First US War Ships to Enter the Black Sea

On March 9, 1960 the Weeks in company with the USS Ault (DD – 698) transited the Bosporus.  The two destroyers were the first U. S. warships to enter the Black Sea since 1945.  On the same cruise the Weeks rendezvoused with the USS Triton at the end of the nuclear–powered submarine’s cruise around the world.

After returning to Norfolk the Weeks visited the Caribbean and New England coast on midshipmen training at sea.  In the fall of1961 the Weeks deployed to the Mediterranean and returned to Norfolk on March 3, 1962.  Midshipmen training during the summer and Atlantic Fleet exercises kept the Weeks in fighting trim and ready for action.

Cuban Blockade

 During October 1962 the presence of Soviet offensive weapons in Cuba prompted President Kennedy to order a blockade of the island nation.  The Weeks escorted replenishment ships to the blockade area.  When this display of national strength and determination forced the Soviet Union to withdraw their missiles, the Weeks, via San Juan, Puerto Rico, returned to Norfolk.

Middle East Crisis

Early in 1963 the Weeks received the Battle Efficiency “E” for outstanding service.  The Weeks was deployed to the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean from February to April 1963.  The end of 1963 found the Weeks back in the Mediterranean patrolling off troubled Cyprus, standing by ready to evacuate, if necessary, Americans from the strife-torn island.  On New Year’s Day, enroute to the Red Sea to join the U.S. Middle East Force, the Weeks became the first ship to transit the Suez Canal during 1964.  While in the Middle East the Weeks visited:   Jidda, Saudi Arabia; Berbera, Somali Republic; Aden, Aden Protectorate; Djibouti, French Somaliland; Massawa, Ethopia; and Karachi, Pakistan.  On February 6, 1964 the Weeks headed west from Karachi, refueled at Aden, then turned south to patrol along the Zanzibar coast during a revolution in that country.  The Weeks also patrolled off Kenya and Tanganyika during periods of unrest in those countries.  The Weeks departed Mombasa, Kenya, February 24, 1964, and transited to Suez Canal on March 6, 1964.  After duty with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, the  Weeks departed Pollenca  Bay, Majorca on May 12, 1964 and arrived in Norfolk on May 23, 1964.

Mediterranean Cruise

Following overhaul at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard the Weeks departed Norfolk on November 9 1964, for refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  The Weeks returned to Norfolk during January 1965, and prepared for another deployment to the Mediterranean.  The Weeks got underway on February 18, 1965, and arrived in Valencia, Spain on March 5, 1965.  The Weeks stopped at Naples, Italy, for ten days and then departed for the Suez Canal and two months of duty in the Red Sea.  The Weeks returned to the Mediterranean on June 2, 1965 and headed home on June 30, 1965, arriving in Norfolk on July 12, 1965.

Gemini 5 Recovery Team

Late in the summer of 1965 the Weeks was assigned to participate as part of the Gemini 5 recovery team.  For the remainder of 1965 the Weeks operated in the Caribbean and along the Atlantic coast.  Following completion of ASW exercises in the Caribbean the Weeks returned to Norfolk on February 3, 1966.  After serving as sonar school ship at Key West, Florida during March and April 1966 the Weeks, on May 16, 1966, departed Norfolk for European waters.

Operation Straight Laced

Operating with DesRon 2, May through August 1966, the Weeks cruised the western coast of Europe from Norway to France.  The Weeks took part in ASW exercises and, during “Operation Straight Laced”, a simulated invasion of the Norwegian coast, she operated with British and West German ships.  While carrying out ASW duty during this exercise, on August 19, 1966, the Weeks made the only simulated submarine kill.  On August 24, 1966 the Weeks departed Londonderry, Northern Ireland and arrived in Norfolk on September 2, 1966.  During the remainder of 1966 the Weeks served as school ship at Key West, Florida and, also, joined in ASW exercises along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean.  This duty continued until July 1967 when the Weeks departed Norfolk to deploy in the South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean.  Steaming via San Juan, Puerto Rico and Recife, Brazil the Weeks touched at ports on the east and west coasts of the African continent and cruised Africa from the Gulf of Guinea to the Red Sea.

Vienam War

The Weeks returned to Norfolk in late 1967.  The Weeks then received orders to prepare to get underway for the Pacific Ocean and to report to WESPAC for duty in the Vietnam area of combat.

We have been informed by those who made up the crew on the Weeks that although by that time the Weeks had been in active service for 23 years, on a number of occasions during her service in Vietnam she was required to stay out at sea longer than scheduled to take a newer destroyer’s station because the newer destroyer had broken down and was required to return to port for repairs.

Decommissioned for the Last Time

Upon returning home the Weeks was decommissioned for the second and last time ending her long years of service for the U.S. Navy and the United States of America.