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USS Fletcher DD-445
1969 Chronology & Decommissioning
1 to 11 Jan - Market Time Patrol, South Vietnam
12 Jan - Inport Subic Bay, Philippines
13 to 17 Jan - Enroute to Sasebo, Japan with TG 77.7 and USS Constellation CVA-64
17 to 24 Jan - Inport Sasebo, Japan
25 to JAN - Enroute Yankee Station in the Tonkin Gulf via Buckner Bay, Okinawa
30 Jan to 1 Feb - Operations with TG 77.5 and USS Hancock CVA-19 on Yankee Station
2 to 3 Feb - Type training and ASW exercises with TU 77.9.2 in Yankee Station training area
4 to 5 Feb - Operations with TG 77.5 and USS Hancock CVA-19 on Yankee Station
6 to 8 Feb - Operations with TU 77.9.2 and USS Sabalo SS-302
9 Feb - Operations with TG 77.5 and USS Hancock CVA-19 in Tonkin Gulf
9 to 10 Feb - Enroute NGFS Spotter Training exercises
10 to 12 Feb - NGFS Spotter Training, Tabones Islets, Philippines
13 to 15 Feb - Inport Subic Bay, Philippines
18 to 23 Feb - NGFS operations II Corps Tactical Zone, South Vietnam as TU 78.8.9
24 to 26 Feb - Operations with TG 77.6 and USS Coral Sea CVA-43 in Tonkin Gulf
27 to 28 Feb - Enroute Kaohsiung, Taiwan
1 to 10 Mar - Inport Kaohsiung, Taiwan alongside USS Klondike AR-22
11 to 12 Mar - Enroute Subic Bay, Philippines
13 Mar - Inport Subic Bay, Philippines
14 to 15 Mar - Enroute to Yankee Station in Tonkin Gulf
16 to 19 Mar - Operations in Tonkin Gulf with USS Kitty Hawk CVA-63
20 Mar - Enroute to Hong Kong
21 to 26 Mar - Inport Hong Kong for R&R
27 to 28 Mar - Enroute Subic Bay, Philippines
29 to 30 Mar - Inport Subic Bay
31 Mar to 2 Apr - Type training and enroute to Yankee Station in the Tonkin Gulf
3 to 7 Apr - ASW training with TU 77.9.2
8 to 13 Apr - Operations with TG 77.4 and USS Enterprise CVA(N)-65 in Tonkin Gulf
14 to 16 Apr - Enroute to Kobe, Japan
17 Apr - Refuel at Buckner Bay, Okinawa
17 to 18 Apr - Enroute to Kobe, Japan
19 to 21 Apr - Inport Kobe, Japan
22 Apr - Enroute to Yokosuka, Japan
23 to 30 Apr - Inport Yokosuka, Japan to offload WestPac pool equipment and ammunition
1 to 6 May - Enroute to Pearl Harbor with ASW Group 5 composed of USS Hornet CVS-12, USS Wedderburn DD-684, USS Davidson DE-1045, USS Parsons DDG-33, USS Lofberg DD-759, USS Ernest G. Small DD-838, USS Richard B. Anderson DD-786 and USS Shelton DD-790.
6 May - Detached from Group with Davidson and Small to proceed to Pearl Harbor.
8 May - Arrive Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
8 May to 17 Jul - Inport Pearl Harbor, prepare for decommissioning
22 May - Offload all ammunition
30 Jun - Awards ceremony
16 to 23 Jul - Enroute to San Diego, California for decommissioning
24 to 31 Jul - Inport San Diego, prepare for decommissioning
1 Aug - USS Fletcher DD-445 decommissioned
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Decommissioning Ceremony Remarks by Rear Admiral Mason B. Freeman
Throughout man's history in some mystic way the sea has nurtured his freedom. The means of this freedom, and its symbol has been his fighting ships. With their stability yet speed - their endurance yet mobility - their defensive strength yet striking power, - they have enabled nations to control the seas and shape the world's destiny. In the hands of a nation which revers freedom, - sea power has proved a giant force.
Many types of ships make up a navy, yet no type of fighting ship is more important and can do so many jobs as the destroyer, the dashing "can do" workhorse of the fleet.
We have assembled here today to mark the passing of an era in naval warfare, and the passing of a class of destroyers named for the lead ship, the Fletcher.
In 1952 a new breed of fighting destroyers joined the naval forces in the Pacific. The one hundred and seventy five ships that followed the class leader, USS Fletcher, became the spearhead of the destroyer force in the Pacific. Accepting all risks, the Fletcher frequently provided the aid needed to tip the delicate balance of the scale on the side of survival. The men who served in these ships had but one unquestioned mission, to fight and win their country's sea battles. This was sea power in action. To engage the enemy in battle and win was their constant goal. In the 27 years since Fletcher joined the fleet, the development of the destroyers has been impressive, yet for all their changes, their mission has remained unchanged.
On June 30, 1942 Fletcher (her hull number adds up to 13) was part of a task group of 13 ships that engaged a Japanese task force in Iron Bottom Sound of Guadalcanal. This day was a fateful 13th for five of the 13 American warships but Fletcher was dubbed the "Lucky 13" for, although her guns and torpedoes scored direct hits on the Japanese forces, she came through the battle unharmed.
This first engagement set the tone for things to come on board "Fighting Fletcher." She participated in almost every function that can be assigned a destroyer and over one thousand Americans were rescued from the sea by her brave crew during World War II. The Fletcher also distinguished herself in the Korean conflict and recently returned from her last deployment to Vietnam.
Although the era of the Fletcher is rapidly coming to a close, the spirit of willingness to win of the destroyermen of these fine ships remains. So long as we retain the will to win, - the knowledge that victory is the only course, so long will our nation survive.
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