I was assigned to Missile Plot during my time on the Cochrane, and was catching some rays near the after battery when GQ sounded. I recall seeing the water splashes. The 1968 cruise book attest to that experience.

George Yeaton, FTM3 (1964 - 1968 )

I remember those shells hitting around us and also the shell damage that night we went into Brandon Bay with thos 2 other ships.

Jim

Shipmates
Just to set the story straight I shot the 8mm film named Taking Fire.  I was the Mk 68 Director Officer and I believe we were escorting some minesweepers during their operations. I saw some splashes near a ship off our port beam and could not determine where on the beach they were coming from. As a result we could not return fire so I grabbed my camera just to see what I could get on film.  At the end it got pretty scarey as that last round was damn close and you could see my rangefinder operator duck into the director.  I thought my career was over when the C.O. asked me if the film was the reason we did not return fire. I think when Desron and his staff all wanted copies along with his officers he accepted my account.  I remember I offered copies to all that wanted them and sent the film to Kodak for processing.  The only thing I am very clear about is we did not get any shots off that day. Thanks for posting the video.  I believe I still have the original 8mm film.
EdComes 71-74

Ed. I just listed you as the author of Taking Fire on the video page. If you have any others to share just upload them to youtube and then they can be incorporated into the site. Thanks for the video.

Thank you John.  I really want to thank you for all the love and care you have put into this site.  From what I have seen around the web this is the most professional and interactive site to be found. I just want you to know how grateful I am for your efforts.
Ed

I was aboard in 68' when we came underfire. After weeks of firing rounds it just seemed to be routine to fire bullets and nothing ever happen. The day we were at GQ I was on the second level as a lookout, plus other lookouts. We had large speakers on the second deck where we could hear the spotter giving coordinates so we could fire. You could hear where he would fire at the enemy while the rounds were coming in. The spotter was in a single engine plane and it got to hot for him and said that he had to get out of there. When flying out toward the ship we heard him make the comment that we had splashes on our starboard side. Sure enough splashes were being walked in toward the ship. The ship was parallel to the land and firing, but once the splashes were seen who ever was in command steered the ship toward inland and the splashes missed the ship and then we turned out to sea at full speed. The lookout as I remember was never to be a lookout again. Ordered by the Captain.