Dave Kroll: "I was only aboard for a short while, from late April through December of 1966. I went to the Kretchmer from a destroyer, DDR 808, the Dennis J. Buckley after voluntarily accepted orders originally issued to a friend of mine on the Buckely. He and his fiance had plans for her to come down from Portland, Oregon and they were to get married there. His going to the Kretchmer, which was then right back in WEST PAC and home ported in Guam would have ruined their plans. I transferred to the Kretchmer in his place. Sorry, but my memories of that time are too vague to recall interesting anecdotes about shipboard life. I kinda remember enjoyable stops in ports and a day now and then anchoring near remote islands for picnics, swimming and games as rest and relaxation to provide welcome breaks from picket duty off Vietnam. These seemed too few and far between, however."

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