The USS McMorris (DE-1036), fourth and last ship of her class, was designed
primarily as an antisubmarine escort vessel. She was built with several recent
developments at the time including a unique upper deck arrangement, aluminum
mast and superstructure, and the latest in electronic detection equipment which
continued to change over the years. The ship was designed with crew comfort
in mind which included complete air-conditioning, improved recreation facilities,
a ship-wide recorded entertainment system, and semiprivate living quarters.
McMorris was 312 feet long, displaced 1900 tons, with a maximum beam of 38 feet.
The ship was powered by four Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines that delivered 9200
shaft horsepower to the single screw, propelling the ship to speeds in excess
of 20 knots. Her main battery originally consisted of two 3"/50 single gun rapid
fire mounts and two trainable MK 32 torpedo tube mounts, a stern mounted depth
charge rack, and two sets of ahead firing hedgehog batteries behind the forward
gun mount. The hedgehog's were subsequently removed and replaced temporarily
by a Norwegian built Terne II antisubmarine missile launcher which was later
removed. The depth charge rack was also removed in later years.
McMorris keel was laid down on 5 November 1958 at Avondale
Marineways, Avondale, Louisiana, where she was christened and launched by Mrs.
Charles H. McMorris, wife of the late Vice Admiral McMorris (a
brief biography is here). The ship was commissioned (Commissioning
Poem) on 4 March 1960 in Charleston, SC. Present that day were members of
the McMorris family, including David McMorris, son of the Admiral, Mrs. Newland,
Admiral McMorris niece, and Ensign McMorris, nephew of the late Admiral. Besides
the new crew members, dignitaries included Captain Dickman, Chaplain USN, Mr.
Henry Carter, Executive VP Avondale Marine Ways, Inc., Captain Mauro, Chief
of Staff, Sixth Naval District, Rear Admiral Varian, Commander Mine Force, US
Atlantic Fleet, Rear Admiral McManes, Commandant, Sixth Naval District. LCDR
Martin Zenni took command, and Lt. Earl Graffam set the first watch with Ens
J.E. Eyer as Officer of the Deck. Ten officers and 150 enlisted men took control
of the ship, and at 1630 hours 4 March 1960, McMorris commenced taking fresh
water from the pier.
After a brief outfitting period on the East Coast, McMorris departed for her
new home port of San Diego, California via the Panama Canal. She arrived in
San Diego on 29 April, 1960 and was greeted by Mr. William Loerke, assistant
to the mayor of San Diego and Commander Joseph Rizza, Commodore of Escort Squadron
Three. There she took up her role as a member of Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla
SEVEN and Escort Squadron THREE, U.S. Pacific forces. After conducting local
operations and training in California waters, the McMorris departed for her
"Historic" transit to Yokosuka, Japan. The McMorris completed a 4966 mile nonstop
voyage in the first independent Northern Pacific trip ever attempted by a U.S.
Destroyer type vessel without enroute logistical support. The 14 day trip was
made at an average speed of 14.8 knots and McMorris arrived in Yokosuka with
30 percent of her fuel capacity remaining.
Between 1960 and 1964 the McMorris would make three Western Pacific patrols
that included duty with the ASW (HUK) Group and Taiwan Patrol. She also was
Station Ship Hong Kong for an extended period of time. During this time period
McMorris also conducted local training in the San Diego area and completed two
overhauls in Long Beach, California, and San Francisco, California. As a result
of a home port reassignment, McMorris would arrive at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on
24 January, 1965. She became flagship of Commander Escort Squadron FIVE and
a unit of Destroyer Flotilla FIVE. In the spring of 1965 McMorris, with COMCORTRON
FIVE embarked, deployed for the fourth time to the Western Pacific and duty
with the Seventh Fleet. There she served as flagship for Market Time Force Commander
(Market Time information here),
and was the "first" Destroyer Escort to fire shore bombardment in support of
troops in South Vietnam. Upon returning to Pearl Harbor, McMorris was assigned
to Task Force NINETY-TWO, and became Flagship for Commander, Escort Division
ELEVEN, receiving the Battle Efficiency "E" for CORTRON ELEVEN, and was flagship
for COMCORTRON SEVEN during convoy operations. During this time period 1966-1967,
McMorris was also involved in a serious "collision" with the gasoline tanker
USS Tombigbee AOG11. Two men were killed and seven men were injured aboard the
McMorris. (See the collision story here.)
Subsequent to a deployment to the Indian Ocean 1968-1969, the McMorris and her
sister ships formed the newly created Escort Squadron ONE. In addition to successive
WESTPAC tours in 1969-1970 and 1970-1971, McMorris participated in various special
operations for which she received the Meritorious Unit Commendation. Because
of the great success in these endeavors, as well as excellence in local operations,
McMorris was chosen as CRUDESPAC's representative for the Arleigh Burke Award
as the most improved ship in the Pacific Fleet during 1970-1971. The Battle
Efficiency "E" was earned for CORTRON ONE in 1971. During her deployment to
WESTPAC in 1970-1971, McMorris would participate in a joint forces recovery
operation of a US satellite, and spent most of her time tracking military units
of the Soviet Navy throughout the South China Sea. During one Spec OP, the McMorris,
deciding not to heed the warning of a Soviet Guided Missile Destroyer to leave
the area, stayed side by side with the Russian vessel as it went to "General
Quarters" and subsequently fired a missile while Mac crew members looked on
in excitement. (The missile was not aimed at McMorris).
During a yard period in 1971 at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, McMorris entered
dry-dock for a much needed bottom scraping and fresh coats of paint. It was
the first in some time, and most spaces were given fresh new life. The most
significant aspect of this yard period was the complete redesign of the upper
bridge works, additional electronic spaces were added on the 03 level, and a
satellite communications ball was mounted just aft of the second stack. Additionally,
underway refueling apparatus was upgraded to better facilitate UNREPS. The appearance
of the McMorris had changed, but not the spirit of the crew.
McMorris would deploy to the Western Pacific in March of 1972 and in addition
to a trip across the equator, She would return to Vietnamese waters in the Vung
Tau area conducting various duties with Notification Line and Market Time Force
duties. She would witness the destruction of a Chinese Junk by South Vietnamese
Naval Forces. Her return home included a trip "down under" to Australia and
New Zealand. Her 1973-1974 cruise included participation in joint operations
with other US Naval units and those of Australia, New Zealand, The Netherlands,
and The United Kingdom, called LONGEX-73, it included antisubmarine exercises
in the Tasman Sea.
In December of 1974, the McMorris would complete her eventual end and was decommissioned
(see the Decommissioning Program here). Making room
for newer and more powerful units of the US Navy, McMorris would be sold to
the Indonesian Navy. A respectful and honorable history was closed out, and
a new era of modern naval warfare took over. But there is no way to replace
all the professional and dedicated crew members of the McMorris. Those who served
during a fourteen year history can vouch for the camaraderie and esprit de corp
of those who were crew members of the "Mighty Mac".
Lieutenant Commander Martin M. Zenni
(biograpical note here)
Lieutenant Commander Ralph G. Spencer
Lieutenant Commander Daniel A. Lewis
Lieutenant Commander Richard E. Kemble
Lieutenant Commander Rudolph H. Daus
Lieutenant Commander Robert J. Steele
Lieutenant Commander Alex J. Viessmann
Lieutenant Commander Donald L. Hark *
Lieutenant Commander Richard D. Milligan
Lieutenant Commander James H. Ansley
* Deceased
Note: Commander Jack Stevens (ComCortRon 1) commanded the McMorris for
a period
during an absence by LCDR Viessmann
Jun-Jul 1965 & Dec-69
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Spring & Summer 70 & Apr-May 72
National Defense Service
Vietnam Service
Jul-Aug-65, Aug-68, Jan-70, Apr-May-72, May-Jun-72, & Jul-72
(Dates of awards verified through the Navy Personnel Command St Louis, MO)
Arleigh Burke Award
(Most Improved Ship/Pacific Fleet)
Battle Efficiency "E"
(Twice)
NEY Award
"Best Small Mess Afloat"
Various Commendations
(Pacific Missle Command)
Escort Squadron ELEVEN
CRUDESFLOT SEVEN
Escort Squadron FIVE
(Flagship)
CRUDESFLOT FIVE
COMCORTRON FIVE
(Flagship)
MARKET TIME FORCES COMMANDER
(Vietnam-Flagship)
Escort Division ELEVEN
(Flagship)
COMCORTRON SEVEN
(Flagship)
COMCORTRON ONE
DESRON THIRTY-NINE
COMSEVENTHFLT