Excerpt from an eMail to the WebMaster from Gerald Scott:
"Hello Mike
I find your web page fascinating. I had command of the Leader from 13 Aug.
to 30 Nov. 1970. I oversaw her decommissioning in Sept.-Nov 1970, removal
of equipments, etc. prior to turning her over to the Philippine government.
I have her last commissioning pennant framed.
I left the Leader and took command of the USS ENERGY MSO 436 as she was enroute
to Viet Nam for a 9 month deployment. Both ships were homeported in Long Beach
and when we returned from our deployment the Leader was not in Long Beach.
HOW did she get back in US service???"
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This is the Commissioning Pennant that Commanding Officer Gerald Scott (Then LCDR. Scott) took from USS Leader (MSO 490) after decommissioning her and preparing her for transfer to the Philippine Navy. We would like to know what the circumstances and dates were for her return to the U. S. Navy. Gerald Scott has this Pennant framed and hanging on his wall at home.
Excerpt from an eMail received from Richard Newkirk GMG2 who was aboard Leader for the recommissioning.
From: Richard Newkirk
Date: Sunday, May 11, 2003 05:18:56
To: Mike Goss
Subject: MSO490
Hi Mike,
I joined the Navy in Oct. 69. Went to boot in S.D. and from there to Balboa
Hosp. to be a Corpsman. When I found out that the Corpsmen weren't going directly
to a Marine unit and on to 'Nam I dropped out and volunteered for it.
I was sent to NavComSta, Cam Ranh Bay, Viet Nam. Stayed 1 yr. Back to the U.S. June, '71. On to S.D. for recommissioning school @ 32nd St. Early '72 Leader was recommissioned. In Dec. we deployed for Haiphong Harbor to sweep the mines we had dropped there.
We were broke down, or waiting for another sweep that was broke, all the way over. Had water instead of fuel pumped aboard while refueling at sea once and we drifted around for a while until the problem was corrected .
We wrapped a sweep cable around one of the screws and had to go into dry dock in P.I. to fix that one.
Web Master's note - Ed Sheehan, who was aboard for this cruise sent me an eMail with this explanation of the incident:
"We
were in Subic Bay, in a wait status in End-Sweep. Time to do an at-sea re-fueling.
We had a 3-inch rope to tie us to the fuel ship, when we noticed a lot of
slack in the line. Ever quick to respond, we
backed over the line, entangling it around one of the prop shafts, locking
it tight. We had to limp back to Subic on one prop, where we waited three
weeks to get the new one from Norfolk, only to discover
the box was empty! Another six weeks, and we finally were underway again."
During my time aboard I was the helmsman for refueling, in and out of port and in and out of Haiphong. To say the least it was an experience I'll never forget.
We were mostly all new to minesweepers,
but some how we came together and formed a crew. I could go on and on with
the horror stories experienced aboard the Leader, but it will be more fun
to share these experiences in person. I will see you at the reunion.
Shipmates forever
Rick
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Rick Newkirk mans the 20 MM