History of the USS Garcia (DE/FF-1040)

USS Garcia (DE/FF-1040): History, Patrols, Crews

Commissioning

The USS Garcia was the namesake of the Garcia Class of destroyer escorts (and later, frigates). The Garcia was named in honor of Marine Private Fernando Luis Garcia, who was the first Puerto Rican recipient of the Medal of Honor when he was posthumously awarded the medal for his actions in the Korean War.

The contract to build the Garcia was awarded to Bethlehem Steel’s San Francisco division on June 22, 1961. Her keel was laid down on Oct. 16, 1962; she was launched on Oct. 31, 1963. She was commissioned on Dec. 21, 1964.

Underway

The Garcia served as part of the Atlantic Fleet during her career, primarily serving in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. On several occasions, however, she was deployed to the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean.

During her career, the Garcia won the Navy Unit Commendation twice. The first was awarded in 1970, with the second awarded 16 years later. She also won one Battle Efficiency “E” for outstanding combat preparedness, in 1980.

In 1983, the Garcia was part of a multi-national peacekeeping force sent to the coast of Lebanon. From August to September, she performed numerous fire support missions against enemy positions in the city of Beirut and the nearby hills.

In 1986, the Garcia was deployed to the Mediterranean as part of the 6th Fleet, operating off the coast of Libya. Tensions between the United States and Libya were high at the time, with several Libyan gunboats attempting to attack the American fleet, operating in the Gulf of Sidra below Libyan leader Mummar Kaddafi’s “Line of Death.” The Garcia served with the 6th fleet from January to March, leaving the region shortly before the U.S. airstrikes on Libya as part of Operation El Dorado Canyon on April 15.

Though the Garcia started her career as a destroyer escort, she would retire as a frigate. The Garcia, along with the rest of the Knox class, was re-classified as a frigate on June 30, 1975. She was re-designated as FF-1040.

Decommissioning

The Garcia was decommissioned on Jan. 31, 1989, and struck from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. She was transferred to the Pakistani Navy, where she served until January 1994. She was sold for scrap on March 29, 1994.

Characteristics of the USS Garcia (Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Class and type: Garcia class frigate (Formerly destroyer escort)
Displacement: 2,624 tons (light)
Length: 414 ft 6 in (126.3 m)
Beam: 44 ft 1 in (13.4 m)
Draught: 24 ft 6 in (7.5 m)
Propulsion: 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 1 Westinghouse turbine, 35,000 shp, single screw
Speed: 27 knots
Complement: 16 officers, 231 enlisted
Sensors and processing systems:
AN/SPS-40 air search radar
AN/SPS-10 surface search radar
AN/SQS-26 bow mounted sonar
Armament: 2 x 5"/38 Mk 30(2x1)
1 8-tube ASROC Mk16 launcher (16 missiles)
6 x 12.75 in (324mm) Mk 32 (2x3) torpedo tubes, Mk 46 torpedoes
2 x MK 37 torpedo tubes (fixed, stern) (removed later)
Aircraft carried: 1 x SH-2F Seasprite LAMPS I

Career:

Name: USS Garcia (FF-1040)
Awarded: June 22, 1961
Builder: Bethlehem Steel (San Francisco, California)
Laid down: October 16, 1962
Launched: October 31, 1963
Sponsored by: Daisy Garcia de Alvarez
Acquired: December 3, 1964
Commissioned: DE-1040 December 21, 1964
Decommissioned: January 31, 1989
Reclassified: FF-1040 June 30, 1975*
Struck: January 31, 1989
Homeport: Newport, Rhode Island
Fate: Scrapped March 29, 1994

Timeline:

June 1961: Order to build USS Garcia awarded
October 1962: Keel of USS Garcia laid
October 1963: USS Garcia launched
December 1964: USS Garcia commissioned
1970: USS Garcia wins first Navy Unit Citation
June 1975: USS Garcia re-classified as a frigate, re-designated FF-1040
1983: USS Garcia deploys off the coast of Lebanon as part of multi-national peacekeeping force
1986: USS Garcia wins second Navy Unit Citation
January 1989: USS Garcia decommissioned

Crewmembers of the USS Garcia:

An unofficial list of crew members that served on the USS Garcia can be found on the unofficial navy website at: http://navysite.de. This list is compiled by former crewmembers that voluntarily register. Some quoted comments from former crewmembers are listed below; many more are available on the source website at the following Web address:
http://navysite.de/crewlist/commandlist.php?commandid=925

George Horn (served October 1982—July 1984): “This was my second dept head tour as Supply Officer. Great personnel to work with. Fond memories of Beirut, GITMO and steak and lobster on paper plates!”

James Griffin (served June 1982—June 1984): “Came aboard when the ship visited St. John's Canada. Remembered we missed the Granada adventure. Sailed solo without the task force practically the entire cruise. Would like to know if anyone has a extra copy of that cruise, lost mine to a hurricane.”

Harry Harless (served August 1982—June 1985): “Long time ago the greasy "G" ,but remember Tom, UPP, Casey, lotta good memories from the "MED".”

Links:
http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org/destroyerspostwwii.htm
http://navysite.de/ff/ff1040.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Garcia_(FF-1040)
http://navysite.de/crewlist/commandlist.php?commandid=925

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