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The keel for the USS Edward McDonnell was laid on April's Fool Day, 1963, at the Avondale Shipyard in Westwego, Louisiana. She was launched in January 1964 and commissioned in Charleston, South Carolina in February, 1965. She was then fitted-out at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard and became operational as a member of the Atlantic Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Forces on 14 January 1966.
In May 1966 the McDonnell (or "Sweaty Eddy" as the crew not to affectionately referred to her) was deployed to Northern Europe and in September transferred to Atlantic Fleet Escort Squadron VI, with it's home port in Newport, Rhode Island.
I came on board the McDonnell in June 1967, and after periodic Anti-Submarine exercises we were deployed to the Mediterranean in September. During this three-month cruise we visited the ports of Naples, Italy - Palma, Mallorca (Spain) - and the Rock of Gibraltar, returning to Newport in December.
In February 1968 the McDonnell entered the Boston Shipyard where she spent the next year and a month undergoing a "regular overhaul." Finally, in February 1969, the McDonnell was back at sea with pretty much a new crew, most who had never been at sea before! After training in the Virgin Islands and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, we put into West Palm Beach, Florida on May 13, and finally returned to Newport on June 5, 1969.
January 1970 found the McDonnell steaming south again for a month of training in the Caribbean. We returned to Newport in February and then headed off for Northern Europe in May. This was a four month deployment with stops in Lisbon, Portugal - Rota, Spain - Copenhagen, Denmark - Hamburg, Germany - Leith, Scotland - Cowes, Isle of White - Arendal, Norway - and Southampton, England, returning to Newport in September.
I left the McDonnell and returned to good old civilian life in August 1970, just as she was getting ready for a cruise to South America.
UPDATE: Warren Dickerson wrote on April 6, 2001 that "while in Philly last week to plan a Yarnell (DLD 17) reunion I saw a ship that looked familiar. All hull markings had been painted over but when I got to the stern my suspicions were confirmed. It was the Eddie Mac. She still looks real good. All complete. A coat of paint is all that is needed. I don't know her status, but if she is in Philly, it can't be good."
December 14, 2001 I was contacted by Lana Bowers from Metro Machine Corporation who advises that the McDonnell is at their facility to be dismantled.
The McDonnell (DE-1043) and the Odax (SS-484)
The above photo (taken from the flight deck of the carrier Wasp) was sent to me by Vic Stock. Vic writes "we had 12 guys onboard from the carrier and other surface craft. I think the skipper wanted to play cowboy, just moments before the picture was taken we were at 400 feet. I was on the trim manifold during the dive, you should have seen the looks on the faces of our passengers!! Nothing but white eyeballs! It was a great dive."
Peter 'Zeke' LaSalla zeke117@optonline.net |
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James "Old Salt" Stringfellow 4280 Bennettwood Drive Millington, TN. 38053 Phone: (901) 872-0299 oldsalt@xipline.com |
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Charles E. Ryan, Captain USN Ret. nayrec@msn.com |
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