Welcome to the USS Henderson DD-785 Guestbook Forum

Years Served: 1960-62…Came aboard as reserve Seaman when the ship came back from Wespac. Signal Bridge boys sent me to school and I left the ship as SM3 to continued my music career. Was always interested in firing the automatic weapons and on my last day aboard, coming back to Long Beach, the word was passed all ahnds who would like to fire the Thompson Sub Machine Gun, lay aft to the fantail wouldn’t you know it, I had the duty on the Bridge. I’m still trying to get over it. Loved being underway!

Years Served: 1969 to 1972…Was on 4 west pacs Left the Hendy Dec.20,1972 off the coast of Viet Nam. Took a Helio to the USS Niagra Falls and then flew from there into Da Nang. It was a Hell of a night there.. Caught a C-130 out the next day to Subic and caught a helo to Clark air base as soon as we got off C-130. Another night at Clark then an old 707 (wasn’t old then) to Travis in California with stops for fuel at Guam and Hawaii. Made it home on Dec.24,1972 in time for Christmas…. That’s my story and I am sticking to it….. :D

Years Served: 1970-1974…Was on board in the forward fireroom. went on one West-Pac from Nov. 1972 to June 1973. Was known as rowboat.

Years Served: 1961 – 1963…The Henderson was the first ship I served on after being commissioned. I was an ET on a couple of other DDs before being selected for NESEP. After the Henderson, I served another 14 years, retiring in 1977. Then was in the GE marine gas turbine business in Evendale, OH for 20 years. Now live in Frederick, CO. (I remember Gary Troxel. I believe Larry Kinzie was his division officer.)

Years Served: 1962-1964…Wonder where Leonard Hoffman and Johnny Debacher went after service. Does anyone know?