Category: Shipmate’s Stories

LLOYD A. VOORHEES, JR. reported aboard about the time I did, August 15, 1950, to the Ship Reactivation Group, San Diego, with our initial group to begin a “Priority AA (Hurry, Hurry!!)” reactivating our DD-754.

Lloyd was our first rated Yeoman (YN3)aboard. The ship’s office could be a morale Plus or a BIG Minus (as most were.) Lloyd was always a big part of the Plus group. He was frequently a phone talker on the bridge at GQ, and I was Damage Control Officer in DC Central.

I would have access to all the sound powered (SP) circuits for training purposes. When under attack by the North Korean shore batteries in Wonsan Harbor (where we spent most of our 1951 deployment) I always valued the bridge control circuit the most when Lloyd was on it, giving a good running report of where the shell splashes were landing. He was always cool, but like most of us, the tone pitch would go up a notch with the near misses, especially the “overs,” which we could hear that whirrr, even below decks.

But I remember Lloyd mostly as a very genial, solid sailor, even though recalled to active duty, never whined about it, did an excellent job. When we got a chief (YNC) before sailing, Lloyd pretty well had the files and reports ready to go into commissioning, 15 September 1950.

-LTJG Emmett Tidd

17 March 2008

Funeral services for Mr. Lloyd A. Voorhees, Jr., 80, of Monroe, were at 2:00 PM Monday, March 17, 2008, in the chapel of Mulhearn Funeral Home, Sterlington Road, Monroe, with Rev. Joseph Puthuppally officiating. Interment followed at St. Matthew Catholic Church Mausoleum.

Mr. Voorhees passed away Thursday, March 13, 2008, at St. Francis North Hospital. He was a graduate of Neville High School, attended North East Junior College and attended L.S.U.

Mr. Voorhees served in the U. S. Navy 1945-47 aboard the Attack Transport USS GEORGE CLYMER (APA 72). He was recalled to active duty and served in the Korean Conflict 1950-1951 aboard the now famous Grey Ghost USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD-754).

Mr. Voorhees was an avid outdoors man. Over time, he served as State President of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Inc.,the Louisiana Wildlife Federations State Legislative Committee, the Cheniere Lake Commission , the Lovely Louisiana Tourist Association Outdoor and Recreation Committee, and was president of the Ouachita Parish Wildlife Unit serving 2 terms, where the Wildlife Unit was voted the most outstanding both years. He also was voted by fellow sportsmen to be the most Outstanding Conservationist in Ouachita Parish in 1959. Mr. Voorhees was a charter member of the Northeast Louisiana Archeology Society, and past member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Lion’s Club, Optimist Club, CYO, Ducks Unlimited, YMCA, Red Cross, and NRA. He was elected in the City of Monroe and served on the Democratic Executive Committee for a four year term. Mr. Voorhees retired from KNOE TV after thirty-eight years of service. He was preceded in death by his daughters, Patricia V. Anders and Mary Voorhees.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Englund Voorhees; sons, Larry and Karl Voorhees; daughters, Jean Voorhees, Barbara V. Ervin, and Krista V. Harvey; seven grandchildren, two great grandchildren; brother Robert and sisters Peggy Voorhees Jackie Voorhees, and Janet Golson; and many loving nieces and nephews.

LTJG EMMETT H. TIDD 16 August 1950

Emmett Hulcy Tidd was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on 6 October 1923, son of Colonel Luzerne M. Tidd, U. S. Army, Retired and Mrs. (Vallie B. Williamson) Tidd. Emmett graduated from Central High School, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, then attended the University of Oklahoma at Norman, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1945. He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve as an Apprentice Seaman in December 1942, and while at the University of Oklahoma was a member of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Unit. Upon graduation, he was commissioned Ensign in the U. S. Naval Reserve, 24 February 1945. He transferred from the Naval Reserve to the U. S. Navy in November 1953 while serving in the rank of Lieutenant, and advanced progressively in rank to Vice Admiral on 5 March 1974.

After receiving his commission in 1945, he had duty training a pre-commissioning crew of the destroyer GYATT at Norfolk, Virginia, and upon commissioning of the USS GYATT (DD 712), July 2, 1945, joined her as First Lieutenant. After shakedown training in the Caribbean, that destroyer had a variety of duties in the Atlantic in addition to local operations with aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. He was detached from the GYATT in March 1946 and released from active duty. While on inactive duty, he was active in the Naval Reserve Training Program.

Ordered into active naval service (the first Naval Reserve officer recalled to active duty in Tyler, Texas, for the Korean hostilities), he reported aboard the moth-balled hull on 16 August 1950 for duty in connection with the reactivation of the USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754). That destroyer was re-commissioned on 15 September 1950 and was in the first division of reactivated destroyers to reach Korea, arriving in January 1951. He was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V”, “For meritorious achievement … while serving as Bombardment Intelligence Officer on the Staff of Commander Wonsan Bombardment and Patrol Element, during the periods from June 11, 1951, to June 19, 1951 and June 28, 1951, to July 13, 1951. LT Tidd was detached 2 February 1952.

During the period March 1952 to April 1954, he was in the Officer Procurement Office in the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Navy Department, Washington, D. C., after which he served as Operations Vice Admiral Emmett H. Tidd Officer in the destroyer USS RADFORD (DDE 446). While on board that antisubmarine destroyer, he took part in the evacuation of Tachen Islands, located off the Chinese Coast. Detached from RADFORD in April 1955, the next had duty as Operations Officer, Antisubmarine Warfare Officer and Gunnery Officer on the Staff of Commander Escort Destroyer Squadron ONE (subsequently re-designated Commander Destroyer Squadron TWENTY-FIVE), which was engaged in advanced hunter/killer experimental tactics in the Hawaiian and Western Pacific areas. In November 1956 he assumed command of USS FORCE (MSO 455), and was engaged in special operations in the Pacific and Atlantic while deployed to Panama.

From August 1958 to June 1959 he attended the Command and Staff Course at the Naval War College., Newport, Rhode Island. From July 1959 to April 1961 he served in the strategic Plans Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department. On May 3, 1961, he was promoted to the rank of Commander and assumed command of the destroyer USS RICHARD B. ANDERSON (DD 786) on the same day. During his command of the Anderson, the ship participated in “Operation Swordfish” and was the standby firing ship, and platform for the surface scientific camera party nearest ground zero, for the first operational firing and detonation of the nuclear warhead on an ASROC (Anti Submarine Rocket). This period also included operational deployments in the Eastern Pacific with the Third Fleet during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and with the Seventh Fleet Fast Carrier Striking Force. In April 1963 he took command of the guided missile destroyer USS CHARLES F. ADAMS (DDG 2) and in July 1964 was detached to return to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations for duty again in the Strategic Plans Division. “For meritorious service from July 1964 to July 6, 1967…” he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of the Second Navy Commendation Medal.

In June 1968 Captain Tidd assumed command of the destroyer tender USS EVERGLADES (AD 24) and was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of the Third Navy Commendation Medal. “For meritorious service … from August 10, 1968 to December 10, 1968…” while deployed to the Mediterranean in command of that tender.

In May 1969 he reported as Chief of Staff and Aide to then Vice Admiral Zumwalt who was Commander United States Naval Forces, Vietnam and Chief, Naval Advisory Group, Military Assistant Command, Vietnam. “For exceptionally meritorious service … (in that capacity) from May 1969 to May 1970… ” he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.

Captain Tidd next had orders to take command of the newly modernized guided missile cruiser, USS COLUMBUS (CG 12) in Norfolk. However, in May 1970 while en route from Vietnam, he was selected for promotion to Rear Admiral and his orders to USS COLUMBUS were changed: to report to the CNO, for duty, Washington, DC.

In June 1970 he became Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations and the Vice Chief of Naval Operations for Decision Coordination, Navy Department. On detachment, he was awarded the Legion of Merit “for exceptionally meritorious service…” In August 1971 he assumed command of Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla SIX, and while deployed to the Sixth Fleet he was embarked in the USS AMERICA (CV 66) as Commander Task Group 60.2 and CTG 502.2, until relieved in March 1972.

On 5 April 1972 he assumed command of the Navy Recruiting Command with orders to “prepare for the end of the draft and commence recruiting the All Volunteer Force.” On December 13, 1973 he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of the second award of the Distinguished Service Medal for his outstanding service as Commander, Navy Recruiting Command. On March 5, 1974 Rear Admiral Tidd was promoted to Vice Admiral. He continued to serve as Commander, Navy Recruiting command until relieved in May 1975.

On 7 June 1975 Vice Admiral Tidd assumed Command of the Naval Surface Force, US Pacific Fleet. During this period, the final consolidation of all Cruisers, Destroyers, Frigates, Amphibious, Mine Warfare, Service Force Ships, Tenders and Repair Ships, the Special Forces (SEALS), and Amphibious Warfare Schools of the Pacific Fleet, were all consolidated under one Command: the Commander Naval Surface Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet. When the task of consolidating the Naval Surface Forces, Pacific Fleet was completed, Admiral Tidd requested retirement. After over 33 years of service, he was retired from the Navy on 31 July 1976 with the permanent rank of Vice Admiral. On behalf of the President of the United States, he was awarded a Second Gold Star in lieu of the Third Award of the Distinguished Service Medal, “For exceptionally meritorious service … .” At that time, the Naval Surface Force of the Pacific Fleet consisted of 183 ships and over 55 thousand people.

In addition to the Distinguished Service Medal with two Gold Stars, the Legion of Merit and the Navy Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars and Combat “V”, Vice Admiral Tidd has the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon with star, the Naval Reserve Medal; American Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; China Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal with bronze star; Korean Service Medal with three stars; United Nations Service Medal; and the Vietnam Service Medal. From the Republic of Vietnam, he has the National Order of Vietnam (Fifth Class), Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm, the Republic of Vietnam Honor Medal (First Class) and the Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device. He also has the Korean Presidential Unit Citation Badge.

Admiral and Mrs. Tidd have two sons and a daughter-in-law serving on active duty in the Navy: CDR Mark L. Tidd, Chaplain Corps, USN; CDR (Captain, Select) Kurt W. Tidd, Surface Warfare Officer, USN; and Kurt’s wife: LCDR Eileen Scanlan, U. S. Navy Medical Corps, specializing in Internal Medicine. She is a veteran of Desert Shield/Desert Storm and was decorated with the Bronze Star for her combat tour in Iraq with the First Armored Division.

In retirement, Vice Admiral Tidd served on the Board of Directors of Atlas Van Lines, Inc. and for ten years was a volunteer on the Board of Directors of the Armed Services YMCA, serving as their Chairman in 1981and 1982. Vice Admiral and Mrs. Tidd reside in Arlington, VA except for an average of about 180 days each year, traveling and camping in their motor home which they affectionately call, “The Great White Whale.”

RD2 LESLIE S. THOMAS 19 February 1954

Leslie S. Thomas was born 10 April 1934, at Montezuma, Kansas. He had four sisters and one step-brother.

“Tom” to some, “Les” to others, and “slush-fund man” to a few, was very well liked aboard U.S.S. FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) where he served as a radarman until 1957. He was a good friend to fellow radarman Charles “Chuck” Swengel who, after service, visited Tom at the Amoco gas station that he owned.

In 1958, Tom married Nancy A. Mallory. In 1966 they moved to Dodge City, Kansas where Tom was the owner of Les’ U-Haul. They had two children: son Scott of Dodge City, and daughter Leslie Ann Thomas of Wichita. Both Scott and Leslie Ann’s Jr. high school principal was named Frank E. Evans.

On Sunday March 7, 1982, Leslie S. Thomas died of an apparent heart attack. According to his wife, Les had not had any apparent physical problems, but he was overweight, smoked, and was always in a high stress job. He was a member of the First Christian Church, the American Legion, and the VFW, all of Dodge City.

In 1998, Nancy Thomas’ address was P.O. Box 333, Sedgwick, KS. Scott was owner of Sedgwick Body Shop in Sedgwick, KS, and Leslie Ann was married, living in Galva, KS.

BT1 GLENN A. TERRELL 20 September 1950

BT1 Glenn A. Terrel served aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) in the forward engine room. He died 15 January 2003. His last residence was 501 Bentwood Drive, Woodstock, GA 30189.

RD2 CHARLES FRANKLIN SWENGEL 7 January 1955

I Charles Franklin Swengel was born 24 June 1936, in Nebraska. My eyes are brown and so was my hair. In 1953, my senior year of high school, I enlisted in the USNR and served on weekends at the Naval Air Station, Olathe, Kansas. I joined the regular Navy 3 June 1954, at Kansas City, Missouri. I went to boot camp at San Diego. I was 17 years old.

I, on purpose, “washed out” of cryptology school at Imperial Beach because I did not want shore duty in the Aleutians. I’d joined the U. S. Navy to see the world aboard ship and pursued that goal.

As initial cryptology acceptance required a “secret” clearance (FBI, in home neighborhood with schoolmates interviewed, etc.), when I got aborad USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754), I was assigned to file and up-date BuNavOp manuals when not doing mundane side cleaning, yes over-the-side with a bucket, brush, and “Babbo” powder cleaner. I had little conception what the charts, tide, or buoy markers and depth changes really meant. But I knew it was important and made the changes accurately, despite some being outrageously funny at the time, say Peru or Scotland or India. In my adulthood, and with more maturity, I realized the need for such manuals to be up-to-date irrespective of DD-754 being back-andforth from Long Beach to Westpac; dry-dock at Hunter’s Point in San Francisco Bay, etc.

I later took correspondence courses for Radarman and served as such for the last couple of years aboard DD 754. In addition, I was a mail clerk because no Teleman was assigned in port or going into port. I sold money orders, stamps, etc. as might be expected, but really liked the mail duty because it allowed me first man ashore, via the Captain’s Gig, to get the mail sacks. Since the PX or “geedunk” was usually near the Post Office, I could buy the 25 cent malt or hamburger as respite from “SOS” or other ship’s food, which I liked, generally. My worst duties pertained to the 5″ guns in the loading areas or magazines. The blasts really “shook” or startled me.

Generally, my two and a half years aboard FRANK E. EVANS, my only ship except in transit, are recalled with favor and admiration. I never knew of any drug use, contraband, or illegal activities as I’ve overheard others tell about.

As it turned out, I lived less than a mile in Kansas City, Kansas from LTJG Hopson, on the bridge that fateful 3 June 1969. By then, I’d been home 14 years, but what a coincidence of two young men from middle America even being on the same “tin can.”

Chuck currently resides at 12546 Augusta Drive, Kansas City, KN 66109-3196. You can reach him at cswengel@wycokck.org or 913-721-1053 (H), 913-573-5221 (B), or 816-868-7436 ©.

GEORGE S. TATGE GMM3, 15 September 1950-1951

I was born 30 October 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, and had brown hair and blue eyes. On 2 February 1946, I enlisted in the U. S. Navy at Chicago, Illinois and went to boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois. I went aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) in September 1950 and reported to 2 Division. I was rated nd GMM3, and remember as gun captain on the left gun of Mount 53, we had a hang fire. The mount was cleared except for myself and the Hot Shell Man to remove the powder can. I left FRANK E. EVANS in August 1951.

LT RICHARD “DICK” SPEAR 5 June 1952 – 2 September 1953

BMSN WILLIAM V. SIENER 2 July 1952

I am William V. Siener Jr. Some called me, “Wild Bill.” I was born at home 4 February 1934, at Leavenworth, Kansas. My hair was blonde and my eyes are blue. I enlisted in the Navy in January 1952 and went to boot camp at USNTC San Diego, California. On 2 July 1952, I reported aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) while she was in Yokosuka, Japan, and was assigned to 1 Division as a Seaman st Apprentice. I was on the Navy Landing Party, “M” Boat coxswain, and on the Naval Gunfire Spotter Team. My GQ station was MT 51, Projectile Man.

The date was 8 September 1952, early afternoon. FRANK E. EVANS was operating North of the 38 parallel, off the coast of Tanchon, North Korea. I was on the fo’c’sle and noticed some “geysers” off our port side. The bridge saw them too and GQ was sounded immediately. My GQ station was mount 51. From where I was standing it took me about one minute to get there. After receiving 69 rounds from an enemy shore battery, FRANK E. EVANS suffered only slight damage from the near misses. There were no casualties, and fortunately, only one band-aid wound from an air burst near the 40mm mount.

In March 1954 I was transferred to USS BRUSH (DD 745). She departed in May 1954 for duties off the Korean coast, Indo China and the Formosa Straits to prevent Chinese takeover of Formosa. In 1956 I transferred to USNR as a BM3 where I served until 1966. USMCR 1966-1974 USAR 1974-1994 My military service actually began in 1949 with the Kansas Air National Guard. In August 1950 I was shipped to Korea but two months later was returned stateside for being underage. I received an honorable discharge. I served in the USMCR and USAR. My duties included avionics, logistics, military police, and security work. I retired from Federal Service on my 60 birthday. Post “retirement” I served with the California State Military Reserve where, as a Lieutenant Colonel, I was again retired due to age.

I took every advantage of military education and the GI Bill including an AA Degree from LBCC, a BSEE from CSULB and a MS in Business Management from CSUB. I also received a Certificate of Completion from McGeorge Law School, and completed the Kern County Sheriff’s Academy while serving four years as a Bakersfield (California) Reserve Police Officer.

After service I was employed in the electric utility industry where I worked for Southern California Edison, California Department of Water Resources, and CAL-OSHA where I was promoted to District Manager in Los Angeles, and ended up in Van Nuys as District Manager covering five southern counties.

My wife Hildegard and I have seven grown children. I belong to the California WIT RV Club, and to the American Volunteer Reserves(AVR). We do honors at funeral services for veterans.

Currently,“Wild Bill” resides at 11506 Martinsville Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93312. You can reach him at apitbill@sbcglobal.net or 661-588-2083.

BTFN ALEX L. SANCHEZ 1 September 1950-54

I enjoyed the article by James Brady (“Korea”.) However, I take exception to his statement that “our battleships and cruisers shelled enemy ridge lines; and our sailors puked up their guts on the Sea of Japan.

I was onboard destroyer USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD-754). In between puking, we managed to bombard Wonsan Harbor, Hungnam, Tanchon, Songjin, Yongdon, Chongjin, Kojo and some of the front lines themselves. We also managed to rescue three downed pilots. And we were the screen and escorts for the carriers, battleships and cruisers of Task Force 77 that Brady thinks were manned by Marines.

IC1 Francis L. Anderson

CDR NELSON DENMAN SALMON – 12 March 1952 – 17 February 1954

CDR Nelson D. Salmon acquired the nickname “Sockeye” because of his surname, but was known to his fellow senior officers as “Sock.” CDR Salmon was considered to be a great commanding officer for junior officers to learn under. He came to the ship after having been Assistant Naval Attache in Taipei. He read Chinese with ease, spoke Mandarin and two other accents fluently. He wasn’t Annapolis, rather, NROTC Berkley, ‘39. He commanded an AKL in WWII. That ship was the same class as the one Doug Roberts served aboard in the movie Mister Roberts. The skipper was still a bachelor when I reported aboard, but he married a very charming widow in Long Beach after that deployment. I still have enormous respect for his ability to handle very tight situations.

I always regretted that Captain Salmon never made it to admiral, as I thought he was one of the best CO’s with junior officers that I ever met. Considering how totally short of experienced officers we were after the five WW II veterans left the ship in Hong Kong without replacements accompanied by the CIC officer who went home on emergency leave. I don’t think there was an OOD left aboard with much over two years service. I then knew how it must have been during WW II when new ships were being commissioned at a very rapid rate with very little experience in their crew. Luckily, we had some experienced CPO’s and 1/c PO’s who could provide real leadership and experience for ship’s company.

LTJG Douglas Legg