USS Charles R. Ware DD-865

Ware underway!


From start to finish...USS CHARLES R. WARE DD-865

1944 

  • June 10 - USS Charles R. Ware DE-547 cancelled.  Name transferred to DD-865.
  • November 01 - Hull #8060 laid down at Bethlehem Steel's Staten Island Yard. 

1945

  • April 12 - DD-865 launched.  Mrs. Zena Ware sponsor.  The ship was then towed across the Lower New York Bay, up the East River, under the Brooklyn Bridge and into the New York Naval Shipyard for final fitting out.
  • July 20 - DD-865 delivered to the U. S. Navy.
  • July 21 - USS Charles R. Ware DD-865 was commissioned by Rear Admiral F. A. Daubin, 263 days after keel laying and 100 days after being launched. Commander H. R. Wier placed in command.
  •    ?       - Enroute to Caribbean Ops. Area for "Shakedown Cruise".
  •    ?       - Depart Caribbean Ops. Area/enroute New York, New York.
  • October 27-30 - Participated in Navy Day exercises.
  •    ?       - Enter New York Naval Shipyard for a post-shakedown overhaul.  

       1946       

  • March 01 - Depart Norfolk, in company with USS Midway CVB-41, USS Stormes DD-780, USS Vogelgesang DD-862 and a fleet oiler, for participation in Operation Frostbite as part of Task Group 21.11.  This operation was to gather information to guide the Navy in the use of aircraft carriers in regions of severest weather.  During this operation Ware crossed the Arctic Circle.
  • April 09 - Arrived Norfolk Naval Station.
  • May 27 - CDR H. R. Wier was relieved by CDR B. L. Russell as Commanding Officer of the Ware.
  •     ?       - Returned to New York for a short visit.
  •     ?       - Participated in Eight Fleet maneuvers that were held in the Caribbean Ops. Area.
  •     ?       - Ware stationed at New London, Connecticut, operating as a target vessel for submarines.
  • December  ?  -  The ship is in dry-dock at Charleston Naval Base, Charleston, S. C.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

    1947  

  • January 07 - Underway for Norfolk, Va.
  • January 21 - Underway for New London, Conn. and Anti-Submarine Warfare operations.
  • February 03 - Underway for U.S. Atlantic Fleet Tactical Exercises in the Caribbean Sea.
  • February 28 - In port Trinidad, British West Indies.
  • March 07 - Ship's upkeep in Trinidad - Recreation.
  • March 18 - In port, Norfolk, Va.
  • April 11 & 12 - Operations with USS Randolf CV-15.
  • April 21-24 - Underway to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
  • April 26-29 - San Juan, P. R. with USS Saipan CVL-48.
  • May 01 - Arrive Norfolk, Va.
  • May 05 - CDR B. L. Russell relieved by CDR G. H. Mitchell as Commanding Officer of the Ware.
  • May 12 - Depart for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
  • May 23 - Enroute Kingston, Jamica.
  • June 02 - Arrive Norfolk, Va. (Tender availability)
  • September 02 - Underway for Anti-Submarine Warfare operations off Newport, R. I. with DesDiv 42.
  • September 13&14 - Hudson River, New York, N. Y. for weekend visit.
  • September 20 - Arrive home port, Norfolk, Va.
  • October 01 - Enroute Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, S. C. to go into dry-dock.
  • October 31 - Enroute Ammunition Depot, Charleston, S. C.
  • November 04 - Enroute home port, Norfolk, Va.
  • November 05 - Arrive home port. 
  • November 10 - Depart to Mediterranean with DesRon 4, for first duty tour of duty with the 6th Fleet.
  • November 20 - Enroute Trieste, F. T. T.
  • November 25-28 - Northern Adriatic Duty - Trieste, F. T. T.
  • November 28 - Enroute Venice, Italy.
  • December 04 - Depart Venice, Italy/Enroute Trieste, F. T. T.
  • December 15 - Depart Trieste/enroute Naples, Italy.
  • December 17 - Arrive Naples, Italy.  

1948

  • January 05 - Depart Naples, Italy with USS Midway CVB-41 for operations.
  • January 06 - Through the Messina Straits, Sicily.
  • January 07-10 - Forty Second Division operations.
  • January 10&11 - Augusta, Sicily with Mediterranean Fleet.
  • January 12-17 - Mediterranean Fleet exercises.
  • January 17-31 - Tarante, Italy. (Tender availability).
  • January 31 - Enroute Gibraltar, B. C. C.
  • February 01 - Through the Messina Straits, Sicily. (Second time)
  • February 04 - Arrive Gibraltar, B. C. C.
  • February 05 - Depart Gibraltar/enroute Plymouth, England.
  • February 09-16 - In port, Plymouth, England.
  • February 16 - Depart Plymouth/enroute Rouen, France.
  • February 17-24 - In port, Rouen, France.
  • February 24 - Depart Rouen/enroute Plymouth, England.
  • February 25 - Arrive Plymouth, England.
  • March 01 - Depart Plymouth/enroute Norfolk, Va.
  • March 04 - Rendezvous with fleet returning to U. S.
  • March 11 - Arrive Norfolk Naval Station. (Tender availability) 
  • For the ship's duty in the European Theater, the ship's company was awarded the "Navy European Occupation Medal". 
  • April 12 - Depart Norfolk/enroute Guantanamo, Cuba.  Operating with USS Saipan CVL-48.  Saipan had aboard Fighter Squadron 17-A, the first carrier based Jet Squadron (FH-1 Phantom jets). 
  • April 18-20 - In port, San Juan, P. R.
  • April 20 - Depart San Juan/enroute Norfolk, Va.
  • April 24 - Arrive home port, Norfolk, Va.
  • May 11-14 - Operating Area of Norfolk, Va.
  • May 17-20 - Shore bombardment.  (Bloodsworth Island, Maryland)
  • June 07 - Depart Norfolk/enroute Kingston, Jamaica.
  • June 12-15 - In port Kingston, Jamaica.
  • June 15 - Depart Kingston/enroute Norfolk, Va.
  • June 19 - Arrive home port, Norfolk, Va.
  • June 21 - Depart Norfolk/enroute New York Naval Shipyard.
  • June 22-28 - In port Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • June 28-29 - Anchorage Long Island Sound, N. Y.
  • June 30 - New London, Conn.
  • July 01 - Enter N. Y. Naval Shipyard, Brooklyn, N. Y. (Overhaul)
  • September 20 - Depart N. Y. Naval Shipyard/enroute N. A. D., Earle, N. J.
  • September 22 - Depart N. A. D., Earle, N. J./enroute Norfolk, Va.
  • October 18 - Depart Norfolk/enroute Guantanamo Bay, Cuba with USS Midway CVB-41.
  • October 21 - Commenced Refresher Training.
  • November 06&07 - In port Port-Au-Prince, Haiti.
  • November 13&14 - In port Kingston, Jamaca.
  • November 26 - Shore bombardment, Culebra Island, P. R.
  • November 27 - Enroute Norfolk, Va.
  • December 01 - Arrive home port, Norfolk, Va.
  • December 01 - Change of Command - CDR Gilbert H. Mitchell of Shamokin, Pa. was relieved of command by CDR Charles M. MacDonald of Norfolk, Va.
  • USS Charles R. Ware awarded the Battle Efficiency Pennant "E" for fiscal year 1948. 

1949

  • January 04 -  Depart for Mediterranean in company with DesRon 4. 
  • January 13 - Arrive Gibraltar, B. C. C.
  • January 17 - Depart Gibraltar/enroute Sixth Task Fleet Exercises.  Shore bombardment of Filfia Island.
  • January 21 - Arrive Augusta, Sicily. (Tender Availability)  Alongside USS Shenandoah AD-26.
  • January 31 - Depart Augusta, Sicily/enroute Fleet operations off Malta Isle.
  • February 05 - Enroute Trieste, F. T. T.
  • February 21 - Depart Trieste/enroute Venice, Italy.
  • March 06 - Depart Venice/enroute Athens, Greece.
  • March 11 - Phaleron Bay. (Piraeus & Athens)/enroute Haifa, Palestine, Israel.
  • March 13-25 - Haifa, Israel. (United Nations Duty)  The Ware patrolled off the Levant Coast under the direction of the United Nations Palestine Truce Commission.  During this time, the Ware was one of the first U. S. warships to fly the UN flag from her mast (just below our national ensign). 
  • March 25-27 - Beirut, Lebanon.
  • March 28 - Depart Beirut/enroute Leros Island. (Refueling)
  • March 29 - Depart Leros/enroute Rhodes, Greece.
  • April 01 - Depart Rhodes/enroute Phaleron Bay - Athens, Greece.
  • April 06 - Depart Phaleron Bay/enroute Salonika, Greece.
  • April 10 - Depart Salonika/enroute Kavalin, Greece.
  • April 13 - Depart Kavalin/enroute Alexandroupolis, Greece.
  • April 15 - Depart Alexandroupolis/enroute Istambul, Turkey. (Dardanelle Straits)
  • April 22 - Depart Istambul/enroute Goleuk, Turkey.
  • April 29 - Depart Goleuk/enroute Golfe Juan, France via Messina Straits on April 30.
  • May 02 - Depart Golfe Juan/enroute Sixth Task Fleet Exercises.
  • May 09 - Arrive Oran, Algeria, North Africa.
  • May 12 - Depart Oran/enroute Gibraltar B. C. C.
  • May 14 - Depart Gibraltar/enroute Atlantic crossing to U. S.
  • May 23 - Arrive Norfolk, Virginia home port.
  • June 26 - Depart Norfolk/enroute Reserve Cruise, visiting New Haven, Conn., on July 2-5.
  • July 09 - Enroute Norfolk Virginia.
  • July 31 - Depart Norfolk/enroute Reserve Cruise, visiting Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada on August 7-11
  • August 13 - Arrive Norfolk, Virginia.
  • August 15 - Depart Norfolk/enroute Operational Readiness Inspection at Virginia Capes Area.
  • August 16 - Arrive Norfolk, Virginia.
  • August 28 - Depart Norfolk/enroute Reserve Cruise, visiting New York.
  • September 10 - Arrive Norfolk, Virginia.
  • September 12 - Depart Norfolk/enroute ComSubLant services off New York, Newport, R. I. on September 14.
  • September 17 - Arrive Norfolk, Virginia.
  • September 25 - Depart Norfolk/enroute Reserve Cruise, visiting New York.
  • October 08 - Arrive Norfolk.  Tender availability, alongside USS Shenandoah AD-26.
  • October 22 - Depart Norfolk/enroute ComSubLant services off New York.
  • October 29 - Arrive Norfolk.
  • October 31 - Depart Norfolk/enroute duty with Second Task Fleet, in company with DesRon 4. 
  • November 12 - Crossed the Arctic Circle.
  • November 23 - Arrive Norfolk, Virginia.
  • December 12-30 - Tender availability, alongside USS Sierra AD-18.

1950

  • January 06 -  Depart for Mediterranean and Sixth Fleet operations.  The ship called on ports in Italy, Greece, Tunisia and Lebanon.
  • March 16 - Enroute to Northern European operations.  The ship called on Opporto, Portugal - Hull, Plymouth and Portland, England - Glasgow, Scotland and LeHavre, France. 
  • May 23 -  Arrive from Mediterranean/Northern Europe operations/enter Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a four month overhaul.  During this time CDR C. M. MacDonald the ship's CO became sick and XO LCDR Farrell assumed command until.
  • June 25 - Acting CO LCDR Farrell relieved by CDR J. E. Wicks as Commanding Officer of the Ware.  LCDR MacDonald retained his position as XO of the Ware. 
  • October 20 - Enroute Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for six weeks of Refresher Training.  The ship called on ports in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and Kingston, Jamaica.
  • December ? - The Ware was assigned to Newport, Rhode Island, for her home port.  The ship was reassigned to DESRON 8. 
  • December 05 - Depart Cuban ops/enroute Newport, R. I.

1951

  • January -  Back to Cuba for the month to plane-guard for the USS Monterey (CVL-26) out of Pensacola, Florida.
  • March 20 - Assigned duty as the DesLant Afloat Gunnery School ship.  Ware was scheduled to train three classes of of officers and men of DesLant destroyers.  Each class was to be six weeks long.
  • September 03 - Depart Norfolk for Gibraltar in company with Task Group 89.1 including USS Leyte CV-32, USS Roosevelt CVB-42, USS Des Moines CA-134, USS Albany CA-123, USS Macon CA-132, and the destroyers USS Putman DD-656, USS Sumner DD-692, USS Moale DD-693, USS Ingraham DD-694, USS Ault DD-698, USS Haynsworth DD-700, USS Weeks DD-701, USS Bailey DD-713, USS Keith DD-775, USS Johnson DD-821, USS Turner DD-834, USS Cecil DD-835, and USS Furse DD-882.  ComSecondFleet aboard the Albany.
  • September 13 - Passed through the Straits of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean.
  • November 14 - Arrive Norfolk, Virginia - Completion of Mediterranean Cruise.

1952

  • February 04 - Arrive Newport, R. I. for tender availability and up-keep.
  • March 10 - Entered the Philadelphia Navy Yard for routine overhaul.
  • March 19 - CDR J. E. Wicks was relieved by CDR J. B. Davenport as Commanding Officer of the Ware.
  • June 10 - Depart Philadelphia Navy Yard/enroute to Newport, R. I. for local operations and training.
  • June 16 - CDR H. O. Murray, Commander of DesDiv 82, broke his pennant in the Ware.
  • June 24 - Underway for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for Refresher Training.
  • August 01-03 - Liberty at Santiago de Cuba.
  • August 11 - Completed Refresher Training.  Departed Gitmo for shore bombardment exercises off Culebra Island.
  • August 17 - Arrived Newport, R.I.
  • September 09 - Depart for Norfolk, Va.  All hands concerned to attend the Shore Bombardment School at the Navy's facility in Little Creek, Va.
  • (Upon returning to Newport, R.I. the ship went alongside a Tender for an availability period.  Next came a period of Intensive ASW and Gunnery exercises, and a November search for survivors (unsuccessful) of the crash of a Navy patrol plane.
  • November 26 - In port, operations completed until the following January.   

1953

  • January 07 - Depart Newport/enroute Gibraltar and European waters.
  • January 19 - Arrive Gibraltar.
  • January 26 - Underway to Augusta, Sicily.
  • February 03 - Arrive Agusta, Sicily.
  • February 07 - Underway to Trieste, Italy.
  • February 09 - Arrive Trieste, Italy.
  • February 16 - Underway to Venice, Italy, arriving same day.
  • February 23 - Underway to Trieste, Italy, arriving the same day.
  • March 02 - Underway to Gibraltar.
  • March 07 - Arrive at Gibraltar.
  • (Ware conducted ASW exercises with British ships off Northern Ireland.)
  • March 08 - Underway to Portsmouth, England.
  • March 11 - Arrive Portsmouth, England.
  • March 12 - Underway to Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
  • March 14 - Arrive Londonderry.
  • March 30 - Underway to Bremerhaven, Germany.
  • April 01 - Arrive Bremerhaven.
  • April 06 - Underway to Dublin, Ireland.
  • April 08 - Arrive Dublin.
  • April 13 - Underway to Stravanger, Norway.
  • April 16 - Arrive Stravanger.
  • April 20 - Underway to Ghent, Belgium.
  • April 22 - Arrive Ghent.
  • April 27 - Underway to Aalbough, Denmark.
  • April 29 - Arrive Aalbough.
  • May 05 - Underway to Plymouth, England.
  • May 08 - Arrive Plymouth.
  • (After the European tour, Ware took part in exercises with the Canadian carrier HMCS Magnificent off Narragansett Bay.)
  • May 11 - Underway to Argenta, Newfoundland.
  • May 16 - Arrive Argenta.
  • May 17 - Underway to Newport, R.I.
  • May 19 - Arrive Newport.
  • June 22 - Underway for ASW exercises.
  • June 26 - Arrive Newport, R.I. from ASW exercises.
  • June 29 - Underway for New Bedford, Connecticut, arriving the same day.
  • July 13 - Underway for type training.
  • July 17 - Arrive Newport, R.I. from type training.
  • July 20 - Underway to Halifax, Nova Scotia with Midshipmen aboard.
  • July 30 - Arrive Halifax.
  • August 03 - Underway to Newport, R.I. via Fall River, Massachusetts.
  • August 07 - Arrive Newport.
  • August 24 - Underway for type training.
  • August 28 - Arrive Newport from type training.
  • August 31 - Underway for type training.
  • September 04 - Arrive Newport from type training.
  • September 08 - Underway for H/K training.
  • September 11 - Arrive Newport from H/K training.  Operational Readiness Inspection.
  • October 05 - Underway for type training.
  • October 09 - Arrive Newport from type training.
  • October 12 - Underway for ASW exercises.
  • October 17 - Arrive Newport from ASW exercises.
  • October 19 - Underway for ASW exercises.
  • October 23 - Arrive Norfolk, Virginia from ASW exercises.
  • November 02 - Underway for Carrier exercises enroute participation in "Operation Springboard".
  • November 09 - Underway to Puerto Rico.
  • November 11 - Arrive Puerto Rico via St. Thomas.
  • November 16 - Underway for operations.
  • November 18 - Arrive San Juan, Puerto Rico.
  • November 20 - Underway to Boston Naval Shipyard, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • November 24 - Arrive Boston Naval Shipyard.

1954

  • January 02 - Underway to Newport, R.I.
  • January 03 - Arrive Newport.
  • January 05 - Underway for Sixth Fleet duties.
  • January 19 - Passed through the Straits of Gibraltar, enroute to Pireaus, Greece.
  • January 23 - Arrive Pireaus.
  • (Ware participated in several major fleet maneuvers, including "Hellenic Sky One" and Turkish Sky One".
  • January 27 - Underway for Ismir, Turkey.
  • January 28 - Arrive Ismir.
  • February 01 - Underway to Augusta, Sicily.
  • February 03 - Arrive Augusta.
  • February 05 - Underway for Fleet exercises and a visit to Istanbul, Turkey.
  • February 13 - Arrive Istanbul.
  • February 18 - Underway to Kavallo, Greece.
  • February 19 - Arrive Kavallo.
  • February 24 - Underway for Fleet exercises and a visit to Genoa, Italy.
  • March 03 - Arrive Genoa.
  • March 10 - Underway for Fleet exercises and a visit to Naples, Italy.
  • March 17 - Arrive Naples.
  • March 23 - Underway to Venice, Italy.
  • March 26 - Arrive Venice.
  • April 01 - Underway to Trieste, Italy.
  • April 02 - Arrive Trieste.
  • April 07 - Underway to Ancora, Italy.
  • April 10 - Arrive Ancora.
  • April 14 - Underway to Bari, Italy.
  • April 16 - Arrive Bari.
  • April 21 - Underway to Cannes, France.
  • April 24 - Arrive Cannes.
  • April 29 - Underway to Rhodes, Greece.
  • May 04 - Arrive Rhodes.
  • May 09 - Underway to Leros, Greece.
  • May 13 - Arrive Leros.
  • May 20 - Underway to Phaleron, Greece.
  • May 21 - Arrive Phaleron.
  • May 24 - Underway to Gibraltar and home.
  • May 28 - Arrive Gibraltar and continue on to home port.
  • June 05 - Arrive Newport, R.I. in a dense fog and a three week tender availability alongside USS Yosemite AD-19. 
  • July 01 - CDR J. B. Davenport was relieved of duty by CDR J. C. Fisher as Commanding Officer and LCDR G. M. Schwartze by LCDR J. W. Hardey, Jr. as Executive Officer.
  • July 04 - RADM C. C. Hartman, ComDesLant aboard to inspect the ship.
  • (After tender availability, Ware took up her assigned duties as experimantal ship for the Underwater Ordnance Station.)
  • August 23 - Underway to Philadelphia Navy Yard for a three month period of major alterations.
  • (Upon completion of the yard overhaul, the ship spent the Christmas holidays in Providence, R.I.)

1955

  • January  ?  - Ware underwent refresher training in the ops area around Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
  • November  ?  - Ware deployed to the Mediterranean.
  • December 17 - Arrived Cannes, France.  The ship will be here during the Christmas and the New Year Holidays.

1956

  • January 03 - Depart Cannes, France.
  • (The ship remained in the Mediterranean until March.)
  • June 05 - Underway to Northern Europe for the Summer Midshipman Cruise.  The ship conducted training exercises and formation steaming enroute to Northern Europe to benefit the Midshipmen.  Ports of call were Stockholm, Sweden and Portsmouth, England.  The return voyage included further training in the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba ops. area.
  • July  ?  - CDR J. C. Fisher was relieved of duty by CDR G. F. Britner as Commanding Officer.
  • August  ?  - Ware entered the New York Naval Shipyard in Brooklyn, N. Y. for a three month overhaul.
  • November 16 - Arrive home port, Newport, R. I.
  • (The ship conducted local operations and spent the holidays in Newport.)

1957

  • January 29 - Enter New York Harbor, to act as a unit of the naval escort for King Saud of Saudi Arabia.
  • (Following this the ship sailed for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for refresher training and then participated in type training and upkeep in the Newport, R. I. area to prepare for her 8th tour of duty with the Sixth Fleet.)
  • May 06 - Underway with DesRon 20 for Europe.
  • May 17 - Arrive Cartegena, Spain to embark ten Spanish Naval Officers for ASW training.
  • (The Ware participated in anti-submarine warfare exercises with the Spanish destroyers Escano and Almirante Mirande.  After these operations, the ship proceeded into the Mediterranean where she engaged in exercises and fleet maneuvers and called at ports in Spain, France and Italy.  She returned home to Newport in August.)
  • September 03 - Underway for NATO exercises in the North Atlantic.  The Ware anchored in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland and from there sortied as a unit of a carrier force operating off the coast of Norway and within the Arctic Circle, opposing the "Aggressor Force".
  • October  ?  - Ware back at Newport and taking part in destroyer air defense exercises with additional ASW exercises with the USS Nautilus SSN-571 off the east coast in November.
  • (Thanksgiving was spent anchored in Newport Harbor.  The year-end holidays found the ship among the other ships of DesRon 8 in the Newport Naval Base.)

1958

  • January  ?  - Underway as plane guard for aircraft carriers off the east coast.  Ware's crew rescued a downed pilot of the USS Essex CVA-9.
  • February 01 - Underway for Sixth Fleet duties in the Mediterranean.  Ports of call, during this tour, were in Greece, Turkey, France and Spain.
  • July  ?  - Arrive home port from Sixth Fleet duties. 
  • (For the remainder of the Summer, the ship operated in the Newport area with other destroyers of the Atlantic Fleet.)
  • September 12 - CDR Robert B. Pettitt relieved CDR George F. Britner as Commanding Officer.
  • October 12 - Ware is in Bridgeport, Connecticut for Columbus Day festivities.
  • (Ware participated in Fleet Exercises off the Atlantic coast until December when the ship entered the Boston Naval Shipyard for a routine overhaul.)

1959

  • (After her routine overhaul, Ware went through a three month yard period in the Boston yards.)
  • March  ?  - Underway for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for Refresher Training.
  • (Upon completion of Refresher Training, Ware was assigned to DesRon 10, whose home port was in Newport, R. I. also.)
  • June  ?  - Underway to pick up fifty Naval Academy Midshipmen from Annapolis, Maryland and to proceed northward to participate in "Operation Inland Seas", the first passage of a naval force through the St. Lawrence Seaway into the Great Lakes.
  • (Ware took part in the Naval Review in the Lake Saint Louis [8 miles SW of Montreal, Canada] on June 26, which was attended by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, also ships of the U.S., British and Canadian Atlantic Fleets.  Ware participated in the official opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway.  She passed through the seaway to make port calls at St. Ignance, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; Marquette, Michigan; Detroit, Michigan and Erie, Pennsylvania, via all five Great Lakes and Lake St. Clair.
  • August  ?  - Ware in the Boston Naval Shipyard for a three week yard period.
  • (After the yard period, the ship participated in two Second Fleet exercises in the Atlantic Ocean.)
  • November 24 - In port, Newport, R. I. through the end of the year for leave and upkeep.

1960

  • January 05 - CDR Robert M. Dampier relieved CDR Robert B. Pettitt as Commanding Officer.
  • (During the months of January and February, Ware participated in "Operation LANTFLEX 1-60" and made preparations of hr tenth Mediterranean tour.)
  • March 21 - Depart Newport, R. I. for Mediterranean tour of duty.  Ports of call were in Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Lebanon.  During this time she carried West German Observers for an exercise in the Ionian Sea.
  • August  - Ware operated in the Red Sea, visiting ports in Ethiopia, French Somaliland and Aden.
  • October 15 - Arrive home port, Newport, R. I.
  • (Between October 15 and December 10, Ware participated in various "LANTFLEX" exercises.)
  • December 10 - Ware in port and engaging in Pre-FRAM activities.

1961

  • January 11 - Arrive Brooklyn Naval Shipyard to commence FRAM MK1 Type B conversion.  
  • January 21 - CDR Robert M. Dampier turned over command of the ship to LCDR Wirt C. Thayer.
  • January 31 - Start of Ware's thirteen month FRAM 1 conversion.  The ship changed to "In Commission/In Reserve Status".
  • (Ware's FRAM 1 conversion was the first to be preformed at the New York Naval Shipyard and therefore was "Learn as you go." )
  • November 30 - CDR Bohan reported aboard ship. 
  • December 14 - CDR Norman C. Bohan relieved LCDR Wirt C. Thayer as Commanding Officer of the ship.  LCDR Thayer then became Executive Officer.
  • (The ship was scheduled to have Sea Trials about two weeks after CDR Bohan arrived, but was woefully behind schedule.  A bad fire on the newly constructed USS Constellation, had diverted most of the Yards efforts away from the Ware.  A Priority Plan, put together by key ship's company and the co-operation of the Yard Commander, put the Ware back on the Revised Schedule for completion.)   

1962

  • January 01 - Ware reverted back to full commission and was assigned to DesRon 16, and as flagship for DesDiv 162.  Ware's home port changed from New York to Mayport, Florida.
  • (Because CINCLant Fleet wanted the Ware operational A.S.A.P., some dispensations were given to Ware to facilitate Sea Trials and completion of the conversion.
  • March 05 - Underway from loading out ammunition at the Naval Ammunition Depot pier, Earle, N. J./ enroute to Norfolk, Va. for a week of Pre-refresher Training.
  • (Ware got a week cut from Pre-refresher Training, Refresher Training and Prepare for Overseas Movement period so we could deploy as scheduled.)
  • (Ware arrived off Norfolk early the next morning all set for Pre-refresher Training, instead we got an OP Immediate message to head back north and look for a missing Navy tug.  Ware was headed into the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962, the ninth worst storm of the century.  Read Captain Bohan's account in the Forums.  Three days later, we finally arrived back at Norfolk and right to Tender availibility with a number 1 priority.  A few days later we were underway for Mayport, conducting exercises in preparation for Gitmo.  After a short stay at Mayport, Ware headed out for Gitmo and managed to pass inspection with a Satisfactory.  Back to Mayport for two weeks to prepare for Sixth Fleet duties in the Med and our nuclear weapons acceptance inspection, which Ware passed with the highest mark yet given to a destroyer type.)
  • May 06 - Completed Refresher Training and underway to Mayport, Florida.
  • May 22 - Underway with ComDesDiv162 aboard and in company with USS Harwood DD-861, for Sixth Fleet duties in the Mediterranean.
  • (During this deployment, Ware participated in NATO "Operation FULLSWING" and "Operation FALLTRAP".  Ten ports of call in Italy, France and Spain included Viareggio, Itlay and Ibiza, in the Spanish Balerics, both of which Ware was the first U.S. warship to visit in 15 years.)
  • October 02 - Underway for homeport in company with USS Enterprise CVAN-65 and USS Harwood DD-861.
  • October 12 - Arrive Mayport for a period of Tender availability, leave and upkeep.
  • October 26 - Depart Mayport to join the "Cuban Quarantine" forces during the Cuban Missle Crisis.  Ware operated with TF-135, the Independence Carrier Task Force, under the command of RADM Heywood.
  • November 21 - The Blockade of Cuba is over and Ware is underway for homeport, Mayport, Fla.
  • (Ware operated at sea continously fifty-one days out of the past sixty-six and steamed over 20,000 miles during this time.  She returned to Mayport to continue leave and upkeep, plus local operations through the end of the year.)
  • Ware came in 2nd for the Squadron "E", missing first place by one half of a point and won a Weapons "E". 

1963

  • January 15 - Underway to join "Operation Springboard" in the Caribbean, during which the ship called on ports of San Juan, Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
  • February 04 - Arrived homeport from Caribbean ops and began preparations for entering the Charleston Naval Shipyard.
  • February 21 - Arrive Charleston Naval Shipyard.  The ship entered the drydock for routine maintenance and upkeep.
  • April 18 - Depart Charleston Naval Shipyard for homeport, Mayport, Fla.
  • May 06 - Underway, in company with USS McCaffery DD-860 and USS Harwood DD-861, to take up station for the Project Mercury space shot in which Major Gorden Cooper was placed into orbit.
  • May 15 & 16 - On station, just west of the Azores, as backup recovery ship for Mercury Atlas 9 recovery mission.  The Ware's station covered the two primary recovery areas, the "Go-No Go" first orbit and the fourteenth orbit.  During this time the ship conducted a beard growing contest, to raise contributions for the current Navy Relief Fund Compaign.
  • May 23 - Arrive homeport completing seventeen day mission.
  • June 12 - Underway for special operations connected with Cape Canaveral, Fla.
  • June 13 - On station, the ship observed the firing of two Polaris missiles as the USS LaFayette SSBN-616 underwent her missile firing trials.
  • June 15 - Arrive homeport from mission.
  • June 16 - Underway to Cape Canaveral, Fla.
  • June 17 - On station to act as a target ship for the USS Longbeach CLCN-9, in tests of the Navy Tactical Data System.
  • June 19&20 - ASW type training.
  • June 21 - Arrive homeport and two weeks of Tender availibility.
  • August 06 - Underway for the twelfth Sixth Fleet deployment.  In company with DesRon 16, Ware joined with USS Independence CVA-62 and other units from Norfolk, Va. for the trip across the Atlantic.
  • (While enroute to the Mediterranean the Ware participated in "Operation RIPTIDE IV", a joint French, British and United States exercise.  A highlight of this exercise was an actual rescue of a downed pilot from Independence, who has spent 18 hours in the chilly waters of the Bay of Biscay.)
  • August 29 - Ware joined the Sixth Fleet at a fleet anchorage in Aranchi Bay, Mallorca.  While attached to the Sixth Fleet, the Ware participated in NATO exercises "POKERHAND II" and "MEDLANDEX" and also "Operation READIEX".
  • (During this three month Mediterranean duty, Ware visited eight ports of call in Spain, France, Italy and the Island of Malta.  The Ware was the first U.S. destroyer to visit Almeria, Spain since WWII.)
  • October 29 - In port, Catania, Sicily.  CDR C. R. Worley relieved CDR Norman C. Bohan as Commanding Officer of the Ware.
  • December 11 - Ware turned her duty station over to her relief ship, USS Waldron DD-699.
  • December 13 - Ware transited the Straits of Gibraltar enroute Mayport, Fla.
  • December 23 - Arrive homeport, Mayport, Fla.

1964

  • January and half of February was spent in a leave and upkeep period.
  • February 17 - Underway for the Caribbean, enroute to San Juan, Puerto Rico and Operation Springboard "64".  The ship took part in extensive training exercises including an Operational Rediness Inspection and Gunfire Support exercises at Culebra, Puerto Rico.  Ports of call included San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.
  • March 09 - Arrive home port with other units of DesRon 16 from Caribbean duties.
  • March 28 - CAPT C. H. Butt relieved CAPT R. S. White III as Commander of Destroyer Division 162.
  • March 31 - Underway after only ten hours notice to prepare for extended operations and to get underway. 
  • (This action was part of "Operation QUICKKICK V", a large scale amphibious exercise to test our ability to react quickly in an emergency.  The Ware operated as a screening unit for the USS Forrestal CVA-59.)
  • April 10 - Arrive homeport, Mayport, Fla. from "Operation QUICKKICK V".
  • (The rest of April and May, except for three days of type training, were spent in port preparing for "LANTMIDTRARON 64", Atlantic Midshipmen Training Squadron 1964 cruise.)
  • May 05 - Underway for type training.
  • May 07 - Arrive home port, Mayport, Fla.
  • June 01 - Underway to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, to embark Midshipmen for their annual summer training cruise.  Ware conducted extensive midshipmen training in transit to and from Northern European ports of call.  Oslo, Norway; Antwerp, Belgium; LeHarve, France and Southampton, England were visited by the ship.
  • July 26 - Arrive home port, Mayport, Fla. after completion of "LANTMIDTRARON 64".
  • September 01 - Underway for type training in the Jacksonville Ops. area with other units of DesRon 16.
  • September 04 - Arrive homeport from type training.
  • September 07 - Underway with all other Mayport based ships, to evade the on-rushing hurricane "Dora".  The Ware rode out the storm off the coast of South Florida.
  • September 12 - Arrive homeport from hurricane evasion.
  • September 13 - Underway for the Gulf of Mexico and participation in "Operation CANUS-SLAMEX 2-64", a joint Canadian, U. S., ASW exercise.
  • September 24 - Arrive homeport from ASW exercise.
  • October 17 - Underway for duty as Naval Gunfire Support Ship at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and to conduct gunfire support exercises at Culebra, Puerto Rico.
  • November 03 - Arrive homeport from Caribbean ops.
  • (The remainder of November was spent in port.  During this period, recovery equipment for the GEMINI two-man spacecraft was installed aboard and tested.)
  • December 01 - Underway for recovery station, for the GT-2 unmanned space shot.
  • December 04 - Recovery drill while enroute to recovery station.
  • December 06 - Arrive San Juan, Puerto Rico for a visit.  Depart San Juan the same day.
  • December 09 - Space shot is cancelled and Ware is enroute to homeport.
  • (Ware remained in port through the end of the year.

1965

  • (First half of January, Ware remained in port for upkeep and to prepare for the second attempt of the Gemini II space shot.)
  • January 17 - Underway enroute assigned recovery station.
  • January 19 - Depart recovery assignment/enroute to the Charleston Ops. Area, to participate in type training.
  • January  ? - Return to homeport from type training.
  • February 16&17 - Ware engaged in local operations in the Jacksonville Ops. Area training reservists.
  • February 22 - In port preparing for shipyard overhaul.
  • March 01 - Underway for the Charleston Naval Shipyard.
  • March 02 - Arrive Charleston.
  • June 05 - Underway to homeport.
  • June 13 - Underway to Key West, Florida for a two week assignment.  The provided sonar school students with a floating classroom.
  • June 27 - Returned to homeport.  Commencing preparations for refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
  • July 06 - Dependent's Cruise.
  • July 09 - CDR W. M. Cone relieved CDR C. R. Worley as Commanding Officer.
  • July 16 - Underway for six weeks of pre-deployment training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  Ports of call were at Montego Bay, Jamaica and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
  • September 03 - Arrived homeport only to be forced back out to sea hours later by the threat of hurricane "Betsy.
  • September 11 - Arrive homeport from hurricane evasion, which had taken her back around the southern coast of Cuba.
  • (During the next five weeks, Ware was occupied in Preparations for Overseas Movement, her thirteenth deployment to the Sixth Fleet.)
  • October 14 - Underway enroute 6th Fleet Mediterranean duty.
  • October 26 - Relieved the USS Robert L. Wilson DD-847 at fleet anchorage in Pollensa Bay, Mallorca.
  • (Ports of call during this duty included La Spezia, Italy; Marseilles and Sete, France; Valetta, Malta; Greece; Spain and Sousse, Tunisia, which had not been visited by an American warship since before WWII.  Christmas was cleebrated in Naples, Italy.  Between then and New Year, Ware departed Naples for Athens, Greece.)

1966

  • (Ware spent the latter part of the cruise off the coast of Palomares, Spain, in the much publicized, successful search and recovery of a "lost" U.S. nuclear warhead.  This operation was called BROKEN ARROW.)
  • March 08 - Arrive Mayport after completing 6th Fleet Mediterranean duties.
  • (From March into October, Ware's time was spent in type training.  In September, the Ware was attached to ComSubLant, for test operations with the nuclear submarines, USS Andrew Jackson SSBN-619 and USS Woodrow Wilson SSBN-624.
  • November 25 - CDR Joseph T. Neville relieved CDR Warren M. Cone as Commanding Officer.
  • (Ware spent the month of December in home port, in a period of upkeep and leave time for the holidays.)

1967 

  • January 09 - Underway in accordance with ConCruDesLant Quarterly Deployment Schedule.
  • January 10 - Ware ran the degaussing range in Charleston harbor, South Carolina, and proceeded to Key West Operations Area.
  • January 12&13 - Ware holding gunnery exercises.
  • January 14 - Ware moored at the U.S. Naval Station, Key West.
  • January 15 - Underway for homeport and arrived the same day.
  • (From this time until late February, Ware was in a period of leave, upkeep and Tender availability in preparation for WesPac deployment.  During this time the Ware was paid two official visits; by ComCruDesFlot 6, RADM E. P. Bonner, and ComCarDiv 6, RADM V. G. Lambert, on Feb. 06 and 20 respectively.  Both visits described as courtesy calls.)
  • February 11&12 - Ware selected as Open House Ship. 
  • (The ship played host to over 300 civilian guests of the Mayport Naval Station.  A tour was provided the visitors, including top spaces of the ship, as well as the bridge and gun mounts.  Members of the crew explained the working of the mounts and pilot house, and a lecture on Marlin spike seamanship completed the tour.)
  • February 16 - Underway for the Jacksonville Ops. Area.  After completion of her anti-aircraft gunnery exercise, Ware returned to Mayport the same day.
  • February 21 - Underway for deployment to the Seventh Fleet, in company with USS Forrest Royal DD-872.
  • February 23 - Arrive USNS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
  • (Ware  and Forest Royal joined forces with USS Barney DDG-6 and USS Dahlgren DLG-12.  ComDesDiv 162, CAPT. William B. Althoff, transferred his flag from Ware to Barney at this time.
  • February 24 - Depart Guantanamo Bay.
  • February 26 - Transit the Panama Canal.  Detached from US Second Fleet/attached to US First Fleet.  Arrived USNS Rodman, Canal Zone.
  • February 28 - Depart Rodman, enroute Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
  • March 10 - At 0430, a second class petty officer from USS Dahlgren DLG-12 was lost overeboard.  The seaman was not recovered, as the five hour, four ship search proved unsuccessful.
  • March 12 - Arrive USNS Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
  • March 15 - March 16 - Type-training in local operations area.  (Gunfire Support exercises off Kahoolowe Island)
  • March 16 - Completion of training and return to Pearl Harbor that afternoon.
  • March 18 - Depart Pearl Harbor, enroute Sasebo, Japan, in company with USS Barney DDG-6 and USS Forest Royal DD-872.  (The Ware's AN/SPS 40, air-search radar, malfunctioned due to he spar gear being highly worn.  Repairs to be done at Subic Bay USNS.)
  • March 21 - Refuel at Midway Island.  (Refueling was a seven hour stop-over, after which Ware in company with USS Forest Royal DD-872 crosses the International Date Line at 28 deg. 38' N.)
  • March 26 - Detached from US First Fleet/attached to US Seventh Fleet.
  • March 29 - Arrived Sasebo, Japan. 
  • April 03 - Depart Sasebo, in company with USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31 and USS Forrest Royal DD-872, comprising Task Group 77.7, enroute Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
  • April 06 - Arrived Kaohsiung, Taiwan and Tender availability with USS Peidmont AD-17.
  • April 11 - Departed Kaohsiung, enroute to join with USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31, enroute Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines.
  • April 14 - Arrive Subic Bay USNS, R.P. and repair of radar ensued.
  • (LT. Donald C. Latham, CHC, the Chaplain of DesDiv 162, reported aboard Ware on April 15.  While underway, a six session discussion group on "marriage" was held, under his direction.)
  • April 16 - Departed Subic Bay, in company with Task Group 77.7 (Bon Homme Richard, Forrest Royal and this ship) enroute "Yankee Station", Gulf of Tonkin.
  • April 17 - Ware, at 1720, entered Vietnam War combat zone, at 15 deg. 47' N, 110 deg. 30' E.  Condition III was set at 1945 and maintained from then until departure from this area.  Rendezvous with "Yankee Team" units on station in Gulf of Tonkin.  Commenced plane guard/rescue destroyer assignment for USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31.
  • (At various times USS Forrest Royal DD-872, USS Barney DDG-6, USS Waddell DDG-24 and USS Stoddert DDG-22 were also attached to TG 77.7)
  • April 28 - Ware assumed "Alpha Tango" assignment for the TG 77.9 Surface, Sub-surface Surveiliance Control (SSSC) radio control.
  • (During the period from January 01 to April 30, the Ware had expended 293 rounds of 5"/38 cal. projectiles in exercises, took part in eight refuelings, one rearming and three replenishments at sea.  Radio Central estimated that about 1,500 messages were received for the Ware.  The crew received 2,100 vaccinations and immunizations during these months.)
  • May 05 - Visited informally by RADM Mason Freeman,Commander, Cruiser - Destroyer Force, Pacific, (ComCruDesForPac).  He was lowered to Ware's fantail, from a USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31 helicopter.
  • May 08 - Departed combat zone, enroute Subic Bay for first combat R&R period, in company with other units of Task Group.
  • May 09 - Arrive Subic Bay.
  • May 14 - Departed Subic Bay, enroute to "Yankee Station".
  • May 15 - Entered combat zone, arrived at "Yankee Station".
  • May 16 - Relieved USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25) as Commander, Task Group 77.9 SSSC.
  • May 18 - Released by TG 77.7 USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31, attached to TG 77.7 USS Hancock (CVA-19) on "Yankee Station".
  • May 20 - While acting as rescue destroyer in lifeguard station astern USS Hancock CVA-19, recovered seaman lost overboard from the carrier.  The sailor was in the water only six minutes.
  • May 22 - Detached from USS Hancock CVA-19.
  • May 23 - Relieved as CTG 77.9/SSSC by Commander ASW Group Three embarked in USS Hornet (CVS-12).  Attached to Bon Homme Richard as plane guard/pilot rescue destroyer on "Yankee Station".
  • May 29 - June 2 & 3 - Participated in Anti-Submarine Warfare training with submarines USS Bashaw SS-241 and USS Catfish SS-339.
  • June 11 - During the last night assigned to the carrier USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31, Ware located a man overboard from the carrier and directed a helicopter to the successful rescue/pickup.  Leaving the combat zone that night, Ware joined with the USS Constellation CVA-64 for the return to Subic Bay.
  • June 13 - Moored with the Task Group at Subic Bay. 
  • (Ware and other Seventh Fleet warships chalked up a notable "first".  Two Midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy embarked, who were among the first "Middies" assigned to warships in a war zone, for the intensive training of their "First Class Cruise".  Midshipmen Conrad and Sinclair remained with the Ware until early August.)
  • June 14 - Entered dry-dock, Subic Bay for minor repairs to her sonar dome, rudders and screws.
  • June 16 - Afloat again and exit dry-dock.
  • June 17 - Underway with USS Constellation CVA-64, leaving port two days early on a high priority "Yankee Station" assignment.
  • June 18 - Entered combat zone, arrived "Yankee Station".
  • June 21 - Visited informally by the Honorable Charles F. Baird, Under Secretary of the Navy Designate, accompanied by Commander Seventh Fleet, VADM John J. Hyland.
  • June 27 - Relieved Hornet as CTG 77.4/SSSC.
  • July 04 - Relieved as CTG 77.4/SSSC by USS Forest Royal (DD-872).
  • July 08 - Departed "Yankee Station", arrived on station off the coast of North Vietnam on "Operation Sea Dragon" assignment.
  • July 09 - Fired guns against an enemy target for first time in Ware's 22-year history.  She took under fire a North Vietnamese coastal gun battery on an island close to the enemy shoreline.
  • July 10 - Ware in company with USS St. Paul CA-73 and USS Benjamin Stoddert DDG-22 were taken under fire by North Vietnamese shore batteries while patroling north of Vinh Provience.  Unhit, the ships returned fire, setting off a secondary explosion.
  • July 12 - Ware still in company with USS St. Paul CA-73 and USS Benjamin Stoddert DDG-22.  These ships were taken under fire by enemy defense sites while shelling a highway bridge approach, 27 miles south of Thanh Hoa.  The ships returned fire, setting off three secondary explosions.
  • July 13 - Ware sailing alone, came under fire from a coastal defense site on an island 32 miles SSE of Thanh Hoa.  Return fire from Ware, set off a secondary explosion and the shore battery was silenced.
  • July 20 - Departed "Operation Sea Dragon".  Attached to TG 77.8, USS Oriskany (CVA-34), as plane guard/pilot rescue destroyer on "Yankee Station".  Commander Destroyer Division 162, embarked in Ware, relieved USS McKenzie (DD-836) as CTG 77.9/SSSC.
  • July 22 - ComDesDiv 162 relieved as CTG 77.9/SSSC by McKenzie.
  • July 24 - Detached from USS Oriskany CVA-34.  Attached to USS Constellation CVA-64 and departed combat zone, enroute to British Crown Colony, Hong Kong.
  • (Enroute to Hong Kong, Ware was joined by USS Forrest Royal DD-872.  USS Constellation CVA-64's visit to Hong Kong was postponed, and twenty aviators and crewmen from the carrier were transferred to the Ware for R&R in Hong Kong.)
  • July 26 - Arrived BCC Hong Kong in company with USS Forest Royal DD-872 and USS Barney DDG-6 and anchored in the harbor.
  • July 31 - Departed BCC Hong Kong, enroute combat zone.
  • August 01 - Entered combat zone.
  • August 02 - Arrived on station, "Operation Sea Dragon".
  • August 03 - Completed assignment to "Operation Sea Dragon". 
  • (In sixteen "Sea Dragon" missions, Ware fired a total of 1,045 rounds of 5"/38 cal. projectiles at enemy positions.  She scored a direct hit on a radar complex and directed many salvos of suppression fire against enemy shore batteries.  Ware drew heavy fire from North Vietnamese guns during five missions.  A total of 160 enemy rounds fell within wo and 1,000 yards of the ship, but no hits or casualties were sustained.  Ware returned all hostile fire, setting off several secondary explosions and fires at enemy positions.  Between May 01 and August 01, Radio Central received approximately 4,800 radio messages addressed to the Ware and countless thousands more that did not include the Ware as the addressee.)
  • August 04 - Departed combat zone, enroute Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
  • (Ware was originally scheduled to steam around the world, completing her deployment by way of the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean.  Ware was forced to return home via the Pacific Ocean when the summer war in the Middle East closed the Suez Canal to all traffic.)
  • August 06 - Arrived Kaohsiung.
  • August 08 - Departed Kaohsiung, enroute Yokosuka, Japan.
  • August 11 - Arrived Yokosuka.
  • August 14 - Departed Yokosuka, enroute Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in company with USS Forrest Royal DD-872, USS Barney DDG-6 and USS Dahlgren DLG-12.
  • August 17 - Detached US Seventh Fleet/attached US First Fleet.
  • August 19 - Crossed International Date Line. (Gained a day)  Made brief refueling stop at Midway Island.
  • August 22 - Arrived USNS Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
  • August 25 - Departed Pearl Harbor, enroute San Francisco, California.
  • August 30 - Arrived San Francisco.
  • September 02 - Departed San Francisco, enroute Acapulco, Mexico.
  • September 07 - Arrived Acapulco.
  • September 10 - Departed Acapulco, enroute Panama Canal.
  • September 13 - Crossed Equator, traditional ceremony held aboard.
  • September 16 - Made brief stop to refuel at USNS Rodman, Canal Zone.  Detached from First Fleet/attached to US Second Fleet.  Transited the Panama Canal.
  • September 19 - Arrived Mayport, Florida and moored at the desroyer piers at 0950, two days short of seven months, since her departure in February. 
  • (Ware served with three of the four U.S. Fleets during 213 days of deployment.  She was part of her home fleet, Second Fleet ,for 12 days.  She transited the Pacific, westward and eastward, for 55 days with the First Fleet.  She had also served in the Western Pacific with the Seventh Fleet for 145 days.  During that time, she had spent 90 days on station in the Vietnam Combat Zone, 75 with "Yankee Team" and 15 on "Operation Sea Dragon".  She steamed 61,012 miles, at an average underway speed of 15.5 knots and consumed 4,297,332 gallons of NSFO.)
  • (Ware rendezvoused with Serivce Force Ships for refueling, re-arming and replenishing underway in the Tonkin Gulf fifty-three times.  A total of 48 hours - 12 minutes was spent alongside these ships and 18 of Ware's unreps (underway replenishments) occured at night.  Highline and lite-line transfers of personnel or materials between ships brought Ware alongside other warships countless times.  Helicopter transfers, "vertreps" (vertical replenishments) and in-flight refueling of helicopters, occupied many hours in the Western Pacific.  Ware crew members brought home $74,883.16 worth of goods purchased in foreign ports.  More than one third of the crew, 100 men advanced in rank or rate during the deployment.
  • (A month long period of leave, with two leave parties scheduled, commenced upon arrival.)
  • September 23 - CDR George B. Lindgren relieved CAPT. W. B. Althoff as ComDesDiv 162.
  • October 19&20 - Ware received her Nuclear Technical Proficiency Inspection, with a final grade of 88.6.  This grade showed a marked improvement over earlier grades.
  • October 21 - Underway with approximately 125 family members and guests, for a one day Dependent's Cruise.  A full day of activity as all ships of DesRon 16 participated in formation and tactics, and unreps were simulated.
  • (Following the Dependent's Cruise, all hands turned-to during a period of intensive upkeep, prior to a Tender availability with USS Arcadia AD-23.)
  • October 26 - ComCruDesForLantFlt RADM C. J. Van Arsdale, Jr., paid an official visit to the ship.
  • November 13 - Underway for Key West, Florida.
  • November 14 - Ware moored at U.S. Naval Station Annex, Key West, Florida.
  • November 15&16 - Ware participated in ASW exercises as the Sonar School Ship.
  • November 17 - After transferring students to a Key West tug at the sea bouy, Ware steamed northward for Mayport.
  • November 18 - Arrive home port, Mayport, Florida.
  • November 21 - Nineteen officers and enlisted men received medals and awards for outstanding performance of duties during the Vietnam deployment, at a ceremony held in the Naval Station, Mayport Fleet Training Center Lectorium.  Awards received were the Navy Commendation Medal with the Combat "V", and the Navy Achievement Medal with the Combat "V", and citations from ComSeventhFlt and ComCruDesPac, Seventh Fleet.
  • December 16 - Ware begins a period of holiday leave time, to close out the year in the middle of a long period of upkeep.
  • December 31 - Ware's complement totaled 14 officers and 234 enlisted, of which 14 were Chief Petty Officers.  Also embarked was ComDesDiv 162 and his staff of four officers and four enlisted men.

 

1968

  • March 02 - Underway for a deployment with U.S. Middle East Forces located in the Indian Ocean.
  • (Ware's route to and from the Middle East stretched 11,000 miles each way, between Mayport, Florida and Port Louis, Mauritius.  The 35 day transit took Ware through the Caribbean, then south to Recife, Brazil.  After crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Luanda, Angola, Africa, the ship sailed southward along the African coast, rounding the Cape of Good Hope.  Ware then steamed north to Lourenco Marques, Mozambique, Africa, before reaching Mauritius, which is east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, in the month of April.)
  • (During the 195 day deployment, Ware steamed 46,122 miles and crossed the equator six times.  Ware's crewmen distributed more that 250 cartons of "Handclasp" gifts of the Navy and the American people, to hospitals, schools and orphanages, over a four month period in Mideast ports.)
  • August 07 - Ware was relieved of her MidEastFor duties.
  • (The return transit also included a port call to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
  • September 12 - Arrive homeport, Mayport, Florida.
  • October 01 - Ware entered a period of Reduced Operating Status and spent the year end holidays with just a skeleton crew on board.  This skeleton crew consisted of only 116 enlisted and 16 officers.

1969

  • March 07 - CDR Francis W. Cronin relieved CDR Joseph T. Neville as Commanding Officer of the ship.
  • May 09 - ComDesDiv 162 shifted his flag to USS William C. Lawe.
  • May 20 - Underway, under tow by USS Catawba ATA-210.
  • May 21 - Arrive Charleston Naval Weapons Station, to off-load ammunition and later in the day proceeded to Charleston Naval Shipyard to begin a scheduled four month major overhaul.
  • September 24 - Underway from Charleston Naval Shipyard.
  • (The next three weeks were spent in a period of Independent Steaming Exercises, in preparation for Refresher Training.)
  • October 17 - Underway to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico marking Ware's first extended underway period in over a year. 
  • October 23-26 - Ware ran the Weapons System Accuracy Trials (WSAT) range at St. Croix.
  • October 29 - Ware arrived at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to begin Refresher Training.
  • December 01 - Ware collided with USS Natahala AO-60 while making unrep approach.  Only minor damage was noted by either ship.
  • December 17 - Operational Readiness Inspection was held.  Among other accomplishments, Ware was awarded the highest grades in ASW given to any destroyer in recent years.
  • (In December, Ware was reassigned from DesRon 16 to DesRon 14, which also made Mayport their home port.)
  • (After completion of underway training, Ware returned to Roosevelt Roads and participated in Naval Gunfire Support Competitive Exercises off Culebre, Puerto Rico for two days.)
  • December 23 - Arrive home port from exercises.

1970

  • January 01 - Ware is anchored at Mayport, Fla.
  • January 13 - Underway for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for two and a half weeks of intensive underway training.
  • January 30 - Arrive homeport, Mayport, Florida.
  • (In port activities included the Annual Supply Inspection and two personnel inspections.)
  • April 06 - Underway as escort destroyer for USS Saratoga CVA-60. 
  • (After more than two and a half weeks of plane guarding and rescue destroyer duty in the Caribbean Sea, Ware returned home for the weekend of April 24, before departing for another ten days of the same duty.)
  • May 06 - Arrived homeport, Mayport, Florida for, in effect, the entire summer.
  • (Nine and a half weeks of the nest twelve weeks, were devoted to thoroughly outfitting and repairing the ship for her upcoming Mediterranean deployment.)
  • July 16&17 - Ware's Administrative-Material Inspection was conducted by the DesDiv 142 staff.
  • July 20 - Ware began a two week Tender availability with USS Yellowstone AD-12.
  • July 21 - Time was set aside from deployment preparations to observe the ship's 25 birthday, marking the silver anniversary of her commisioning.
  • August 10-12 - Ware ran through the degaussing range at Charleston, S. C.
  • August 13 - Ware conducted an at sea burial in the coastal waters off Florida.
  • August 14 - Families and friends accompained Ware crewmen on a dependent's cruise.
  • August 27 - Underway for six month deployment with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea.
  • September 07 - Ware arrived at Palma, Mallorca.
  • September 12 - Underway from Palma to the eastern Mediterranean for operations associated with the Middle East Crisis.
  • September 18 - One of Ware's forward boiler safeties failed causing the stoppage to the flow of lube oil to the forward main engines, long enough to cause major damage to the bearings in the #1 main engine and reduction gear. 
  • September 23 - Ware anchored in Souda Bay, Crete for repair and assistance from USS Shenandoah AD-26.
  • (Replacement of the bearings and other repairs would keep the ship from its duties for three weeks.)
  • September 28 - CDR Thomas R. Mathis relieved CDR Francis W. Cronin as Commanding Officer of the ship.
  • October 15 - Underway, remaining in the coastal waters off Crete for the next 23 days.
  • (Once the turmoil in Jordan had subsided, Ware's schedule evened out once again, into the normal pattern of port calls and task group exercises.)
  • November 07-16 - In port at Brindisi, Italy.
  • November 23-December 01  - In port at Naples, Italy.
  • December 08-15 - In port at Barcelona, Spain.
  • December 21 - In port at Cannes, France, (on the French Riviera) thru the end of the year and into the next year.
  • (During these visits, Ware and her crew, played host to hundreds of civilians and in return, were afforded invaluable exposure to the heritage and culture to these countries.)
  • (Ware's 71 days at sea, during the 1970 phase of deployment, were very busy.  Since most of the time was conducted on the task group level, Ware's officers and enlisted watch-standers acquired a wealth of experience in fleet formation steaming.  Ware's capabilities in her primary tactical mission of ASW, were well proven and greatly inhanced, in more that 10,000 man hours she had devoted to ASW actions and exercises.  In other areas, Ware expended nearly 100 rounds of 5"/38 ca. ammunition in surface, anti-air and naval gunfire support exercises.  Ware consumed 1,645,500 gallons of fuel oil and replaced most of it, in underway refueling.  Ware also participated in numerous electronic warfare and anti-air warfare exercises and other drills to improve the ship's overall readiness.  The culmination of these preparations came in January 1971, when Ware's ORI was given by ComDesDiv 142 and his staff.)
  • (Ten of Ware's married men ended the year in circumstances of luxury, unknown to the deployed sailor; their wives joined them via an air chartered flight, as part of "Operation REUNION".  Thirteen Ware crewmen returned to the U.S. on these flights, for two precious weeks in their homes.)

1971

  • (In January, Ware was re-assigned from DesRon 14 to DesRon 8, also having its home port in Mayport, Florida.)
  • January 06 - Underway for Sixth Fleet exercises and after being relieved, a return to home port.
  • March 01 - Arrived at home port and a much deserved stand-down period.
  • (Local operations with visits to St. Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico brought the Ware into the Fall of the year.)
  • November 21 - Ware sailed on what was to be the first of three trips over the next month, off the coast of Cape Kennedy, Florida.  Here the Ware performed as support ship for the fleet ballistic missile submarines engaged in testing the Poseidon missle.  These duties took the ship through the end of the year.

1972

  • January 01 - Ware is in port at Mayport, Florida where she would remain for most of the Spring.
  • (During June and July, Ware made one local cruise each to Charleston, South Carolina and the Northfolk Ops area.  Charleston made it possible to check out the ship's degaussing equipment.  The cruise to the Norfolk Ops area was done in conjunction with ASW exercises with nuclear powered submarines.)
  • (Late July and early August found the Ware in the Caribbean for annual qualification in Naval Gunfire Support at Vieques Island, nine miles east of the main island of Puerto Rico.  Port calls were made at St. Croix, Roosevelt Roads and San Juan, all in Puerto Rico.)
  • September 27 - Underway for deployment to the Middle East Force (MidEastFor), and would subsequently take Ware around the world for the first time in the ship's history.
  • (The ports visited while enroute to MidEastFor duty were; Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico and Port of Spain, Trinidad in the Caribbean.)
  • October 07 - Ware crossed the equator for the first time in this deployment after heading east along the coast of South America.
  • October 08 - Arrive Recife, Brazil.
  • October 11 - Underway, heading due east, to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
  • October 19 - Arrive at Luanda, Angola, on the continent of Africa after Atlantic Ocean transit.
  • October 21 - Underway, heading south, parallel to the African coast.
  • (Ware sailed south, then rounded the tip of Africa and sailed northward into the Indian Ocean.)
  • October 27 - Arrive Lourenco Marques, Mozambique.
  • October 28 - Underway from Lourenco Marques/enroute to Mombassa, Keyna.
  • November 01 - Arrive at Mombassa, Keyna and became a member of MidEastFor, her duty station for the next four months.
  • November 06 - Ware, upon relieving the USS Basilone DDE-824, steamed northward heading for Manama, Bahrain in the Persian Gulf.
  • November 08 - Second crossing of the equator in this deployment.
  • November 13 - Arrive at Bahrain Island, home port of the flagship of the MidEastFor, USS LaSalle AGF-13, ex LPD-3.
  • November 16 - Underway to participate in the multi-nation sea operation "MID LINK" which includes Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, Great Britain and others.
  • November 17-27 - Operation "MID LINK", during which Ware anchored twice at Jask and Bandar Abbis, Iran, in the Straits of Hormuz.
  • (After a short visit back to Iran, Ware then steamed to Karachi, Pakistan in the Arabian Sea for a four day visit.)
  • December 09 - Arrive at the Port of Jiddah, Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea.
  • December 13 - Underway with approximately 20 Royal Saudi Arabian naval junior officers for at-sea training.
  • December 19 - Ware engaged in at-sea training and enroute to Manama, Bahrain.  The crew witnesses an explosion on the horizon in the Gulf of Oman.
  • (Two super-tankers, the Korean Sea Star and the Brazilian Horta Barbosa, had collided.  Thirty-one survivors were taken aboard the Ware and provided medical treatment.
  • December 20 - Ware transferred 29 collision survivors to medical facilities in Manama, Bahrain.  Ware remained in Manama until after the New Year's holiday. 

 

1973

  • January 04 - Underway to Kuwait.
  • January 06 - Arrive Mina-Al-Ahmadi, Kuwait.
  • January 08 - Underway to Bahrain.
  • January 10 - Arrive Manama, Bahrain.
  • January 12 - Underway to the Red Sea, heading for and arriving at Massawa, Ethiopia the same day.
  • January 17 - Underway for Djibouti, Afars (French Somaliland) in the Gulf of Aden.
  • (After a four day visit in Dijbouti, Ware set sail for Mombassa, Kenya.)
  • February 05 - Ware crossed the equator for the third time.
  • February 06 - Arrive Mombassa, Kenya.
  • February 12 - Underway to Victoria.
  • February 15 - Arrive Victoria in the Seychelles Islands.
  • February 19 - Underway to Port Louis, Mauritius.
  • February 22 - Arrive Port Louis, Mauritius. 
  • (The island had just been hit by a tropical storm and the Ware's crew spent some time helping to clean up the island.)
  • February 25 - Ware was relieved by USS Fiske DDR-842 and outchopped from MidEastFor.  Ware underway to Colombo, Sri Lanka (Ceylon).
  • February 28 - Ware crossed the equator for the forth and final time.
  • March 02 - Arrived at Colombo, Sri Lanka (Ceylon).
  • March 03 - Depart Colombo/enroute to Singapore.
  • March 06 - Arrive British Crown Colony of Singapore.
  • March 09 - Depart Singapore/enroute Hong Kong.
  • March 12 - Arrive at British Crown Colony of Hong Kong.
  • (Enroute to Hong Kong the Ware had gone by way of the South China Sea and inchopped with the Seventh Fleet, the Ware refueled from an oiler about 90 miles off the coast of Vietnam.  Quite a few of the Ware's crew re-enlisted while the ship was in the war zone and took advantage of the tax-free re-enlistment bonus (about $10,000 for the four years).
  • March 16 - Depart Hong Kong/enroute Yokosuka, Japan.
  • March 20 - Arrive Yokosuka, Japan.
  • March 24 - Underway from Yokosuka enroute to Midway Island.
  • March 28 - Ware crossed the International Date Line and repeated a day enroute to Midway Island.
  • March 30 - Arrived Midway Island where the Ware took on fuel and later in the day departed Midway Island, enroute to Pearl Harbor.
  • April 02 - Arrived Pearl Harbor.
  • April 03 - Underway from Pearl Harbor enroute to mainland U.S.A.
  • April 09 - Arrived in San Diego, California for a short stay.
  • April 11 - Underway from San Diego enroute to the Panama Canal.
  • April 13 - Refueled at Manzanillo, Mexico and departed later the same day.
  • April 17 - Arrived at Rodman, Canal Zone, Panama and transited the Panama Canal.
  • April 21 - Arrived Mayport, Florida, after circumnavigating the globe, spending 207 days in the endeavor, with 129 days at sea.  The ship consumed 3,141,255 gallons of fuel, traveled more than 45,000 miles, visited 22 foreign countries and four continents, crossing the equator four times.
  • (June - In preparation to being transferred to Galveston, Texas, Ware was sent to the Todd Shipyards at New Orleans, Louisiana, to receive a complete overhaul in preparation to becoming a training ship for the Naval Reserve.  Completion of this overhaul took the Ware into the month of September.)
  • (Mid-September - Ware was sent to Charleston, South Carolina for further undisclosed work.  During this time, Mid-East tensions flared again and Ware was placed on increased alert and the Gunner's Mates were patroling the decks and nearby piers with machine guns.)
  • (Early November - Ware sailed to Galveston, Texas where she had the honor of becoming the "flagship" of the "Texas Navy" and was presented the Texas State flag to signify that point.  At this time Ware was a member of DesRon 34.  Reservists would come aboard ship one weekend a month and the ship would usually put out to sea, to remind the reservists what it was like on active duty.)

1974

  • (During one summer weekend excursion, the Ware came too close to a bouy, and the bouy's anchor chain became entangled around the propellor shaft, causing a severe bend to the shaft.  Ware had to be towed back into port.  Officials estimated that repairs would be prohibitive and it was decided that the ship be retired.)
  • (Several months were spent stripping the Ware of useable equipment, tools and transferring them to the destroyer that was to replace the Ware.)
  • November 30 - Stripped down, secured to a pier at Galveston, the USS Charles R. Ware DD-865 was de-commissioned.  Thus ended a great ship's service to her country - 29 years, 4 months, 10 days.
  • December 12 - The former USS Charles R. Ware DD-865, was struck from the Naval Vessel Register (NVR).

1975 - 1981

  • (The hulk of the ex-USS Charles R. Ware DD-865 spent this time secured to that pier in Galveston, Texas, wating for final disposition.)

1981

  • (During the month of November, she was finally towed out to sea, to be used as a target by the U.S. Navy, in testing the latest Harpoon Missile technology.)
  • November 15 - At 1235 hours, the former USS Charles R. Ware DD-865, was sent to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, *** when she was struck amid-ships by a 'Harpoon' missile, fired from a U.S. warship.***  She went down at 21 deg. N latitude and 62 deg. W longitude, about 400 miles NE of Puerto Rico.  This area is known as the "Puerto Rico Trough" and is the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean, 30,246 feet deep.
  • (***Update to "The Official History of the USS Charles R. Ware DD-865" compiled by our deceased shipmate Gerald R. Wilcox, founder of "Now Hear This" newsletter.***  After searching through hundreds of web hits with references to the Ware, I came across a paragraph in the history of the USS John F. Kennedy CV-67, which gives a mental picture of the sinking of our beloved ship.  In 1981, USS JFK was training in the Caribbean and took part in SINKEX 81.  The paragraph from their history is as follows:

John F. Kennedy then visited St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands from 8-11 November 1981, after which time she engaged in yet more training, including air wing day and night strikes against targets on Vieques; CAP against multiple airborne raids; minefield evasion; multiple air-to-air missiles exercises; air-to air gunnery against a towed banner; multiple war-at-sea strikes; advanced anti-ship cruise missile exercises during which CVW-3 scored direct hits on the target, ex-Charles R. Ware (DD-865); electronic warfare training; anti-submarine torpedo exercises by both helo and fixed wing aircraft; refueling/replenishment exercises; and various safety and navigational exercises.***)

 

 

"Rest in peace, Mother."