It is with deep regret that I announce that the USS Davidson DE/FF 1045 [Brazilian ship D28 Paraiba] has been purchased and is scheduled to be scrapped in India.
To give you some history to what has happened after you left the ship, I will back up to 1987. The Davidson went through an extensive 18 month overhaul where millions of dollars were spent to put her back into shape. Near completion, it was decided that all Garcia Class destroyers would be decommissioned. She ended her service in December of 1988. After a brief period of time with the Hawaiian Mothball Fleet, she was moved to San Diego where she was leased to Brazil along with the USS Sample and USS Albert David. From 1989 until about two years ago she [he] was leased. Two years ago she [he] was purchased by Brazil and decommissioned and placed in the Reserve Fleet. We have heard very little until a month ago when we were told that she [he] was being used for parts to keep the other Garcia's running. Yesterday we heard from a former USS Sample crew member who said the Sample was sold to Arusha Shipping Limited in November of 2004 for scrap. We wrote to LTCM Marcelo De Sousa [our contact with the Brazilian Navy] who verified that the Sample and Davidson ended their service to Brazil and on December 18, 2004, started their cruise to India to be scrapped. It is probably safe to say that in the two months since then, she [he] is now in the process of being scrapped.
We have received a copy of a fax from our friend Marcelo Sousa stating that the Davidson sunk in waters off the coast of Brazil and now rests in approximately 185 feet of water. She is resting at the following coordinates:
LATITUDE 23 DEGREES 05´,745 SOUTH
LONGITUDE 042 DEGREES 59´, 521 WEST
DEPTH 60 METERS
We all believe that she ended her service in the US and Brazil in a better way than being scrapped. She will now live forever as a living memorial to those who served on board her. The USS Sample was in her company and on the way to Alang, India and was also to be scrapped. We believe that she is now in India. Our condolances go out to the crewmembers of the USS Sample.
Speaking for Russell Crosby, Frank Speer, Deke Keller and myself who have all worked to preserve her memory, we are saddened by this and only wish we could have done more.
Now she will only be a memory and we hope that you will try to remember the good times and how proud we were of her.
Speaking for the staff and myself, we will continue to do everything we can to preserve her memory.
May her memory remain in our minds and hearts. Bob [Tweetie Bird] Schippers
Robert "Tweetie Bird" Schippers
President
U.S.S. DAVIDSON Reunion Association
Robert "Tweetie Bird" Schippers
President - DAVIDSON REUNION ASSOCIATION
A message from the President…
