Robert Shultz

I was XO of Taylor from 1 August 1962 to 14 July 1963, and kept a daily diary covering that period.

Taylor was sent to Seattle for Sonar Calibration and ASW weapons tests, including firing our Weapon Alpha (MK 108) ASW Rocket launcher at nearby Dabob Bay.

We left Pearl on 25 August 1962, and were supposed to arrive at Pier 91 in Seattle at 1200 on Friday 31 August 1962. However, when we arrived at Cape Flattery at the entrance to the Straits of Juan de Fuca about 0500 on 31 August, we encountered a zero visibility fog, which slowed our SOA to about 3 knots. We did not get to Pier 91 until 1200. When we doubled up at Pier 91 we had 8,000 Gallons of NSFO left. This marked the first time DD 468 had been to CONUS since being re-commissioned as a DDE in 1951.

We had open house for visitors over the weekend, and the crew had a great time on liberty. Some went to Vancouver, BC. The Seattle World’s Fair and new Seattle Space Needle Tower were also attractions. To say nothing of an abundance of young ladies, relative to scarceness in Hawaii.

On Tuesday 4 September, after the Labor Day Weekend, we went down the Hood Canal to NAD Bangor to pickup technicians to install instruments for the tests in Dabob Bay, which had a IJSN Weapons Testing Range with hydrophones planted on the bottom, about several miles further south down the Hood Canal from Bangor.

On Wednesday and Thursday we ran tests including firing the Weapon Alpha. I have a poorly focused picture of the rocket coming out of the tube, which you probably have already, which I can provide a copy of. Also a good picture of DD 468 underway in Dabob Bay (could be anywhere, but Scout’s Honor it was taken in Dabob Bay).

Upon completion of the tests Thursday at 1600, we headed for the Naval Fuel Annex, Manchester, at Port Orchard, just south of Bremerton, Washington, to top off fuel for the return to Pearl, arriving at 1915. We completed fueling at 2030 and commenced the 150 mile run up Puget Sound to Cape Flattery and points West.

Fortunately, the weather was cooperative and we weren’t slowed down by fog. We got back to Pearl at 1145 on Wednesday 12 September and moored starboard side to B24.5 NAVSTA Pearl. The CO was CDR Merwin E. Rasmussen, and you couldn’t ask for a better CO.