Description:

These deck logs pages have been scanned into pdf or jpg files. Each contains the deck logs for the WestPac of one year, broken down by months, to help in research. It also contains the ship's chronology for that year. This report, sometimes referred to as the ship's history, is a breakdown of the years events written by the Captain of the ship at the time. The ship's history for 1969 is missing.

Each file is zipped into a compressed format for easier downloads. Each year is $10.00.

 Years available are 1964-1973 with the exception of:

• 1965 - Missing Sept. through Nov.

• 1971 - No deck logs - Ship was in dry dock the entire year.

   

  Note: Please contact me if you find instances where the ship was in brown water that aren't mentioned below. Also check your cruise books or other documentation to see if there is any mention of being in harbors or rivers. Remember those Family-grams? My parents saved all of the ones they were sent and I found a mention in one of them of us being in Da Nang Harbor! To help save other shipmates time searching I will highlight the references in the deck logs and post the information here and in the eGroup.

   

  Those wishing to file a claim for radiation-related illnesses from the Amchita cruise can find information to support their claim in the October 1969 deck logs on page 1 and pages 4-8.

   

  Evidence in deck logs of ship being in Da Nang Harbor or other brown water has/has not been found in the following years:

   

  1964 - Searched - No Evidence Found.

   

  1965 - 27 and 29 October - Da Nang Harbor. Documented in deck logs.

   

  1966 - On Saturday 5 March 1966, the Strauss entered the Saigon River Channel. Thanks to the detective work of John Aldredge's son, John we have the deck log to verify this event. He found the deck log for the month of March while researching the archives at the Vietnam Center & Archive at Texas Tech University. Unfortunately the remaining months of 1966 are missing.

   

  1967 - Searched - No Evidence Found.

   

  1968 - Documented (See below) - Thanks to Mike Vaughan.

   

  7 November 1968.  Vung Tau Harbor, Republic of Vietnam. Anchorage number E-2, time 0741 local. Water depth 40 feet.  Underway at time 1018 local. Total time at anchor in inland waters: 2 hours 37 minutes. Also in Mekong River Delta area on this date.

   

  7 December 1968.  Vung Tau Harbor, Republic of Vietnam. Anchorage number E-2, time 1230 local.  Vung Tau light bears 076, Ganh Rai Point bears 012, Channel Light bears 339.  Water depth 65 feet.  Underway at time 1952 local.  Total time at anchor in inland waters: 7 hours 22 minutes.

   

  28 December 1968. Danang Harbor, Republic of Vietnam, time 1818 local.  Latitude 16 degrees 8 minutes north, 108 degrees 10 minutes east, water depth 39 feet, sand and mud bottom. Purpose: Harassment and Interdiction gunfire mission. Underway the following morning (29 December 1968) at time 0637 local.  Total time at anchor in inland waters: 12 hours 19 minutes. 

        29 December 1968.  Danang Harbor, Republic of Vietnam, time 1752 local.  Latitude 16 degrees 7 minutes 40 seconds north, 108 degrees 10 minutes east, water depth 43 feet, mud bottom. Purpose: Harassment and Interdiction gunfire mission. Underway the following morning (30 December 1968) at time 0513 local.  Total time at anchor in inland waters: 11 hours 21 minutes.

  1969 -  Only spent 1 week of this year on gunline. Fired last shot on 6 January. Did not enter brown water. Deck logs are available for September and October to support claims for radiation exposure at Amchitka Island.

   

  1970 - 16 and 17 April - Da Nang Harbor - Emergency evacuation of E3 Poehner for acute appendicitis. - Documented in deck logs and Family-gram. Also visited Da Nang Harbor April 30, July 9, 10, 11, 23, 24, 25 and 26. - Documented in deck logs. - Thanks to Mel Laug

   

  1972 - Da Nang Harbor - March 2 and 16; Apr 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and July 14, 1972. - Documented in deck logs - Thanks to Charlie McDonald and Jim Hansen.

   

  Thanks,

  Ray Berilla

  Ship's Webmaster

Downloads

1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1972
1973

Mail Orders

If you would prefer to use snail mail to order a deck log CD(s) rather than use the online ordering system please make your check out to The USS Joseph Strauss Association and mail it to:

Bill Cooper

Treasurer

1132 Lake Point Dr.

Westerville, OH 43082

Once Bill receives your check he will email me your order info and I will send you your disk(s). Please make sure you include the correct shipping and handling charge. Here's the breakdown:

1 CD - $2.95

2 CDs - $3.95

2-5 CDs - $5.95

5 CDs or more - $8.95

All proceeds will go to the USS Joseph Strauss Association to help defray the cost of obtaining the records. 

Click on the link above and choose "Save" from the popup menu.

After file is downloaded double-click on it to open.