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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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Posted on 12/19/2002 5:37:52 AM PST by SAMWolf
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are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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The Christmas Bombing - 1972 Operation Linebacker II operations were initiated on 18 December 1972 and were directed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to continue until further notice. The primary objective of the bombing operation would be to force the North Vietnamese government to enter into purposeful negotiations concerning a cease-fire agreement. The operation employed air power to its maximum capabilities in an attempt to destroy all major target complexes such as radio stations, railroads, power plants, and airfields located in the Hanoi and Haiphong areas. Unlike previous bombing campaigns, Linebacker II provided the Air Force and U.S. Naval forces with specific objectives and removed many of the restrictions that had previously caused frustration within the Pentagon.  During these operations, Air Force and Navy tactical aircraft and B-52s commenced an around-the-clock bombardment of the North Vietnamese heartland. The B-52s struck Hanoi and Haiphong during hours of darkness with F-111s and Navy tactical aircraft providing diversionary/suppression strikes on airfields and surface-to-air missile sites. Daylight operations were primarily carried out by A-7s and F-4s bombing visually or with long-range navigation (LORAN) techniques, depending upon the weather over the targets. In addition, escort aircraft such as the Air Force EB-66s and Navy EA-6s broadcast electronic jamming signals to confuse the radar-controlled defenses of the North. The Strategic Air Command also provided KC-135s to support the in-flight refueling requirements of the various aircraft participating in Linebacker II operations. Andersen Air Force Base in Guam was the site of the most massive buildup of air power in history. More than 15,000 people and more than 150 B-52s lined all available space on the flightline. During Operation Linebacker II in December 1972, bombers stationed at Andersen flew 729 sorties in 11 days. Navy tactical air attack sorties under Linebacker II were centered in the coastal areas around Hanoi and Haiphong. There were 505 Navy sorties in this area during Linebacker II. The following carriers participated in Linebacker II operations: Enterprise, Saratoga, Oriskany, America and Ranger. Aircraft of the Seventh Fleet performed the most extensive aerial mining operation in history, blockading the enemy's main avenues of supply. The reseeding of the mine fields was resumed and concentrated strikes were carried out against surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery sites, enemy army barracks, petroleum storage areas, Haiphong Naval and shipyard areas, and railroad and truck stations.  Between 18 and 22 December the Navy conducted 119 Linebacker II strikes in North Vietnam. The attack effort was concentrated in the Haiphong area. Strikes were conducted against surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery installations, railroads and highways Thanh Hoa Army barracks, the Haiphong Naval Base, petroleum centers and other military related targets. Until the cease-fire ending US combat operations in Vietnam took effect on 28 January 1973, USS America and the other carriers ranged off the coast of Vietnam, conducting strike operations in support of troops and targeting strategic targets throughout North Vietnam. On 25 December 1972 a Christmas Day bombing/tactical air attack recess went into effect during which none of the US air services flew sorties. Heavy raids around Hanoi, which resumed the day after the Christmas bombing halt, were eased as NVN showed indications of returning to the conference table.  The impact of the bombing was obvious in the severe damage to the North Vietnamese logistic and war-support capability. By 29 December 1972, the 700 nighttime sorties flown by B-52s and 650 daytime strikes by fighter and attack aircraft persuaded the North Vietnamese government to return to the conference table. Linebacker II formally ended on 27 January 1973. Bad weather was the main limiting factor on the number of tactical air strikes flown during Linebacker II. Of 741 planned B-52 sorties, 12 were aborted. The Air Force SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) mission was carried out by F-105, F-4C, and F-4E fighters. CAP (combat air patrol), escort, and chaff dispersal were carried out by numerous types. In addition, US Navy and US Marine aircraft flew a total of 277 night support sorties in A-6, A-7, and F-4 aircraft.
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Today's classic warship, USS Kalk (DD-611)
Benson class destroyer
Displacement. 1,620
Lenght. 348'4"
Beam. 36'1"
Draft. 11'9"
Complement. 258
Speed. 37.5 k.
Armament. 4 5", 4 40-mm., 7 20-mm., 5 21" tt., 6 dcp., 2 dct.
The USS KALK (DD-611) was laid down 30 June 1941 by the Bethlehem Steel Co., San Francisco, Calif.; launched 18 July 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Flora Stanton Kalk, mother of Lieutenant Kalk, and commissioned 17 October, Lt. Comdr. C. T. Singleton, Jr., in command.
Following shakedown along the California coast, KALK departed San Francisco 28 December for patrol and escort duty in the Aleutians. Steaming via Dutch Harbor, she arrived Adak 9 January and patrolled from Adak to Amchitki Island. On the 16th she embarked 185 survivors of SS ARTHUR MIDDLETON and WORDEN (DD-352) which had foundered in an Arctic storm. She transported them to Adak, then continued intermittent patrols until she sailed 26 February for home, arriving San Francisco 4 March.
After repairs, KALK steamed from San Francisco 7 April and proceeded via the Panama Canal to New York, where she arrived a fortnight later for Atlantic convoy escort duty. She cleared New York 28 April and the next day joined a 35-ship convoy, UGF-8, headed for Oran, Algeria. Arriving 12 May, she searched for a suspected U-boat. The destroyer departed Casablanca, French Morocco, 19 May escorting a westbound convoy. Arriving New York 31 May, she sailed 13 June via Casco Bay, Maine, and Argentia, Newfoundland, to Norfolk for further convoy-escort duty. From 27 June to 6 December she escorted three convoys between the United States and North Africa. After overhaul at New York and Boston, she arrived Norfolk 29 December and then sailed 2 January 1944 for the Pacific.
She departed Balboa, Canal Zone, 8 January with DesDiv 38, escorting battleships NEW JERSEY (BB-62) and IOWA (BB-61). Reaching Funafuti, Ellice Islands 27 January, KALK searched for downed fighter planes before sailing for New Guinea 31 January to join the 7th Fleet at Milne Bay 7 February. She operated in the New Guinea area, primarily on patrol and convoy escort duty until 12 June. During the protracted struggle for New Guinea, she also covered amphibious invasions, bombarding Manus, Pityilu, Los Negros, and Rambutye Islands, Admiralties: Tanahmerah Bay and Wakde-Sarmi, New Guinea, and Biak and Owi, Schouten Islands.
After providing fire support during the invasion of Biak Island 27 May, Kalk continued escort and picket duty between Biak and Humboldt Bay. While on patrol 12 June off the southern coast of Biak, an enemy plane dived out of the sun and released a bomb which struck abaft her forward stack at the base of her starboard torpedo tubes. As KALK's 20-mm. gunfire splashed the attacker, the bomb exploded the air flasks of her torpedoes, destroying several 20-mm. guns, showering her crew with shrapnel, and damaging her superstructure amidships. Though suffering 70 casualties, her heroic crew rallied to save the destroyer. Skillful firefighters extinguished each blaze; and, while other hands tended the wounded, volunteers detached the warheads from torpedoes scattered about the deck. Every man knew what to do and did it.
The only Allied ship seriously damaged in more than 2 weeks of repeated air attacks at and near Biak, KALK retired to Hollandia, New Guinea, for emergency repairs and sailed 20 June via the Admiralties and Pearl Harbor for the United States. Reaching San Francisco 31 July, she received complete repairs and underwent alteration at Mare Island.
Then the gallant destroyer departed 26 October for Pearl Harbor, arriving 1 November. On 12 November she headed via Eniwetok to Ulithi, Western Carolines, where she arrived 26 November to resume her duty in the western Pacific.
For more than 8 months KALK operated out of Ulithi on ASW patrols screening sea logistics forces during offensive operations from Luzon to Okinawa. From 16 to 23 December she patrolled northeast of Luzon during replenishment of the 3d Fleet. Sailing from Ulithi 29 December, she screened supply units which supported TF 38 during the crucial Lingayen Gulf operations on western Luzon. She continued this important duty until returning to Ulithi 27 January 1945.
As a unit of DesDiv 38, KALK rendezvoused with TG 50.8 on 18 February for refueling and replenishment operations of TF 58 during the savage campaign on Iwo Jima. Returning to Ulithi 6 March, she sailed north-ward 13 March with TG 50.8 to screen logistic support for the 6th Fleet which was then clearing Ryukyu waters of enemy shipping and aircraft in preparation for the invasion of Okinawa 1 April. From then to the end of the war, KALK operated with the 5th and 3d Fleets off the Ryukyus as escort, plane guard, and ASW screen. Concerned primarily with screening supply ships between Ulithi and Okinawa she destroyed numerous Japanese mines during patrols. While steaming for Okinawa 5 June with logistic support group TG 30.8, she passed through a raging typhoon with destructive winds of more than 90 knots. Suffering only minor damage, KALK continued screening patrols. When the war ended 15 August, she was steaming from Okinawa to Ulithi.
Departing Ulithi 20 August, KALK sailed via Saipan and Okinawa to Japan, arriving Tokyo Bay 1 September escorting DETROIT (CL-8). Present at the formal Japanese surrender 2 September, she departed the 3d on an escort run to Eniwetok. After returning to Tokyo Bay 16 September, she departed for the United States 12 October via the Philippines, Eniwetok, and Pearl Harbor. Reaching San Diego 17 November, she proceeded on the 17th for the East Coast, arriving Boston 11 December. After overhaul, she departed Boston 18 January 1946 and arrived Charleston, S.C., on the 20th. KALK decommissioned at Charleston 3 May 1946, entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. Kalk was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in June 1968. She was sunk as a target in March 1969.
KALK received eight battle stars for World War II service .
USS Kalk was named in honor of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Stanton F. Kalk, USN, (1894-1917), who lost his life in the sinking of USS Jacob Jones in December 1917.
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