USS Blue DD-744 1969 - 1970

Silent 8mm movie film shot from USS Blue DD-744 during a WestPac cruise from September 1969 to March 1970. Squadron mate USS DeHaven DD-727 is visible in many of the shots as is the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea CVA-43. A clip of South Vietnam is also shown during which Blue was supporting troops ashore with gunfire.
The full 19 minutes of film shot on this cruise is available in 2 parts in the following YouTube videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8U8RMciCwg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivKq1oAffXk

Music: Naval March by the US Naval Academy Band, and Victory at Sea Suite by Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• USS
• Blue
• DD-744
• DeHaven
• DD-727
• Coral
• Sea
• CVA-43
• Vietnam
• Pacific
• ocean
• US
• Navy
• UNREP
• destroyer
• aircraft
• carrier
• WestPac
• rough
• seas
• Huey
• helicopter
• water
• bow
• ship
• tin
• can

[frankydman]

I don't mean to be rude, but last I checked, the USS Blue was a Bagley class Destroyer, with the designation DD-387, that served during World War II, and was sunk in 1942, or am I thinking of another USS Blue?

[randy946]

You're thinking of the first Blue. The second was commissioned in 1944.

[Robkat3751]

USS Blue, Named after Victor Blue who was once Captain of the USS Texas.

[randy946]

Blue was named after LCDR John S. Blue, the son of Victor Blue. He died on 11-13-42 when the USS Juneau blew up near Guadalcanal.

[Robkat3751]

OK, stand corrected however I knew it was from Victor Blue even though now I know it was his son John.

[randy946]

I believe the first USS Blue DD-387 was named after Victor Blue. There are other instances where two ships by the same name were named for different men. USS Fletcher is an example. The DD-445 was named for Frank Friday Fletcher and the DD-992 was named for his nephew Frank Jack Fletcher. It can get very confusing.

[claudemes]

I visited the uss Laffey in 1991 in Charleston South Carolina IN some Cove name I believe next to some older submarines. We was in Charleston for our own ships reunion USS Robert L WILSON DDE--847. Laffey DD 724 was a great Destroyer. willyboat 847

[aetnarearsteer]

my dad served on the blue during vietnam. 66-?? cant remember

[ronfurg]

I love this video offering. Great shots and great music. I served aboard the USS Richard B Anderson (DD-786) and made a WestPac Cruse in 1966. These shots sure bring back the memories. Thanks for sharing.

[GZVSI]

I was a Gearing class the Cone 866. She was a Fram1. 2 /5" 38 mounts/6 tubes 46 torpedo/ ASROC. Saw the Kennedy recently and brought back memories.

Keep your feet dry - FTG3

[frankydman]

Can someone please tell me is this sounds accurate:

armament of USS Blue:

6 × 5 in./38 guns,

12 × 40mm AA guns,

11 × 20mm AA guns,

10 × 21 in. torpedo tubes,

6 × depth charge projectors,

2 × depth charge tracks

[frankydman]

Its a shame, but out of the 58 Allen M. Sumner class Destroyers built, 56 of them, including the USS Blue are gone. Although the USS Blue is gone, you can still visit one of its sister ships, the USS Laffey (DD-724) in South Carolina. It is one of only 2 surviving Allen M. Sumner class Destroyers, and the closest way to return to the USS Blue today, for those of you that served on DD-744

[frankydman]

Even though most are gone, you can still visit the USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD-850) in Battleship Cove, Massachusetts. It one of only 2 surviving Destroyers from the Gearing Class.