Welcome to the USS Epperson DD-719 Guestbook Forum

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Served 58 to 61, I defiantly remember the typhoon, I was a Quarter Master and on the bridge most of the time during the rough seas. Lunch was a brown bag sandwich sitting in a compartment behind the bridge holding on and trying to eat and keep me and my stomach together. I remember seeing the bow come clear out of the water and then go down until the sea came clear up to the twin 50 mount and hearing the screws speed up as they came out of the water. She Listed 45 degrees to starboard and then 50 degrees to port. Don’t remember how long it lasted but must have been 24 hours. That was the closest I ever came to getting sick. Great memories aboard the Eppy. Now I’m retired in Florida after a career in corporate aviation flying all over the world including visiting many of our Eppy ports. Richard (Dick) Aziere rgaziere@aol.com

Reaching out to Epperson shipmates on behalf of Robert “Bob” Bennage, served on the Epperson, October 11, 1960 – August 17, 1962. Robert talks about his time on the Eppy and his “West Pac” cruise. If some one has information about being off the coast of Vietnam in 1962, please post your memories here so I can share them with Bob!!!

1962-1966 My first west pac was on Eppy. Liked it so well I stayed for 20.

My father, Heber M. Borrowman served aboard the Epperson in the late 1950s.

I joined the Navy March 1960, went to bootcamp and sonar school in San Diego. Then I was sent to Pearl Harbor, and stationed on the USS Epperson DDE 719. I went on the WestPac cruise in 1962… lots of good memories. Jim Henson was our infamous 1st Class leader. I’ll be 85 in October, and am still in contact with Stan Childs (Wichita, KS), Larry Brooks (North Carolina), Earnest “Wendy” Bergstrom (Charleston, SC).

I exyended for a year for advanced sonsr schoolsn and was then stationed in Iwakuni, Japan until my discharge. When the Gulf of Tonkin incident happened I was sent to the Philippines to support the air crews out of Iwakuni. I’m considered a Viet Nam era veteran.

Let me know if our paths have crossed, and if you would like to get in touch with anyone in our gang.

Thanks,
Milburn ( “Les” while I was in the Navy)

Was on the Epperson DDE719 I was in 1st div. 61/63. Would like hear from anyone in 1st Div.

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Would like to hear from shipmates

My Uncle David P. Richardson was the executive officer and later the commander of this ship for a time during his career, he spoke fondly of it, did anyone here serve with him?

retired CAPT, SC, USNR…October 99

I have a Navy Uniform with tons of buttons (blue) that was worn during 1956 a 1960. It is in good condition that belongs in a museum somewhere! Also have nooks during that time frame! They belonged to a person who was stationed on the USS Epperson! Let me know if anyone would want these things?

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My first ship in the Navy

My father, James Bills, Jr. TM1, served on the USS Epperson from 1957 or 1958 to ’60, I believe. Does anyone know if they had any kind of role in Operation Hardtack in 1958? My father is deceased but he told a story of something similar and I was trying to place it. BTW, John Tucker was our neighbor in Hawaii.

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