1962-1963 WESTPAC cruise book USS COONTZ (DLG-9) History of USS COONTZ (DLG-9) Thirty-nine years after Admiral Robert E. Coontz, USN, left his post as Naval Shipyard Commander of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, the keel of the Guided Missile Frigate Coontz was laid on March 1, 1957, in that same yard. The second ship to bear the name, COONTZ was named in honor of the U.S. Navy?s first Chief of Naval Operations. The first guided missile frigate to be built on the west coast of the United States, USS COONTZ was christened by Mrs. Robert J. Coontz, wife of Admiral Coontz? grandson, on December 6, 1958. Commissioned on July 15, 1960, USS COONTZ, commanded by Commander H. H. Ries, USN commenced sea trials on July 27 and completed post shakedown in April of 1961. Following this, COONTZ reported for duty as a unit of Cruiser-Destroyer Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet and joined the U.S. FIRST FLEET as flagship for Destroyer Division 152, home ported in San Diego, California. Commander Destroyer Squadron FIFTEEN flew his flag on COONTZ from 4 May to 12 July 1961. Departing San Diego on August 10, 1961, COONTZ joined the U. S. SEVENTH FLEET as a unit of a fast carrier task force. Remaining with the SEVENTH FLEET for more than seven months, COONTZ STEAMED 55,000 miles and visited ports in Japan, Korea, Okinawa, Philippine Islands, Hong Kong, B.C.C., Australia and American Samoa. While conducting training exercises to maintain full combat readiness COONTZ received the ?E? award for excellence in missilery. After returning to the United States on 23 March 1962 to rejoin the U.S. FIRST FLEET, COONTZ became the flagship of Commander Destroyer Squadron SEVENTEEN on April 1, 1962. On the second anniversary of her commissioning, COONTZ was awarded the Battle Efficiency pennant and ?E? awards for excellence in Operations, Engineering and Gunnery. COONTZ few the flag of Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla ELEVEN from 1 August to 11 November 1962 when she again became the flagship of Commander Destroyer Squadron SEVENTEEN. COONTZ participated in FIRST FLEET exercises, operations ?PEACHTREE?, ?WAR DANCE? and ?FIRE WALL?, during this period. Commander James R. Collier, USN, relieved Captain Ries on 14 July 1962 and on 13 November 1962; COONTZ departed San Diego for a second tour of duty with the SEVENTH FLEET in Asiatic waters. Returning on 15 May 1963, having steamed more than 62,000 miles, COONTZ conducted training exercises prior to participating in the Surface-to-Air missile demonstration as part of Task Force Ten for President Kennedy on June 6, 1963. Chronology of events March-November 1962 March 23 ? COONTZ returns from WESTPAC April 23-29 ? COONTZ hosts French cruiser DE GRASSE April 30 ? Destroyer sortie for NBC-TV May 18 ? Rate presentation June 7 ? Change of Command ? CCDF 11 June 13-15 ? Portland Rose Festival July 14 ? Change of Command November 12 ? Southern California area ? operations unspecified Chronology of events November 1962-May 1963 November 13 ? COONTZ departs San Diego for second WESTPAC cruise November 19 ? Arrive Pearl Harbor November 23 ? Depart Pearl enroute Okinawa November 30 ? Flotilla breaks up; CCDF 11 in the CA-135 disappears into the sunset November ? ? Arrival Buckner Bay, Okinawa December 8 ? Arrival Subic Bay, Philippines December 12-16 ? Gunnery exercises December 17 ? Joined USS KITTYHAWK (CVA-63) and TA 77.6 December 25 ? Hosted Francis Cardinal Spellman December 26 ? Subic Bay January 2 1963 ? Sailed with TG 77.6 to Yokosuka, Japan January 12 ? Arrive Japan January 26 ? Underway once more with TF 77.6 for AAWEX and task force OPS February 6 -- Visit Kobe February 11 ? Leave Kobe for ?Exercise Redwheel? and sea OPS February 22 ? Visit Beppu ? side trip to Nagasaki February 25 ? Visit Kure ? side trip to Hiroshima March 2 ? Back to sea for AAWEX ? Probably the time we visited the coast of USSR March 14 ? Return to Yokosuka March 28 ? Underway again April 15 ? In and out of Japanese ports until this date April 19-24 ? Hong Kong April 28 ? Arrive Yokosuka April 29 ? Depart Yokosuka May 4 ? Arrive/depart Midway Island May 7 ? Arrive Pearl Harbor May 9 ? Depart Pearl Harbor May 15 ? Arrive San Diego June 6 ? JFK Fleet Operations