me end my commitment in May, 1961 so that I did not have to extend to the end of this cruise/deployment.

Together We Served
My page on the Together We Served website.

Photos1
Photos2
Photos3
... pictures of the ship and some of the crew members that I served with.

Letter; Capt Duncan
... copy of the letter that Capt Duncan sent to our families and friends at the end of the 1959 West Pacific Tour.

Crew Roster 1958-59
Crew Roster 1960-61

[james3]

Very cool. You see this is kind of stuff is very interesting, shows another side of you that we may not have know very well. Also I am a major Military and History nut, so right there you combine both and BAM!! great stuff.

Love, James3

[Ken (OP)]

Glad you found it interesting j3.  :smiley:


Here's some detail on the other part of my military service...
Do you have a need for speed? How about Mach 3.65!
This one used to be secret stuff, but it's all over the internet anymore.

[Ken (OP)]

Heres a copy of the letter that Capt Duncan sent to our families and friends at the end of the 1959 West Pacific Tour.