USS Nicholas Comes Face to Face With Its Proud Tradition

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, APRIL 29, 2004 — Sailors on board the USS Nicholas (FFG 47) were treated to a rare bit of history April 29th, as they welcomed four very special guests on board. The first two were descendants of Major Samuel Nicholas, Continental Marines, who is the namesake for the ship and the first commissioned officer in the Continental Naval Service. Next was a plank owner from the Fletcher-class destroyer USS Nicholas (DD 449), one of the most decorated ships of World War II. And finally, Mr. Dave McComb, a longtime friend to the US Navy with a special love for the Fletcher-class destroyers, of which USS Nicholas (DD 449) was the first to be commissioned in the early years of World War II. All of the guests on board helped bring alive USS Nicholas’ motto, “Carrying on a Proud Tradition.”
   USS Nicholas kicked off the visit with a luncheon in the wardroom with the ship’s officers and Command Master Chief Sean Graham. Over the course of the meal, SM1 Joe Moll (USN RET) shared his experiences on DD 449, from the battle of Guadalcanal to escorting the USS Missouri into Tokyo Bay for the final surrender of Japan. Following the meal, Dave McComb, a man highly active in the reunion efforts of Fletcher-class destroyer crews and their destroyer squadrons, presented the Nicholas wardroom and crew’s mess with lithographs of Naval Artist Tom Freeman’s painting “Triumph and Peace.” The paintings portray one of the proudest moments of DD 449’s history—being selected to escort battleship USS Missouri into Tokyo Bay for the formal surrender of Japan in World War II.
   The sailors of Nicholas then assembled on the mess decks to learn about their history. Mr. McComb delivered several presentations detailing the history of both FFG 47’s predecessor ships and the role of DD 449’s squadron, Destroyer Squadron TWENTY ONE in World War II. SM1 Joe Moll chimed in several times in these presentations, adding his memories and “sea stories” to help give the present-day Nicholas sailors a feeling of what it was like to be a World War II destroyerman. Joe’s best story described his action in the rescue of 700 sailors recovered from the sunken cruiser Helena during a night torpedo and gun battle. Joe received the Silver Star for his heroic rescue efforts.
   In addition, Mr. McComb dressed in period regalia to present Major Nicholas to the crew in a way they would remember. Having the descendants of Major Nicholas, Diana Spies Pope and Robert Spies, standing beside Dave in the uniform of a Continental Marines officer added to the realism.
   The biggest news for the crew was the announcement of an invitation to the Sailors of present-day Nicholas from the Sailors of DD-449 to join them in Mobile Bay, Alabama, at the next reunion of DD 449 in May of 2005. This also came with an invitation to all past sailors of FFG 47, acknowledging the ties between the ships, making DD 449’s reunion group also one for FFG 47. Cmdr. Swallow then told the crew that plans were already being made to ensure the ship’s presence at the reunion.
   That evening, the honored guests of the Nicholas hosted a dinner out in Norfolk. Past and present Nicholas sailors swapped stories and forged bonds that brought the two crews closer together. After learning the storied history of DD 449, the sailors of FFG 47 came away with a clearer picture of the men who fought before them, and a better understanding of what level of performance is required to live up to their ship’s motto—“Carrying on a Proud Tradition.”