Only Towers shipmate known to have died as a result of injuries sustained onboard the USS Towers.

1983 — FN Pino

As told by Chief Selectee Watts:

I was onboard during this tragic accident. FN Pino, full blooded Pueblo Indian from either New Mexico or Arizona (I don’t recall), and myself worked in the Wardroom during our mess cooking days.  Not sure the exact date, but it was either Feb or Mar 1983.On the day of the USS TOWERS steam explosion in Number 1 Fireroom (The Red Devils), the off going port and straboard watch was just hitting their racks just shortly after lunch chow was securing, when suddenly the General Quarters Alarm sounded. Of course we on our way to TEAM SPIRIT ’83, a lot of people just thought it was a drill. However, the forward passageway was full of steam and we had to exit through the First Division scuttle.

Once arriving on the Signal bridge, we learned that there was a steam explosion in #1 Fire Room and three people were injured, FN Pino being in direct line with the steam leak he received fatal injuries. FN Pino was rushed to the wardroom battle dressing station for treatment, which we learned his burns were fatal. He was shortly there after heloed off the ship to finally reach the Nagasaki Burn Center, Japan, where Captain Hancock and Cdr McCarthy stayed at his bed side continuously.

The TOWERS pulled into port at Sasebo, Japan for repairs and Team Spirit was cancelled for the ship. Due to FN Pino’s incident, the crew decided to raise money through donations to have his mother fly round trip to Nagasaki to be with her son, everyone was excited that we not only raised enough money for his mother to come, but his sister as well with room and board. Unfortunately, FN Pino had died approximately 0900, with his mother snf sister arriving to the hospital approximatly 90 minutes later. We had a memorial service for FN Pino, along with our Ensign flying at half mast, while inport Sasebo, Japan.

GMCS Uhler died as a result of injuries sustained onboard the USS Stoddert (DDG-22), within 2 months of retirement, off the coast of Vietnam in 1972.


Photo: GMCS Gus Uhler 1933 – 1972

Photo Credit: Tom Hill

Audio: * Navy Hymn (requires update of ‘Quicktime’ for browser if not working properly)

The below epitaph was written by a fellow Towers shipmate and friend of GMCS Uhler; GMGC Thomas L. Weaver.

Epitaph for GMCS Gordon (Gus) Uhler:

His name was Gus and he was the Senior Chief Gunners Mate on board Towers from 1966 to 1969. Gus was in charge of the 5″54 gun mounts.

Gordon (Gus) Uhler was born in Upper State New York in 1933 and died off the gun-line in June of 1972. Gus made two WestPac cruises onboard Towers and had over 20 years in the Navy when he died. Senior Chief Uhler believed in one thing when it came to his Guns and that was to make all firing missions no matter what. That was what killed Gus Uhler.

There were many tales about Gus Uhler, but two have stuck in my mind over the years.

Towers was tied up next to another DDG in San Diego over the weekend. Towers was leaving port on Monday for a competitive firing exercise of their 5″54 guns. Gus Uhler had one gun down. Because of lack of spare parts. During the weekend, late at night, Chief Uhler was caught red-handed attempting to acquire the spare parts he needed from the gun off the ship next to the Towers. Chief Uhler was taken off the ship by base security and the Captain (Captain Carter) of the Towers was called at home to come to the base to get his Chief Gunners Mate. After the Captain managed to pick up his Chief from base security, Gus Uhler made the comment to his Captain that the Towers was getting underway on Monday for a gun shoot with a gun down. But the other DDG was not and didn’t need their gun. The Captain’s answer to his Chief, went like this, “I understand that Chief, but how about next time that you do this, you don’t get caught”.

The next tale about Gus Uhler happened in Subic Bay on the way to the Gun Line. Captain Carter wanted an extra 50 Cal machine gun for the Bridge. He sent his Senior Chief Gus Uhler to the Ammo Depot to pick one up. On the way back from the Ammo Depot to the ship with a 50 Cal machine gun on his shoulder, Chief Uhler decided to stop at the Chief’s Club for a beer. At the hat check room in the Chief’s Club, Gus lays this machine gun on the counter and asks the hat check girl to check it in, while he gets a beer. You should have seen the look on that girl’s face.

That was Gus Uhler, living life to the fullest, but deadly serious when it came to his guns.

Gus Uhler was stationed at the Photo Lab at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. in 1972. Gus had less than two months remaining before he was retiring from the Navy.

In May of 1972, the ships on the gun-line with 5″54 Gun Mounts were suffering a lack of Senior Petty Officers for the guns. The call went out to all shore stations to send any 5″54 Gunners Mates to the ships on the Gun Line for 90 days TAD.

Gus Uhler had 60 days remaining before he retired, so he was orderd to go on 60 days TAD to the Gun Line.

When Gus got to WestPac, he was ordered to the USS Stoddert (DDG-22). On the gun-line, firing a fire support mission with Mount 51 (Mount 52 was down because of an earlier casualty), Mount 51 had a misfire with a “hot” gun. Gus Uhler knew that the firing lock (firing pin) got fouled after firing a number of NATO ammunition, so with cooling procedural going on, Gus Uhler made a decision to remove the firing lock. Upon doing so, air got to the hot powder case, and the powder case exploded. The blast from the explosion went up into the gun mount because of water being flushed down the gun barrel for cooling. Two men were killed and two men injured. One of the injured was Gus Uhler with over 70% of his body burned.

After several transfers at sea, Gus Uhler died from his injuries. I was on a ship that day, off the coast of Vietnam, and when I got the word that Gus had died, I cried, for not only losing a fellow Gunners Mate, I also lost a good friend.

Gus left behind a loving wife and four children, three sons and one daughter under the age of twelve. Gus died with less than 30 days before his retirement.

But the story of Gus Uhler did not end with his death. In 1986, I was working for a defense contractor at the Gunners Mate School in Great Lakes, IL., a young lad came down to where I was working and introduced himself as Uhler (I forgot his first name). He was the number two son of Gus and he was going to GM A school.

I do not know if young Uhler is sill in the Navy.

Thomas L. Weaver
GMGC Retired

Navy Hymn midi file credited to Bob Sorem; website at http://www.tc.umn.edu/~sorem002/index.html

Plank Owner Fire Control Officer, commenced his navy career as a seaman aboard a destroyer in the Yangtze River. Even when he retired as a LCDR he didn’t shed his uniform; he taught JROTC in Morristown TN until he was 65. Died 10/17/02 of kidney failure, but this was just the last of several ailments that he fought valiantly just like he lived life

His wife wrote the following poem that I would like to share with all who check into your website.

My Sailor

My Sailor left the Port of Earth
To sail on Heaven’s sea.
And God will have no better hand,
To serve aboard, than he.

He loved to feel the ocean winds
And taste the salty air
Of all the places in the world
He was the happiest there.

I know that he is smiling
He’s where he wants to be
Goodbye, God speed, my darling
Your spirit’s back to sea.

Faye Trail Deaton
Oct. 18, 2002