Welcome to the USS Black DD-666 Guestbook Forum

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Child of Melvin Wilson looking for his shipmates

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lots of sea time/plane guard,repair,values,pumps,good times

38.6 she would have flown if she had wings

Best ship..best crew..best of times

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Sonar & Radar Officer – ship’s photographer

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Years Served: 1965-1968…I ALSO LOVED THE USS BLACK, I WAS 17 AND LIFE WAS GOOD.I LEARNED ALOT AND I WILL NEVER FORGET MARTY,HARDY,FRICKER,MARBELLA AND PRICE.

Years Served: 1946 thru 1953…I returned from Korea in May 1951 and was assigned to the Black to put her back in commission. I was the engineer in the Captains Gig and my battle station was the air compressor in the Port boiler room to launch the torpedo’s. I helped fire the boiler after I got my 2,200 pounds of air pressure built up. They said we ran 42 knots for a measured mile. The rooster tail we thru up astern was awsome. The water tender held the safety valve shut and we were several pounds of steam over the max. It was a trip I will never forget. Sure beat the 14 knots top speed on the Patrol Frigate and LSM I had been on. After re-commissioning I was released to inactive duty.

Years Served: nov 56 to march 60…Looking forward to the 9th annual reunion in St Louis

Years Served: December 1963 – January 1967… The USS Black was my first surface ship. I say that because I was a reservist on a submarine, (SS-301) the Roncador. Still in high school, I went on my two weeks active. During my active service the Roncador took part in War Games, with some surface ships. I was assigned to tube #1 as my General Quarters Station, I fired off a fish, in which the Black was the target. Photos taken thtouh the periscope, were offered to the crew later. I bought one, saving it as a proud reminder of my first kill. I left the reserves, enlisting as Regular Navy, attending Boot Camp in San Diego. Upon graduation, I recieved orders to the USS Black (DD-666)! Which in itself is amazing. After aboard the Black, I looked at that picture and realized that the cross hairs of the scope, crossed right where I was assigned my first rack aboard the Black! I stuck for cook from first division. I spent 9 months as a mess cook, then got into Supply Div., passing the test for CS3. Fricker (CS1), Bonner (CS2), Santiago Andino (CSSN), Warner (CSSN), Richard Harding (CSSN), and myself did all we could, to ensure you could read news print, thru a slice of roast beef! :D I went aboard at 17 years old, and left at 21 years old. To the crew of the Black, I Thank You, for sharing these years with me. You are all so near and dear to me, to this day, I wish I could slice more roast beef for you all!

Years Served: 1955 1959…I am one of the 3 shipmates that got the Black reunion going in 1999. My Big Brother was on her to. 1953 to 1958 he retired in 1972 TMC. I was a Gunners mate. We live in Effingham, IL