class destroyer escort. The ship was named after Corporal Charles Joseph Berry, USMC, of Lorain, Ohio, who died in action during the seizure of Iwo Jima in World War II. Corporal BERRY was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for falling on a hand grenade to shield his fellow Marines.
The ship was build by Avondale Marine Ways, Avondale, Louisiana. Her keel was laid on October 29, 1958, and she was christened by Mrs. Carl BERRY, Mother of Corporal BERRY, on March 17, 1959. Commissioning was held at the U.S. Naval Base, Charleston, South Carolina on November 25, 1959 with RADM C. V. RICKETTS, USN as guest speaker. LCDR Rembrandt C. ROBINSON was the CHARLES BERRY's first Commanding Officer.
Enroute to her homeport of San Diego via the Panama Canal, the CHARLES BERRY visited Acapulco, Mexico. The ship received personal congratulations from Admiral Arleigh BURKE, and the Ambassador to Mexico on the outstanding contributions to the United States - Mexico relations created by the visit. The ship conpleted her maiden voyage on February 3, 1960 when she arrived in San Diego to join Escort Squadron Three.
CHARLES BERRY completed her shakedown training on April 1, 1960 and following her final acceptance trials on April 28, 1960, she became an accepted member of the Cruiser-Destroyer Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
After spending the month of May in the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, CHARLES BERRY departed San Diego on June 14, 1960, for her first Western Pacific deployment. Enroute to join the Seventh Fleet she was assigned to Commander Naval Forces, Marianas for surveillance of the Caroline, Marianas and Bonin Trust Territories. During June and July 1960, the CHARLES BERRY visited twenty one separate islands between Hawaii and Japan in carrying out this surveillance. In addition, the ship stopped at kwajalein, Guam and Saipan.
Upon arrival in Yokosuka, Japan on 23 July 1960, CHARLES BERRY joined Task Group 70.4 for ASW operations with the Seventh Fleet Hunter-Killer Team. Upon return to Yokosuka on August 13, 1960 the ship hosted a buffet dinner on board in honor of Vice Admiral NAKAYAMA, Commander of the Japanese Self-Defense Force.
On September 2, 1960 the ship visited Tokushima, Japan and participated in the ancient Awa Odore Festival. The CHARLES BERRY entertained hundreds of Japanese guests on board, and left about 3000 pounds of Operation Handclasp food and clothing for the thousands of Japanese recently left homeless by a typhoon.
Enroute to Hong Kong on 7 September 1960, a young Chinese fisherman was rescued from a bamboo raft after being adrift for seven days in the Taiwan Straights. For this rescue, CNO and the acting Chief of the General Staff, Republic of China, commended the ship.
After two weeks in Hong Kong as station ship, the CHARLES BERRY was assigned to a good will cruise of the Southern Philippines as the Flagship of Admiral J. M. Carson, Commander Naval Forces, Philippines. From 24 September to 8 October 1960 the ship visited seven southern Philippine ports. Former Prresident Sergo OSMENA and American Consul Mr. Robert YOST were among the thousands of visitors during this short period. The crew was commended for their conduct during this cruise by President Carlos P. GARCIA of the Republic of the Philippines. After a brief visit to Manila the ship arrived in Subic Bay, Luzon for upkeep on 10 October 1960.
The CHARLES BERRY left the Philippines on 13 October 1960 and was assigned duty on the Taiwan Patrol from 17 October to 9 November 1960 at Kaohsuing, Taiwan. On 6 November 1960 while at Kaohsiung, LCDR Harrison C. Murry, USN relieved LCDR R. C. ROBINSON and became the CHARLES BERRY'S second Commanding Officer.
Following her return to Yokosuka via Okinawa, the CHARLES BERRY completed her WESTPAC deployment on 2 December 1960 and arrived in San Diego on 18 December 1960. For her achievements during 1960, the ship was nominated for the Our Navy Magazine "Ship of the Year" award by both COMSEVENTHFLT and COMCRUDESPAC. She was selected for honorable mention for this award in the final balloting.
After completing one month of leave and upkeep, CHARLES BERRY commenced a period of three months of type training and operational exercises. On 10 May the ship left San Diego for the Puget Sound area. Sonar accuracy and noise level measurements were taken during operations in Dabob Bay, and Carr Inlet. During the three week stay, visits were made to Seattle, and Bellingham, Washington. CHARLES BERRY returned to San Diego on June 1.
Local operations were conducted during June and July, and on 1 August 1961, the ship entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard to commence a six and one half month overhaul and installation of the Norwegian Terne III Weapon System.
In mid February, upon completion of the Terne Installation, the ship returned to Dabob Bay and Carr Inlet for another set of Sonar Accuracy and noise level tests. Following the sonar tests, CHARLES BERRY conducted the first Turne Rocket firings during the three week Technical Evaluation of the system which commenced on 5 March in San Diego. Successful completion of the Tech Eval certified the ship ready for the Operational Evaluation to be conducted by OPTEVFOR in Key West, Florida early in the summer.
Three weeks of refresher training folowed by a restricted availability in Long Beach Naval Shipyard came upon completion of the Tech Eval. On May 4, 1962, the ship left Long Beach for the Operational Evaluation in Key West. Daily operations were conducted during the months of May, June and until completion of the evaluation on 18 July.
On 7 July, at Key West, LCDR Robert E. WEEKS, USN relieved CDR Harrison C. Murry to become the CHARLES BERRY's third Commanding Officer.
Upon completion of the Operational Evaluation, the ship was commended by COMOPTEVFOR for the fin cooperation and performance displayed during the evaluation. CHARLES BERRY left Key West on 20 July to return to San Diego on 1 August. Local operations were conducted during the months of August through November. On 9-10 October Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Seven inspected the ship for employment readiness and found the general tone of maintenance and cleanliness to be outstanding.
CHARLES BERRY's second WESTPAC cruise commenced on 24 November as she sailed for Pearl Harbor and then on to Guam, Marianas Islands. Seven tons of Project Handclasp clothing and medicine were delivered to Commander Naval Forces Marianas for the Guamanian people who were just recently devastated by a typhoon.
The Christmas and New Year period was spent in Subic Bay, Philippines Islands. The ship departed the Philippines on 2 January 1963, and was assigned to the Taiwan Patrol Force until 3 February. During this period, the CHARLES BERRY paid visits to the Taiwan ports of Kaohsiung and Keelung. From Taiwan, the ship proceeded to Hong Kong for a week's visit, during which she received the Servicemen's Guides Meritorious Conduct Ashore Award.
Departing Hong Kong on 11 February, the ship returned to Subic Bay for a week's upkeep in preparation for a Southern Philippine Islands Goodwill Cruise. With 10 officers and enlisted men from the Philippine Navy aboard for training, CHARLES BERRY visited the ports of Cebu City, General Santos, and Jolo. The American Consul, Cebu City, Mr. Lyle Lane was also embarked for the two week cruise. Debarking at Jolo at the end of the tour on 2 March, Mr. LANE commended all hands for their performance and conduct during the hightly successful visit.
After a brief stop in Subic, the ship participated in a week-long Hunter-Killer exercise with USS YORKTOWN and assigned escorts. CHARLES BERRY then returned to Hong Kong on 13 March for two weeks as station ship before proceeding to Yokosuka, Japan, and a week of upkeep. The ship is scheduled to visit six Japanese ports on a voyage around the island of Honshu before returning to the United States in late May.