ON BOARD USS STODDARD (DD-566) OFF THE COAST OF QUI NHON, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM NOV 7---FOUR SECONDARY FIRES LIGHTED ENEMY POSITIONS NORTH OF QUI NHON TODAY AS THIS 7TH FLT DESTROYER SHELLED THE AREA.

GUNNERS MATE THIRD CLASS T. E. CAIN OF JOHNSONVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA REPORTED: "AT ONE POINT DURING THE MISSION WE STOPPED FIRING TO COOL THE GUN BARRELS. AS THE SMOKE FROM OUR GUNS LIFTED, I COULD MAKE-OUT TWO FIRES THAT WE HAD STARTED ON THE HILLSIDE."

SIGNALMAN SECOND CLASS BILLY J. BROWN OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA ADDED, "I WAS A PHONE TALKER ON THE BRIDGE DURING THE SHOOTING. AFTER WE SPOTTED THE FIRES, I COULD SEE ALMOST EVERY ROUND DROPPING ONTO THE AREA. IT LOOKED LIKE WE WERE FLATTENING EVERYTHING IN THE VICINITY."

THE AIRBORNE SPOTTER, WORKING WITH THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA'S CAPITAL DIVISION, REPORTED TWO MORE FIRES IGNITED AND "TWO STRUCTURES COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY TWO ROUNDS OF GUNFIRE. THEY'RE NOT THERE ANYMORE."

BEFORE THE MISSION WAS COMPLETED STODDARD'S GUNS HAD DESTROYED FOUR (4) STRUCTURES, HEAVILY DAMAGED SEVEN (7) MORE, DESTROYED A BUNKER, CUT SEVERAL INFILTRATION TRAILS, AND VIRTUALLY ELIMINATED TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIVE (275) YARDS OF TREE-LINE COVER.

A 25-YEAR OLD SAN DIEGO BASED DESTROYER, STODDARD IS COMMANDED BY CDR JAMES E. LACY OF SAN DIEGO.