USS MULLINNIX DD-944

Qui Nhon - 1972 (Military Region II)
Mullinnix Last Gunline Period (21 Aug - 13 Sept)

The situation in Quang Ngai Province in southern Military Region I became critical in Setpember as NVA units captured sections of Mo Duc and Duc Pho and threatened the City of Quang Ngai itself. Limited available air assets and inclement weather together accounted for the limited amount of observed naval gunfire missions in support of 2nd and 3rd ARVN Division forces in the area.


B-52 Arc Light, Qui Nhon

Then, southwest of Da Nang, a fresh NVA column came out of the mountains into Que Son valley and, on 19 August, the 5th Regiment, 2nd ARVN Division, withdrew from Combat Base Ross and Que Son district headquarters. The North Vietnamese were eventually driven out of Ross and the town of Que Son, but the valley remained infested with their presence.










22 August, 1972 (South Vietnam gunline)

Dear Mom, Dad, Sue
Sorry about the shortage in letters, but I wasn’t on the ship much in Sasebo. Had a great time. It’s a beautiful country. I’ll get to see it again on the way home.

We leave the gunline around 12 Sept, go to Subic, Hong Kong, Yokosuka, Japan, Midway, Pearl Harbor, San Diego, then to good ole NORFOLK!!! Yea, Yea!! I thought I’d never be glad to see it, but I will. I’ll be sure and call you when we get in.

I got my tape deck in Sasebo, so all I have left is 4 speakers and I’ll be ready to go. I’m buying records all along, so I should have a pretty good collection by the time I get to the States. Sue, thank you for the card, it was really cute. I received a card from Vee & Harold also, they never forget. I can hardly wait for the birthday package; I can guess what it will be like.

I didn’t see any of that glassware in Sasebo, but everybody says Yokosuka has a much bigger selection. It would be nice if you could send the money, because just before Yokosuka we hit Hong Kong, and I have to get a couple of pair of glasses, and I want to get some clothes. They say it’s the best shopping in the world, so I’ll probably spend most of my money anyway. You can figure about ½ of stateside prices. If there’s anything else you want me to pick-up, let me know. Yes, I remember the Cunningham’s. I guess it’s a pretty small world, some times.

How is Gemm? I hope she is doing fine, and both of you are having a great time together. Yes, I remember Kathy Unger. If it hadn’t been for me, she wouldn’t have passed Biology at Southeast High. Dad, tell her that and see what she says. I suppose I’ll have to go up and say ‘hi’ when I get home.

The airmail stamps don’t help that much, so you might as well save your money. I hear from Shirley regularly, but I haven’t heard from Linda yet. I wish I would, though. Well, I guess that’s about all, I’ll be looking for the package in the mail everyday. I can hardly wait. Please write soon! Love, Frank

22 August 1972

Dear Grandma,
Thank you very much for the birthday card. You never forget, do you? We just got back from Sasebo, Japan. We are now back off the coast of Vietnam. We are supposed to leave around the 12th of September. On the way home we’re suppose to go to Hong Kong, Yokosuka, Japan, Midway Island, Pearl Harbor, San Diego, CA then home to Norfolk. I can hardly wait. I’m going to try to be home for Christmas. Thanks again Grandma, for the nice card. Hope to see you soon! Love your grandson, Frank


































29 August, 1972 Vietnam Gunline

Dear Mom, Dad, Sue
Mail is supposed to go out tomorrow so I’d thought I’d drop you a line. Not much happening. We’re as far south as you can get. We haven’t shot 200 rounds yet. I guess that’s good, but it gets a little boring. I’m saving my money for Hong Kong. I want to get my speakers there, a couple of pair of glasses, and maybe a typewriter for college. And, if I have enough money, some china for that fatal day I get married. I hope the package arrives tomorrow, I can hardly wait. My favorite food is ‘chicken fried rice’. Believe it or not its better than ‘juicy stakes and French fires” I ate it every night (in Japan). Well, its time to clean up and go to bed. Write soon and hope to see you in October & again on Christmas. Love, Frank


















Gunline ships were off station evading seasonal typhoons from the 2nd through the 4th of September and again on the 15th and 16th of September. Aircraft assets were assigned priortiy missions in Quang Tri Province and were seldon diverted south. The motives of the push into Quang Ngai Province were 2-fold: In addition to the propaganda value of controlling the North Vietnamese Premier's home town, the local rice crop was getting close to maturity.






3 September, 1972

Dear Mom, Dad, Sue
Your package still hasn’t come. We’re getting mail later today, so I’m hoping I’ll get it then. I’ve got a terrible cold that started yesterday. These tropical colds are the worst kind; I’ve been sleeping for about 24 hours off and on, and still feel terrible. So this probably will be a lousy letter because I feel lousy.

We leave the gunline the 13th (September) for the last time. For Hong Kong for 5 days, then Subic, then maybe Japan again, then home. It’ll be good to get back. I’ll probably come home for a weekend when we get back then Christmas. I have to close, I feel terrible. Write Soon! Love, Frank






From the 3rd through the 6th of September, Typhoon Elsie grounded aircraft and forced gunline ships to sail storm evasion courses, thus denying naval gunfire support to friendly forces in Binh Dinh Province, Military Region II.

In Military Region II, enemy attacks in coastal areas had prompted a reorganization of Provincial and Division Forces' area of responsiblity. Naval gunfire assignments had to be readjusted to provide coverage for all fire support bases occupied by friendly foreces.
















       

USS Mullinnix, Gunline 1972                                                                

One of the rules of engagements in Vietnam was, “if you are wearing black pajamas and you are running, you are considered the enemy”. One fine sunny day, a spotter pilot spotted a guy in black pajamas on a road that had built up down the center of a rice patty. The guy heard the plane and took off running. The spotter contacted the Mullinnix with a call for fire, naming this particular mission “Operation Outhouse”.

While Mullinnix was preparing to fire, the spotter plane buzzed the guy about 5’ above his head. What would anyone do? Correct. The guy bolted and disappeared. The pilot radioed Mullinnix to report, “Target is gone” thus canceling ‘Operation Outhouse’. When Mullinnix asked why the name ‘Operation Outhouse’ the pilot came back, “We just wanted to scare the shit out of him.”


Unidentified boat nears Mullinnix
This may be the one that GMG2 Tyne had to open up on with the 50 caliber!



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Refueling – Mullinnix Style (Unknown Ship)


Mullinnix Didn’t Let the Fuel Tanks Get Below About ¾ Full…


Great Shot of the Nozzle Heading the Mullinnix way – Just Like Fueling a Car


And We Did This While Steaming at About 15 knots Side-by-Side…

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When fueling (or stores or ammo) was completed, the Mullinnix would hoist the “Virginia is for Lovers” flag, blare the Door’s “Riders on the Storm” from the 1MC, kick it into flank speed and pull away. That was a site to see…

8 September, 1972

Dear Mom, Dad, Sue
We haven’t gotten mail yet. This is ridiculous. We’re supposed to pick up 800 lbs. of mail tomorrow. But I’m not going to count on it before I see it. Still waiting for the package. I made a master list what I’m going to buy in Hong Kong. I might have to cut corners a little. I know what I’m going to buy Mom for Christmas. I have a pretty good idea for Dad, but no idea for Sue. Any suggestions? I want to buy the rest of my stereo stuff, Christmas presents, china, crystal, silver, camera outfit, suit, boots, leather coat, typewriter, and glasses. But I’ll have to see.

Not much happening. We’ve only shot a couple thousand rounds since we’ve been here. I heard about the Olympics. I’m glad I’m getting out of here shortly. We had to run away from a hurricane a couple of days ago. Well that’s about it, I still plan on coming home for the weekend or a couple of days right after we get back. And then Christmas. Write Soon. Love, Frank
























Mullinnix Location when she hit a South Vietnamese Fishing Net, 11 Sept, 1972





Mullinnix is Relieved by USS Stodert DDG-22. She's Headed Home Baby!!!

13 September, 1972 Dear Mom, Dad, Sue
We finally got our mail day before yesterday – 1,300 lbs. worth. I got your letters dated August 10, 17, 21, 26, 30 and September 2nd and 5th. That was a good picture at the party. I wish I could have been there. The package (my August 18th Birthday Package) finally came – only 24 days late. The candy was spoiled and stunk something terrible. The only thing I salvaged was the book, the windbreaker and the potato chips. I had to throw everything else away. Thank you very much. The windbreaker is great. But what a day to get it, that morning I found out Nebraska lost their 1st game (???). What happened? It about broke my heart. And of course, everybody is kidding me like crazy.

We left the gun-line this morning (FOR THE LAST TIME) and are heading for Hong Kong. It’ll take 2 days. We’ll be there for 5 days then going to Subic 2 or 3 days then maybe Yokosuku, Japan then home. I have a list a mile long for Hong Kong. It’s supposed to be the greatest shopping in the world. Well, free mail closes out in about an hour, so I’d better close. I’ll call you when we get to Norfolk. I heard from Shirley and Linda Mallon also. Write Soon! Love, Frank












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On 13 September 1972 the USS Mullinnix DD-944 left the combat zone for the last time and headed home. She stopped in Hong Kong and then Yokosuka, Japan to unloaded all unused live shells and powder. The crew had purchased so much stereo equipment, TVs, china, silverware, glassware, etc. (tons and tons) the CO was concerned with the combination of no ammo and all the purchases, that the ship would be top heavy if we hit a storm on the way home. Hence, we filled 2 ½ magazines with personal belongings purchased during the deployment.


Qui Nhon Docks, 1972


USS Mullinnix, Unknown Date and Location

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After the ARVN's victory in Kontum in May, the recapture of Quang Tri and the liberation of An Loc in September, Hanoi finally realized they had lost the 1972 Easter Offensive. Their best divisions had been convincingly defeated - some of them badly mauled - by the South Vietnamese Army. The debacle of the NVA's Nguyen Hue campaign pushed Hanoi to sign the Paris Peace Agreement in January 1973 to save what was left of its invading army from attacks by ARVN units and bombardments by the USAF and VNAF. However, peace was only considered 'breathing space' to be used to prepare for a new invasion.

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On 13 September, her mission complete,
USS Mullinnix DD-944 left the gunline for the last time
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