News from Shipmates

I received a note from Fred Butler saying he would not be able to attend this reunion. He is now in an assisted living center in Greenville, SC. His note said:
" Many thanks for you card, posting me on the next reunion in Florida I am now 90 years old and not equal to much traveling. As you will note I am a WW-II sailor , the first officer assigned to the ship in Feb. 1943, in San Francisco. It was a great ship with a great crew"

I also received the following note:
I wanted to let you know that my Dad passed away on March 8, 209. He was 86 years old. His name was Bill Partridge of Hutchinson, KS. Sincerely, Gwen Weidman"

It is encouraging that at this early date I have received notification that 14 shipmates are planning to attend the reunion. I know that I started asking early so I am really pleased that we are already up to a reasonable number planning to attend.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

Sad News

Just recently I received a note from Tom Craigo's daughter. I thought I would share her note with his shipmates.

"I am writing this note to let you know that my dad, Tom Craigo, passed away on November 22nd, 2009 after a brief, but brave battle against bone cancer. My dad lived a wonderful 84 years, and had so many wonderful memories of time spent with family and friends. I know he valued you as a friend, and enjoyed the time he spent with you. Thank you for being an important part of his life.

Sincerely,

/s/ The family of Tom Craigo. Just to let you know he loved his reunions."

Tom served on the Hazelwood 1943 - 1945 and served a cook. Since he was the cook I am sure everybody that was on board at that time would recall him. Tom was at the reunion in 2005 at St. Louis. Here is picture taken at that reunion.

Mailing & E-Mail results through Dec 11

On December 2, I sent 189 E-mails to shipmates as a survey to find out how many may be planning to attend the reunion. When I sent the E-mail, I asked for an automatic reply to be made to me when it was opened on the addressee’s computer. In this way it was easy for me to know if it was received and it was also easy for the recipient to reply by just clicking once.

There were 51 E-mails that I got a receipt from or got an actual reply. Only 5 of the returns said they were sure they would not be able to attend. There were 8 that the E-mail address was not good and could not be delivered. Three of these had a street address available so I sent them a card.

There were 182 postcards sent to those without an E-mail address. So far I have received 9 cards back because the address was not good or it could not be forwarded. Of these, the post office supplied for 5 of them and I sent them a card to their new address. Two of the cards I received, provided me with their E-mail address. Each day I am getting several cards back and updating information.

So far there have been 5 Shipmates who have said they will be attending. That is not including me! As we get more saying they are attending, I will post a list of the attendees so you can be informed of who you will see at the reunion.

In several weeks I plan to send a Post Card to those with E-mail address that have not sent an acknowledgement that they have received the E-mail. I guess some individuals do not check their E-mail very frequently.

Have a Merry Christmas, Jim Julian

First Survey Mailing Made

Today I sent 188 Emails and 183 Post cards asking Shipmates if they will be attending. If you don't get an email or post card survey, make an appropriate comment on this posting and I will get it.

A separate but similar mailing by Postal Service is being made to those that DO NOT have an Email address.

Here is a copy of the Email that was was sent.

Hazelwood shipmate: This Email is being sent to those in our list that HAVE an Email address. Since you have an Email address, you will NOT get a mailing via the Postal Service.

The 2011 Hazelwood reunion will be in Jacksonville, FL, April 27 – 29. The hotel will be determined by May 2010. You can find out the most recent information about the reunion by going to the blog site with the address of:
htpp://dd531-reunion.blogspot.com/

Please complete this questionnaire. If you are sending a check, print this page and mail it to me at: Jim Julian
USS Hazelwood Reunion
318 Salt Creek Drive
North Port, FL 34287

( ) I am planning to go to the reunion and mailing a $30.00 Registration Fee payable to USS HAZELWOOD REUNION – JULIAN. This fee covers mailing costs, hospitality room refreshments and continental breakfasts. It is fully refundable if you do not attend. There will be _____________ people in my group attending. (Your best estimate.)
It is extremely important to have a good estimate of the number planning to attend so I can negotiate the best deal on hotel rates, tours etc.

( ) I am not sure yet. Keep me updated via Email.

( ) I know I CAN NOT attend the 2011 reunion. Keep me informed of the 2011 reunion and future ones via Email.

If you are NOT mailing a check, make an Email reply to let me know your intentions.

Smooth sailing, Jim Julian

If you are not sure how to make a comment, look back at a recent post for information.

I am hoping to get a lot of responses from the email quite quickly. Of course responses from the email survey will take longer.

I will keep everyone posted of the responses on this Blog.

Smooth Sailing, Jim Julian

Mailing, Caps and Comments

MAILING
In the first week of December, I will be making my first mailing to everyone on our mailing list. It will actually be made in 2 groups, US Mail and Email. Anyone who has an Email address will get an Email (No US Mail) and those without an Email address will get a US Mail postcard.

This will be a "survey" to get an idea of how many might be attending the reunion. Having a reasonable estimate of attendees will be valuable to me when negotiating with hotels for our reunion. I am planning to be in Jacksonville in March 2010 to look at possible sites and do some negotiation.

I hope to have the site confirmed by April 2010, a year in advance of our reunion.

CAPS
I am arranging to embroidered caps available for purchase for the coming reunion. Right now I am awaiting for quotes from 3 companies that supply caps as I want to get the best prices available for you.

When the final mailing for the reunion is made, you will be able to order and pay for a cap (or caps) and then pick up your cap at the reunion. This will save on mailing costs. If you have a cap mailed to you I would expect mailing to be $3 or $4 per hat. Here is a picture of a cap I have and this is the type I expect I will be able to order for you.


When I get the final quotes I will have a picture of the one I have selected on this site so you can see what you will be getting.

MORE COMMENTS ON COMMENTS

Several shipmates have made comments on the blog but they have been made on the Post about Comments!! You can make a comment directly on any Post rather than putting it on the Post about Comments. Anyone looking at the post is able to read your comment just by clicking on Comments Icon at the end of the Post.

If you are not sure on how to make a post, go to the Archives on the right side and click on the September 2009 posts and then on the Comments post. All the directions are there.

When anyone makes a comment I get an email letting me know that a comment has been made. This is a handy feature for me so I don't have to hunt for new comments.

Smooth Sailing

Update

It has been nearly a month since my last Post but most of the stuff going on has been pretty boring and not something I thought you all would be interested in. But anyway here is some of this boring "news".

Most of my time has been spent updating Email and mailing addresses. This is in preparation for a mailing that I will be making in November or December. The purpose of the mailing will be to get an estimate of the number who may be attending the reunion. It is important to get a good estimate when negotiating with hotels. The more we may have attending the better pricing we may be able to get.

To get this information I will make one mailing via Email only to those shipmates that I have a verified Email address. I have 191 Email addresses that will receive this mailing.

There are 182 shipmates for which I have only a street address. These individuals will receive a postcard mailing.

The Email and Mail list does include some relatives and friends of the Hazelwood crew.

Using Email as much as possible will reduce our costs since it does not require the $0.44 stamp. The Post Card postage is only $0.28 a reduction of $0.16 in relation to First Class Mail. Using this combination of Email and Post Cards our cost will be $51.53 rather than $163.24 if using all First Class, a reduction of $111.71 in mailing costs.

Each mailing will ask if they are planning to attend, are not sure, or if they know that they cannot attend. Those who are fairly sure they will be attending can send in a Registration Fee of $30.00 which covers hospitality room expenses, mailing expenses and other incidentals. If a Registration Fee is sent in and you cannot attend, the fee is fully refundable.

Response to the postcard "survey" can be made by sending it back to me in an envelope. Email responses can be made by a reply Email unless you wish to send a check. Then you can print out the Email and send it to me in an envelope with your check.

I hope I haven't bored you with all of this detail.

By the way, Carol and I leave this Saturday for 3 weeks in the Caribbean (Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands) for fun in the sun (and some Rum) and lots of SCUBA for me. If you click on my Profile on the right side of this Blog, you will see that I have another Blog which is "diary" of what else goes on in our retired life. You are welcome to look in and see how much fun you can have being retired!!

Smooth Sailing

More 2009 Photos

I forgot that I had taken these 2 pictures at the Philly reunion. This first one was taken on the USS New Jersey BB63 of the entire group.

If you click on the picture you can see it much larger. To return to the Blog use the "back arrow" on your browser.

From 2009 DD531 Reunion

The following picture is one of the 40's shipmates that were on the New Jersey. It was great to have them there.

From 2009 DD531 Reunion

I hope to see many of our shipmates in Jacksonville in 2011. I know it is early to start thinking that far in advance, but why not??? Let's have a great reunion.

Smooth sailing.

Chet Locke Article

I know I should be keeping you updated on the reunion .. but .. I just could not pass up this opportunity. I ran across an article on-line about Chet Locke, the Engineering Officer who is credited with saving the Hazelwood. He passed away just prior to the 2009 reunion.

Chet Locke of Lockeford was presented the Navy Cross for his action in saving the USS Hazlewood after it was badly damaged by a kamikaze pilot. (Brian Ross/News-Sentinel)

Lockeford’s Chet Locke came home a hero

By Brian Ross
News-Sentinel staff writer

Chet Locke, a descendant of the founder of Lockeford, was chosen this year to be Grand Marshal of Lodi’s Veterans Day parade.

He was also chosen more than a half-century ago to receive the Navy Cross for his actions aboard the USS Hazlewood during the invasion of Okinawa on April 29, 1945.

Chet Locke in May 1945.

Those who were present that day credit Locke’s quick thinking and cool head under fire for averting the destruction of the Hazlewood — and all aboard.

“It’s amazing what you can do when you have to,” said F.C. Butler of Greenville, S.C., who served as assistant engineering officer to Locke on the Hazlewood, which spent an unbroken stretch of 24 months at sea, 21 of those in combat zones.

The Hazlewood was named for a Revolutionary War commodore noted for his gallantry in the face of enemy fire in the Atlantic.

It was a reputation which the modern-day crew would proudly match in the Pacific.

Locke was raised on a nearby farm, and as a boy dreamed of the faraway adventure of going to sea.

When WWII erupted, he got his chance. After officer’s training, Locke was assigned as the Hazlewood’s engineering officer.

One of about 150 Fletcher-class destroyers in the Navy’s fleet, the Hazlewood packed five single 5-inch guns.

The ship was assigned to picket duty off Okinawa, protecting the invasion force from submarines and attacks from kamikaze planes — explosive-laden aircraft launched in fanatical suicide missions during the closing days of the war.

Willing to trade their own lives in order to sink or damage an invading U.S. man-of-war, kamikaze pilots took a grim toll during the invasion of Okinawa, badly damaging 45 destroyers and killing more than 4,500 naval personnel.

At about 3:30 on the afternoon of April 29, the Hazlewood was called to assist the USS Haggard, another destroyer that had sustained a direct hit from a kamikaze.

The Hazlewood never made it to the scene.

A kamikaze made a near miss of her deck. Although the plane’s ordnance detonated in the water off the Hazlewood’s stern, the blast was sufficient to damage her communications equipment, making the ship vulnerable to a second attack, which Locke said was not long in coming.

“Shortly after that,” he recalled, “another plane hit the forward stack with its wing, and exploded in the deck house.”

The powerful blast killed 67 of the Hazlewood’s crew and 10 of her 18 officers outright.

Bedlam ensued in the wake of the explosion as fires broke out near the ship’s powder magazine, which stored an ample supply of 5-inch and 40mm shells, and a stockpile of highly volatile propellant.

Locke sprung into action immediately.

“You really don’t have time to think about the men who are dead. The first thing you think of is getting those fires put out.”

With direction from Locke, the deadly fires were extinguished by the Hazlewood’s crew.

For a time, said Butler, a third kamikaze circled menacingly in the sky above the Hazlewood before being harried off by navy fighter planes.

After quelling the Japanese aerial attack with a storm of anti-aircraft fire, the cruiser Flynt and other ships came to the Hazlewood’s aid, providing power for her systems, fresh water for her turbines and other assistance, while Locke raced against time to make the battered ship seaworthy.

The boiler to the ship’s port engine had run out of water, and the boiler quickly burnt to a smoldering heap.

Locke took charge in the starboard engine room, getting the boiler back up to preserve the Hazlewood’s only remaining engine.

Upon surveying the damage, said Locke, the Hazlewood looked like a slice of watermelon with a large bite out of the middle. Crew members set about retrieving the bodies of those killed. Of those, 19 were buried at sea, including the captain. Others remained inextricably embedded in the tangled wreckage. The stench, said Butler, became almost unbearable after several days. “It was one of the most horrible things you can imagine,” he said.

The Hazlewood, under tow to be scuttled at Karoma Retto, now cut loose under her own steam to the safe harbor at Ulithi, about 1,000 miles south of Okinawa.
The U.S. landing force ultimately overran Okinawa, one of the last remaining enemy strongholds separating U.S. forces from the Japanese mainland, hastening the end of the war.


PS: Don't forget to look over the Comments. Shipmates are adding them from time to time and are looking for contacts with others they served with.

Video of Crew at Philly Reunion

This is a video I took at the 2009 reunion. There is some "stuff" at the beginning that should not really be there ..... but ..... I am still learning how to do all of these things.

Just click on the triangle and turn up your volume so you can hear the comments such as name and when served.

This video is one of several that were made at the 2009 reunion. By the way, I recently got an Email from Burt Doremus, Chairman of the 2009 reunion, and he expects to send copies of the entire DVD to attendees of the 2009 reunion shortly. It includes interviews with the 40's shipmates, the talk by the Chaplin and this one.

Smooth Sailing

Emails updating & Senior Sailors

Over the last week I have been gathering and verifying email addresses. Of course we had our own list and then I got a lot of new ones from Tin Can Sailors and also from Destroyers On Line. We now have 190 verified emails of shipmates including some relatives of deceased shipmates.

If you are in contact with some past shipmates, please make them aware of this site and have them get in contact with me so I can add them to our email list.

While in this process I had some interesting events. One of our shipmates was on board when attacked at Okinowa. He was a Radioman and survived because his CQ station was in the emergency radio shack midships. I got another email from the brother of Radioman that did not survive since his GQ station was in the main radio shack near the bridge. I put them in contact with each other and they are now both planning to come to the reunion so they can exchange information on a one-to-one basis.

I have also gotten emails from other relatives wanting to know if any shipmates remembers their loved ones. I will get this list put together and make a posting of these requests. Maybe they will get some information that will be helpful to them.

SENIOR SAILORS!!!

This came to mind while doing emails. The ship was decommissioned in March 1965, That was 44 years ago!! If a brand new recruit was on board at that time he might have been as young as 17. If you add 44 years and 17 years, the youngest of any of our shipmates is probably 61 years old. We are definitely a Senior Sailors Group even though I and most of us may not think that way. However, every now and then in the morning when getting up, my body tells me I might be at least that old!!!

Smooth sailing until the next Post.

Comments on "Comments" !

Making comments on this Blog is a great way to communicate to others reading the Blog. I have set it up so anyone can make a comment but it was a little confusing to me at first, so I am going to give you the easy steps.

1. Click on "Comments" at the bottom of the Post you wish to comment on. If there is already a comment there, you can read it and there will be a block where you can make a comment if you wish.
2. Write your comment in the block provided.
3. Click on the "v" next to "Comment as:"
4. Click on "Name/URL"
NOTE: if you want to comment anonymously (No Name shown), click on Anonymous.
5. Type in your name in the "Name" block.
6. DO NOT ENTER ANYTHING in the "URL" block.
7. Click "Continue" - Your name will show up without the "()" following it when the comment is published.
8. Click either POST or PREVIEW
9. Provide the code provided and your Comment will be posted.

Don't forget to look at the comments when you are reading down through the Blog. You will find they may be interesting and may even be asking a question that you can answer .... with a comment.

2007 Reunion Photos

Here is a link to the photos of the Hazelwood 2007 Reunion held in Fort Wayne, IN. Just click on the underlined text and you should get there.

Update of Emails

This past week I have been doing a lot of updating of our emails on our database. I added on a number that I had and we ended up with 88 emails in the database. Since we hope to use this a lot to reduce our mailing costs and to get a lot of information out to shipmates, I felt it was important.

I also did a Google Search for DD531 reunion and I was amazed at all of the information I found. I even found a picture of Donald Petrie from the 40's. I will have to post it here along with a more recent picture of him!! Rather than try to tell you all that I found, give it try yourself. The best thing I found was a Tin Can Sailors Shipmate Registry. In this, there were many shipmates that were registered along with email addresses that we did not have on our database. A number of the registries were from relatives of shipmates that passed away and were looking for information on their relative's service.

The emails that were not in our database I added to my own email address book and will be sending them emails informing them of our upcoming reunion and giving them information on getting to this Blog Site. I am sure a number of the emails will not be good and that is why I did not add them to our database as yet. I want them to be verified.

I got 98 emails from the Shipmate Registry that we did not have in our database. I am hoping that this addition may give us the opportunity to have one of the largest reunions we have had.

During this past week I did get some proposals from several hotels in the Jacksonville area but did not even study them. I am waiting until I have a sufficient number to review and then will take a trip to Jacksonville to look at them in person.

In regards to this BLOG. You will notice that there is a link where you can make your comments. I am sure I would enjoy hearing them and they will be able to be seen by other shipmates as well. If you wish to communicate more privately with me you can use a new email address I have set up just for the reunion. My Reunion Email address is: DD531reunion@earthlink.net . If you use it you will not even hit my spam blocker!!

Smooth sailing until the next update.

Reunions

The crew of the Hazelwood has been having a reunion every 2 years on the anniversary of the Kamikaze attack, April 29. The most recent reunion was held in Philadelphia and we had our commemoration ceremony on the battleship USS New Jersey BB-63. It was a well attended reunion but the number of attendees from the WW II era dropped to 4. The 2007 reunion had 12 attendees from WW II.

At the Philadelphia reunion I accepted the honor of preparing for the 2011 reunion. It is my intention to have the reunion in Jacksonville, FL on our normal dates of April 26 -29. The planning is very preliminary at this time but I have been in contact with the Convention and Visitors Bureau to obtain needed information on hotels that would accommodate our group.

It is also my intention to do all possible to convince the Navy at Mayport to take our reunion group on a day cruise on one of the Destroyer type ships based there. I have asked one our crew mates, "Gil" Guilbault to help me get to the right contact there. Gil came on board the Hazelwood in 1960 as an Ensign and retired as an Admiral. I am sure he will know the right places to get us help.

I am going to use this Blog as means to communicate to those who use the Internet. It will not be updated every day but only as I have information to present. It is possible for viewers to post comments to this blog and if you wish to contact me you can use it also. If you have my normal email address it will be faster if you use it.

So I guess at this time you can say ..... THIS IS A TEST.... I am expecting it to be successful!!

PS. The Blog below this one is a history of the Hazelwood. I thought you might enjoy it.

USS Hazelwood History

USS Hazelwood (DD-531) was a World War II-era Fletcher-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy The ship was the second named for Commodore John Hazelwood; a naval leader in the American Continental Navy.

World War II

Hazelwood was laid down 11 April 1942 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co., San Francisco, California; launched 20 November 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Harold J. Fosdick; and commissioned 18 June 1943, Commander Hunter Wood, Jr., in command.

After shakedown, Hazelwood departed the West Coast 5 September. Reaching Pearl Harbor 9 September, she sailed 2 days later with a fast carrier strike force under Rear Admiral C. A. Pownall in Lexington to launch carrier-based air strikes against Tarawa, Gilbert Islands. Hazelwood next joined a second fast carrier force—6 carriers, 7 cruisers, and 24 destroyers under Rear Admiral A. E. Montgomery—for strikes against Wake Island 5 October and 6 October.

Returning to Pearl Harbor 11 October, the destroyer took part in intensive training to prepare for the giant amphibious drive to Japan. She joined Task Force 53 under Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance at Havannah Harbor, New Hebrides, 5 November. Departing 13 November, she took part in invasion of the Gilbert Islands 20 November. In one of the bitterest struggles during the fleet's push across the Pacific, she served on antisubmarine patrol and as standby fighter-director ship. Hazelwood returned to Pearl Harbor 7 December 1943 to prepare for the next operation.

As the war in the Pacific gained momentum, Hazelwood sortied from Pearl Harbor 22 January 1944 as part of Task Force 52 under Admiral Spruance for the invasion of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls in the Marshall Islands. After troops stormed ashore 31 January, she anchored in Kwajalein Harbor as primary fighter-director ship and also patrolled against enemy submarines. This objective secured, she departed Kwajalein 15 February for several months of patrol and escort duty through the Solomons and Marshalls. She also bombarded Japanese shore positions at Ungalabu Harbor and a tank farm on New Ireland.

Hazelwood next participated in the invasion of the Palaus. As the 1st Marine Division landed on Peleliu, Palau Islands, 15 September, she pounded enemy shore positions with gunfire to lessen Japanese opposition. She remained off Peleliu on patrol until 3 October, when she sailed to Seeadler Harbor, Manus Island. There the never-resting veteran joined Vice Admiral Kinkaid's naval forces for the invasion and liberation of the Philippines. As troops landed under naval cover on Leyte 20 October, Hazelwood came under heavy Japanese air attacks.

The next week brought constant enemy air raids and a succession of far reaching fleet moves as the Imperial Navy made one final but futile effort to drive America out of the Philippines and regain some measure of control over the seas. In this struggle, known to history as the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Japanese Navy was all but annihilated. Three enemy battleships, four carriers, six heavy cruisers, four light cruisers, nine destroyers, and a host of planes fell victim to America's naval prowess and determination. Hazelwood herself accounted for at least two kamikazes among many destroyed.

Hazelwood engaged in patrols off Leyte Gulf and gunnery and training exercises out of Ulithi during December. She then joined Vice Admiral McCain's fast carrier strike force and sailed 30 December. Carrying the war home to the enemy, the carriers launched heavy air raids against Japanese positions in the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, Okinawa, and along the China coast 3–7 January 1945. These devastating strikes also diverted Japanese attention from the Philippines, where landings were made at Lingayen Gulf 9 January. After further strikes on Japanese positions in Indochina, the hard-hitting force returned to Ulithi 26 January.

Joining another fast and mobile carrier task force, Hazelwood sortied 11 February to protect carriers as they launched heavy air strikes against the Japanese home islands 16 and 17 February. Swiftly shifting positions as only sea based power can, the fleet then sped south to provide support for the landings on Iwo Jima, begun 19 February. Although under constant attack from kamikazes as well as fighters and dive-bombers, Hazelwood came through the invasion untouched and on the night of 25 February sank two small enemy freighters with her guns.

Returning to Ulithi 1 March, the battle-tried destroyer sailed again for action 14 March with a fast carrier force to provide air cover and shore bombardment for the invasion of Okinawa, last step before invasion of the Japanese home islands. After the invasion 1 April, Hazelwood operated off Okinawa on radar picket and escort patrols through intense Japanese air attacks. On 29 April, the carrier group she was shepherding was attacked by kamikazes who dove out of low cloud cover.

Hazelwood, all guns blazing, maneuvered to avoid two of the Zeros. A third screamed out of the clouds from astern. Although hit by Hazelwood’s fire, the enemy plane careened past the superstructure. It hit #2 stack on the port side, smashed into the bridge, and exploded. Flaming gasoline spilled over the decks and bulkheads as the mast toppled and the forward guns were put out of action. Ten officers and 67 men were killed, including the Commanding Officer, Cmdr. V. P. Douw, and 36 were missing. Hazelwood’s engineering officer, Lt. (j.g.) C. M. Locke, took command and directed her crew in fighting the damage and aiding wounded. Proceeding by tow and part way under her own power, the gallant ship reached Ulithi 5 May for temporary repairs, then sailed to Mare Island Naval Shipyard via Pearl Harbor 14 June for permanent repairs. Hazelwood decommissioned 18 January 1946 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet at San Diego, California.

Post War service

Hazelwood recommissioned at San Diego 12 September 1951, Cmdr. R. M. Niles in command, and joined the enlarged fleet necessary to fight Communist aggression in Korea and to bolster the free world's strength everywhere. After shakedown she departed San Diego 4 January 1952, and reached Newport, Rhode Island, 21 January to join Destroyer Forces, Atlantic Fleet. Operations and exercises along the East Coast and in the Caribbean, as well as hunter-killer training with carrier groups, occupied Hazelwood until she departed Newport for the Far East 7 December 1953.

She reached Tokyo 12 January 1954, via Pearl Harbor and spent the next few months operating with a fast carrier task force and patrolling along the Korean coast to enforce an uneasy armistice. The far-ranging destroyer returned to the States the long way, departing Hong Kong 28 May 1954 and sailing through the Suez Canal to reach Newport 17 July.
During the next few years, Hazelwood maintained a pattern of training and readiness operations along the East Coast and in the Caribbean interspersed with deployments to the Mediterranean. During the Suez Crisis in the fall of 1956 she served with the mighty 6th Fleet, patrolling the eastern Mediterranean and helping to stabilize a tense international situation.

In 1958, Hazelwood began extensive testing of helicopters for antisubmarine warfare both in Narragansett Bay and out of the Naval Ordnance Laboratory in Maryland. Assigned to the Destroyer Development Division, she participated in tests on equipment used with radar and electronic counter-measure systems. Her primary research and development work involved the testing of the Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter (DASH), an example of the Navy's continuing effort to apply the technological advances of modern science for the security of our nation and the free world. Hazelwood provided on board testing facilities, and helped make possible the perfection of DASH, an advanced and vital ASW weapons system. In August 1963 alone, the drone helicopter made 1,000 landings on the versatile destroyer's flight deck.

In addition to experimental developments, Hazelwood continued to engage in the many duties assigned to a destroyer. As America confronted Russia over the introduction of offensive missiles into Cuba in October 1962, she steamed again to the troubled Caribbean for antisubmarine and surveillance patrols. Hazelwood arrived Guantanamo Naval Base 5 November, just after the quarantine of Cuba had gone into effect and remained on guard during the crisis, serving as a Gun Fire Support Ship for Task Force 84. When the nuclear submarine Thresher failed to surface 10 April 1963, Hazelwood immediately deployed to the scene of the tragedy with scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to begin a systematic search for the missing ship.

Hazelwood resumed testing of DASH during June and later in the year conducted on board trials of the Shipboard Landing Assist Device (SLAD). She continued both developmental and tactical operations along the East Coast during the next year. She decommissioned 19 March 1965, and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. Hazelwood was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 1 December 1974 and sold for scrap 14 April 1976.

Honors

Hazelwood received 10 battle stars for World War II service.