Sheldon Toomer, TM2, recalls his time aboard DD-747 from 1961 to 1965

since 10-19-03

Sheldon Toomer, 1961-1965

DEAR BOB (Culver),

I finally read the July issue of  Va. veteran and the very first reunion is the destroyer , USS SAMUEL N. MOORE DD-747, WOW , I am thrilled but sad because I have relatives coming to visit that have never been here before. To top it off my birthday is September 24,1942 .

I was also a Torpedoman TM2 , I was on duty from approx. April 1961 to January 1965. I was on board the first west pac cruise in Vietnam , I think we were squadron 13 black cat division. we operated with the USS MADDOX DD-731, USS BRUSH DD-745, USS PRESTON DD-695, USS TURNER JOY DD-951, the carriers were the KITTY HAWK. and the CONSTELLATION, I forgot there numbers.

We were in the gulf of Tonkin incident, the TURNER JOY ,and MADDOX, seen all the action , We saw the smoldering remains.

We got the nick name Ramming Sammy over there because we lost power coming along side an oiler to take on fuel and ran into the back of the oiler. We also ran over a submarine in ASW practice and had to spend one month in SASABO , JAPAN, that was fun.

Another time coming into LONG BEACH CA, we ran in to the pier. That's how we got the name Ramming sammy. We also got the name Station Ship South China Sea , while there because our Capt. volunteered us for every thing .

I and a lot of others never got liberty in Hong Kong because we were in section 3 and in the middle of the night we get awakened to put the depth charges back into the rack because we are getting underway at 06:00, to evacuate civilians from Vietnam.

The depth charges were red leaded, so here we were painting haze gray while we are underway. Remember the good ole days.

Any way wish I could be there , I was in the fox division , Other Torpedomen were A.L. NELSON , STILL J.W.  COLE G.N. TM2,  The others were TM3 at the time. There were also Sonarman and Fire Control Tech friends I wish I could see again . I forgot LARRY IKAIRD, he was from Washington he was a TM3 .

Any way just wanting to say hi , Had a lot of good times on board old Sammy,  We had fun with DILLY WELCH , a seamen in first division maybe he will be there. I'm going to end here, your probably getting bored by now , Give my regards to everyone.