Dear Family and Friends of VIRGO,

As the new commanding officer of VIRGO, it is my pleasure to be sending you this newsletter or family-gram. I am Captain William Carrier, Jr. My naval career has been largely spent in aviation, although I spent eighteen months on a cruiser in World War II as a ship’s officer after graduation from the U. S. Naval Academy in June 1944. 

In 1947 I completed flight training and after serving in various aircraft squadrons and the Aviation Training Command become a Navy Test Pilot at the Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River Maryland in 1957. This a assignment was followed by a course in Naval Warfare at the U. S. Naval War College, Newport Rhode Island, a tour of duty as Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron 85 and 2 years on USS SHANGRI LA - an aircraft carrier. 

I returned again to Patuxent River in 1964 where I served as Director of the Flight Test Division concerned with evaluating Navy aircraft, including all of the latest types being introduced to the fleet and the Marine Corps. VIRGO Is my first ship command.

Captain MacMillan, whom I relieved, wrote you several letters while he commanded VIRGO In the Vietnam area and I am continuing this practice. I feel that it is extremely important that the folks back home remain informed. There has been quite a bit going on aboard VIRGO since he last wrote .

I'm sure you've all been reading about the demonstrations and riots in Hong Kong, and may have wondered how they affected your men during VIRGO's 5-day visit there. Well, the demonstrators were behaved and innocuous. They marched down the streets singing, but stopped very properly at Intersections and waited the light to turn green. They did not bother or disturb any VIRGO sailors.

As a result of the demonstrations, liberty hours in Hong Kong somewhat restricted this hardly kept the visit from being a welcome and pleasant break in the work-a-day routine of operations in WestPac. Hong Kong is a beautiful and delightful city, overflowing with good restaurants that serve exotic foods, hundreds of shops where almost anything can be bought at bargain prices and scenic wonders.

Hong Kong is also a city of contrasts. Orange sailed junks ply the harbor next to modern ferry boats and merchant ships. Sleek, modern, hotels overlook the harbor, which glitters at night like a diamond studded crown. But not far away is Aberdeen, where thousands of Chinese families live In tattered junks, never setting foot ashore. Out at the ship, we hired. Mary Soo and her family, who for years have provided U. S. Navy ships with side painting service in exchange for nothing more than the ship's garbage. Transportation in to the Fleet Landing was via brightly painted Walla-Walla boats run by the Chinese.

VIRGO returned to Subic Bay from Hong Kong and quickly took on load of ammo. Then, on May 26, the change of command ceremonies at which I relieved Captain MacMillan were held. Such affairs are always colorful and impressive occasions, and this ceremony was no exception. The entire ship's company was smartly dressed in full dress white uniforms, bunting fluttered in the breeze and a band played. 

The occasion didn't turn too solemn, though. During my short talk to the crew as I assumed command, a group of monkeys came out of the nearby jungle and sat quietly taking it all in. I almost expected them to applaud the musicians, but they didn't. Afterwards everyone enjoyed fancily decorated cakes (several of a long series of beautiful and elaborate creations of Chief Commissaryman Robert Winters and refreshingly cold punch.

Immediately after the change of command, VIRGO headed back out on the line for two weeks, spending most of the time serving the aircraft carriers in Yankee Area. Some of our old and well-remembered customers were there - ENTERPRISE, HANCOCK, and BON HOMME RICHARD as well as a newcomer to the Vietnam operations, CONSTELLATION. The CONNIE, as she Is affectionately called, is one of the Navy's newest and biggest carriers, second In size to ENTERPRISE and the newly commissioned USS JOHN F. KENNEDY.

As usual, your men worked very hard during this last cruise, and they distinguished themselves with some outstanding performances during underway replenishments of aircraft carriers. There is an informal, but very spirited competition among ammunition ships in WestPac to see who can transfer ammunition to other ships the fastest, and who can transfer the most. Some notable performances include a 250 tons per hour replenishment of CONSTELLATION on the 3rd. of June, and 198 tons per hour with ENTERPRISE in very heavy seas June 9th. 

The fastest anyone has ever replenished the Big "E" is 208 tons an hour, which VIRGO would have far surpassed had the seas been less rough than they were during the replenishment. Before we return to the United States, we intend to capture several of the records out here. I'm confident your man can do It -- they have the real competitive spirit.

We saw some indirect results of the fighting again, though we remained as always at a safe distance from the shore, far out of range of enemy guns. On May 31, shortly before CONNIE came alongside to take on ammunition, we saw two parachutes blossom in the sky over her. The crew members of an Air Force F4C fighter which had been shot up over North Vietnam had nursed their plane over the water, and bailed out when they saw Navy ships beneath them. A rescue helicopter--called an "Angel" by pilots--plucked one of the Air Force fliers out of the water, and a destroyer maneuvering with CONNIE, the R. B. ANDERSON, rescued the other one.

We also spent some time servicing ships near the DMZ, or De-Militarized Zone, between North and South Vietnam, where there has been a lot of action recently. At night we could see even more than the usual amount of shooting going on. It all seems unreal to us, like observing a naval fire power demonstration. At close range, however, we realize that it represents intense and heavy combat. The Navy's total control of the sea and air space above it in the Vietnamese conflict permits us to be immune from enemy action from our vantage point at sea. Without this protection, amphibious landings, like one recently staged at Quang Tri, would be impossible. The highly useful naval gunfire support of troops fighting near the coastline would also be difficult.

Another little heralded role the Navy plays in Vietnam is in the Market Time operation. This is actually a blockade of the South Vietnam coastline by Navy ships and boats, ranging from radar picket destroyer escorts to minesweepers (armed with extra machine guns), to little Swift boats and Coast Guard cutters. Recently, for instance, USS KRETCHMER and USS ST. FRANCIS RIVER rounded up hundreds of Viet Cong suspects when an Army operation pushed a large VC unit right into the water. The two ships were on hand to stop and search several dozen junks which were trying to sneak "Charlie" away from the scene of battle. The role was especially unusual for ST. FRANCIS RIVER, which is a small rocket launching landing ship. Her primary task in the conflict is supplying firepower on the beach, rather than chasing down possible enemy boats.

Two pilots from USS KITTY HAWK, CDR URBAN and LT WISELEY, visited VIRGO the day before our change of command, giving a first-hand narrative of what it feels like to be shot at, shot down and rescued. They showed some fascinating films taken by Navy attack planes as they dove in on their targets. In some of the pictures, one could see the bombs falling away from the planes, and going right down to the target. 

Several weeks ago, while we were cruising off the coast of Vietnam, we got a chance to sea some A4 Skyhawks from HANCOCK make bombing runs at Viet Cong positions on the beach. From our distant observation point, we couldn't see much except little black specks buzzing around like flies, and little puffs of smoke. Has we been closer, we could have seen the devastating power which the Navy was unleashing on "Charlie." We couldn't be sure, of course, but it was nice to think that those bombs were some that VIRGO had given to HANCOCK. In any case, we do know that the Navy is contributing immeasurably to war effort over here, and that VIRGO has a direct part in it.

VIRGO's crew members are quite a bit more conscious of what is going on in the air over them partly because I have been prodding them in this direction with my experience as a Naval Aviator. Your men are getting so they can tell one Navy aircraft from another one at quite a distance now, and some can even tell me what kind of jet engines are in them, how fast-the planes can go, and what sort of missions they are probably flying. In short, they are learning about the important role airplanes have in our Modern Navy.

Another thing we have especially noticed on this last trip on the line is the friendliness and helpfulness of other Navy ships. They're always more than willing to lend a hand when we need some assistance, just as VIRGO will give a lift to another ship in need of help. For Instance, USS POLLUX, a supply ship, sports the motto, "The store is always open. May we help you?" We pulled along side them during our last trip to take on some needed supplies with very little notice. 

The ENTERPRISE was a big help to us, too. When a bearing burned out on an important pump in our engine plant, slowing us to a maximum speed of 10 knots, the Big "E" came up with a needed replacement for the bearing. Several other carriers have been most generous in giving VIRGO medical assistance. If a particularly difficult case baffles our corpsman, the flat tops will always send over a helicopter to pick up the patient and take him back for treatment by the doctors stationed aboard the carriers.

I might also mention that VIRGO's own crew has been doing some outstanding things, too. After we got the bearing for our feed pump, BT1 H. V. GODFREY, BT2 W. E. MUNN, BT2 K. E. ANDREWS, BT3 A. D. GARRETT, FN M. L. KINAS, and Chief Boilerman J. W. LEACH put in long, hot hours of hard work installing the bearing as quickly as possible, so that VIRGO could make full speed once again. This is typical of the hard work performed by VIRGO men.

Our last tour wasn't all work, though. We were able to stop and go fishing on one occasion for a couple of hours. Our luck ran from bad to worse as far as catching the fish goes, but everyone had a lot of fun. In a fishing derby held that afternoon, Fireman Larry MANNING, walked away with all the prizes; he caught the first fish of the afternoon, the most fish, and also the largest fish. Seaman Donald BOUNDS claims he ought to get half credit for one that got away.

On our way back to Subic Bay, we staged a trap shoot on the fantall. The ship's expert with a shotgun, Seaman David (Tiny) KOETZ, gave some good shooting tips to newcomers to the sport. Many clay pigeons were blasted by our shot-gunners. Shooting clay pigeons off the pitching and rolling fantail of the ship, of course, isn't exactly "like shooting clay pigeons," if you know what I mean.

Since your last letter, we've had a number of new man come aboard. These include: SH2 R. F. TAYLOR, ETRSN R. C. ZEITZ, SA M. P. SHEARIN, SA T. J. TREXLER, SA K. D. POTEAT, SA R. E. SHULTZ, SA W. M. GARRISON, SA A. R. FRENCH, SA W. D. PEELE, SA C. J. KRAMMER, SA M. L. FISHER, SA W. E. PAINTER. SA R. E. OVER, SA L. L. EBERLY, SA S. F. PERONI, Jr., SA M. YOUNGBLOOD, SA C. S. SCOTT, SA G. J. PARKER, SA G. R. HEMSTAD, SA H. J. FORD, SA R. J. FINLAYSON, SA R. T. CAPRON, SA L. E. FRANKS, RM3 F. V. HON, SHSN T. L. HOLMES, BM3 C. V. SIMENSON, YN2 E. Q. QUINATA, EMCS R. L. BEAIRD, SA D. G. RAY, ETRSN C. S. BOWEN, FA R. L. HOGEL, SA 0. E. SPENCER, RMSN D. J. GRAVES, DKSN J. D. MANGE, SFPFA J. A. McDOUGALL, EM2 (DV) M. L. SMOOT, GMG2 W. 0. PARDUE, BT3 J. D. PORTER, BMSN C. L. BELL.

We also recently lost the services of several men. LT. Irvin NESTER was ordered to USS PIEDMONT, a destroyer tender, and LTJG Huston BUNCE decided to try civilian life for a while. SHCS J. L. POPEJOY, SD2 R. M. TAGUDAR, CS2 A. F. PRINCE, GMG2 L. R. KAISER, BM3 J. M. HARRIS, BT2 F. E. WORKMAN, FTG2 S. E. MACDONALD, DK2 R. L. CANNON, CS3 J. B. SCRIMGEOUR, FN W. R. CAMDEN, ETR3 D. R. GUTSCHE, MM1 R. L. SOMMERS, BM3 C. L. KELTNER, GMG3 N. D. PRILLWITZ, YN3 E. U, MANNEN, BM3 A. R. WILLIAMS also left the ship.

And we've also had a lot of men promoted recently. Sewing on the petty officer's crow, or adding another stripe, is always a big step forward in a Navy man's life. It means added responsibility and more difficult duty, but of course, it also brings more money. I'd like to congratulate the following men, who are listed with their newly earned rates: SN D. W. EMMICK, SN R. E. FAIRCHILD, SN M. S. FALCONER, SN A. R. LONG, SN W. H. MILLER, SN R. L. WARNER, FN J. L. BUFFINGTON, FN M. D. HALL, GMGSN D. S. QUANSTROM, EN3 K. A. BARTOL, YN2 B. L. BESS, QM3 R. J. DIVINEY, DC3 R. GILLESPIE, MM1 M. H. HALFORD, SM3 R. M. HALL, SH3 E. L. LANDRUS, RM3 J. R. LONG, MM2 J. T. LONG, ETR2 K. A. LUKER, SH2 J. L. MILLER, CS3 D. L. MORRIS, RD3 A. C. ODUM, GMG3 N. D. PRILLWITZ, GMG3 P. F. ROEDIGER, SH3 W. L. TANTARELLI, SM2 W. WILLOUGHBY, EN1 D. N. YOUNG, SF1 R. McDONALD, SN A. R. BALTAZAR, SN R. E. GREEN, SN K. E. MINKLER, SN F. A. PHILLIPS, SN H. B. REECE, SN D, C. KOHL, SA B. L. MASSEY.

W. Carrier, Jr., Commanding Officer