USS FLOYD B. PARKS (DD 884) is named for Major Floyd Bruce PARKS USMC, a Marine Aviator reported missing in action on 4 June 1942 during the defense of Midway Island against the assaults of the Japanese Navy. Major PARKS was born in Salisbury, Missouri and was enlisted in the Navy for two years prior to his appointment to the United States Naval Academy in June of 1930. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps on 31 May 1934. He advanced through the ranks in the Corps and was promoted to Major less than a month before the Battle of Midway. Major PARKS was awarded the Navy Cross and received a special letter of commendation from the Secretary of the Navy; his other awards included the Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, American Defense Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal.

     PARKS, a Gearing Class Destroyer, displaces over 3,400 tons when fully loaded, and has an average draft of 15 feet. She has a length of 390 feet and a width of 41 feet. Four Babcock and Wilcox "M" type boilers, driving two geared steam turbine engines, develop a total of 60,000 shaft horsepower. PARKS maximum speed is 32 knots; she can steam over 6,500 nautical miles at cruising speeds.

     PARKS armament includes two 5 inch 38 caliber dual purpose mounts (twin guns), six antisubmarine warfare (ASW) torpedo tubes, one anti-submarine rocket (ASROC) launcher, and one CHAPARRAL missile launcher. PARKS "big punch" is controlled by intricate electronic systems coupled with radar and sonar.

     PARKS normally carries a crew of 18 officers and 279 enlisted men.

     The ship's keel was laid 30 October 1944 by the Consolidated Steel Corporation in Orange, Texas, located on the banks of the Sabine River. Mrs. Floyd B. PARKS, the widow of the late Major PARKS, sponsored the ship at her launching ceremonies on 31 March 1945. CDR Morgan SLAYTON, USN, became her first Commanding Officer. After the commissioning ceremonies, PARKS proceed from Orange, Texas to the TODD shipyards at Galveston, Texas for final alterations Upon completion of alterations, PARKS proceeded to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for her shakedown cruise. Following shakedown she departed Cuba and steamed to Charleston, South Carolina in October 1945, stopping enroute to celebrate Navy Day ceremonies conducted at Pensacola, Florida. In October 1945, PARKS received orders to join U. S. PACIFIC FLEET and proceeded to San Diego California via the Panama Canal. San Diego then became PARKS' home port.

     On 28 November 1945 bad fortune struck PARKS. While entering Pearl Harbor on her first cruise to the Far East, she ran aground off the entrance to the harbor. She entered the naval shipyard at Pearl Harbor to repair damage suffered in the grounding and remained in dry dock until 24 January 1946.

     PARKS left for WESTPAC in the early part of 1946 and operated in the Hong Kong - Hainan area. In May, CDR SLAYTON was relieved by CDR J. B. BRANDT, USN, as Commanding Officer. In June of 1946, PARKS moved to the Shanghai area. From Shanghai, PARKS proceeded to the Guam-Saipan area, operating there until relieved on 28 January 1947, at which time she returned to the United States via Pearl Harbor. On 3 October 1947, CDR Richard E. NICHOLS, USN relieved CDR BRANDT as Commanding Officer.

     PARKS proceeded to Japan in February of 1948 for her first tour of occupational duty. During April,. PARKS represented the United States Naval Forces in the Far East at the funeral of President ROXAS of the Philippines Republic. One officer and twenty-five men from PARKS marched in the funeral procession which was held in Manila. On 30 September 1948, PARKS participated in the cold weather exercise MICROWEX and visited Kodiak, Alaska.

     In April of 1949, PARKS proceeded to Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California for overhaul. Upon completion of the yard period, PARKS steamed to San Diego, where she conducted local training exercises until October of 1949. On 16 July CDR Herbert G. CLAUDIUS, USN, relieved CDR NICHOLS, thus becoming the fourth Commanding Officer of PARKS. The ship left for her third tour of duty in the Far East, arriving in Japan in November of 1949; this tour lasted almost eight months. PARKS visited the Philippine Islands, China, Malaya, and crossed the Equator on a voyage to the South Seas and Singapore.

      She returned to San Diego on 12 June 1950. When hostilities broke out in Korea, PARKS steamed to Hawaii and remained in a stand-by status prepared to assist the Naval units in the WESTPAC area. In September she returned to San Diego and soon proceeded to San Francisco for her regular overhaul.

     PARKS deployed on the morning of 19 February 1951. After a logistics stop at Pearl Harbor, PARKS set course for non-stop trip to Sasebo, Japan. After steaming across the International Date Line, however, she was forced to backtrack to Midway Island with a seriously ill seaman. After transferring the patient and fueling, PARKS set her course once more for Sasebo. After again crossing the 180th she was once more compelled to return to Midway with another patient. On 7 March PARKS crossed the Date Line for the fifth time in three days and finally arrived in Sasebo on 13 March without further incident.

     PARKS joined Fast Carrier Task Force 77 on 17 March to assist in screening the larger ships and commenced a month tour in support of anti-communist air operations off the east coast of North Korea. Enroute to TF 77 a floating mine was sighted close aboard and exploded by 40 mm fire. The incident had its amusing side; the Junior Officer of the watch, who sighted the mine, remarked only a few minutes earlier that PARKS was "too far at sea to have to worry about such things as mines".

     After a week of upkeep in Yokosuka, PARKS proceeded to Wonsan, North Korea, for Naval Gunfire Support Activities. At Wonsan on 30 April 1951, PARKS encountered gunfire from enemy shore batteries for the first time; after a two hour battle, she silenced them. During here stay at Wonsan she was responsible for saving the lives of two pilots who were forced to ditch their planes in the harbor. PARKS fired 6,569 rounds of five-inch projectiles in interdiction, harassing the counter battery fire during her first 29 day tour of shore bombardment duty.

     When PARKS returned for her second tour of shore bombardment duty at Wonsan, she encountered increased enemy resistance. Enemy shore batteries opened fire on the ships in the harbor six times in six days. PARKS was straddled three times, and on another occasion received seven near misses, but successfully answered and silenced the enemy fire without damage to herself.

     During this tour PARKS was responsible for coordinating the rescue of six more United States pilots. In, addition, PARKS worked with Air Force and Navy planes designating targets for day and night bombing, rocketing and strafing attacks, and in turn, received spotting assistance from the aircraft.

     Twice PARKS provided a shore fire control party for several days on Hwang To-Do Island just 3,000 yards from the enemy's shore. Using this party and a U. S. Marine party, PARKS was spotted onto numerous lucrative targets. At one time her illumination and gunfire broke up an attempted invasion of Hwang To-Do by communist sampans. PARKS provided fire support for mine sweeps conducting close-in operations and more than once silenced opposing enemy guns.

     On 22 September PARKS was relieved and sailed from Wonsan with her guns firing counter battery fire. The damage done to the enemy at Wonsan will never be fully known, but the destruction on warehouses, ammunition dumps, gun emplacements and railway and highway facilities was very heavy.

     PARKS spent a total of 60 days in the enemy harbor at Wonsan participating in the longest siege in U. S. Naval History. It is believed that she spent more time there than any other U. S. Warship. A total of 12,307 rounds of five-inch projectiles fired at the Korean Operations. On 15 December 1951 CDR CLAUDIUS relieved by CDR John J. FOOTE, USN.

     PARKS returned to Far Eastern waters again in May 1952. This time her duties included shore bombardment off the North Korean Coast line, screening units of Task Force 77, patrol duty in the South China Sea and the Formosa area, and 35 days of blockade duty in Wonsan harbor. PARKS returned to San Diego in December of 1952, and on 5 January 1953 entered the U. S. Naval Shipyard at Hunters Point, San Francisco, California. On 11 April 1953, while still in the shipyard, CDR B. HYSONG, USN, relieved CDR FOOTE as Commanding Officer. PARKS left the shipyard in May and returned to San Diego, where she conducted local exercises until her departure for WESTPAC on 7 August 1953.

     After arriving in Japan on 23 September, she operated in Japanese waters until November, when she departed for patrol duty in Formosan waters. After a brief stay in Hong Kong PARKS began patrol duties off the North Korean coast. It was during this patrol that PARKS struck an uncharted reef and was forced to proceed to Sasebo, Japan to repair damage suffered to her propellers and shafts.

     On 1 March 1954 PARKS left the Far East for San Diego and arrived on 21 March 1954. During her stay in the United States, PARKS participated in local training exercises and two Pacific Fleet training exercises; she also steamed to Seattle, Washington for a three day visit in conjunction with the Seattle Sea Fair.

     PARKS left San Diego for WESTPAC on 28 September 1954, and arrived in Yokosuka, Japan on 21 October 1954. She conducted brief training exercises in the Yokosuka area and then proceeded to the Philippine Islands, where she took part in local training exercises and patrol duties out of Subic Bay. During this period PARKS was forced on four separate occasions to leave the area to avoid typhoons. CDR J. F. GUSTAFERRO, USN, relieved CDR HYSONG as Commanding Officer on 2 December 1954.

     During the month of January 1955, PARKS was present in the Formosa area during the outbreak of hostilities in the Tachen area. She was one of four destroyers present in the area which assisted the Nationalist Chinese in the evacuation of personnel from the troubled islands.

     After a rest and upkeep period in Subic Bay, the ship proceeded to the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong for a seven day visit. She then visited Sasebo, Japan and Yokosuka, Japan, undergoing upkeep and repairs prior to the journey back to the United States. She arrived in San Diego on 9 April 1955 and after a month of leave and upkeep, proceeded to the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Long Beach, California for a three month regular overhaul. When she had completed her yard period, PARKS reported to Fleet Training Group, San Diego for underway training in preparation for another deployment to the Far East.

     PARKS departed for WESTPAC on 9 November 1955 and visited the ports of Rangoon and Singapore. She operated with Task Force 77 until the disaster of 1 l March 1956.

      On that day PARKS was involved in a collision with the heavy cruiser COLUMBUS, resulting in the loss of a 40 foot section of her bow and death of two men. Prompt action by all hands kept PARKS afloat and she was taken to Subic Bay for emergency repairs. A temporary bow was devised and PARKS departed for Long Beach Naval Shipyard, arriving in early June of 1956. The bow of the uncompleted USS LANSDALE, sister ship to PARKS, was taken as a replacement. In early August of 1956, PARKS reported ready for sea.

     In mid November of 1956, PARKS' preparations for deployment were interrupted by an emergency deployment during the Middle-Eastern Crisis. She journeyed to Pearl Harbor for duty, returning to San Diego on 6 December 1956. On 18 December CDR E. M. COMPTON, USN relieved CDR J. F. GUSTAFERRO as Commanding Officer.

     PARKS began her ninth WESTPAC cruise on 14 January 1957. She visited the ports of Sasebo, Okinawa, Hong Kong, and Pearl Harbor as a unit of Task Force 77 and returned to San Diego on 16 June 1957. She entered Mare Island Shipyard on 2 August for a major overhaul, leaving the yards in October.
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     Shortly after her return to San Diego from the yards, PARKS participated in an unsuccessful search and rescue mission for a downed commercial airliner. After returning to San Diego, PARKS began preparations for her tenth deployment to the Far East.

     On 13 February 1958, PARKS departed San Diego for another WESTPAC cruise. She visited Pearl Harbor, American Samoa, Auckland, New Zealand and the Fijis prior to participation in three months of special operations at Eniwetok proving grounds. From Eniwetok-Bikini operations PARKS steamed to Japan, where she participated in a HUK exercise and operated as plane guard for attack carriers. In the last two and one-half months of this deployment, PARKS visited Yokosuka, Kobe, Bappu and Hong Kong.

     On 21 July 1958, while operating off the coast of Japan, CDR COMPTON was relieved as Commanding Officer by CDR Walter P. V. BENNETT, USN. The change of command was unusual in that CDR BENNETT came aboard via helicopter on 19 July, and CDR COMPTON left in the same manner upon being relieved. Completing her last commitment in August, PARKS returned to San Diego. While in the San Diego area, PARKS conducted local -training operations and participated in "OPERATION SKYNET" in February.

     On 15 April 1959, PARKS deployed to WESTPAC via Pearl Harbor. Ports of Call included Guam, Kaohsiung, Subic Bay, Hong Kong, Sasebo, Nagoya and Yokosuka. During July and August she operated as part of the HUK group and participated in "OPERATION TALL DOG".

     The Laotian crisis of 1959 found PARKS on the spot and ready with a show of force. In addition to this action, PARKS participated in one of the early experimental cold weather exercises, "MICROWEX", in the Bearing Sea, and was an active participant in the Eniwetok-Bikini atomic testing operations of 1959. Her return to San Diego in October of 1959 marked the completion of her eleventh WESTPAC deployment.

     On 25 November 1959, PARKS commenced her underway training; this lasted through the month of April. On 28 May 1960, she departed the United States for another WESTPAC tour of duty with the SEVENTH Fleet. On the trip to Japan, PARKS steamed in company with USS ORISKANY (CVA-34).
During the six months that PARKS operated with the SEVENTH Fleet, she visited Okinawa, Yokosuka, Sasebo, Subic Bay, Hong Kong, Kobe and Chinhae. While operating near Chinhae in July of 1960, PARKS participated in landing exercises with the Army Raiders.

     On 21 August 1960, while visiting the port of Sasebo, Japan, CDR BENNETT was relieved as Commanding Officer by CDR John W. O'NEILL, USN.

     Upon completion of her last commitment with the SEVENTH Fleet in early November, PARKS departed WESTPAC and arrived in San Diego on the morning of 26 November in company with USS ROGERS (DDR87G). During the trip back to the United States, a member of PARKS crew became seriously ill. With the competent work of the division doctor and the cooperation of all hands, the mans life was saved after a four hour operation on the Wardroom table. Upon arrival in San Diego, PARKS commenced a five week period of rest and relaxation.

     During the ensuing eight months, PARKS operated out of San Diego and performed various tasks and exercises designed to increase her efficiency in the next deployment. She took part in "OPERATION GREENLIGHT", "OPERATION TAILWIND", and a demonstration for the American Ordnance Association.

     On 31 August 1961, PARKS deployed to WESTPAC as a unit of DESDIV ELEVEN. The first month was spent on Taiwan Patrol operating out of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. During the remainder of the cruise PARKS served with carriers USS TICONDEROGA (CVA 14) and USS LEXINGTON (CVA 16). A highlight of this tour was a search and rescue mission in which PARKS was sent to rescue the disabled Japanese fishing vessel "NANKAI MARU". PARKS braved high winds and rough seas to aid the small boat. Reflecting the excellent manner in which this SAR mission was conducted, PARKS received congratulatory messages from Commander SEVENTH Fleet, Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet, Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla ONE, and Commander Destroyer Squadron ONE.

     PARKS returned to San Diego in January 1962, and in April journeyed to Bremerton, Washington. PARKS new home port was then officially moved to Bremerton; this permitted crew members families to move to Bremerton at government expense during PARKS upcoming FRAM period.

     While in the Puget Sound area, PARKS visited Port Townsend, Washington, Naniamo, British Columbia to participate in community festivities. On 1 June 1962, CDR Theodore R. JOHNSON, Jr. USN, relieved CDR O'NEILL as Commanding Officer. PARKS spent the Fourth of July holiday in Ketchican, Alaska and participated in their celebrations. On l August 1962, CDR JOHNSON was relieved by his Executive Officer, LCDR Samuel R. KUBEL, USN. LCDR KUBEL remained as Commanding Officer throughout the fleet rehabilitation and modernization (FRAM MK 1) program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.

     This $4.6 million overhaul gave PARKS the very latest in electronic equipment and revitalized her engineering plant, thus insuring that this veteran destroyer would have many years of effective service in her future. Upon completion of the FRAM 1 program, PARKS home port shifted back to San Diego, California. CDR Paul W. COBB, USN, relieved LCDR KOBEL as Commanding Officer on l March 1963.

     In October 1963, PARKS again deployed to WESTPAC to serve with the SEVENTH Fleet as a unit of Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla NINE. During this cruise, PARKS operated as a unit of the Taiwan Patrol Force and the SEVENTH Fleet Attack Carrier Strike Force. PARKS visited Hong Kong, Kaohsuing, Korea and various ports in Japan before returning to her home port of San Diego in April 1964.

     PARKS participated in PACMIDTRARON - 64 from June until August. The highlight of this midshipmen training effort was a sixty mile cruise up the Sacramento River to Sacramento, California, in company with the USS MULLANY (DD 528).
CDR George B. WILSON, Jr., USN, relieved CDR COBB as Commanding Officer on 1 October 1964.

     In October 1964 PARKS participated in exercise "HARD NOSE", an amphibious exercise held off the coast of Southern California. In February 1965, prior to deploying to WESTPAC, PARK: participated in one of the largest peace-time amphibious exercises ever conducted, "SILVER LANCE" PARKS departed for the Western Pacific on 4 June 1965 and visited the Philippines, Midway, Guam, Hong Kong and Hawaii.

     During this deployment PARKS successfully rescued a Navy Pilot in the Tonkin Gulf. Upon her return PARKS had a four week rest and relaxation period, after which she went, in February 1966, to Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California for a three month scheduled overhaul. In March 1966 CDR WILSON was relieved by CDR G. M. NEELY, Jr., USN, as Commanding Officer. Upon completion of the yard period PARKS proceeded to San Diego, where she conducted local training exercises and participated in "EXERCISE EAGER ANGLER" before deploying to the Western Pacific in October 1966.

     PARKS deployed in October 1966, visiting the ports of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Sasebo, Yokosuka and Kobe, Japan; Subic Bay, Philippine Islands; and Da Nang, R. V. N. During her 1966-1967 WESTPAC Cruise, she performed search and rescue duties off the Coast of Vietnam, while in the Northern sector of the Tonkin Gulf, PARKS was instrumental in developing methods of rescuing downed pilots.

     PARKS arrived in San Diego on 4 April 1967 and, after a four week period of "R & R" and an ensuing tender availability period, embarked 34 Midshipmen in preparation for PACMIDTRARON 67, a training squadron involving 588 Midshipmen, 16 destroyers; and 1 submarine. PARKS visited the ports of Tacoma, Washington and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

     In preparation for her next deployment, PARKS took part in FLEETEX 3-67, "MOON FESTIVAL" and "COMPTUEX-67". In December PARKS entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Long Beach, California for scheduled hull repairs.     PARKS left the yards in January and participated in STRIKEX 67. She then returned to her homeport of San Diego, and before deployment on 27 January 1968, instigated a very unusual ceremony.

     In cooperation with the British Army, The Royal Navy, the British Crown Colony of Gibraltar, and General Sir Gerald Lathbury, the Governor of Gibraltar, PARKS presented two very rare Barbary Rock Apes to the San Diego Zoo. Virtually every officer and man serving on board PARKS contributed funds to cover the cost of air transportation from Gibraltar. While press and TV representatives covered the event, Dr. Charles R. SCHROEDER, Director of the Zoo, and Dr. George H. POURNELLE, Curator of Mammals, accepted the animals and made the following observations:

"Little is known about how the Barbary Ape came to be in Gibraltar or why. It is thought that they may have been introduced to the region by the Moors from North Africa during their conquest in the 6th century."

"When the British took over the rock in 1704, they found the apes living in a more or less wild condition and have adopted them as lucky mascots. There is a story that the animals once `saved the day' by giving the rock's. garrison warning of a Spanish invasion."

"There's a British tradition that when the Barbary Apes leave Gibraltar, the days of the British in Gibraltar will be over, and this is taken quite seriously."

     PARKS made her seventeenth deployment on 27 January 1968 in company with USS BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA 31), USS BUCHANAN (DDG l4), USS DENIS J. BUCKLEY (DD 808) and USS UHLMANN (DD 687). PARKS steamed at high speeds to Subic Bay, R.P.L, making only a two day stopover in Pearl Harbor and a brief refueling stop in Midway Island. After one day in Subic Bay, PARKS proceeded to Corps 11I, RVN for Naval Gunfire Support Missions.

     PARKS remained in Corps III and Corps IV for eighteen consecutive days and expended a total of 3,039 rounds in defense of friendly forces and US troops. The high point of this assignment came on the evening of 23 February when PARKS repulsed an attack by the 460th VC Company on a company of Popular Forces and prevented US spotters posts from being overrun.

     Operating just east of the coastal town of Tam Tan, PARKS initially took a VC observation post and a VC company massing area under fire. When the attack commenced, spotters requested simultaneous illumination on some targets and destructive fire on others. One hour and 171 rounds later, the ship attacked a total of twenty-three VC positions.

     The spotter stated that PARKS fire not only cut off enemy escape but kept them pinned down and forced abandonment of three machine guns, two ammo pouches, two sub-machine gun magazines, and five fifty caliber machine gun magazines (two with bullet holes in them). The spotter confirmed eleven VC killed, eight wounded, and no friendly casualties.

     During the battle, the spotter told PARKS to "keep the illumination coming. We've seen many VC crawling away and many being carried away."

     PARKS then traveled to Yankee Station for plane guard and rescue destroyer duties. On 19 March, while in the Gulf of Tonkin, CDR Benny J. RICARDO, USN, relieved CDR G. M. NEELY, Jr., USN as Commanding Officer. The change of command ceremony was held amidst the roar of jet aircraft departing for combat missions over North Vietnam. CDR RICARDO thus became the sixteenth Commanding Officer of USS FLOYD B. PARKS.

     PARKS' next assignment consisted of Search and Rescue duties in the Gulf of Tonkin. The ship then steamed to the fabulous "R & R" port of Hong Kong, BCC, and then to an upkeep period in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. PARKS reported for another tour on SAR station in June.

     As a grand finale to her seventeenth deployment PARKS returned to the "gun line" and expended 1,134 rounds of 5"/38 caliber ammunition in support of Corps II friendly troops.

     On the morning of 9 July 1968, USS FLOYD B. PARKS crossed the Equator, thus giving all "low down pollywogs" aboard an opportunity to become "trusty Shellbacks". After many memorable ceremonial rites, PARKS visited the ports of Singapore and Iokosuka, Japan before returning to San Diego on 11 August 1968.

     After an "R & R" period, PARKS conducted various operations in Southern California waters, including ASW school ship and Engineering School ship; these operations were sandwiched around six days of Soviet Trawler surveillance in mid-October 1968. In late January 1969, PARKS visited Acapulco, Mexico on a goodwill visit, then after more ASW exercises in May, PARKS proceeded to Long Beach Naval Shipyard for a short yard period. Fleet Exercise "Beagle Baron" in July prepared the crew for the PARKS' eighteenth deployment which commenced on 11 August 1969.

     Stops at Hawaii and Subic Bay readied PARKS for a 43 day at sea period consisting of two periods each on plane guard duty and PIRAZ before proceeding to Hong Kong on October 21. During this extended sea period of 8 October, CDR James F. DONOVAN relieved CDR B. J. RICARDO as Commanding Officer. Two weeks in Hong Kong as SOPA ADMIN provided a needed respite but was the only port of call on the cruise. Most of November and December was spent on PIRAZ except for a 10 day tender availability in Subic Bay in early December.

     PARKS was diverted before reaching Subic Bay in January to fill a commitment on the gunline in II Corps, Vietnam. After three weeks on the gunline she pulled into Subic Bay before proceeding home via Guam and Pearl Harbor. PARKS arrived in San Diego on 12 February 1970 after a most rigorous and successful cruise.

     PARKS remained inport San Diego until 10 June when she traveled north to Long Beach Naval Shipyard for a regular three month overhaul. In the yards on 31 July, PARKS celebrated the anniversary of twenty-five years of commissioned service in the United States Navy. Having completed a 1.3 million dollar overhaul, she returned to San Diego on September 16 for two weeks of independent operations in preparation for Refresher Training.

     Refresher Training began on 19 October and lasted five weeks, finishing one week early due to her outstanding performance through the cooperation and enthusiasm of the crew. The remainder of 1970 and January of 1971 were spent inport San Diego getting ready for the upcoming deployment.

     On 5 February 1971, PARKS deployed for her nineteenth WESTPAC cruise with Captain J.J. HERZOG, COMDESRON ONE embarked. After brief stops in Hawaii, Midway, Guam and Subic Bay PARKS steamed into the Tonkin Gulf on March 1 st to assume screening duties with the Ready Amphibious Task Group CTG 76.4 during South Vietnamese strikes into Laos. Six days later she reported for plane guard duty with USS KITTY HAWK (CVA 63) and on the 14th of March steamed north to join the USS TRUXTUN (DLGN 35) for PIRAZ duty.

     After a brief stop in Subic Bay, PARKS joined other United States, Australian, New Zealand, British, and Philippine ships in Manila Harbor for the beginning of a SEATO exercise on 26 March 1971. The SUBOC exercise lasted until 7 April when friendly forces concluded an amphibious assault in the Lingayen Gulf on northern Luzon, Philippine Islands. On 9 April PARKS became the first United States ship to participate in Bataan Day Memorial Cemermonies held off Corregodor Island to commemorate those who died during the Bataan Death March in World War II.

     PARKS got underway for a port visit to Bangkok, Thailand after three days in Subic Bay. From Bangkok she steamed to Da Nang Harbor to assume Naval Gunfire Support duties in Military Region I, Vietnam and COMDESRON ONE assumed duties as Naval Gunfire Support Commander (CTU 70.8.9). Her duties were split between a region south of Chu Lai and the.DMZ. Spotters in both regions highly commended PARKS for her accurate gunfire support. The gunline period was interrupted twice for typhoon evasion and on 15 May PARKS left for Subic Bay after being relieved by HMAS BRISBANE.

     After nine days in Subic Bay PARKS visited Kao-}isuing, Hong Kong, Sasebo, and Chi Lung before returning to Subic Bay. These visits were interrupted only by a brief detour for storm evasion and seven days of plane guard duty with the USS KITTY HAWK (CVA 63) in mid-June. In Hong Kong two of PARKS' officers got married as their fiancees flew over with other wives and girl friends on a special CRUDESPAC flight. On 29 June 1971 in Sasebo CDR James F. DONOVAN was relieved by Lieutenant Command J. M. McCULLOCH, USN to become PARKS' eighteenth Commanding Officer.

     After one last storm evasion cruise PARKS left Subic Bay with USS COCHRANE (DDG 21) for visits to Australia and New Zealand. On the morning of 18 July almost due west of tile Palau Islands PARKS began to shudder violently. After a brief under water investigation it was found that one of the blades on the starboard propeller had broken off so PARKS set a course for Guam on one propeller. In Guam divers removed the damaged propeller and at midnight on 22 July PARKS proceed to Pearl Harbor on one shaft in company with USS HANSON (DD 832) and USS BUCKLEY (DD 808).

     PARKS arrived in Pearl Harbor on 29 July where she received a new propeller and at midnight 30 July began a great circle route for San Diego. She caught up to BUCKLEY and HANSON at the entrance to San Diego Harbor after a four day chase and arrived home on schedule on 4 August.

     In mid-September after a month of leave and upkeep, PARKS visited San Luis Obisbo in central California to help publicize a harbor bond issue. She got underway four more times in October and November for ASW operations, NGFS at San Clemente and two Project Chaser cruises to the Pacific Missile Range. A tender availability and upkeep rounded out 1971 inport San Diego.

     During the first five months of 1972 PARKS conducted local operations out of San Diego. Participation in COMPTUEX 1-72, Project RICE and COMPTUEX lUA-72 highlighted these periods at sea. Two tender periods helped the ship for an upcoming WESTPAC cruise. It was during the second period in late May that PARKS became the first FRAM I destroyer to be equipped with the CHAPARRAL Missile launcher. On 20 June 1972 PARKS departed San Diego for her twentieth WESTPAC cruise.

     After stopping in Pearl Harbor for briefings and fuel PARKS continued westward in company with USS TOWERS (DLG 9). Refueling in Midway the two ships headed for Guam. As they approached Guam a message was received directing them to join a search and rescue mission in its effort to retrieve the crew of a B-52 which was downed in the path of a typhoon. PARKS and TOWERS raced into Guam ahead of one typhoon and in the wake of the one headed for the downed crew. After a quick briefing on the emergency and topping off their fuel tanks, the ships continued Westward at the best possible speed to attempt a rescue. The downed crew rode out the worst of the storm and was picked from the waters by a US submarine the next morning.

     PARKS and TOWERS arrived in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines on 13 July 1972. After making finale preparations PARKS headed for South Vietnam and gunline duty. From 19 July 72 to 26 July 72 PARKS operated with Task Unit 70.8.9 providing direct support to units of the South Vietnamese Army and Marine Corps conducting the Military Region ONE counter-offensive operation LAMSON 72. During this initial period on the gunline PARKS quickly established herself as a "good asset" among the spotters, providing accurate and responsive fire.

     During the period 26 July 1972 to 28 July 1972 PARKS joined Task Unit 77.1.1 engaged in linebacker operations in the Gulf of Tonkin in the vicinity of Cape Mui Doc, North Vietnam.

     PARKS represented 75.9 in military region ONE in the vicinity of Quang Ngai Province between 28 JUL 72 - 19 AUG 72, 15 OCT 72, 21 OCT 72 - 25 OCT 72 and 1 DEC 72 - 7 DEC 72 supporting the 2nd ARVN Division. From 19 OCT 72 to 20 OCT 72 PARKS supported the 22nd ARVN Division conducting operation 22-18 in Military Region TWO, Binh Dihn Province. Between 25 OCT 72 and 6.NOV 72 she supported RF and PF forces in Military Region ONE near Da Nang.

     On 2 September 1972 PARKS returned to military region ONE, operating as a unit of Task Group 75.9. On 6 September 1972 PARKS was directed to proceed to military region FOUR where as CTG 75.9 representative she provided direct support for the 21st ARVN Division conducting the Delta Region counter offensive campaign until 30 September 1972.

     On 10 November 1972 PARKS returned to Northern Military Region ONE to support the 147th VNMC 369th Brigade conducting the LAMSON 72 and Song Than 9 operations.

     During these gunline periods the following GDA results were reported by air and ground spotters: KIA (confirmed) 2; structures destroyed - 50; structures damaged - 101; fires started - 29; secondary explosions - 37; trucks damaged - 2; barges destroyed - 2; bunkers damaged - 9; fighting positions destroyed - 24; mortars silenced - 2; one gun emplacement destroyed; and one bridge destroyed.

     On 20 November 1972 CDR James M. McCULLOCH was relieved as Commanding Officer, USS F. B. PARKS (DD 884) by CDR Eugene J. ERNER, USN. The ceremony was held in Hong Kong, B.C.C.

     On the morning of 5 December while operating in waters near Chu Lai in Military Region ONE, PARKS received an urgent call for fire. The spotter reported that a regional outpost was under attack by an estimated two companies of VC/NVA. PARKS responded immediately along with USS LAWRENCE (DLG-4) to this call and furnished VT, HE and illumination fire for several hours. The attack was broken off and the outpost saved. Two days later, on another mission, a spotter reported observing 13 secondary explosions resulting from 223 rounds of call fire delivered by PARKS. A verbal report from a spotter indicated that a post action sweep disclosed 35 VC KIA.

     Upon departure from the gunline on 3 December 1972 PARKS was to proceed to the Gulf of Tonkin to join TU 77.0.1 as mutual support ship. Enroute PARKS was ordered to relieve USS BAINBRIDGE as rescue destroyer with CTG 77.5 for an interim period of one day while the regularly assigned destroyer was enroute. Completing that assignment PARKS proceeded north, joining TU 77.0.1 and remained on that station until 18 December 1972. On that day, with virtually no notice, PARKS was ordered to proceed and join TU 77.1.1, Linebacker, for strikes commencing that night. The sudden change in assignments was necessitated by material casualties and lack of flashless powder in other destroyer units.

     PARKS was to remain in this assignment through 27 December 1972, missing a scheduled Christmas visit to Singapore. During this period PARKS and the units she was working with, received intense hostile fire on many occasions and participated in the strike in which USS GOLDSBOROUGH was hit. On 24 December, while firing assigned targets, 3 secondary explosions, one very large, and 2 secondary sustained fires were observed. In addition FLOYD B. PARKS was recalled from retirement radial to fire targets assigned to another unit which experienced gun mount material casualties.

     During FLOYD B. PARKS last night with Linebacker, her assigned targets were three active CD sites. Hostile fire from these and other CD sites commenced prior to ships turning to firing legs.

     PARKS immediately commenced fire upon coming to her firing course and observed a secondary explosion at the location of one of her assigned targets, a suspected large caliber gun. This site ceased fire immediately following the observed explosion. Shortly after taking the other assigned targets under fire their fire had greatly diminished and ceased when FLOYD B. PARKS came to retirement radial. Between 50-100 rounds of counter battery, primarily air bursts were experienced by PARKS. No material or personnel casualties were experienced.

     On the morning of 27 December 1972 PARKS refueled and departed the gunline for home via Yokosuka, Japan. Running low on fuel in transit to Yokosuka, PARKS made a brief stop in Okinawa Jima before continuing her journey.

     FLOYD B. PARKS brought in 1973 in Yokosuka, Japan and after five days inport departed for home via Midway and Pearl Harbor.

     In March the word was received USS FLOYD B. PARKS (DD-884) would be decommissioned on 2 July 1973. The ceremony was held at Quaywall 8 north, U. S. Naval Station, San Diego, California.