Eyewitness Account of Lisa Perry
October 17, 1998
Dear Commander Donaldson:
On July 17, 1996 we saw a United States military vessel travelling from
the west towards the east, just outside the sandbar along the shore of
Davis Park, Fire Island. It was about 6 or 6:30. We had returned to the
beach with our children after a quick dinner so that they could play in
the tidal pools on the beach. While they were playing, we noticed a boat
just outside the sandbar towards the west. The bow was high and it cut
smoothly into the water. We first noticed this boat because it was a rather
large ship to be so close to shore. Initially each of us thought it must
be some type of fishing boat. As it seemed to be taking its time getting
close enough to see, we returned our attention to the children and our
conversation.
We watched it as it moved directly in front of us from the west. It
was moving moderately, not fast but not slowly. It was almost a sightseeing
pace, from west to east along the shoreline. It was very subtle but it
caught our attention because of both the type of ship it was and by how
close it was. Once it was in front of us we saw that is was quite obviously
a military fighting ship. It was battleship gray, with the characteristic
I.D. numbers on the front; there was a lot of equipment on board such as
the big globe which we assumed must be radar, and military gunnery. The
ship was so big and close, that you couldn't capture the entire profile
in one glance. It was large and complicated, and we were very impressed.
It was a strong piece of equipment.
We discussed how neither of us had ever seen such a ship so close to
shore, even though we have each spent many years at Long Island beaches.
At the time we figured they must have been moving the ship from display
in the Museum are on the West Side back to a base after the July 4th
holiday. It was close enough that sailors would have been able to see people
on the shore, though we do not recall seeing anyone on deck (we would have
had the children wave). It was longer then we had anticipated. As we saw
the ship go on and on, a comment was made that another piece of gunnery
towards the end of the ship was lie "the icing on the cake".
We are 100% sure the ship was a military fighting ship. In an effort
to be of assistance, we separately looked at pictures of military boats
from the book Jane's Fighting Ships, ('96-'97). Independently we
each matched our recollections to the pictures of a destroyer. Attached
are copies of the pictures.
Sincerely, Alice Rowe and Lisa Perry.
