NameLaurence K Paddack
Retirement/Discharge DateJune 1981
Tour 1 DatesJuly 1963 - July 1964
Tour 1 Rank/Rateltjg
Tour 1 Divisionmissile officer
NATO Mixed Manned CrewNo
CommentI was the ships missile office and I was relieved by a German Naval Office, rank of Lt.. Don't remember the name of the officer. The captains name was Fortson , Thomas CDR(sp). I was on the Adams briefly (1 mo.?) and then to the DLG squadron leader which was the first all guided missile destroyer squadron, the USS Dewey (sp?), as the squadron Missile office. The Biddle was a beautiful riding ship except in plane guard and into the wallows of the North Atlantic. The missile crew scored a hit on a French drone while in casrep condition with the launcher down. The missile chief and his crew manually cranked the launcher and maintained elevation and long enough for me to get a firm lock on with the Tartar. The drone splashed.
Other DDG-2 Class ships served on:USS John King DDG-3
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The Crews of DDG-5
USS Biddle (5/5/62 - 7/28/64)
USS Claude V. Ricketts (7/28/64 - 10/31/89)

Below are the names of the men that, together, made up the crews of the USS Biddle and USS Claude V. Ricketts during her 27 year career.  The names below represent those who have registered on this site and do no comprise the whole of the men who served on board the DDG-5 during her career.  It is estimated that at least 4000 men served on board the DDG-5 during her lifetime.  If you were a crew member of either the Biddle or the Ricketts and you have not yet done so, you can register here.
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