CAPTAIN JAMES M. MCCULLOCH USN (Ret.)
JUNE 1971 - NOVEMBER 1972

Biographical Sketch
of
Captain James M. McCulloch USN (Ret.)

Captain McCulloch was born in Plainview, Texas and was graduated from Texas Technological University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy. He attended Office Candidate School and was commissioned an Ensign on 14 April 1957.

His first tour of duty was aboard the USS UHLMANN (DD-687) were he served as Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer and Weapons Officer. In April 1960 Commander McCulloch was released to inactive duty. He volunteered for recall to active service and in October1961 was ordered to duty as the Executive Officer USS CONQUEST (MSO-488).

Commander McCulloch was assigned to the Naval Postgraduate School in March1963 where he successfully completed the Engineering Science Curriculum. He then transferred to the Nuclear Effects Engineering Curriculum and was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in physics upon graduation in June 1966. From the postgraduate school Commander McCulloch was assigned as Executive Officer of USS MORTON (DD-948) where he served until he was ordered to the staff of Destroyer Squadron Five in August 1967. He served as Chief Staff Officer and Operations Officer until December 1968 when he was assigned to Field Command Defense Atomic Support Agency as nuclear physicists.

In April of 1971 Commander McCulloch was ordered to assume command of USS Floyd B. Parks (DD-884). He completed parts of two deployments to Vietnam where Parks served with distinction in the gunfire support role. Commander McCulloch was relieved by Commander Eugene J. Erner in November 1972 and ordered to Commander Cruiser Destroyer Group Three as Operations Officer where he served until September 74.

He was then ordered to the US Naval War College and after successfully completing this curriculum, Commander McCulloch was assigned to the Department of Military Application, US Department of Energy as the Poseidon and Trident warhead project officer. He later served as the Executive Assistant to the Army General who was head of Military Application. During this tour he was promoted to Captain. He retired in 1981 while serving in OPNAV (OP376) Surface Ship Survivability.

Captain McCulloch is married to the former Linda Lee Taegel and they now reside in Williamsburg Virginia. They have two daughters: Kimberlee Hering of Pasadena Texas and Amanda Furrow of Clermont Florida.
THIS PICTURE OF CAPTAIN JAMES M. McCULLOCH HAD BEEN TAKEN DURING THE CHANGE OF COMMAND IN SASEBO, JAPAN. I JUST THOUGHT YOU GUYS MIGHT BE INTERESTED. Gene Peach

From: "Gene Peach" <genepeach@webtv.net>
To: <jimmc@widomaker.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2004 12:14 AM
Subject: Fwd: E-mailing: Change of Command


Commander McCulloch,
I'm sure you don't remember me from the F.B. Parks. I was stationed
aboard there in 1970- 1972 as a Deck Seaman. I was going through some pictures tonight and found this one of you. I had taken this one during
the change of Command in Sasebo, Japan.

I click on the "Parks" website at least one time a month. I hope you
don't mind that I got your e-mail address from there. Don't worry, I'm
not one of these people who will load your e-mail box with a bunch of
trash. I don't like that either. I'm just thought you might enjoy this picture that I'm sending.

I've been in contact with a few former shipmates from the Parks. It has
been very interesting to know what all has happened in their lives since
we were all together. Some of the guys have had a pretty rough life, and
some have done real good for themselves. Just in case you might be
interested, I'm married and have three children, and two granddaughters.
My wife and I will be blessed with two more grandchildren this year, one
in May and the other in September. My son had spent six years in the
Navy as an Aviation "ET", and was stationed out of Cecil Field, Florida.
I sure hated to see him get out of the Navy, and now he wish he would
have stayed.

Commander, it's getting late and I need to go to bed. I work for the
Wabash County Sheriff's Dept. in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. Hopefully if the
good Lord is willing, and the stock market doesn't crash on me I can retire in about eight years. Our plans are to spend more time in Florida.

Take care and may God bless you and your family.

Gene Peach

--------------

Gene,
Thank you for the picture at my change of command. It really brings back
good memories of our days on the Floyd B.
I must admit I did not remember your name but I got out the cruise book and found your picture and I do remember you.

We served on a really good ship and had more than our share of good times. I must tell you that it was not my doing that made it good, it was through the hard work of all the men like yourself. Parks was the best shooting ship on which I served. I do not remember what your GQ station was but I suspect it was it one of the gun mounts.

The Marines loved our rate of fire and that we were always on station and ready. I had a marine friend in Quang Tre (sp!) who called me up one night in CIC and told me how much they liked "Deadcenter" (or old call sign).

You mentioned you were in touch with some of our former shipmates. Please share their email addresses as I would enjoy contacting them. I keep in touch with Joe Keeley, the old XO, and I have heard from Hal Murray the old supply officer but no others.

I too hope the stock market allows you to retire as planned.
Congratulations on your work with the Wabash County Sheriff's Dept. If I
ever get stopped in Mt Carmel I will tell them I know you.

God bless you and yours,
Jim McCulloch