Cradle To Grave

USS Hoel DDG 13 Writing Project By Rob Smith is ready for review for any interested people!

November 4, 2021

Warm Greetings Shipmates,

My ongoing 5 year+ (1,560+/-pages and counting) Cradle To Grave, HOEL DDG 13 History Writing Project, has finally reached a point that I am comfortable sharing it electronically in its entirety with all of you, for free of course thanks to John Helsley. John Helsley converted it to Google Drive for me earlier this year which I have been using to wrap it up...for now. John has just placed a link for it on his recently updated sharp looking HOEL Website for anyone interested in reviewing. (After jumping through several Google related update hoops as I understand.)

I won't call my Cradle To Grave Writing Project finished because I look upon it as a work in progress. I will continue to tweak and correct errors which you will no doubt discover as I had to edit my own work. Not recommended for any author! I anticipate maybe adding more should new material show itself in the future.

I encourage you to at least read the Dedication and Introduction in addition to your Specific Era Chapters. Towards the end of the Introduction (see link Table of Contents) gives you an idea on how to pick and choose the pages of your specific Era that you may want to print for a possible memory book.

I color coded all "Operation Shad" and Vietnam Combat tours for quick easy access for VA claim REFERENCE related submittal purposes. Color code charts are located at the beginning of each applicable chapter.

I also have a separate chapter on Misc. and Unique Occurrences, including but not limited to shipboard personnel injuries/deaths, etc. that were reported in the official ship deck logs. Along with several other chapters of interest.

Any questions, suggestions, corrections, including sharing more material with me, I can be reached via my email address noted below.

Sincerely,

Rob Smith

USS Hoel DDG 13

HT2 (73-76)

d.robert.smith.jr@gmail.com