April 4, 2005:

Hello,

I served as M Div Off, B Div Off, Gunnery Off and 1st LT in Buchanan for 87-90. I just want to pass on my best regards to all the guys I served with. Special thanks to all the great MMs, EMs and BTs I spent so many hours on watch with down in the hole. Also, hats off to the MT 51 and MT 52 Gunner’s Mates and FCs as well as BMs who made the tour tolerable. Lastly, special salute to the Chief’s Mess for their superb support and leadership. Without them, we never wouldn’t have been able to get underway.

Take Care All!

Cole Kupec,
CDR (ret)

Subj: USS Buchanan DDG-14r
Date: 99-10-25
From: Mark P. Falade
To: Destroyers OnLine

Hi there,
I was stationed on the Buchanan from 1976 to 1980 and served as an MM in varying rates. Sorry to hear of her fate. I still have both cruise books from her 77 and 79 WestPacs as well as many personal photos of her and her crew during that time. I was in A-gang so I'm also fairly familiar with her layout. I also stood underway watch in the engine room and as my last duties was logroom yeoman during a portion of her 1980 drydock period. If there is any way I can assist you, by all means let me know!

Sincerely,

Mark Falade

Subj: USS Buchanan Crewmember
Date: 99-08-14
From: Paul Gardella
To: Destroyers OnLine

If you're still looking for Buchanan crewmembers, I served aboard her from December 1978 through February 1982, first as Fire Control/Missile Officer, then Navigator. Made two WestPac's and an overhaul at Long Beach Naval Shipyard. Wouldn't mind hearing from other Buchananeers who served aboard "The Warship Buchanan" during that time (or any other time).

CDR Paul Gardella USN (Ret)

Subj: USS Buchanan DDG-14
Date: 99-08-12
From: Dick Zimmermann

Hi Jack,

I understand that you're the one responsible for fixing the DDG 14 information Page at the Destroyers OnLine website. I had told Dave Malone that I could get the pictures (one of the ship and one of a crest) but no text with my Netscape 4.5 system.

The day after I told him, and he passed on the word to you, I could then get all the text.

Thanks, and keep up the good work,

Dick Zimmermann

Subj: USS Buchanan DDG-14
Date: 99-08-06
From: John A. Daily
To: Destroyers OnLine

I was a Sonar Tech (STG) attached to both the USS Buchanan DDG-14 (1979-1980) and the USS Hoel DDG-13 (1982-1984). I have numerous photos and the cruise books from both ships deployments while onboard. The material I have from the Hoel is extensive and I have offered to scan and burn all material onto a CD for Jack Faessler for his USS Hoel site.

I would be most happy to send a copy to you as well. Just need to e-mail an address to send the CD if you are interested.

John Daily

Subj: USS Buchanan DDG-14
Date: 99-08-04
From:Frank Meade

To: Destroyers OnLine

I served onboard the Buchanan as a Boiler Technician from May of 1987 until September of 1989. I have very fond memories of Hong Kong, the Phillippines, Vancouver and Singapore. I also have not so fond memories of Long Beach and Diego Garcia. I'd like to put a shout out there to Archultta, Tarentino, Blanchard, Rieman, Hamm, Greene, Woody, Padilla, Newman and all the other snipes from that skull and cross-bone flag flying, never pulling into port, powdered milk serving tin can.

Frank Meade BT2

Subj: USS Buchanan DDG-14
Date: 99-07-30
From: David Sneade

Hello everyone,

I was a plank owner for the Buchanan. I was in the crew that was assembled in San Diego prior to the Navy taking delivery from Todd Shipyards in Seattle. Just prior to taking delivery we were all flown to Seattle, then transported to Bremerton to await delivery. What a great day it was that we all got to move aboard! The first order of business was to conduct Fleet Acceptance Tests (FAT). The first time the crew took the ship out under the command of Captain (Commander) David Webster, it was a real thrill. He ordered flank speed going up Puget Sound-we were really cruising. Going through the Straight of Juan de Fuca, about one third of the crew was heaving over the side-the affectionate term "Pukey Buke" was born.

While onboard, we made a cruise to Hawaii and were part of the ceremony for the dedication of the Arizona memorial. The ship's picture was in the Honolulu papers. My final cruise was "down under" to Melbourne. Crossing the Equator at the Dateline made us all diamond (??) shellback.

Reporting for duty on the Buchanan, I was an ETSN, leaving for shore duty some 18 months later as an ET2. I actually transferred off while in Subic Bay, flying back to the U.S. from there.

Good memories, good times. I still am in contact occasionally with a couple of other ET's that were in the original crew.

Thanks for the site. Sorry to learn DDG-14 was scrapped, but then the "old girl was" over 30 years old.

Regards to past shipmates,

David Sneade ET2
1961 to 1963

Subj: USS Buchanan DDG-14
Date: 05-26-99
From: Dave "Bugsy" Malone
To: Destroyers OnLine

Hi Jack:
You and I haven't communicated in while, maybe in a month or so. I just wanted to inform you that myself and Dean (Dino) Myers who also served on the Buchanan have decided to form a ship's association. Could you please put a notice as such, indicating that all interested who served as a member of Buchanan's crew should inquire at:
Dean Myers

For those who would rather snail mail, Dino's address is:
Dean M. Myers
R.D. #2, Box 247A
Kittanning, PA 16201

We are just now receiving replies to a letter I sent out to all known e-mail addresses, and we now have about 8 interested crew members. It's just the beginning. We are hoping to have a ship's reunion in April, 2002 (the ship's 40th birthday) at a site yet to be determined.

Thanks,

Dave Malone OS3

Subj: USS Buchannan DDG-14
DATE: 99-06-20
From: Dr. James G. Roche
To: Destroyers Online

Sir,
I commanded USS Buchanan from June of 1973 to June of 1975. During this period, the ship won the Arleigh Burke Award in 1974.

James G. Roche

Subj: USS Buchanan DDG-14
Date: 05-26-99
From: Dave "Bugsy" Malone
To: Destroyers OnLine

Jack:

I was most interested in the Destroyers 0nline web pages concerning Adams Class DDG's, specifically U. S. S. Buchanan (DDG-14). I served aboard Buchanan from July of 1977 until October of 1980. During that time a made two westpac cruises and a southpac cruise. I truly got that chance to "see the world", as advertised in recruitment adds of the period. On the flip side of the coin, I spent the last year of my enlistment in Longbeach, CA while the ship was being overhauled. She was just getting ready for sea trials when my enlistment expired and I went home to New England.

Now that I am settling into middle age, I look back with a sense of pride upon my service to my country in the Navy. I still work for Uncle Sam, now as a park ranger in the National Park Service at Lowell National Historical Park in Lowell, MA. During the course of my work, I encounter nearly one million people every year, and come across not a few ex-sailors, some from my generation. A few years ago I even met one man who served on the Bagley, which was in the same Destroyer Squadron (DesRon 31) as Buchanan, serving at the very same time that I served. We both felt and commented upon the sense of pride we felt in doing our duty in safeguarding the nation. Though we served during peace time, we took pride in the knowledge that if a crisis had arisen, we were there, serving in an all-volunteer Navy, ready for what ever might have come.

I remember complaining about all of the sea time we did, and the exhausting exercises that our Captain, Commander Roger Barnett, had volunteered the ship for. I remember still, one particular exercise where we went to general quarters every single morning at 0900 hours. I worked as an OS in CIC and was working port and starboard watches, on watch from 0000-0600, and 1200-1800 hours. During port and starboard watches you never got more than a couple hours sleep at any time, and I was at general quarters every single morning, losing out on fully half of my sleep time. Now that I am older, and hopefully, wise, I can more fully appreciate what "Ol' Jolly Roger" was doing in volunteering us for every exercise that came down the pike. He was simply making sure that his crew was at the top of its performance and was ready for anything that might come at us. Had the chips gone down, that training might have saved our lives.

I fondly remember the occasions when OI division was sent to a training center in San Diego where we would man a mock-up CIC and compete against other ship's CIC teams in simulated combat situations. Our ship's CIC had not been updated with NTDS (computerized tracking systems), as much of the fleet had been. We were using regular radar repeaters, and the same maneuvering boards, DRTs , vertical plots, and stat boards that the fleet had been using for well over fifty years. Yet, time and again we would clean the clocks of those other ships that had NTDS systems. A testament to the constant training that the old man insisted upon. Captain, if you read this, my hat is off to you, sir.

I too am sad that the old girl is no more. Say what you will about Buchanan, she never failed us ... not once in any capacity while I served aboard her.

I would love to hear from any of my old ship mates who may read this, or anyone else who served aboard Buchanan. Just catch me here at Malonedave@aol.com

Dave "Bugsy" Malone OS3

Subj: USS Buchanan (DDG-14)
DATE: 99-06-07
From: Dick Zimmermann
To: Destroyers Online

Jack,

I was Chief Engineer on BUCHANAN from May 1970 to Sept 1971 and would like to join in whatever communications exchanges may be going on now. Can you tell me where to go to get in on this?

Dick Zimmermann

Subj: USS Buchanan (DDG-14)
Date: 05 Aug 1997
From: Tony Kitchen

Dear Richard,

I served onboard BUCHANAN as Communications Officer and Damage Control Assistant from Dec '86 to Nov '89. After her decommissioning in 1990, she was at the Inactive Ships Facility at Pearl Harbor until her sale for scrap in 1994. While I was Chief Engineer of USS CIMARRON (AO-177)in Pearl Harbor, I had the opportunity to visit her one last time at INACT SHIPS shortly before she was made into razor blades. I was deeply saddened to see her in in such terrible shape. As big a pain-in-the-ass as she was to keep going after 25 years in service, she was my first ship, and she'll always hold a special place in my heart.

I've attached a picture I took while she was at anchor in the Seychelles in 1987.

Please feel free to write if you'd like more info.

Haze grey and underway...

Tony Kitchen