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August 1960 Collision
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December 1960 Subic Bay Recall
Subject: August 1960 Collision & December 1960 Subic Bay Recall
Date: Sat, 13 Jan 2001 01:45:45 EST
From: JStric8754@aol.com
To: bennington@uss-bennington.org
The helmsman on the Benny in that collision with DD950 in August 1960 was QM3 Jack Evans and I remember that day very well. The Edwards definitely lost control of steering. The destroyer was receiving from us and we were the station ship. The station ship mandates course and speed and the receiving ship is required to follow orders from the station ship and did not. Jack and I have been life-long buddies and still maintain contact.
On that December 1960 GQ emergency recall night the helmsman and first watch quartermaster was QM3 Jim Strickler, who is me. I returned to ship three sheets to the wind earlier that evening and I was pretty wasted while trying to get the Benny underway. Many sailors were left ashore and had to be flown to the ship over the next few days. That night was the official start of the Vietnam War.
During the 1960-1961 WestPac Cruise Agent Orange was experimentally used in Laos. Does anyone remember the 55 gallon drums of agent orange being loaded on the helicopters on the hangar deck? The aircraft were roped off and marine guards were posted. If anyone remembers, please contact me because the Navy destroyed all of those records and the V.A. needs verification from shipmates to substantiate agent orange exposures.
Thanks.
Jim Strickler
email: jstric8754@aol.com
DD950
I was the helmsman on the Bennington at the time of the collision we did not go off course.
I had to go to the court of inquiry.
I will never forget that day.
Jack Evans QM3
Jan 12 2001 11:02:16:000PM
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