USS Whipple ( FF - 1062 ) The USS " Whipple " ( DE - 1062 / FF - 1062 ) was a " Knox " - class destroyer , later redesignated as a frigate in the United States Navy . This was the third ship of the United States Navy named in honor of Captain Abraham Whipple ( 1733 – 1819 ) , who served in the Continental Navy . Construction . " Whipple " was laid down on 24 April 1967 at Seattle , Washington , by the Todd Shipyards Corporation ; launched on 12 April 1968 ; sponsored by Mrs . Kirkland B . Alexander ; and commissioned on 22 August 1970 , Cmdr . Jack Campbell in command . " Whipple " conducted sea trials from 24 to 26 September before returning to the Puget Sound Navy Yard , Bremerton , Washington , for fitting - out availability from 27 to 30 September . On 1 October , the escort ship proceeded to Nanoose , British Columbia , for a visit prior to further trials at Carr Inlet , Washington . Operational history . 1967 - 1972 . On 9 October , the ship got underway for San Diego and made port four days later . " Whipple " departed the west coast on the 16th , bound for her new home port , Pearl Harbor , and duty with the Cruiser - Destroyer Force , Pacific Fleet . Soon after her arrival on the 22d , she commenced local operations in the Hawaiian area which lasted until 20 November when she tied up alongside tender " Bryce Canyon " ( AD - 36 ) for availability which ran until 4 December . Five days later , while engaged in local operations , the destroyer escort investigated an unidentified submarine contact off the Barking Sands Missile Test Range , Kauai . Following that hunt , " Whipple " resumed local cruising through 20 December . Returning to her home port the following day , the escort ship commenced a holiday upkeep period which lasted through 13 January 1971 . She then conducted weapons trials off Hawaii before undergoing preshake - down tests . On 8 February , " Whipple " commenced shakedown which included underway training exercises and the ship ' s first battle problem . Termination of the shakedown period on 19 March was soon followed by availability at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard . On 1 April — while undergoing yard work which lasted into July — the escort ship was assigned to newly formed Destroyer Squadron ( DesRon ) 33 . After sea trials in late August , the ship commenced weapons trials . From 4 to 10 October , the ship performed plane - guard duties for " Constellation " ( CVA - 64 ) , while additionally conducting antiaircraft and surface gunnery exercises . A dependents ' cruise to Lahaina , a Navy Day " open house , " and host - ship duties to Australian destroyer HMAS " Hobart " occupied " Whipple " through 25 October , after which time she conducted further trials and gunnery shoots . " Whipple " underwent upkeep for the first four days of November before she got underway on 5 November for the filming of the at - sea phase of a Hawaii Five - O television episode . From 8 to 18 November , " Whipple " participated in SEATO exercise RIMPAC - 4 , conducting antisubmarine warfare exercises in company with Australian , New Zealand , Canadian , Japan ese , and American units . Following her return to Hawaiian waters , " Whipple " conducted further trials and began preparations for a Western Pacific ( WestPac ) deployment . On 27 January 1972 , " Whipple " departed Pearl Harbor in company with the rest of DesRon 33 and proceeded via Midway and Guam to the Philippines . The ship ' s subsequent Manila stopover , where she made port on 13 February , coincided with the initial work - up phase for SEATO exercise " Seahawk . " Naval forces of the United Kingdom , Australia , New Zealand , the Philippines , and Thailand , as well as the United States , participated in these exercises . Accordingly , " Whipple " , in company with Australian carrier HMAS " Melbourne " , took part in the simulated convoy escort operation . Upon detachment from " Seahawk , " " Whipple " stopped at Subic Bay for maintenance prior to proceeding to the Gulf of Tonkin to relieve " Higbee " ( DD - 806 ) as Positive Identification and Radar Advisory Zone ( PIRAZ ) ship . After taking up station on 28 February , " Whipple " performed escort duties besides conducting her regular patrols . Her PIRAZ work during this time was light , as reduced air activity over North Vietnam was accomplished by low visibility and a cancellation of many scheduled flights . While " Whipple " operated in company with " Parsons " ( DDG - 33 ) on PIRAZ duties , the escort ship ' s electronic " eyes " maintained the air " picture " for the northern half of the Gulf of Tonkin . The destroyer escort next took up plane - guard duties for " Hancock " ( CVA - 19 ) before providing gunfire support in Military Region 1 for the South Vietnam ese Army ' s 3d Division . " Whipple " conducted 52 missions and expended 2 , 361 rounds of 5 - inch ammunition . Night harassment and interdiction fire against unobserved area targets comprised the majority of the missions . On some occasions , " Whipple " operated in conjunction with aerial spotters who directed the destroyer escort ' s fire on enemy troop movements , coastal defense guns , artillery sites , and tanks . During " Whipple ' s " first gunfire support assignment on 11 April , the ship twice dueled enemy shore guns , with enemy shells impacting within 150 and of the ship . For this action , " Whipple " received the Combat Action Ribbon . From 20 to 24 April , " Whipple " received repairs to her gun from " Hector " ( AR - 7 ) and Mobile Technical Unit 13 . Moored alongside the repair ship in Danang harbor in the daytime , the ship would patrol off the harbor mouth in the evening . Upon completion of gun repairs , the escort ship joined " Tripoli " ( LPH - 10 ) for " Freedom Porch " strikes . After a brief period planeguarding on " Dixie " and " Yankee " stations for " Hancock " , " Whipple " received a needed upkeep at Danang from 3 to 10 May while " Piedmont " ( AD - 17 ) replaced the escort ' s gun . She then returned to " Yankee " Station where she once more operated with " Hancock " , conducting escort and plane - guarding operations through June . Following availability at Subic Bay and a visit to Hong Kong , " Whipple " returned to the line and provided gunfire support in the vicinity of Point " Claudia " for the Republic of Vietnam ' s 1st and 3d Divisions . From 17 to 25 June , she fired harassment and interdiction missions at night and made runs during daylight hours in which she was aided by OV - 1 Mohawk s which pinpointed enemy bunker complexes , rocket sites , and supply routes . On 26 June , " Whipple " moved north to the vicinity of Point " Allison " to provide gunfire support for Operation LAM SON 72 . Coastal defense sites in the Demilitarized Zone ( DMZ ) and point targets in the Cua Viet River region felt the sting of salvos she fired in preparation for a South Vietnamese Marine Corps counter - offensive . Continuing to provide gunfire support for LAM SON 72 , " Whipple " received a call for help at dusk on 5 July . Vietnamese marines — under heavy attack by tank - supported North Vietnamese Army infantry — radioed for immediate assistance . The escort ship — the first ship in the vicinity to do so — soon answered the call . Newport News ( CA - 148 ) subsequently opened fire with her guns to parry the North Vietnamese thrust . " Whipple " returned to planeguarding duties from 9 to 17 July — this time for " Saratoga " ( CVA - 60 ) — and continued combat operations in the Gulf of Tonkin . Following this duty , the escort ship returned to Subic Bay on the 18th for upkeep which lasted until 27 July , when the ship departed Philippine waters , bound for Vietnam . En route , heavy seas damaged the fiberglass gun shield , forcing a change of plans and a return to Subic Bay . Following in - port repairs , " Whipple " joined Task Group ( TG ) 77 . 6 — based around " America " ( CVA - 66 ) — bound for Yankee Station . Upon relief by " James E . Kyes " ( DD - 787 ) as screen commander , " Whipple " put about for the Philippines and joined her squadron mates for the homeward - bound voyage to Pearl Harbor . After stops en route at Guam and Midway for fuel , the destroyer escort made port at Pearl Harbor on 25 August . Underway training , convoy and antisubmarine warfare exercises , and testing of the ship ' s ASROC occupied " Whipple " during October . November and December saw the ship undergo restricted availability at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard . 1973 - 1977 . " Whipple " conducted post - availability shakedown in January 1973 and commenced a period of routine training and exercises which continued until 14 May when the destroyer escort departed Pearl Harbor for her second WestPac deployment . She proceeded to Japan and arrived at Yokosuka on 24 May . Two days later , " Whipple " sailed for Taiwan and arrived there on 30 May . Availability alongside tender " Prairie " ( AD - 15 ) preceded the escort ship ' s deployment in Vietnamese waters , and she departed Taiwan on 5 June , bound for " Yankee Station . " Deployed as picket - escort from 8 to 30 June in the Gulf of Tonkin , " Whipple " returned to Subic Bay for repairs to her rudder . The destroyer escort conducted sea trials before once more returning to " Yankee Station " as an escort for " Coral Sea " ( CVA - 43 ) . " Whipple " visited Hong Kong from 1 to 8 August and screened " Coral Sea " back to Subic Bay before returning to Tonkin Gulf for picket - escort and PIRAZ duties . This line deployment concluded on 6 September when the vessel departed for upkeep at Singapore . Following her return to the Philippines , the ship took part in Amphibious Exercise PEGASA II , off Mindoro . At its conclusion on 2 October , " Whipple " headed toward " Yankee Station " for another deployment as picket . During that assignment , typhoons Nora and Opal swirled through the Tonkin Gulf giving " Whipple " plenty of experience in storm evasion . Following a return to Subic Bay for upkeep , " Whipple " made a 21 - day , round - trip voyage to Colombo , Sri Lanka , to " show the flag . " On the passage to Colombo , she carried several tons of bulk foodstuffs and miscellaneous supplies for the small American community in Sri Lanka . Once the escort ship arrived at Colombo , she served as central mailing point for Christmas packages from the Americans there to friends and relatives in the United States and elsewhere . After departing Sri Lanka on 31 October , " Whipple " proceeded to the Philippines and arrived at Subic Bay on 8 November to prepare for a voyage home . She got underway on 20 November ; made brief stops at Guam and Midway for refueling ; and , in company with her squadron mates , steamed single - file into Pearl Harbor on 7 December . The destroyer escort spent the remainder of the year 1973 in a leave and upkeep stand - down period . " Whipple " resumed local operations out of Pearl Harbor and engaged in routine exercises , inspections , and maneuvers through August . Early in September 1974 , the ship commenced preparations for her third WestPac deployment and , on 1 October , got underway for Subic Bay . Arriving on the 16th , the destroyer escort conducted type training exercises in the Philippines from 23 to 26 October before receiving orders to make for Ambon , Indonesia , for a " showing - the - flag " and goodwill mission . On 27 October , the ship departed Subic and headed south in the teeth of a typhoon . Upon making port at Ambon on the morning of 1 November , " Whipple " began carrying out the diplomacy of a goodwill visit . Her crew distributed " Project - Handclasp " material , painted a school , and topped off her visit with an unusual and time - consuming refuelling operation — a three - day , round - the - clock affair — utilizing tanker trucks . Underway again on 4 November , " Whipple " made for Subic Bay once more . After arriving at the Philippine base on 8 November , the destroyer escort commenced restricted availability which lasted until the 16th when the ship sailed for Kaohsiung , Taiwan . " Whipple " undertook ASW operations out of Kaohsiung before proceeding via Subic Bay to Hong Kong . The escort ship arrived at the British Crown Colony on 2 December before once more heading for Philippine waters where she remained for the remainder of the year 1974 . After celebrating New Year ' s 1975 at Subic Bay , " Whipple " proceeded to Buckner Bay , Okinawa , for local operations which lasted through 10 January . Upon reaching Philippine waters three days later , " Whipple " joined Task Group 77 . 5 , consisting of " Coral Sea " , " Knox " ( DE - 1052 ) , and " Gridley " ( DLG - 21 ) , in local Philippine operating areas . Detached from TG 77 . 5 on 27 January , " Whipple " conducted ASW exercises with " Reasoner " ( DE - 1063 ) before rejoining " Coral Sea " and planeguarding and steaming in company with the carrier through 2 February . After one week in port , " Whipple " steamed out of Subic Bay on 9 February , bound for Pearl Harbor . Resuming local operations in the Hawaiian area after her return on 22 February , " Whipple " conducted routine exercises and maneuvers through the summer of the year . On 1 July 1975 , " Whipple ' s " designation was changed to FF - 1062 during a Navy - wide reclassification . On August , " Whipple " entered Drydock No . 4 at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for a major overhaul which was to include reconfiguring her superstructure to accommodate a LAMPS system . " Whipple " completed overhaul on 24 March 1976 . The ensuing months were spent in refresher training in the Hawaiian area where the ship obtained certification over the full range of her weapons and propulsion systems . The period October to December was spent in preparation for a forthcoming deployment to the western Pacific . On 3 January 1977 , " Whipple " departed on her fourth deployment since commissioning . From that date until her return to Pearl Harbor , the frigate operated as a part of the 7th Fleet in various advanced exercises . Following post - deployment standdpwn , " Whipple " resumed training operations in the Hawaiian area until December when she entered the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for a restricted availability . 1978 - 1995 . Completing her repair work on 3 February 1978 , " Whipple " resumed the pattern of operations out of her home port which she had assumed following the previous deployment . On 3 April , the ship departed Hawaii for a four - nation naval exercise , " RIMPAC ' 78 , " which took place in the Central Pacific . She returned on 22 April . Further exercises followed as the ship prepared for another extended deployment to the western Pacific . " Whipple " departed Pearl Harbor on 24 June ( HSL - 37 Detachment 1 embarked ) . During the period 5 to 10 July , " Whipple " made the first visit to Guadalcanal , Solomon Islands , by a United States Navy ship since 1957 . For most of the remainder of the year , the ship operated with the 7th Fleet throughout the reaches of the western Pacific . On 22 August 1978 , the crew of " Whipple " rescued 410 Vietnamese refugees from a rickety 60 ' boat in a storm - tossed South China Sea . The rescue was performed without any injuries more serious than bruises . Of these 410 , half were under the age of 16 . As Whipple turned and dipped into the seas for Hong Kong , one of the English - speaking refugees sloshed through the radar room with an escort to the bridge for an interview with the captain . " After 3 days of hiding in the woods near Vung - Tao , four stormy days at sea , and growing cracks in the hull , they were waiting to die . In addition , not one of these individuals was a mariner . No one knew how to properly sail a vessel . " Two days later , Whipple entered Junk Bay , Hong Kong , and transferred our grateful guests to the U . N . High Commission for refugees . The incident attracted international attention and as such , members of the media were out in mass . The captain conducted a news conference on the flight deck and described the ordeal . Through mail from our families , we discovered later that we had the honor of Walter Cronkites ' s ( and the nation ' s ) attention back home . " Whipple " returned to Pearl Harbor on 15 December having met all operational commitments during her deployment . " Whipple " was decommissioned on 14 February 1992 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 11 January 1995 . She was subsequently donated to the Mexican Navy and renamed ARM " Mina " . " Whipple " received two battle stars for service in Vietnam .