This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Frank Bartow, LT
to remember
Crothers, Richard (Dick/Gramps), CTRCS.
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Contact Info
Last Address 11678 Post Mills Lane, Reston,
Date of Passing Dec 16, 2020
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Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Updating education obtained since 1945. Having fun as the oldest in every class.
Other Comments:
Someday you'll be someone's memory...
make sure it is a good one.
"Our primary purpose in life is to help others.
If you can't do that, then at least don't hurt them."
/s/ Dalai Lama
Named after
Frank Herman Schofield, born on 04 January 1869 at Jerusalem, N.Y., graduated from the Naval Academy on 06 June 1890 and was commissioned Ensign in 1892. Within a nine year period as a junior officer, he served in USS Enterprise, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Marblehead, Patterson, Scindia and Vermont. He served during the Spanish American War as the Executive Officer of the USS Hawk, blockading Cuban ports and captured four Spanish vessels. In May 1901, he was assigned to the Bureau of Ordnance as the Inspector of Ordnance. Following this tour, he served on the USS Supply in the Pacific, and then assumed command of the USS Perry, a destroyer in the Pacific Squadron in 1904. In 1907, he took command of the USS Supply until 1909. Following that, he served as Commanding Officer of USS Concord in the Asiatic Fleet. His next tour took him back to the Atlantic as the Executive Officer of the USS New Hampshire until 1911, when he attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. He next became the executive officer of the USS Arkansas, and then commanded USS Isla De Luzon until he once again became the executive officer of the USS Delaware, serving in Mexico from July to October 1914. He then commanded USS Chester. In 1915, he reported to the Chief of Naval Operations, appointed as Senior Member of a board in connection to Submarine Warfare. He was then ordered to London England in November 1917, serving as Aide in the Planning Section of the Staff of the Commander, US Naval Forces, attached to the USS Melville, flagship. Here he was awarded the Navy Cross for his participation in developing anti-submarine warfare tactics and assisting the Chief of Naval Operations in the deliberations in Paris, assisting with the development of the Naval Terms of the German Armistice. For his service in the War, he was awarded the Legion of Honor by France, Knight Commander of the Liberian Humane Order of African Redemption by Liberia and the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George by Britain. He assumed duties as Commanding Officer of the USS Texas in 1919, and then served for three years as a member of the General Board in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. In 1924, he was promoted to Rear Admiral, and became Commander Destroyer Squadrons, Battle Fleet. Following this, he again served three years in the War Plans department of the Chief of Naval Operations, and then left for a tour as the Naval Member of the American Representation at the Three-Power Conference for the Limitation of Armament at Geneva, Switzerland. He was then appointed in 1928 by Secretary of the Navy, Curtis Wilbur to head a board to obtain oceanographic data, later known as the 'Schofield Board', which continued it's work for many years, even after his death. In 1929, he became Commander Battleship Division Four, Battle Fleet. In 1930, he was promoted to full Admiral, becoming Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Battle Force. In 1932, he reverted to his permanent rank of Rear Admiral, and served on the General Board until his 64th birthday in 1933, retiring from the Navy after 47 years of service. He died in 1942, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
On 24 April, the guided missile escort ship joined the 7th Fleet. On 7 May, she commenced operations with Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) in the Gulf of Tonkin. A week later, she put into Subic Bay; then, after upkeep, she joined other 7th Fleet units in Operation "Sea Spirit," a combined SEATO exercise terminated on 3 June by the collision of USS Frank E. Evans (DD-754) and HMAS Melbourne.
On 17 June, the DEG moved back into the Gulf of Tonkin, remaining into July. On the 6th, she departed the area and headed for Japan where she participated in a joint United States Navy-Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force exercise; then, toward the end of the month, she again set a course for the South China Sea.
Schofield returned to the Gulf of Tonkin on the 27th and, for the next two weeks, operated with Kearsarge (CVS-33). A visit to Hong Kong followed. On 22 August, she returned to Subic Bay; and, in early September, she moved north for patrol duty in Taiwan Strait. On the night of the 8th, she steamed to the assistance of Warbler (MSC-206) caught in heavy seas 70 miles away and unable to transfer fuel to her engine. By the time the DEG arrived, the minecraft was dead in the water. At daybreak, however, Schofield took the MSC in tow and headed for Kaohsiung, whence she returned to patrol duty.
Arriving on the 21st, the DEG remained in port for most of the remainder of the year. In January 1970, she resumed her antisubmarine warfare exercises off the California coast. Early on the morning of the 9th, the exercises with her squadron and Hornet (CVS-12) were interrupted to assist a merchant tanker, SS Connecticut, reported to be sinking approximately 200 miles away. En route to the scene, Schofield refueled Hornet helicopters delivering rescue personnel and equipment to the tanker. Two of Schofield's men, EMCS P. L. Kidd and BT1 A. E. Personette, were transferred to the tanker. The tanker's master commended the work in saving the ship.
When Schofield arrived on the scene late in the afternoon, the situation was under control. That evening, the exercises were resumed. At mid-month, Schofield returned to Long Beach and entered the naval shipyard there for a yard period which took her into March. Squadron exercises, target ship duty, missile firing exercises, and a reservist training cruise followed. In July, she again entered the shipyard for boiler overhaul work; and, in October, she resumed her 1st Fleet operating schedule.
On 7 January 1971, Schofield headed west. Into February, she conducted exercises in Hawaiian waters, then returned to the west coast for Operation “Admixture,” a joint United States-Canadian exercise. During the exercise, the DEG added mothership duties for the experimental hydrofoil, Highpoint (PGH-1), to her helicopter inflight refueling, plane guard, and escort responsibilities.
The exercise was completed on 4 March. Schofield then returned briefly to Long Beach; and, on the 11th, she departed the California coast for the western Pacific. Steaming in company with ASW Group 3, she joined the 7th Fleet on the 26th. On 3 and 4 April, she operated off the Vietnamese coast; and, on the 7th, she arrived in Subic Bay.
On 9 September, Schofield departed San Diego for her third tour with the 7th Fleet. , The DEG joined TU 77.0.1 in the Tonkin Gulf on 8 October. She received her first bombardment mission of the deployment 20 days later and fired all night. On 30 October, she departed the area for Kaohsiung and a period of upkeep. She was back on station in the Tonkin Gulf from 9 November to 8 December for another line period.
Schofield acted as a picket ship until mid-January when she was assigned to provide fire support. She fired daily missions until the 26th when she departed for Subic Bay. She returned to Yankee Station on 13 February and learned that, due to the cessation of hostilities, her WestPac deployment was to be reduced one month. On 15 February, she sailed for Yokosuka and San Diego, arriving at her home port on 9 March.
During a period of restricted availability between April and September, Schofield received extensive helicopter facilities to enable her to operate the SH-2 LAMPS (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System) helo. She held sea trials in October, firing exercises in early November; and, on the 23d, she was underway for the western Pacific.
Scliofield participated in exercises at Pearl Harbor and Midway Island before entering Subic Bay on 18 December. Four days later, she departed for Singapore with orders to continue from there to the Indian Ocean and conduct surveillance operations. She returned to San Diego on 6 June 1974 and is operating from that port as of July 1974.
Best Moment Cross decking from USS Schoflield (DEG-3) to BAINBRIDGE while pierside in Singapore with Schofield's crew manning the rails and carrying our gear. BAINBRIDGE OOD was impressed.
Worst Moment Christmas Typhoon off Vietnam, with junior CT's conning the ship...and did well. We also had XMAS diinner while taking 40 degree rolls (by using dampened towels under our steel trays...and avoiding liquids). We ate well...unlimited lobster and steak. The Captain visited the mess decks as we (DSE team 9) were eating. While the rest of the crew was chasing steel trays across the deck. He was surprised that CTs with a reputation as landsmen, were able to enjoy the Christmas dinner. That is when he asked me if any of my team would like to take a turn at the wheel (helm) so the ship's crew could get a break and a meal. My team all volunteered...and conned the ship all the way from off Da Nang into the roads of Singapore (and calm waters). The sea stories from those who actually conned the ship up and down over mountainous seas (75' trough to crest), windmilling propellor (1), "frozen" stabilization vanes (put the ship in a constant turn to port), and not being able to see from the bridge forward as it was underwater at the start of the ascent into each wave...and their eyes (very large!) made for great sea stories on the BAINBRIDGE and when we got back to San Miguel (RPI) our home base. Everyone who was in that DSE team either re-enlisted or extended their active duty. Several went on to earn commissions in the Navy.
