June 1950 to December 1953 – Historical Details

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The document available for download below is a draft of the historical details from the Calvert’s call back into service at the beginning of the Korean War through to December, 1953.

The 43-page document (a .pdf file) may be viewed or downloaded here: USS Calvert – Chronological Research Notes – 1950.06 to 1953.12.31 – v2025.01.04

and includes details on the following events and activities, among many other details:

  • Calvert called out the mothball fleet in August of 1950 and recommissioning in October 1950 in Norfolk, VA
  • Voyage from Norfolk to the West Coast in early 1951
  • “First” Far East Cruise – April 1951 to August 1951
  • Second Far East Cruise – October 1952 to April 1953
  • Third Far East Cruise – August 1953 to September 1953
  • Drydock and training – September 1953 to December 1953

Please leave comments below or email me directly if you have any corrections, questions, or details you would like to share.

This version represents a “working draft” and as such there may be formatting issues, grammatical errors, as well as historical inaccuracies, incomplete or conflicting details.

Document version history as follows:

  • v2025.01.04 – Minor updates.
  • v2024.04.24 – Minor updates to a few sections.
  • v2023.04.24 – Major updates to all sections.
  • v2020.05.11 – Current published version. Corrected and re-aligned historical details for several operations; Added photos and maps for the Chigasaki exercises in summer, 1951 and for the Tokchock, Korea exercise in December, 1952.
  • v2020.05.05 – Rough draft, first published.

Letter of Commendation, DaNang, Vietnam, 12/25/1965 – 01/16/1966

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Appreciation to Warren L. Burch, RMC (retired Navy, 1982) for providing the following Letter of Commendation for the period December 25, 1965 to January 16, 1966.

Mr. Burch was aboard the Calvert from August 1963 (as an RMSA, direct from boot camp and EM School) through to August 1966 (RM2). He remained in the Navy and retired in 1982 as an RMC (Chief).

This letter is further evidence of the USS Calvert’s time in DaNang, Vietnam related to crew members’ records for Agent Orange claims.

Additional information on Agent Orange claims can be found on this page as well: https://www.usscalvert.com/2013/08/23/uss-calvert-added-the-brown-water-ship-list-agent-orange-disability-claims/

Laurent (Larry) E. Vigneault, Coxswain – May, 1943 – July, 1945

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Larry enlisted in mid-November 1942 and reported aboard the Calvert at Todd Shipyard, Erie Basin, Brooklyn, NY, on May 1st 1943.

While aboard he was a member of the 2nd Division Boat Crew. He can be seen in Boat Crew’s photographs here: https://www.usscalvert.com/2013/12/09/2nd-deck-division-boat-crews-1944-11-12/

  • Promoted from SC2 to SC1 on Dec 2, 1943
  • Promoted from SC1 to Cox on June 4, 1944

He departed the Calvert on July 6th, 1945 while the ship was in dry dock at the Navy Yard in Puget Sound, Bremerton, Washington.

Larry passed away in June, 2010 in Worcester, MA.

The following photographs were taken in November 1945, a few months after Larry had departed the Calvert. Larry is second from right in the first photograph and third from right in the second photograph.

Thank you to Larry’s daughter, Sue, for sharing these photographs.

Jack E. Hancock, RM3 – 1965 – 1966

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Appreciation to Mr. Jack Hancock for sharing these photographs of the Calvert’s Radio crew, OR Division.

Mr. Hancock can also be seen in this 1965-66 movie footage, at the 16 minute, 5 second to 15 second section. Jorge de la Rossa (left), Skip Steedsman (middle), Jack Hancock (right), as the camera pans to the left and then back right.

Mr. Hancock also helped to produce the ’65-66 Cruise Book and took many of the photographs included in the book.

1965-66 WESTPAC Cruise Book