I need to know when the ship I was on (USS H.J. Ellison DD864)was in
Portsmouth Va. shipyard in 1958 or 1959. The month we went in and the
month we came out. Thank you.

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 21 May 2003 18:44 PDT

Are you certain of the dates? I found this blurb about the time
period:

"Although too late for World War II, ELLISON was steaming off the
troubled coast of Lebanon during the uprising of July and August 1958,
and was stationed in the Persian Gulf during the Kuwait Crisis in July
of 1961."

tutuzdad-ga

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Clarification of Question by iron864-ga on 22 May 2003 03:41 PDT

I was on the Ellison (DD864)from 1957 to 8/3/60.In 1959 the ship was
transfered to Charlestown S.C. I can't remember if we were in the
shipyard in 1957,1958 or 1959...

Dear iron864-ga;

Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting
question.

If the years 1957, 1958 and 1959 are the only choices from your memory
for when the USS Harold J. Ellison DD864 could possibly have been in
port in Charleston, SC, it could only have been sometime late the year
1959 or early 1960.

In 1957 the Ellison was busy taking part in vital peacekeeping
operation with the 6th Fleet Eastern Mediterranean. From July to
September 1958 the Ellison covered the Saratoga and Des Moines while
the 6th Fleet landed Marines in an effort to help the Lebanese with
their conflict. From September 1958 until April 1959 she operated with
famed “Task Group Alfa” working to perfect new tactics and equipment
in antisubmarine warfare.

Then comes this note in the ship’s historical record:

“The ship returned to her pattern of cruises to the Mediterranean in
1959, departing 21 September. In 1960 her homeport became Charleston…”
HISTORY OF USS HAROLD J. ELLISON DD864
http://www.ussjpkennedyjr.org/ellison864.html

The ship obviously found Charleston, SC as her homeport (probably as
early as in the summer of 1959 – but unlikely that it was sooner than
this date) and she was officially assigned to it in 1960. Of the three
dates you mentioned then, logically it could be no earlier than late
in the year 1959 when she found herself in port at Charleston, SC.

Here’s an interesting tidbit of information about the ship’s final
disposition.

After being decommissioned, the USS HAROLD J. ELLISON DD864 was sold
to Egypt on 6th October 1979. She was subsequently sold to Pakistan on
1 November 1983.

I hope you find that that my research exceeds your expectations. If
you have any questions about my research please post a clarification
request prior to rating the answer. I welcome your rating and your
final comments and I look forward to working with you again in the
near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga



INFORMATION SOURCES

HISTORY OF USS HAROLD J. ELLISON DD864
http://www.ussjpkennedyjr.org/ellison864.html

AMERICAN GEARING CLASS DESTROYERS
http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/gearing_class.htm

HAROLD J ELLISON
http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/DD864.htm


SEARCH STRATEGY


SEARCH ENGINE USED:

Google ://www.google.com


SEARCH TERMS USED:


USS HAROLD J. ELLISON DD864

ELLISON DD864

CHARLESTON DD864

CHARLESTON USS ELLISON

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Request for Answer Clarification by iron864-ga on 02 Jun 2003 14:30 PDT

Thank you for your work. I e-mailed a shipmate of mine and he come up
with the ship being in Portsmouth Va. Shipyard late MAY 1959 to early
September 1959, then to the Mediterranean. When came home to
Charleston S.C. I left the Ellison August 3 1960. Thank you again.
iron 864-ga

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Clarification of Answer by tutuzdad-ga on 02 Jun 2003 16:31 PDT

Wow. With a litle logical process of elimination and some lucky math
we got awfully close to both the date the location, didn't we? I know
how it is to have time wipe away old military memories. Some of mine
are fading fast too. I was happy to help.

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

With your help we nailed time frame down.