Welcome to the USS Cushing DD-797 Guestbook Forum

Years Served: 1957-1961…Enlisted in Navy in 1956. went to boot camp Jan.-17-1957 aT great lakes.

Years Served: 1957-1960…My first destroyer and best. MMFN when I reported aboard in 1957. Left as MM2 November 1960 right after arriving in Portsmouth for decommissioning. Reenlisted in 1962 and retired MCPO in 1977. The USS Cushing and crew was my best sea duty. Remember MAA raiding movies on the fantail at sea for having no hats during the transient to Portsmouth and dress white inspection in Mazatlan when ships laundry was sent ashore and the white came back pressed down the front. The entire crew was short-timers for the transient.

Years Served: My Dad served in 1939 – 1943…My dad served on the USS Cushing as the Store Room coordinator (title unknown) and a manned a machine gun. When the ship sank he and other men swam to shore all night helping others who were not strong swimmers. Once on shore they hid from the Japs for 6 months. Those back home in the USA believed them to be dead, but they were listed as MIA. Some became stricken with Malaria, Dingy or Yellow Fever. The Phillipine families hid our troops from the Japs and nursed those like my father back to health. The US troops rescued the survivors from the Phillipine Island and brought them back to the USA to be reunited with families. My father lived to be only 50. He died in six weeks after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Years Served: 1956 to 1959…Served on deck force and later as YN3. Loved that old ship as it was my first ship. Later served on USS Bryce Canyon. I remember Bart Bobbitt when he came aboard out of basic training. Changed my surname to Mason after returning to civilian life.

Years Served: 1953-1954…I was with DesDiv 282 on board Prichett (DD-561) during the Korean conflict and later filled a vacant billet for two years on the Cushing. DesDiv 282 made a world cruise. Edited Cruise Book on Prichett.