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Harold Dale Meyerkord was born 9 October 1937 at St. Louis, Mo. He graduated from Navy Officer Candidate School at Newport, R.I. on 14 June 1960 and was assigned to the heavy cruiser Los Angeles (CA 135). He reported to the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam 13 July 1964. He was Senior Naval Adviser to the South Vietnamese 23d River Assault Group, responsible for suppressing Vietcong terror in South Vietnam’s "rice bowl"; the group probed the Delta waterways, engaging Vietcong guerrillas in operations in which Lieutenant Meyerkord distinguished himself for coolness, resourcefulness, and concern for his men. While leading his assault group into Vietcong-held territory 16 March 1965, Lieutenant Meyerkord’s patrol was ambushed. Though wounded, he steadfastly returned the enemy’s fire until hit again, this time mortally. Lieutenant Meyerkord’s heroism was recognized by posthumous award of the Navy Cross. He was also awarded the Air Medal for completing 20 low-level aerial reconnaissance missions under enemy fire.
USS Meyerkord (DE 1058) (1969 - 1991) was the first ship to be named in his honor.
(Photo from The Virtual Wall, Vietnam Veteran's Memorial) |
Bill Gonyo |
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15 July 1967: Long Beach, Cal.: USS Meyerkord (DE 1058) shown during her launching and christening at the Todd Shipyard. (Photo provided courtesy of Eugene Barney, RMCM, USN (Ret.), a member of RAG-23's advisor team who was with Lt. Meyerkord the day he was killed in Vietnam.) |
Mike Schibly |
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1970 or 1971: Meyerkord taken from an unknown submarine during an ASW exercise. This is a photo of a photograph that was posted in Sonar Control until at least 1976. Note that the ASROC launcher is trained on the submarine. |
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June 1972: Sonar Control, shown at the end of Meyerkord's 1972 Westpac Cruise. (Photo © Michael Schibly) |
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January 1973: Portland, Ore. - USS Meyerkord (DE 1058) in floating drydock no. 2 at the Northwest Marine Iron Works, Swan Island, Portland, Oregon during an emergency yard period. An unusual epoxy paint has been applied below the waterline. Note the starboard stabilizing fin at 7 o’clock. (Photo © Michael Schibly) |
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1972: off the coast of Viet Nam - Taken from USS Passumpsic (AO 107), while Meyerkord made her approach. (Photo © Ralph Turner) |
Ralph Turner |
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October 1972: Gulf of Tonkin - (U.S. Navy photo #KN-21692 by PH1 Coan flying from USS Saratoga CVA 60 from the Naval Photographic Center, Series 428-2, National Archives, College Park, MD) |
Mike Schibly |
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late 1972: off the coast of Viet Nam - Naval Gunfire Fire Support mission, Vietnam, during the Ceasefire Campaign. (Photo © Michael Schibly) |
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June 1973: the Rose Festival at Portland, Oregon - Meyerkord is inboard, alongside the seawall, immediately forward of the Coast Guard cutter. (Photo © Michael Schibly) |
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February or March 1975: South China Sea - Taken from USS Coral Sea (CVA 43). (Photo © Phil Toy) |
Phil Toy |
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early 1975: the South China Sea - Meyerkord shown from her ASW helo. (Photo © Michael Schibly) |
Mike Schibly |
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June 1975: Hong Kong - Meyerkord shown anchored in Hong Kong Harbor while on a port visit. (Photo © Michael Schibly) |
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March 1975: the Gulf of Siam - Taken during Operation Eagle Pull, the ships of TG 76.4 gathered around USS Vega (AF 59) for replenishment. The flagship USS Okinawa (LPH 3), Vancouver (LPD 2), Ramsey (DEG 2) and Meyerkord (DE 1058) are in attendance. |
Richard Spring
CMDCM(SW/AW),
USN(Ret.) |
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1977: San Diego Harbor - Taken while on a harbor tour cruise. |
John W. Robbins |
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24 April 1979: At sea - An aerial starboard beam view of Meyerkord underway. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-86-11684 from the Defense Visual Information Center ) |
Navsource |
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24 April 1979: At sea - An aerial starboard beam view of Meyerkord underway. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-86-11683 from the DVIC ) |
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1 July 1982: San Diego, Cal. - Stern view of the frigates USS Bagley (FF 1069), with opened helicopter hangar, and Meyerkord docked next to the destroyer tender USS Samuel Gompers (AD 37). (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-82-10509 by Norman Polmar from the DVIC) |
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14 April 1983: At sea - An aerial port bow view of the battleship USS New Jersey (BB 62) underway with Meyerkord to starboard. (U.S. Navy photo DVID ##DN-SC-84-04672 by PH2 D. Smith from the DVIC ) |
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14 April 1983: At sea - An aerial port bow view of the battleship USS New Jersey (BB 62) underway with Meyerkord to starboard. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-0467 by PH2 D. Smith from the DVIC ) |
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14 April 1983: At sea - An aerial starboard bow view of the battleship USS New Jersey (BB 62) underway with Meyerkord to starboard. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-04674 by PH2 D. Smith from the DVIC ) |
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15 April 1983: At sea - Aerial starboard bow view of the battleship USS New Jersey (BB 62) (right) and Meyerkord. The ships are part of a task group underway off the coast of California. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-83-08974 by PH1 S. Smith from the DVIC ) |
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15 April 1983: At sea - Aerial starboard bow view of the battleship USS New Jersey (BB 62) (right) and Meyerkord. The ships are part of a task group underway off the coast of California. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-83-08979 by PH1 S. Smith from the DVIC ) |
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1 October 1987: Crewmen gather at the rail of the frigate Meyerkord. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-88-02225 from DefenseImagery.mil) |
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1 February 1991: Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hi. - Meyerkord departs from the naval station. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-92-04475 by OS2 John Bouvia from the DVIC ) |
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6 June 1991: Portland, Ore. - Pacific Fleet ships tied up at a dock during Portland's annual Rose Festival include, left, back to front, the destroyer USS David R. Ray (DD 971), the frigates Meyerkord and USS Marvin Shields (FF 1066); right, back to front, the guided missile cruisers USS Worden (CG 18) and USS Fox (CG 33) and the frigate USS Barbey (FF 1088). (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-08271 by PH1 Alex Hyde from the DVIC ) |
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6 June 1991: Portland, Ore. - Pacific Fleet ships tied up at a dock during Portland's annual Rose Festival include the destroyer USS David R. Ray (DD 971), the frigates Meyerkord and USS Marvin Shields (FF 1066). (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-08273 by PH1 Alex Hyde from the DVIC ) |
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27 July 1996: Naval Inactive ship Maintence Facility, Bremerton, Wash. - Meyerkord (FF 1058), Hepburn (FF 1055) and Knox (FF 1052) in mothballs, nested at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. (Photos by Gilbert Gyssels) |
Gilbert Gyssels |
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