USS LEXINGTON Former Crew Member

Name: White, David R.

Service Dates: April 1971- May 1972

Rank/Duty Assigned: YN4, Operations Office Yeoman

Lexington was my “easy” duty assignment after Vietnam. I served in HQUSMACV in Saigon the year before. Lexington was only 220 miles from home so they sent me there. Great Duty! Out on Monday, back on Thursday. Captain Jack Davis was great. I wrote the messages to acquire the launch he had converted for deep sea fishing. We always did a fish call on the way back from Corpus. I was aboard when Lex ran aground about a 1⁄2 mile from the pier on Santa Rosa Island. I left the ship just before she went to Boston for repairs. The Navy taught me many things, all which served me well. I did my best, and I remember one full dress inspection on the flight deck when an officer asked me excitedly, “where did you earn those?” referring to my medals. I was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal and the Joint Service Commendation Medal by General Creighton Abrams in Vietnam.