Care of Fleet Post Office
San Francisco, California 96601.

DD719/01/rlf

Ser 394
17 November 1975

From: Commanding Officer, USS EPPERSON (DD-719)
To: Director of Naval History, SH-Bldg 220-2,
Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C. 20374
Subj: EPPERSON's Command History for 1974

Ref: (a) OPNAVINST 5750.12 (series)

1. In accordance with reference (a), EPPERSON's Command History for the period 01 January to 01 December, 1975, is submitted. Enclosures (2) and (3) are included for amplification of the Narrative Report.

D. P. RICHARDSON

The beginning of 1975 saw EPPERSON preparing for two tasks: INSURV inspection and preparing to get underway for Southern California for Fleet Operations and a concurrent DATC and tender availability. These tasks were contradictive in that the former required disassembly of machinery required to achieve the latter. INSURV was held nevertheless and although EPPERSON had a number of discrepancies due to heavy operations and design deficencies, she did commendably and was cited by Vice Admiral BAGLEY for being in "..above average condition" and was cited in CHINFO DTG 072359Z/30 MAR 75 along with USS SOUTH CAROLINA (DLGN 37) for having performed in an outstanding manner and being "in above average conditon for her age and type of ship."

After INSURV, EPPERSON machinery was reassembled so that she could go to Bangor Ammunition Pier on 24 January to onload ammunition in preparation for the trip to Southern California. Returning to Pier 91 for Reserve Weekend, she was unable to get underway due to a steam leak in her main steam stop valve. This problem satisfactorily solved, EPPERSON refueled at Manchester Fuel Piers and got underway for San Diego on 29 January. Due to a failure of the #1 Main Evaporator, EPPE was forced to return to Pier 91 to effect repairs. On 3 February, EPPERSON, with fingers crossed owing to the reduced capacity of her evaporators, got underway for San Diego. Arriving in San Diego the morning of 7 February, EPPE prepared to embark her selected reserve crew for February drill weekend wishing to take advantage of the opportunity to sharpen the skills of the nucleus and integrated crew in non-simulated NGFS and screen exercises. EPPERSON got underway on 8 February for the SOCAL OPAREA. Unfortunately, #1 main evaporator became inoperative and precluded any such opportunity.

Having solved her evaporator problems, EPPERSON once more got underway and headed for the SOCAL OPAREA for COMPTUEX 1A-75. EPPERSON's duties during this period were primarily participation in multi-ship operations with USS HANCOCK (CVA-19), USS CARPENTER (DD-825), USS WILTSIE (DD-716), USS WABASH (AOR-5) and HMNZS CANTERBURY. EPPERSON put into San Diego on 16 February to embark members of her selected reserve crew for two weeks of active duty for training and was then back out on 19 February for more of COMPTUEX 1A-75. During this second phase, EPPERSON, besides being involved in multi-ship operations, participated in two night UNREPS with USS WABASH (AOR-5). Due to the failure of another unit of DESRON 37 to get underway due to mechanical problems, EPPE stayed out to planeguard the USS HANCOCK (CVA-19) until 26 February when she put into Naval Station San Diego to commence her DATC/Tender availability.

EPPERSON formally commenced her availability on 3 March with DATC/FMAGPAC and the USS AJAX (AR-6). Besides much needed maintenance to her machinery, EPPERSON's crew made use of the time by attending various and numerous schools ranging from NGFS to shipboard firefighting.

On 19 March, EPPERSON celebrated her 26th birthday with Commodore W. GIOVANETTI officiating at a cake cutting ceremony on the foc'sle.

During the period 7-14 March, EPPERSON underwent PMS and annual supply inspections and a inspection of #2 main boiler. EPPERSON completed a very beneficial DATC/Tender availability on 20 March and got underway on 21 March 75 for Seattle, Washington. The morning and afternoon of 21 March were spent off San Clementi Island with EPPERSON taking final NGFS qualification exercise, but this qualification eluded her grasp. EPPERSON arrived at Pier 91 Seattle, Washington the morning of 26 March after an extremely rough transit during which her starboard anchor was lost in heavy weather.

The tempo of operations in April were somewhat relaxed. On 13 April, EPPERSON participated in the Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival in Puget Sound off Tacoma as the festival flagship and as race committee vessel for the annual yacht race, The weekend of 19-20 April was reserve weekend and EPPERSON got underway with her reserves for training. Designated as Eureka California's Rhododendron Festival Flagship, EPPERSON next got underway with various officals from Eureka on 23 April and arrived there on 25 April. This visit was greatly enjoyed by the crewmembers who participated in a myriad of festivities while inport. All good things must end and EPPERSON got underway on 28 April returning to Seattle,on 30 April.

EPPERSON's next commitment was as escort for the USS NATHAN HALE (SSBN-623) on 4-5 May. This operation successfully concluded, EPPE next got underway on 10 May for a dependents cruise in puget Sound. This event was most successful and enjoyable and gave the dependents and friends of the integrated crew a chance to see the EPPERSON at work. The last day of reserve weekend, ll,,May, was spent inport. EPPERSON's next task was as flagship for Bellingham, Washington's Blossomtime Festival and she got underway for this enjoyable event on 22 May. Inport Bellingham through 24 May, EPPERSON returned to Seattle on 25 May.

The month of June was spent inport except for reserve weekend which was 14-15 June. This period was spent underway with USS ORLECK (DD-886) in Puget Sound. Finally on 28 June, EPPERSON got underway for a second tender availability in San Diego.

EPPERSON arrived in San Diego on 2 July and commenced a tender availability on 7 July with the USS JASON (AR-8). Again EPPE made maximum use of this time to provide more training for her crew, especially in the area of NGFS. On 14 July she embarked 21 Midshipmen as part of PACTRAMID IIIC and was able to use them, especially to help man NGFS positions. EPPERSON completed her availability on 18 July and got underway on 19 July for SOCAL OPAREAS for NGFS and AA exercises. Again misfortune struck in the form of a burned out relay in the helm, necessitating that the EPPE put back into San Diego to repair the casualty. The casualty successfully restored, EPPERSON got underway for Seattle, Washington. It seems that the EPPERSON was truly the most festive ship of DESRON 37, for on the transit back she was diverted to Powell River, B.C., Canada to participate in the Powell River Intrepid Sea Festival when another DESRON 37 ship was unable to make the commitment.

Arriving in Powell River on 26 July, EPPERSON moored outboard HMCS KOOTENAY, and commenced, with much gusto, to participate in the many events and avail herself of the fine hospitality of Powell River. Leaving Powell River on 28 July, EPPERSON arrived in Seattle on the same day. On July 31, EPPERSON took part in a fifth festival, Seattle's Seafair. First going to the Manchester fuel piers to refuel, EPPERSON then got underway to rendezvous with the USS O’CALLAHAN (DE-1051) USS TOWERS (DDG-9), USS CARPENTER (DD7-25), USS ORLECK (DD-886), USS WILTSIE (DD-716), and USS VANCOUVER (LPD-2) and paraded around Elliot Bay for the benefit of Seattle residents.

On 4 August, EPPERSON embarked members of her selected reserve crew for a second two week period of Active Duty for Training getting underway with other members of DESRON 37, USS CARPENTER (DD-825), USS ORLECK (DD-886), and USS WILTSIE (DD-716), EPPERSON once again made the transit to San Diego to participate in COMPTUEX 1B-76, and arrived at San Diego on 8 August. Not resting for long, EPPERSON in company with USS ROGERS (DD-876), USS CARPENTER (DD-825), USS ORLECK (DD-886), and USS WILTSIE (DD-716), departed San Diego on 11 July for SOCAL OPAREA for gunnery, live ASW, and Screen exercises. On 14 August, EPPERSON in company with her DESRON 37 cohorts, made for San Francisco for a desirable port visit. Crossing under the Golden Gate on 16 August, EPPERSON tied up at the Naval Supply Center in Oakland and commenced her port visit. On 20 August, EPPERSON made for Concord Ammunition Depot to offload ASROC from her launcher and departed for Seattle in company with USS ORLECK (DD-886). Arriving in Seattle on 23 August, she began to make preparations for her fleet standown and change of command which was scheduled for 1 October.

The month of September was very relaxed with EPPE not getting underway until 22 September for Bangor Ammunition piers to finish the weapon offload that had started in Concord more than a month earlier. Returning to Seattle on 23 September, EPPERSON got underway on 24 September for Manchester fuel pier to offload fuel and JP-5 in preparation for her standown.

1 October saw LCDR D. P. RICHARDSON, USN, relieve CDR J. D. CAMP, USN, as the Commanding Officer and also the commencement of EPPE's standown preparatory for the decommissioning on 1 December.