A Veteran Comes Home
by Jack E. Hancock
As four U.S. Naval ships returned home from war in Vietnam, on a Saturday in February 1966, Military Writer Robert Zimmerman must have known three sleek Destroyers would receive the bulk of the newshole slated for the Sunday morning San Diego Union’s local section.
And on Sunday it proved out as the Sunday Editor made a splash with three wonderful destroyer and crew photographs across the top full-width of picture-page-B showing a happy reunion with banner headline: “Combat Duty Ends With A Smile.”
Sailors at sea, not on watch or working, can be found lining the rail when a Destroyer comes alongside a larger ship for high-line passing of movies, fuel or such. Described sometimes as Greyhounds of the Sea, the small maneuverable ships can display instant get-up and go at the end of the show. They are a beautiful sight to behold. It is quite common for an Old Salt manning the rail to quietly exclaim, “Here comes the Navy.”
But writer Zimmerman recognized the story, that day, was about a veteran coming home – the USS Calvert APA-32.
A wise lay-out-editor attached the story to the San Diego Union’s local page masthead, page A-9 – marking history with place, title and date for Sunday morning readers.
“Navy Transport Ends Last Trip In Her 3rd War” – the headline read.
Captain R.B. Ricks words appeared guarded in his descriptive narrative news interview, on this the Calvert’s last war, possibly because “Loose lips sink ships.” or it could have been the Union’s page count required judicious editing.
Not stated in the story was the ship also served as a rotating shore patrol in Da Nang, Beach Guard first posted Dec. 26 1965, Da Nang, Staff Duty Officer supplied for Da Nang and multiple rotating Beach Guards, noted in declassified Deck Log began logging in and out on daily basis. Multiple temporary assigned duties, including reporting to Provost Marshall’s Office logged 29 Dec. 65 in ship’s log. Communication relay for the fleet expanded to six times the normal load, Shore Patrol as well as Beach Guard logged as a continuing pattern beginning 28 Dec. 65. Boat taxi service, bay boat security patrol, supply courier, open kitchen and more untold notable billets.
The Calvert, beautiful in design and dependable, was a work horse. With a scooped tale for ride and designed as a commercial freighter, she rode the sea smoothly. Originally designed to also carry paying passengers. Word could get around if the ride wasn’t smooth. Later her design proved right smart to serve as a hotel for workers unloading ships in Da Nang, Vietnam.
A Naval ship is a sailor’s home during sea duty and for a majority of sailors their true home. The crew is a sailor’s family. It was an amiable crew while aboard in 1965-66. Ships acquire a name through their officers and crew. The Calvert had a name for being shipshape, available throughout her history to answer any call and known for getting the job done. We felt safe and we had confidence in our officers.
And we have pictures. The crew had a wonderful photographer in Ensign Philip K. Selden, who historically preserved the Calvert in both bright and brooding light with striking picture results in Vietnam and upon our return home in her last tour.
February 2022
Webmaster’s notes:
As I work to compile historic details for the ’64 – ’66 timeframe I ran across an email from Jack Hancock (RM3 – 1965 – 1966) and I immediately realized I neglected to publish his article when he sent it to me back in early 2022.
A quick text to Jack to confirm approval to publish the article was acknowledged, along with this important perspective:
“There were many divisions onboard the Calvert, officers and crew, that willingly performed their required tasks with no public acknowledgement except explanation or commendation placed in their personnel jackets.”
As always, sincere appreciation to Jack for sharing his memories, writing, and perspective.
Note: The term “newshole” used in the article stands for the amount of space available daily for news – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newshole
Here is an image of the forementioned San Diego Union newspaper, February 17, 1966, which was included on page 9 of Volume 17 of the Calversion in 1986:
