Tin Can: An Incomplete History of the USS Fiske

'Tin Can' is the story of one ship that served for 35 years. The late author Tom Clancy had one of his characters say in one of his early techno-thrillers, "If I don't write something down it never happened." We choose to take that to mean that is if something isn't recorded and passed on it may as well have never happened. It is for that reason that this work came into being. We believe that the small stories contained within these pages have as much importance as the 'Big' histories that are written. History is so much more than places and dates, winners and losers. It is the lives of those that were 'there' that make our history. Their stories add texture and detail to the broad tapestry of history. They are presented as we received them. They are their 'stories' as they lived them. I believe every word to be the truth as it was perceived and remembered by those that wrote them. The subtitle of this endeavor, an 'Incomplete History of the USS Fiske DD/DDR 842', simply means that it is not and probably never can be complete. Too much time has gone by, too many of us have passed on and too many documents lost. Any errors of fact are mine alone. G. E. Beyer Association Historian USS Fiske (DD/DDR 842) Association

About the Author :
Born in Chicago, Illinois and lived in south Florida until joining the Navy in October 1959. Graduated from Electronics Technician School in Great Lakes, IL and reported onboard the USS Fiske (DDR 842) in Mayport, FL in October 1960. During the three years onboard the Fiske we made two six months deployments to the Mediterranean (1961 & 1963), acted as part of Task Force 135.2 (USS Enterprise & support ships) during the entirety of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and made numerous short duration deployments. After leaving the Fiske in late 1963 I continued my Navy career and retired with 21 years of service in July 1980. Along the way I acquired a wife and three daughters, a BS in Education from the University of Maine at Machias while I was stationed at the Naval Radio Station (T) Cutler, Maine, and a deep love for the role of ordinary people in history. After leaving the Navy the following thirty-five years have been spent involved in various aspects of raising a family, being gainfully employed and contributing to my community. After full retirement in 2003 I sought out a place that didn't require me to shovel snow and found it on the north coast of the Yucatan where I now spend 3 months out of the year. This book represents about eight years of research and effort that hopefully will give some pleasure and insights into a small piece of the 20th Century.