USS MULLINNIX DD-944
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Taormina, Sicily 1961
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Excerpt from "The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944"
A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
Taormina, the pearl of the Mediterranean, is a hilltop town on the east coast of Sicily. It sits near Mount Etna, an active volcano with trails leading to the summit. The town is known for the Teatro Antico di Taormina, an ancient Greco-Roman theater. Near the theater, cliffs drop to the sea forming coves with sandy beaches. A narrow stretch of sand connects to Isola Bella, a tiny island and nature reserve.
Taormina is centered around its main thoroughfare, Corso Umberto I. At the beginning of this charming street is perhaps the greatest symbol of Taormina’s long varied history: Palazzo Corvaja. Its architecture is a sublime mix of Arab, Norman and Gothic and includes battlements, mullioned windows and shady courtyards. The Arabs built the original tower as part of the town’s defenses. Its cubic structure, which is typical of many Arab towers of this period, is thought to have evoked that of the Ka'aba in Mecca. In the 13th Century the tower was enlarged by the Normans who added a wing containing a hall and artwork. The Spanish followed suit, adding another wing at the beginning of the 15th Century to house the Sicilian Parliament. Its present name recalls one of the town’s most important noble families who owned the building from 1538 to 1945.
For the first half of the 20th Century, until after the WWII, Palazzo Corvaja became a kind of lodging house for poor families and fell into disrepair. After the war, it was restored to its former glory and in 1960 another section was added to house the local tourism offices.
At the other end of Corso Umberto I is Piazza del Duomo, complete with 13th Century Cathedral and Baroque fountain. As with many churches of this period in Sicily, the Duomo, dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Bari, has a distinctly fortress-like quality thanks to its robust structure and the battlements that delineate the roof. Its Renaissance doorway belies an essentially Gothic interior complete with a rose window at the west end.
Taormina is served by its very own cable car which ferries tourists to and from the seaside resorts down along the coast. Extensive beaches, rocky coves, tiny islands (such as the famous Isola Bella) and sea stacks abound, making this enchanting coastline a firm favorite with Sicilians and sailors alike.
The ship was opened for general visiting by the population of Taormina at 1400 on 4 May. The Mayor of Giardini, Sicily was one of the visitors during the open 'house'.
She left early on 6 May for operations in the Ionian Sea and exercises with USS Hawkins DDR-873 and USS Trutta SS-421. On 7 May, she supported the USS Roosevelt CVA-42 with plane guard protection.
To be continued...
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