Really great to hear from you. Believe it or not, an old Air Force buddy, (he was stationed at Hickam in the 60's) forwarded this link to me. I had done a search on Vance several years ago and came up blank. You have done a magnificent job creating the Vance web site.
I reported aboard the Vance sometime in Feb. '65 from the USS Radford DD 446, another can out of Pearl. I replaced a Damage Controlman 3rd class by the name of Johnson, whose seperation date was in March. I was a member of the R (repair) gang, which included the shipfitters.I have many memories of the Vance, primarily because we were sent to RVN from Pearl twice while I was aboard, and because MAA took command of Vance 22 Dec 65, the day after my 22nd birthday, from which I had a world class hangover. I departed Vance on 12 Feb 66, being hoisted off the fantail by a helo from USS Mars, and rode Mars back to PI for transfer back to states. Being a DCman, somewhat of a crossover rate between snipe and deck ape, I was all over the ship, and had more contact, and was probably more aware of MAA's activities than most snipes. It was myself and Floyd Berryman, DC striker, that mounted the 30 cal. machine gun in the speed boat that MAA bought in Pearl with crew's rec fund money.
I recall many of my shipmates voicing displeasure at the Capt.'s action. He made a great show of MAKING Jr. officers water ski behind this craft in Pearl Harbor. I think you were there to see it too. After we left for RVN 12/65, the speed boat was painted grey, with shark's teeth, etc. and the machine gun was mounted in the back. I mention the above because I took exception to the one author's portrayal of Vance crew members being lazy and sloppy, preferring to spend their time water skiing.I have only run into one other Vance crew member over all these years, William McCreary of Mayville, NY. Bill is a retired school teacher at the high school I graduated from. Somehow, he learned I had served aboard Vance, and he expressed his surprise, as he had served aboard during WWII, and had decomissioned her. I have no idea as to his health at this time, but will try to find out. I find he is listed in the phone book as living at a health care facility.
It was aboard Vance that we visited Bangkok, being the first USS ship to visit there in over a decade. What a liberty!! Memories better left untold to the grandchildren.I am looking forward to the reunion in Albany in Sept. I live 7-8 hours west of Albany, southwest of Buffalo about 70 miles. If there is anything I can do to help, I'd like to pitch in.
Thanks for all your great work on the Vance site, and please keep in contact.