USS MULLINNIX DD-944

15 July Da Nang Harbor

L to R: FTGSN Frank A. "Woody" Wood, FTG2 Tom Demko, GMG2 Jim Roland, GMG3 Ken "Maggot" Klan
Either Danang Harbor or Maybe Subic Bay, 1972


Enroute to Danang Harbor, Vietnam to re-barrel gunmount
Note the Deck With no Paint Due to Empty Powder Casings Hitting It



USS Hector AR-7 Official Website





Vietnam 1972 - Possibly Danang Harbor (Pic by Phil Welsh)

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As busy as we were, many times the crew sat around waiting for things to happen. War is a combination of boredom, fear, and exhaustion. Anything readable was as good as greenbacks or smokes. By the time Mullinnix tied up to USS Hector AR-7, a destroyer tender (an auxiliary ship designed to provide maintenance support to a flotilla of destroyers and other small warships) in Da Nang Harbor, reading material was as scarce as a round-eyed women. The crew knew that destroyer tenders had everything including a much larger ‘ship’s store’. As their job was to support us destroyers, they MUST have books and magazines to buy – they just HAD to, right?

For those not on duty, first stop was the tender’s ship store. ONLY books left that contained even a hint of sex, was a series of ‘Harlequin Romances’. Harlequin Enterprises Limited (known simply as Harlequin) was a Toronto-based company that published series romance and women's fiction. In 1971, Harlequin purchased Mills and Boon. At the time that Harlequin purchased Mills and Boon, the company published only one line of category romances. Six novels were released each month in this line, known as ‘Harlequin Romance’.

The crew bought every last one. They became as treasured as issues of Playboy and Hustler Magazines.

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16 July (Sunday), 1972 (South Vietnam gunline)

Dear Mom, Dad, Sue
I got Dad’s letter postmarked the 3rd and Mom’s postmarked the 5th today. That’s almost 2 weeks. It gets here in good time, but it takes us a while to get with the ships that have our mail.

We pulled into Da Nang yesterday (15 July) to re-barrel MT51, along side the tender. We were anchored out in the harbor so I didn’t get to see much. I did get a picture of me with Vietnam in the background. We left last night.

We shot about 15 rounds this morning, it was the 1st shooting we’ve done in about a week. Things are slowing down over here. It looks like we’ll be home sometime in November for sure. But we can’t set dates yet.

I’m going to buy my reel-to-reel tape deck in Sasebo, Japan (we go there the 3 August). Then pick the rest of my speakers up in Subic Bay or our last port before we go home. My amplifier I paid $283 for, I saw an advertisement in Popular Electronics and they want $599.95 in the States. I’d say I made a pretty good deal on it. I think I’ll take an insurance policy out on it (mainly for theft), because the whole thing will be well worth over $2,000 stateside prices. It wouldn’t be a bad idea. I plan to pay the bank back in Broken Bow before Feb, so I don’t have to pay any interest. It would be a good credit reference also. Then start saving heavily for a car. Hopefully to pay cash of it. I’ll probably buy it in Nebraska; the prices are a little cheaper there.

I hope I’ve decided on a college by the time I get out also. (Scott) Ferguson (FTG3) found a good college in Virginia that has 600 men, and about 3,500 women. We’re going up there some weekend and look around (at the school). I can hardly believe it is another 4-page letter.

I’m glad Sue and Andy are postponing their wedding. I wouldn’t have made it in August, but I might make it home if it’s at another (time). I wish I could do some fishing. It’s been along time. Maybe we could go next summer or something.

I sure missed Dave’s (Crupper) and my big display on the 4th. I’m sure missing a lot of things aren’t I? But it’ll soon be over. I’ll be able to do want I want to and when I want too. Especially getting out of bed in the morning.

I’d better be careful or I’ll sneak over to page 5. Write soon, and I hope to see you in November or December. Hopefully Christmas. Love, Frank over: I’m glad you like the watch. I thought you would. I couldn’t remember If you needed one or not. That was for Fathers Day. See, old Frank doesn’t forget everything (maybe a few birthdays but not everything). Sue might get a little surprise after I go to Sasebo.


FTG3 Frank Wood aka "Woody" with South Vietnam in the Background
Danang Harbor, Vietnam


Take That You F-ckers!

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