http://www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac2000/news/rimpac015.html


Former crewman recalls his tour of duty 
aboard USS Worden (CG 18) 

by SKC(SW) John Thomas McGriff 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"They're going to sink the WORDEN!" 

When I heard those words from a former shipmate recently, I couldn't believe it. 
My first ship in the Navy, and she's going to be sunk! 

To reflect on all the good times I had aboard Worden from 1986 to 1990 would take 
too long. Many more good times than bad. 

Certain key points in my tour would be my first visit to the Persian Gulf in 1987, 
right after the USS Stark (FFG 31) got hit. 

Since Worden lacked guns, we had 50-cal machine guns setup, with officers and 
chiefs manning them. I remember our Supply Officer, Cmdr. Bill McFarland, decked 
out in his "sand pebbles" gear, for a 4-hour 50-cal watch. 

Everyone onboard stood a watch during that time in the Gulf. 

During our Gulf visit, Worden was one of the first ships tasked with escorting 
foreign oil tankers while flying the United States flag. 

Besides fighting the heat and haze of the Gulf, we also managed to visit some 
off-the-wall ports of call, like Bombay, India, and the Maldives Islands in 
the Indian Ocean. 

For my entire tour, Worden was the only cruiser on the waterfront in Pearl. 

I remember walking down the Bravo piers in Pearl Harbor, and the Commanding 
Officer, Captain Hodge, looking down the beam of one of the new Spruance 
destroyers tied alongside the Worden, and saying how boxy the new ships were. 
Then looking down the beam of the WORDEN, and stating how much she looked like 
a warship. 

And indeed she did. She looked like a warship. 
The last time I saw Worden was the summer of 1998, when I saw her parked at 
West Loch in Pearl Harbor, otherwise known as "Death Loch," where U.S. Navy 
ships go to die. 

Once she ended up there, I knew her days were numbered. 
But at least she will not die vain. 
She helped train our newest ships and weapon systems. 

Chief McGriff was assigned to USS Worden (CG 18) from June 1986 to Dec 1990. He 
completed two Western Pacific Deployments, including the initial Persian Gulf 
Operations following the attack on the USS Stark in 1987, and the escorting of 
flagged US Tankers. He also participated in Operation Desert Shield during WestPac
1990. On his fourth deployment Chief McGriff participated in RIMPAC 1998. He 
currently maintains a website to allow past USS Worden crewmembers to keep in 
touch with one another.