USS Constellation - Final Deployment

The first two paragraphs from the book, Fox Two - The Story of America's First Ace in Vietnam by Randy "Duke Cunningham" summed it up pretty clearly. I didn't even know anything about Cunningham until I started going back through things to be accurate when writing this blog. He and I were actually on both The America and the Constellation cruises together. He became an Ace after I left the Connie for home. He then went on to become a US Congressman, eventually sent to prison as "the most corrupt Congressman in history". 

"The morning of October 1, 1971 was crystal clear as the men of the USS Constellation, under the command of Captain J.D. Ward, prepared to get underway for the Western Pacific. The beginning of this second combat cruise would be a time of heartache for me. I honestly did not know if I would ever see my family again.

Amid public controversy and national news coverage, Connie, as we knew her, left San Diego harbor with an escort designed to protect the ship; protesters had set up picket lines around North Island, and public sentiment was mixed as several sailors refused to go to Vietnam and attempted to seek sanctuary in a nearby church. The protesters lauded their action but most of the men sailing had nothing but contempt for the confused young sailors."

These were stuck all over San Diego as we were preparing to depart for my final Westpac deployment on the USS Constellation. They were on light poles, sign posts, windows, anywhere the protesters could stick them where they could be seen. There was no doubt about what the "popular" opinion was about our going back to Vietnam. Support for our military? I think not. As if it wasn't bad enough to be leaving our families and once again deploying we had to deal with so much negative energy. To be perfectly honest it just added to the suck factor.

Our first stop was in Honolulu and the public opinion greeting us there was no better as you can see from this flyer that they were handing out as soon as we left the ship.

We departed Hawaii on October 30th and arrived back on the line on November 4th and would stay there doing flight operations until November 22nd. Once we arrived back on the line we spent long days working on the flight deck including during launching and landing. We had to work fast troubleshooting our planes when they were on the deck between ops. From the book, CONNIE - The USS Constellation and the Last 50-Star Union Jack by Gregory Martinez who was a member of ship's company during the cruise I was on.

"Our combat routine had started......The ship would focus on launching combat sorties from early morning until the end of daylight.....The flight crews and aircraft tenders, as well as ordinance teams, often put in eighteen hours a day or more. Each day on the "line" would revolve around mission schedules paced by their priorities. Some days were more hectic and less fluid."

When we left the line it was back to Subic Bay for about a week before heading back to the line. It was during that time that I received my next Enlisted Performance Evaluation.

"Petty Officer ANSTEY is assigned to the integrated weapons work center as day check assistant shop petty officer. He is a collateral duty inspector for the A7E fire control and weapons release systems. Hos military duties include Petty Officer of the Watch and Police Petty Officer.

Dependable and willing in the performance of his duties, Petty Officer ANSTEY has volunteered on several occasions to undertake additional responsibilities which he handled very well. Petty Officer ANSTEY is courteous and mindful of the feelings of others, and he is respected by his contemporaries. He needs no reminding about his personal appearance. His attitude and conduct make him accepted in any crowd and well-liked by his men. Petty Officer ANSTEY exhibits no difficulty in the use of the English language. He is recommended for advancement and reenlistment."

On November 30th we were back on the line. This would turn out to be my final time in the Tonkin Gulf, my 10th total on the line. Despite the good review and the recommendation for reenlistment there was no chance that was going to happen. I wanted to be done with the Navy and move my family to Southern California so I could get back to school. With a wife and two boys school was going to be a hell of a lot more important than when I first went with the main interest being running on the cross country and track teams.

In January of 1971 the Chief of Naval Operations ordered three month early discharges for all naval personnel through August 1971. There didn't have to be a reason they were just cutting back on staffing so if you were within three months of discharge you could get our early. Some were getting up to six month discharges to attend school. 

The beginning of August 1971 I started my request to be discharged early so that I could get moved in time to attend the spring semester. Since I wasn't getting any feedback except, "wait until you're closer to discharge" and I knew we would be at sea in August and then back to Wesrpac in October I took my request up the line and got my Congressman involved.  

This is the letter my Commanding Officer sent to the congressman:

Dear Mr. Wiggins:

This in reply to your letter of 9 August 1971 concerning AQ2 Dana S. Anstey, xxx-xx-xxxx/B834961 and his request for an early release from the Navy for the purpose of attending college.

This command is presently manned at twelve percent below the allowed manning level, Petty Officer ANSTEY is a highly trained and experienced technician in a critical avionics rating of which there is a definite paucity of personnel. The A7E Corsair II aircraft flown by the squadron is a highly sophisticated weapons platform which requires exceptional knowledge and capabilities in the field of avionics.

Without an on-sight replacement, particularly in the technical ratings, the command could be placed in a position of not being able to meet operational commitments. For this reason, along with the maximum effort being generated due to a forthcoming WESTPAC deployment, Petty Officer ANSTEY's request was denied.

Under optimum conditions, we sincerely strive to reward the efforts of Navy personnel with their personal desires, but in all cases, maintaining a high standard of readiness must be the prime goal of this squadron and the Navy as a whole.

If, during the next four months. the manning level of experienced avionics technicians within the squadron rises to an acceptable level, Petty Officer ANSTEY's request will be re-evaluated in a more favorable light.

                                                                                            Sincerely yours, 

                                                                                            W.T. Majors

                                                                                            Commander, U.S. Navy            

                                                                                            Commanding Officer

A copy of that letter was also forwarded to the Chief of Naval Personnel. For the record I really liked Majors and he was even on our squadron softball team with me so it wasn't just a generic letter. The Navy had their reasons but I also had mine and continued to fight for an early release. These next two letters were sent to Congressman Wiggins and also to the Chief of Naval Operations on October 20th. Both were copied to Commander Majors. I realize now that by sending it directly to the CNO instead of the Chief of Personnel I could have been in trouble for not following the chain of command. Oh well, didn't think of it at the time and there were no repercussions. (I was still working on the planes that Commander Majors flew so I obviously hadn't broken any trust.)

1. Congressman Wiggins, I am writing you concerning my request for a school cut. In your last letter you suggested that I wait until later in the year and re-submit my request. I was willing to do this, however, I never got the chance because on October 19th at Quarters we were told that no cuts would be given. In Lemoore, I was told that cuts would be given on a man for man basis. Now I'm being told that this is not the case.

2. I am sending a letter to the Chief of Naval Operations concerning this and I would appreciate it if you would follow it up. I would also appreciate it if you would contact Admiral Zumwalt on my behalf. I am enclosing a copy of my letter to him.

3. As I said before, I feel that after two WESRPAC Cruises and part of this one, a thirty eight (38) day cut is not asking too much. Especially when they're giving three (3) month cuts back in the States due to "De-escalation" of the war.

This is what I wrote to Admiral Zumwalt the Chief of Naval Operations. Lucky I didn't get my ass in trouble for this. Reading it again as I write this I can't believe it didn't cause me any grief from people in my direct chain of command.

To: Chief of Naval Operations

1. I am writing to you concerning a school cut that I am trying to get. I feel that I am getting unjust treatment from my Squadron.

 

2. My normal EAOS is February 5, 1972. I have written to and been accepted by Rio Hondo Junior College in Whittier, California. The date that classes commence is February 7. My final day of registration is January 28. I have asked to be discharged thirty (30) days prior to this date so that I may move my wife and sons from Lemoore, California to Southern California and get established before school starts. If I can't get out at this time, it will mean missing a full semester of school. It's not as though this is a spur of the moment thing to get out of the Navy. I need one more semester of Junior College for transfer and I would like to transfer at the beginning of the school year rather than in the middle. My request chit was turned in in June, so there has been plenty of time for the Squadron to act on it. While I was in Lemoore, I attended night classes on my own time.

3. My Division Officer and Shop Chief have both stated that they would be willing to let me out even before Christmas. The reason for this is because, for the last part of December we will either be in port or in transit, not on the line.

4. The reason I am being given is a "shortage of manpower". This is not the case in my work center. If it were, I'm sure I wouldn't get approval from my Chief and Division Officer. Our schedule is such that we will be in port a good deal of this time. December 15 to December 31, either in port Singapore or en route. January 24 to February 10, either in port Subic, in port Hong Kong or en route. Therefore, I don't think I should be denied a cut for this reason. I want to be considered on an individual basis, not as part of a blanket disapproval. If I received this cut, my Squadron would lose me for less than three weeks of working days.

5. This is my third WESTPAC Cruise since leaving "A" School in Memphis. I feel that I deserve this cut for school a lot more than someone sitting in the States who gets an automatic three (3) month cut because of "De-escalation" of the war.

6. I don't know if there is anything you can do for me, but if there is, it would be appreciated very much. 

Obviously the CNO had more to worry about than mu request for a school cut and our online operations weren't the only thing going on that affected the Navy. From the book CONNIE: 

"November 30 was the reporting date of Connie's second line visit. Christmas 0f 1971 would be spent at sea, performing combat operations that would last until the end of the month. The ship and crew were scheduled for a thirty-day operating stay off the Vietnamese coast.

Unexpectedly, the Enterprise had been re-directed to the Indian Ocean on December 10. The Enterprise was sent there to be on standby in case American personnel needed evacuation from East Pakistan during the Bangladesh liberation conflict The USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) would join us on December 15. Due to the ongoing Indo-Pakistan war and with the Enterprise having been sent to the Indian Ocean, the Christmas stop in Singapore was canceled".

Ironically November 30th was the same day that my letter from the Chief of Naval Personnel was written. 

From: Chief of Naval Personnel

1. By reference (a) you requested to be separated from the naval service on 28 December 1971, 30 days prior to your college registration date. Because the Chief of Naval Operations has delegated authority to the Chief of Naval Personnel to administer early out programs, the final action on your request is the responsibility of the Chief of Naval Personnel and action has been taken as outlined herein.

2. Your request is sincerely appreciated and has been carefully reviewed. It should be noted, however, that the provisions of reference (b) set the maximum early release for the purpose of attending college as 30 days prior to a class convening date. In your particular case, the earliest possible separation date would be 7 January 1972. Additionally, reference (b) provides Commanding Officers with the final decision on any request submitted by a man who is eligible for a college early release. As the authority closest to a command's manning and operational needs, he is in the best position to determine whether the early release of an individual will adversely affect combat readiness. These provisions are based on Department of Defense policy which applies to all branches of the Armed Forces. To maintain the integrity of the college early release program and, provide fair treatment for all personnel who apply for early release to attend college, waivers of any of the provisions of reference (b) are not granted. Accordingly, the action on 28 December 1971 must necessarily be disapproved. As indicated by the first endorsement, it appears that release in January vice your EAOS of February will still permit registration.

3. It is sincerely regretted that favorable action could not be taken on your request. It is hoped however, that your realization of the fact that early release to attend college is a privilege to be granted in individual cases and not an automatically approved request will help you understand the necessity of this decision. Furthermore, it is sincerely regretted that this action may inconvenience you and it is hoped that your desire to further your education will not be affected".

The final paragraph from the letter from the Chief of Naval Personnel, Rear Admiral J.D. Watkins was the final word as far as the Navy was concerned so that was pretty much the end of my effort to get out in time to start school in the Spring semester. Oh well, I gave it hell and made the Navy work hard without just accepting a simple no.

"Decisions of this nature are regretted. However, Petty Officer Anstey's command informed us that he will be separated on 15 January 1972. This should allow him sufficient time to enroll at Rio Hondo College prior to the class commencement of 7 February 1972."

Needless to say, it was Fall of 762 before I was able to enroll at Mount San Antonio Junior College. Oh well, it was worth a try and since I was overseas my postage for all those letters was free. 😄

On January 2, 1972 after 32 days at sea we returned to Subic Bay This is one of the last pictures taken while I was in the Navy. Dave Grimes, John Fiorella and Me sharing a final Sn Miguel in the Philippines. 

I finally received my orders back to Lemoore on January 6th. I was given nine days to get there because I had to travel stand by from Clark Air Force Base. When I reported back to Lemoore I was given temporary duty from January 14th until the 21st when I was finally discharged. I was assigned to a work detail to paint barracks etc. My response was, "I'll check in every morning and then go home. I'll come in to stand watches if assigned. What I will not do is busy work like painting barracks my last week in the Navy when I fought so hard to get an early out and being held in until two weeks before my actual discharge. If that's a problem, write me up and I'll deal with it". And that's how my 14 days less than four years in the Navy including three WESTPAC Cruises to Vietnam ended.

A bit of irony here. The war actually re-escalated and the Connie wound up getting extended on their cruise. It was during that time that Cunningham and his RIO became the only Navy Aces in the Vietnam War. 

The Connie and our Air Wing was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.

One final interesting note about my time on the Connie. I was driving to a race with Robert Spell a very good friend who I previously coached at UCCS and was an assistant with me at Sierra and ju1st out of the blue I asked where his dad had served. It turns out that we were on the Connie at the same time. I was able to find his picture in the 1971 Cruise Book on line. Small world!