USS Orleck Association news

USS ORLECK saves a ROK Army Battalion 1951

 Chronology, USS Orleck Association news
Dec 122013
 

USS ORLECK saves an ROK Army Battalion

The following is a copy of an article in the July 1951 issue of All Hands Magazine:

DESTROYER’S ACCURATE FIRE SAVES ROK ARMY BATTALION,

USS Orleck (DD-886) has been credited with the saving of a Republic of Korea army battalion during fighting in Korea.  Communist troops had surrounded the battalion and threatened to annihilate it.

Acting as spotters, ROK infantrymen pinpointed the destroyer’s fire toward the Communist-held area and the ship’s main batters took a heavy toll of enemy troops.  The Communist pincer movement was successfully beaten back.

Later in a similar engagement, ORLECK destroyed an additional 300 enemy troops.

Joseph Orleck earns Navy and Marine Corps Medal

 Chronology, USS Orleck Association news
Dec 092013
 
U.S.S.. Raven

U.S.S. RAVEN

War Diary and Log Book of the U.S.S. WAINRIGHT (419),

Destroyers Rate, Commanded by R.H. Gibbs, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. NAVY, Division eight Squadron, Squadron, Atlantic Fleet, Commencing December 1, 1942 at Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York and ending December 31, 1942 at Sea. (This printing only includes December 31, 1942.    CONFIDENTIAL DECLASSIFIED

REMARKS

0-4 Underway.  0020 SS LANCASTER stranded on reef off Point El Hank; distress signals sighted.  0300 Air raid alert sounded.  Sounded general quarters.  Set material condition “Afirm.” Enemy planes attacked Casablanca, French Morocco with bombs.  Planes were illuminated by searchlights and fired on by shore batteries and ships in harbor.  This ship did not participate in the action.  Results were not observed.  R.C. Smart, Lieutenant, USNR.

4-8 Underway.  0508 Secured from general quarters;  set condition of readiness #2MA and material condition “Baker”.  0550 Single enemy bomber was engaged by shore anti-aircraft batteries, and departed with no apparent results.  0655 Commenced raining.  Fog setting in.  Visibility decreased to about 1 mile.  o755 Ceased raianing.  Fog lifted.  Visibility increased to about 5 miles.  F.R.S. Sellers, Ensign, U.S. Navy,

8-12 Underway.  0845 Commenced steaming on various courses at various speeds proceeding to vicinity of Point El Hank.  0906 Motor Whale Boat and Gig left the ship in charge of Lieutenant R.C. SMART, USNR, to assist in rescue of crew and armed guard of SS LANCASTER which was grounded on reef off Point El Hank.  0914 Commenced patrolling vicinity of harbor mouth on various courses at various speeds.  F. KING, jr, Ensign, USNR.

12-16.  1300 Received communication from U.S.S. RAVEN that one of three boats sent in to remove crew and armed guard from SS LANCASTER had capsized in heavy surf.  1400 Received communication from U.S.S. RAVEN that the boat which had capsized with Motor Whale Boat from U.S.S. WAINRIGHT.  Following named men from U.S.S. WAINWRIGHT who were in Motor Whale Boat reported missing:  PEARSON, D.H. #393-54-08, USN; STORY, N.D. Jr. #668-11-43, F3c, USNR; MORGAN, J.R., #342-51-81, S1c, USN.  signed by A.P. SIBOLD, Jr., Ensign, U.S. Navy.

16-18.  1600 Received communication from U.S.S. RAVEN that Lieutenant R.C. SMART, USNR and crew of Gig had completed rescue of personnel from SS LANCASTER and proceeded with RAVEN into port of Casablanca, Frenchb Morocco.  F.R.S. SELLERS, Ensign, U.S. Navy.

18-20. Underway  F. KING, jr., Ensign, USNR

20-24 Underway A.P. SIEBOLD, jr., eNSIGN, U.S. Navy.

Approved R.H. Gibbs, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, Commanding

Examined V.J. SOBALIM, Lieutenant

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Joseph Orleck

Lt. Joseph Orleck

 When Joseph Orleck was commissioned Ensign he was ordered to the USS RAVEN and it was during this time that he earned the Navy and Marine Corps Medal from the President of the United States.

“The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the NAVY AND MARINE CORPS MEDAL to

LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE JOSEPH ORLECK,  UNITED STATES NAVY

for service as set forth in the following citation:

For extremely heroic and courageous conduct in effecting the rescue of personnel of the S.S. LANCASTER, aground off El Hank at Casablanca, French Morocco, December 31, 1942.  In spite of mountainous seas and exceptionally adverse weather, Ensign Orleck took charge of a motor whaleboat and crew of the U.S.S. WAINRIGHT, and successfully completed one trip to the stranded LANCASTER, bringing approximately twelve men to safety.  Although his boat capsized during the second trip, he swam to another motor boat and continued directing rescue operations.  As a result of his gallant action, twenty persons were saved.  For the President, Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy

 

War Diary 22 October 1952 through 29 October 1952

 USS Orleck Association news
Dec 062013
 
Declassified

 

Captain E. L. Yates (CO USS ORLECK DD 886)

Captain E. L. Yates (CO USS ORLECK DD 886)

War Diary

(Declassified)

Commander Task Element 95:28

22 OCTOBER 1952

Commander E. L. Yates, USN, 90836/1100, Commanding Officer, USS ORLECK (DD886) relieved Commander Destroyer Division ONE TWELVE (112) at CTE 95.28 at 1530 this date.  A turnover file was received and receipted for in accordance with current directives.  CTE 95.28 is under the operational control of CTG 95.2, Commander East Coast Blockading and Escort Group.  CTG 95.2 is under the operational control of Commander Task Force 95, Commander United Nations Blockading and Escort Force.  TE 95.28 is currently operating under CTG 95.2 Operation Order 2-52 (Revised) dated 18 August 1952 and consists of ORLECK (DD 886) and ROKNAN YMS 514.  ORLECK at bombline, ROKNAN YMS 514 departed to the south this afternoon without relief.

23 OCTOBER 1952

ORLECK patrolled vicinity NANDO.  During daylight ORLECK conducted indirect fire mission at bombline in support of I ROK Corps.  Six (6) rounds five (5) inch ammunition expended on machine gun  installation and bunkers.  SFCP evaluation 50% coverage.  Late afternoon and evening conducted NANDO patrol.  HELENA and destroyer OBRIEN at the bombline.

24 OCTOBER 1952

ORLECK conducted NANDO patrol till daylight.  Dring daylight house ORLECK conducted indirect shore bombardment at the bombline in support of I ROK Corps.   Thirty-eight (38) rounds five (5) inch ammunition expended.  Six (6) direct hits on bunkers observed by SFCP..  ROKNAN YMS 518 arrived bombline 1200 and was assigned NANDO support and defense patrol.  ORLECK conducted resupply and patrol of NANDO.

25 OCTOBER 1952

 ORLECK on patrol at the bombline except when relieved by DDR FRANK KNOX for replenishment during morning hours.  ROKNAN YMS 518 on NANDO support and defense patrol.  ORLECK conducted indirect shore bombardment in support of I ROK Corps.  Sixty-eight (68) rounds five (5) inch ammunition expended.  SFCP observed (2) bunkers destroyed and three (3) damaged.  CHIEF (am 325) AND impeccable (AM 320) in area during night..  LOS ANGELES and FRANK KNOX relieved HELENA and OBRIEN at bombline.  ORLECK on NANDO patrol during the evening.

26 OCTOBER 1952

ORLECK reported to CTE 77.17 at 0001 Item and relieved FRANK KNOX as escort at 0630 Item.  FRANK KNOX departed to TF 77.  ORLECK replenished NANDO and returned to bombline in evening as ASW screen for LOS ANGELES.  ROKNAN on NANDO support and defense patrol.  ORLECK took trucks on beach under direct fire.  Four (4) rounds five (5) inch ammunition expended..  Results not observed.  ORLECK conducted indirect fire mission in support of I ROK Corps at bombline.  Thirty-nine (39) rounds five (5) inch ammunition expended.  SFCP observed two (2) bunkers destroyed, three (3) damaged.  One (1) mortar and one (1) 76MM artillery piece neutralized.  Shortly after dark ORLECK detected an enemy covert boat attempting landing behind our lines.  ORLECK closed boat to navigation limits and launched ship’s armed boat in effort to capture enemy personnel and equipment.  Enemy boat with ship’s boat in pursuit, returned to communist held territory to make escape.  No casualties.  Three (3) illunination shells expended.  ORLECK continued to screen LOS ANGELES throughout the night at the bombline.

27 OCTOBER 1952

ORLECK at the bombline for fire support and escort in the morning, at NANDO for resupply and patrol in the early afternoon, returning to the bombline shortly before dark.  ROKNAN YMS 518 on NANDO support and defense patrol.  A helocopter from the LOS ANGELES, in attempting to transfer personnel to the ORLECK, crash landed on the ORLECK’s fantail resulting in slight damage to the helo and no personnel casualties.  The helo was returned to the LOS ANGELES.  ORLECK remained at bombline as screen and gunfire support ship.

helicopter from Los Angeles crashes on DD 886

helicopter from Los Angeles crashes on DD 886

28 OCTOBER 1952

ORLECK t bombline as gunfire support and screen ship during daylight hours.  ROKNAN YMS 518 on NANDO support and defense patrol.  ORLECK conducted indirect shore bombardment in support of I ROK Corps AT BOMBLINE.  Eighteen (18) rounds of five (5) inch ammunition expended.  No damage observed.  After dark ORLECK on NANDO patrol.

29 OCTOBER 1952

ORLECK conducting NANDO patrol until daylight then at bombline for fire support, screening and re-0arming.  ROKNAN YMS 518 conducting NANDO support and defense patrol.  During daylight ORLECK conducted indirected fire mission in support of I ROK Corps.  Twenty-two (22) rounds of five (5) inch ammunition expended.  SFCP observed 70% coverage incuding destruction of one (1) supply house with damage to three (3) others and destruction of two (2) bunkers.  While proceeding to rendezvous with ORLECK for transfer of fueld, ROKNAN YMS 518 was fired upon by shore batteries on Suwon Don.  The shore battery was immediately taken under fire and silenced by the ORLECK.  Eleven (11) rounds five (5) inch ammunition expended.  ORLECK on NANDO patrol after dark..  LOS ANGELES at the bombline.

Plank Owner looking for other Plank Owners

 USS Orleck Association news
Oct 292013
 
plank owner certificate image

For those who may not know what a  “plankowner” is, it is a member of the crew of a ship when that ship was placed in commission.  While not an official Navy term it is carried proudly for the rest of their lives by those who were a part of the beginning of a new Navy ship.  We believe it is a status that should be honored and recognized whenever we can.

On October 29, 2013 I received a call from one of the USS ORLECK’s plankowners by the name of Kennith Champney.  He was part of the crew of the USS ORLECK when it was placed in commission in Orange, Texas in September of 1945.   He left the ship in Shanghai in 1946 and presently resides in New Hampshire.

He was responding to mailed information about our San Diego reunion that was sent to him.  He advised that his health will not permit him to attend this reunion.    If you want to contact and are familiar with our roster system you know that you can access his address and phone number.  If you have any problems doing that contact Bob Orleck and he will help you.

For those who think that I misspelled his first name, this might be of interest to you.  Kennith tells me that his mother really liked the name Kenneth but knew a Kenneth she did not like and did not want to name her son after him or that it might so seem.  When she learned that Kenneth could be spelled Kennith she jumped on that opportunity and got to name him with a name she liked.

Kennith is very proud of his service aboard USS ORLECK and he made some friends that he has lost track of.  Their names are Danny Cousins, Bill Baker and Dale Piper.  Our Association does not have any information on these men so if you know of them or about them please contact Kennith or Bob Orleck.  It would mean a lot to him.

Bob Orleck

bob@ussorleck.com

 

 

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