I served on the USS Meyerkord from
early 1986 until January of 1990. During my time on board the Kord we
steamed her from one end of the globe to the other. The North and South
Pacific, Bering Sea, Philippine Sea, South and East China Sea, Yellow
Sea, Sea of Japan, Celebes Sea, Timor Sea, Indian Ocean and Southern
Ocean (Antarctic Ocean), and every drop of water in between.
Some of the places that we spent time
while I was on board were: Kodiak Alaska, Victoria and Vancouver Canada,
Seattle Washington, San Francisco and Long Beach California, Oahu Hawaii, Subic Bay and Manila Philippines,
Pusan South Korea, Yakuska and Kure Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Darwin,
Perth and Albany Australia to name a few.
On Aug 31, 1987 she crossed the
line at Longitude 95* 043.7E Earning most on board Shell-back status and
a safe passage from King Neptune.
During this voyage her Cap'n was
Peter J. Gaskin II
I had 3 skippers during my time on
board: Commander L. L. King, Commander P. J. Gaskin II and Commander D.
L. Whitmire.
During my 4 years of active duty I
attained the rank of MM2 (E-5). Some of my duties and qualifications
were MMIC in
Auxiliary 1 (turbine generators, high and low pressure air
compressors, masker air system, gyro) Scene Leader Qualified in
Repair locker 5, Refueling Supervisor for Helo refueling, Air
conditioning and refrigeration, Boat Engineer for the Cap'n Gig,
Emergency Casualty Control Trainer, 2nd class swimmer, Gauge calibration
specialist, Pump and motor alignment specialist, Asbestos removal
specialist, Ship board firefighting including: main space, ordinance and
aviation. Aside from these duties I was assigned to Auxiliary Division
"A-Gang." This division was responsible for all of the equipment outside
of the main engineering spaces, including the emergency diesel
generator, all of the laundry and gallery equipment, the steering gear
and chain windlass, boat davits and all other like equipment.
USS Meyerkord FF1058 (DE1058)
USS MEYERKORD was the seventh KNOX
- class frigate. Decommissioned on December 14, 1991, and stricken
from the Navy list on January 11, 1995, the MEYERKORD transferred to the
Maritime Administration for scrapping on 3 August 1996. Scrapping was
finished on December 15, 2001.
Awarded:
July 22, 1964
Keel
laid: September 1, 1966
Launched: July 15, 1967
Commissioned: November 28, 1969
Decommissioned: December 14, 1991
Builder:
Todd Pacific Shipyards, San Pedro, Calif.
The USS Meyerkord is named for
LT Harold Dale Meyerkord
LT Harold Dale Meyerkord
1937 - 1965
Panel 01E Line 96
Lieutenant Meyerkord was born in
St. Louis, Missouri, on 9 October 1937, graduated from Riverview Garden
High School in 1955 and received a Bachelor's Degree in Political
Science from the University of Missouri. He received his commission on
10 June 1960 after completing Officer Candidate School. He served in the
USS LOS ANGELES (CA-135) and the USS DUNCAN (DD-874) prior to 13 July
1964, when he brought his expertise, diplomacy, tact, leadership and
dedication to the aid of South Vietnam's struggle for freedom. As Senior
Naval Advisor to the 23rd River Assault Group of the South Vietnamese
Navy, he was involved in more than thirty combat operations in which he
was under fire. Appropriately, his radio code name was "Hornblower", the
legendary hero of C.S. Forester's novels. His dedication to his men -
Vietnamese and American - became renowned throughout the River Assault
Group.
Lieutenant Meyerkord assumed
co-leadership with the Vietnamese Commander of a miniature fleet of
shallow draft patrol craft to protect three of the thirteen districts
which form the vast delta region of the Mekong River. This waterborne
domain had largely been regulated by feudal war lords and river pirates.
The Viet Cong had brought terror including kidnapping and murder of
local anti-Red leaders in their attempt to control this "rice bowl".
Here, waterways substituted for roads, lacing the jungles so very
familiar to the enemy. Threats of ambush and instant death were ever
present as the River Assault Group probed into insurgent territory.
Lieutenant Meyerkord made many
low-level aerial flights in the face of Viet Cong fire to gain vital
intelligence data. These achievements brought him the posthumous award
of the Air Medal. But he was even more daring in action with his River
Assault Group. In one action, when the enemy blocked his fleet, he set
up a shore command post from which he directed artillery fire and air
strikes to save the day. In another action, he took over from the
wounded Vietnamese Commander. Though wounded himself and facing heavy
fire, he continued the fight until victory was assured. In the best
traditions of "Hornblower", his daring leadership continued through more
than 30 operations. He was twice awarded the Purple Heart for wounds
received in action. He lived up to his stated philosophy: "In order to
conduct successful operations in this region, it is imperative that
American advisors have an aggressive, but not reckless attitude. An
advisor that is overly cautious and places needless stumbling blocks in
an operation is a handicap."
Lieutenant Meyerkord was killed 16
March 1965 while his craft was in the van leading his River Assault
Group into insurgent territory. His boat was caught in the first
fusillade from a Viet Cong ambush. He steadfastly returned the enemy's
fire at point-blank range until mortally wounded. His extraordinary
heroism was recognized by the posthumous award of the Navy Cross.
Lieutenant Meyerkord is survived
by his wife, daughter, mother and father, all of St. Louis, Missouri.
(From Commissioning Program, USS MEYERKORD, 28 November 1969)
Auxiliary 1 (turbine generators, high and low pressure air
compressors, masker air system, gyro) Scene Leader Qualified in
Repair locker 5, Refueling Supervisor for Helo refueling, Air
conditioning and refrigeration, Boat Engineer for the Cap'n Gig,
Emergency Casualty Control Trainer, 2nd class swimmer, Gauge calibration
specialist, Pump and motor alignment specialist, Asbestos removal
specialist, Ship board firefighting including: main space, ordinance and
aviation. Aside from these duties I was assigned to Auxiliary Division
"A-Gang." This division was responsible for all of the equipment outside
of the main engineering spaces, including the emergency diesel
generator, all of the laundry and gallery equipment, the steering gear
and chain windlass, boat davits and all other like equipment.
