Parks DD -884 Disposition

There has been some speculation as to the final disposition of the Parks, i.e., scrapped torpedo target or sunk, for coral reef. The following paragraph was written for the ship's history based on documentation furnished to me by Harold Ferguson of Wichita Falls, Texas, which he obtained at the Navy Historic Center. Hal is the historian for the U.S.S. Dennis J. Buckley (DD-808) and an honorary member of our group. The Buckley operated with Parks for October of 1968 until May of 1972, was decommissioned at the same time, and scrapped with Parks at Levin Metals Corporation. (Please do not confuse this Hal Ferguson with Park's crewman Hal Ferguson of Wickett, Texas! How many Hal Fergusons can we have in Texas anyway?)

In March of 1973 word was received that the Parks would be decommissioned on 2 July of 1973. The ceremony was held at Quay wall 8 North, U.S. Naval Station, and San Diego, California. On 23 September 1973, after an extensive inspection, the Parks was stricken from the register of Naval vessels because of her poor physical condition. Then under Sales Contract 16-4039-002 on 29 April 1974 she was sold to the Levin Metals Corporation of San Jose, California. On 5 June 1974 the Parks was moored at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Naval Station, San Diego, California. On that date, Parks was taken under tow by the Fleet Tug Chief, towed to the Levin Metals piers in Richmond, California where she was scrapped.

Information submitted by Robby Robbins

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