USS Callaghan DDG 994
1986 San Diego
COmmander James Rennie
Commander James Rennie comes from Wilmington, Delaware.
Graduated from John Dickinson High School. He attended college at the
U.S.Naval Academy and he majored in Physics. He Graduated in 1978.
Commander Rennie served at sea in USS MCCANDLESS (FF 1084)
As Navigator and Main Propulsion Assistant. USS KIDD (DDG 993) as
Combat Information Center Officer; USS Hawes ( FFG 53 ) as Operations
Officer and USS SHREVEPORT ( LPD 12 ) as Operations Officer and
Engineer Officer. He Commanded USS EXCEL ( MSO 439 ); served as Chief
Staff Officer in Patrol Hydrofoil Missile Squadron TWO and as Flag
Secretary for Commander U.S. Seventh Fleet.
Ashore, Commander Rennie served on the U.S.Navy Rifle team
at the U.S. International tryouts, as Navigator Instructor at the
U.S. Naval Academy, and as Space, Information Warfare and Command and
Control Training Officer on OPNAV STAFF. He holds a Master of Arts
degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval
War College.
Commander Rennie is authorized to wear the Meritorious
Service Medal ( with two Gold stars), Navy Commendation Medal (with
gold star ), Navy Achievement Medal (with gold star), Battle
Efficiency Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (with four bronze
stars), Expert Rifle and Expert Pistol Medal.
Commander Rennie is Married to the former Kim Bowie of
Lewiston Main. The Rennie's have three daughters; Kristen, Susan, and
Sara.
Commander James Rennie, the ninth commanding Officer of
the USS Callaghan DDG 994 until the Decommissioning as the ship March
31st 1998 in Everret Washington. I was sent an Official invitation to
attend as I'm sure all the survivors of the former USS Callaghan DD
792.
I alone attended the Decommissioning, I was the only
survivor of the DD 792 there. I was given the VIP treatment and
everyone was most gracious. Commander Rennie and his Family assisted
me in every way including becoming friends. The Decommissioning came
without a hitch. Everything went according to plan. Just as the
history of Both Callaghans, Mission accomplished.
Out of the nine Commanding Officers of the DDG 994, four
were in attendance. Commander Rennie, Retired Admiral John T.Hood,
Admiral Rodney P. Rempt and Admiral William G Sutton. I had the
privilege of meeting Admiral William Sutton when he was the Commander
of the Callaghan in San Diego. Our Survivors Association was having a
reunion in San Diego. Commander Sutton Attended our Reunion Dinner.
Commander Sutton Opened the Callaghan up for complete inspection by
the survivors of the DD 792 and their wives. The Five remaining
former Commanders on the Callaghan were out of the country and on
assignment.
The USS Callaghan DDG 994, was one of four Destroyers
being built for the Shah Pahlexi Of Iran. The four Kidd class
destroyers were near complete when there was a government take over
and the Shah was dethrone by the Ayatollah Khomeine of Iran. This
left the United States with four Brand New Destroyers. One was named
"The Callaghan" It had the latest in electronic equipment. Our
Survivors Association was given Official Invitations to attend the
Commissioning of the USS Callaghan 994 on August 29 1981. Many of our
crew was able to attend, I unfortunately could not.
During the 16 and half years in service, The DDG 994 Made
two complete around the World trips. Making port of calls everywhere.
She completed every assignment with professionalism and dedication.
In 1983 The USS Callaghan DDG 994 pause from its operating
schedule to pay tribute to the officers and men of the crew of the
USS Callaghan DD 792 and of the ship itself. It was on the Latitude
and longitude given where the DD 792 went down. The ceremony included
a 21 gun salute. A video tape was made of the ceremony and available
to the surviving crew of the DD 792.
In late September and early October 1983, the DDG 994 was
on scene for the search and rescue operation for the Korean Air Line
Fight 007. The Callaghan stood nose to nose with the Russian warships
seeking the little black box from the crashed airliner. The airliner
was downed by an attack from a Russian Fighter.
The Callaghan DDG 994 September 27th 1997, detected a high
speed contact off Columbia waters. When the Sun rose the contact was
visual and identified as a high speed cigarette boat. Callaghan
pursed the contact for over three hours while the craft dumped its
load of illegal drugs.. Once completed the craft was able to
accelerate and out ran the Callaghan. It was pursued by one of our
high speed crafts until the cigarette boat reach Columbia territorial
waters. The Callaghan returned and picked up 3.5 metric tons of
cocaine. The bales tested to be pure cocaine and had a street value
at over $1 billion.
Above is Albert E Baab, former Crewmnn of the USS Prichett
DD 561. The USS Prichett was firing at the same kamikazi that sank
the USS Callaghan DD 792. The Prichett also saved a lot of
the Callaghan's crew from the sea. The other person
in the picture is me, Bill Benton.
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