P.O. Box 206
Pierce, Idaho 83546
I served on the Berry 1965-1968. It was home ported in Pearl Harbor during that time. We pulled special operations during that time watching the Russians. We would sit down on the equator for weeks at a time next to Russian trollers waiting for they're missiles to hit the water then rush to the spot and pick up pieces.
We also would sit right off they're coast line in the Bering Straight next to one of they're navel ports keeping track of they're ships comming and going.
Adak was our fueling station. Our sister ships the Perry and or the Jones would relieve us. We made two trips to Japan. Many Islands we stopped for fuel you could throw a rock across.
Guam was a frequent stop. I believe we held the record for the longest time at sea without a fueling or supply stop while sitting dead in the water on the equator. We often would fish for shark (which our stewards could fix very well).
We also was allowed to have small two man sail boats to play with for R and R. I do have two group pictures of the deck and engineering crew (black and white). When I left the Berry in Jan of 1968 I had orders to Viet Nam, to serve as a engineman on a swift boat. Orders got cancelled.
While on the Berry I was a Engineman 3rd class got rated for 2nd class. I worked in the forward engine room. Made wine from grapes we stole from the galley on one trip. The engine room proved to be a perfect place to do that. It could be smelled through the entire ship but was never found. Some of the officers ended up buying some as well as the crew. We would sip on it during sat night movies, usually John Wayne.
Its really funny, but I was having a beer one eve here in town at the bar with John and his wife and the subject of the NAM war came up. I mentioned how lucky I was to be stationed on a destroyer escourt DE 1035 during that time. John and his wife both about passed out and could not believe how two guys who served on the same small ship could end up in a little town in the Idaho mountains of IDAHO.We have all of 600 people here on the edge of the wilderness. I do not remember Ken, but that doesn't mean much I was a 19 yr. that had a hard time remembering what ship to get back on after a liberty.
I do have a tatoo on my left leg with the dates each time we crossed the equator. It's a shellback of course.
Nov. 3 1966
May 26,1967
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