This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Mark Polloni, GMG2
to remember
Barbee, David, MMCS USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Tulsa
Last Address Sapulpa
Date of Passing Aug 08, 2012
Location of Interment Green Hill Memorial Gardens Cemetery - Sapulpa, Oklahoma
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Enjoying retirement.
"Get a life" anymore means good computer time lurking NTWS.
The USS SAMUEL GOMPERS (AD-37), a Samuel Gompers-class destroyer tender, was commissioned on 1 JUL 1967. USS SAMUEL GOMPERS served her country for 28 years, 3 months and 26 days, until decommissioned on 27 OCT 1995. After commissioning at the Bremerton, WA Naval Ship Yard, SAMUEL GOMPERS transited to her home port of San Diego, CA. She then began her regular cycle of Western Pacific deployments followed by time in home port. In the 1980s and 1990s SAMUEL GOMPERS deployments extended into the Indian Ocean as the US Naval presence grew in the Persian Gulf. USS SAMUEL GOMPERS was decommissioned in October 1995 and then sunk in a fleet exercise on 22 JUL 2003, off the coast of North Carolina.
Laid down, 9 July 1964, at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA.
Launched, 14 May 1966
Commissioned USS Samuel Gompers (AD-37), 15 July 1967
Decommissioned, 27 October 1995, Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, VA.
Laid up at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Portsmouth, VA.
Moved in November 1995 to the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.
Struck from the Naval Register, 7 April 1999
Custody transferred to the Maritime Administration, for disposal, 7 April 1999
Final Disposition, disposed of as a target, 21 July 2003 in the VACAPES OPAREA 31°.17.2 N x 7°.35.16 W.
Best Moment Being stationed aboard a fairley new ship after serving aboard two WW2 era vessels. Reported aboard Jan 71, transferred Sep 71. Never left the pier at 32nd St Naval Station, SDiego.
Worst Moment Transferred to USS Dixie to fill an MMC billet prior to her WestPac deployment.
Chain of Command Commanding Officer during my tour aboard: Capt. Daniel L Banks 1Aug70 to 8SEP72
Other Memories 3rd and last re-enlistment, 1971, Samuel Gompers. ------------------ Samuel Gompers operated in the San Diego area until 13 March 1970 when she deployed to the western Pacific. Subic Bay was her base of operations for servicing fleet units until returning to San Diego on 13 September 1970. She remained there until 2 November 1971 when she steamed west on another deployment. It was during this in-port period that I was stationed aboard.