HOM: RIP, PG-88

Here is the rest of the Crockett story as far as I can put it together. There are a lot of gaps. These old shipmates are gone now, others may be: Bailey, Jerry; Berkshire, Ken; Boman, Doyle; Sessa, Louis. CROCKETT began June, 1971 in port Guam, undergoing Restricted Availability. On 8 July she got underway for Cam Rahn Bay, via Subic Bay, Philippines. Three days later she had to return to Guam for storm evasion and voyage repairs due to engineering casualties. By the 24^th, she was again underway for Cam Rahn Bay, arriving at Subic Bay on 30 July. After further repairs she departed Subic Bay on 18 August, arriving at Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam on 20 August where she commenced Market Time operations under the operational control of CTF-115. She concluded her Market Time operations on 29 November, 1971 and returned to operational control of the Seventh Fleet, departing Vung Tau for Guam. She made a brief stop at Singapore, then proceeded to Subic Bay for engineering repairs. After additional repairs and storm evasion, she arrived in Guam on 10 January, 1972.

CROCKETT was moored at Oscar Pier, Guam on 1 January, 1973 and in the midst of completing a Restricted Availability which had commenced upon her return fro Vietnam. Significant work was accomplished, including installation of some new radar, replacing the casualty prone unit. On 17 February, following inspection, CROCKETT was found ready for further commissioned service.

During succeeding weeks of local operations, CROCKETT performed a number of missions, including acting as a target platform for units of SUBRON 15, carrying members of visiting National Newspaper Association personnel on a demonstration cruise and conducting gunnery exercises. On 23 February, while engaged in preparations for a change of command, CROCKETT was assigned to a search and rescue mission, and in company with USS MARATHON (PG-89) departed Apra Harbor to conduct a search of the Trust Territory LCM Dublon. After rendezvous with a Coast Guard vessel, radio contact was established with the lost vessel and CROCKETT was ordered to return to Guam to complete preparations for her pending deployment.

At 1400 on 26 February, CROCKETT was underway for a training cruise as an element of Task Force 34.4.2.2 proceeding southwest through the Western Carolines to conduct surveillance of the islands and render medical assistance to out-lying island personnel. On 1 March, while en route to Korror, Palau, the task force was directed to conduct a search and rescue mission for a stricken Trust Territory vessel, LCU-1499. After a 10 hour search, the vessel was sighted and escorted to Palau, arriving on 3 March, 1973. The task unit continued surveillance operations through the Western Carolines to Helens reef. On 7 March, the unit was dissolved and Task Unit 76.6.2 was established for the transit to Subic Bay via Zamboanga. CROCKETT arrived at Subic Bay and commenced training and gunnery exercises. Following a port visit in Manilla, CROCKETT sailed to Hong Kong, arriving on 3 May. Six days later she returned to Subic in preparation for a port visit to Taiwan, stopping in Kaohsiung and Keelung. She returned to Guam on 6 June after steaming over 7000 miles.

As 1974 drew to a close, the question of what to do with the PG’s became important. It was decided that the PG’s would "winter-over" at the Chicago Naval Reserve Center pier where there was adequate heat and power. By the end of November 1974 the PG’s were in Chicago and the PTF’s were ashore for the winter maintenance period. The Reservists assigned to the PG crews did their drills at NRC Chicago and the PTF crews continued to drill at Great Lakes.

CROCKETT was home ported in Chicago, Illinois by 1975, conducting a winter upkeep. All projects were completed by the end of March. After a change of command in April, CROCKETT got underway for local operations on Lake Michigan in conjunction with reserve drills. On 1 July, CROCKETT was transferred from the active fleet to the Naval Reserve Force. The first effect of this transfer was felt as the crew was reduced from 24 to 19. Her first trip was to Grand Haven, Michigan, where she arrived on 29 July. Her home port was then changed to NTO, Great Lakes, where she arrived 5 October.

CROCKETT arrived at NAB, Little Creek, Virginia in March 1976. Many of her systems previously layed-up were being reactivated and tested to ensure readiness for fast approaching underway dates. Refresher training in underway skills was being conducted in various departments to ensure personnel readiness. After successful dock trials on 31 March, CROCKETT got underway with her reserve crew embarked. She arrived in Chicago during a severe snow storm and made preparations for local operations. On 11 May, CROCKETT cleared the harbor at Great Lakes and headed into Lake Michigan for 4 days of operations with USS MARATHON (PG-89) and a port visit at Traverse City.

Below: Peters, Bennett, Razzetti, Hamre

CROCKETT slipped from her berth for the final time on 1 June. She sailed through Lake Erie and proceeded to Buffalo, New York for a short port visit. She then proceeded to Cleveland and Lake Ontario. Following her arrival in Little Creek, Virginia she commenced an upkeep period to correct an engineering problem, a vibration experienced while in High Speed Mode. Following dock trials, CROCKETT once again had a fully functional engineering plant. As the engineers were refueling on 30 November, the message came that CROCKETT and her four sister ships were to be decommissioned.

USS CROCKETT was decommissioned on 31 January, 1977. She spent some time tied up at the Great Lakes Naval and Maritime Museum in Chicago, IL.

Tamed, neutered, defanged, declawed & civilianized.

She was ultimately stripped of her gas turbine and armament and transferred to the Environmental Protection Agency , Washington, DC on 14 march, 1977 and renamed the Rachel Carson. ----------- In 1969 Edward S. McLean transferred to the newly formed U.S.Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) as Contracting Officer. During this assignment he was instrumental in acquiring three vessels for EPA’s marine and estuarine monitoring programs. These vessels were; the USCG Maple, renamed Roger R. Simons, and two Ashville class 165-foot patrol gunboats, the USS Antelope, PG86 renamed Peter W. Anderson, and the USS Crockett PG88, later renamed Rachel Carson. ---------- USS CROCKETT, along with USS READY, USS MARATHON and USS ASHEVILLE have since been scrapped. The aluminum hulls ended up as pop or beer cans. Unfortunately, none of the PGs assigned to Coastal River Division 21 have survived. Of the original 17 gunboats, USS ASHEVILLE (PG-84), USS CROCKETT (PG-88), and USS MARATHON (PG-89) have been scrapped along with six others. Three PGs, renamed Athena I [USS CHEHALIS (ex PG-94)], Athena II [USS GRAND RAPIDS (ex PG-98)], and Lauren [USS DOUGLAS (ex PG-100)] are used for systems testing by Carderock Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City, FL. Turkey still operates the former USS SURPRISE (ex PG-97) as a patrol boat. Greece operates the former USS BEACON (ex PG-99) and USS GREEN BAY (ex PG-101) as patrol boats. The former USS TACOMA (ex PG-92) and USS WELCH (ex PG-93) are employed by the Columbian Coast Guard. TBC (Me) (Home)