"I was onboard during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I remember that we scared up a Russian Submarine once and we chased a trawler down."
Radioman Third Class Royce W. Rush, USN
The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the August 2019 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of United States Navy Veteran, Radioman Third Class, Royce W. Rush. The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program was privileged to interview Radioman Third Class Royce W. Rush at the USS Murray DD 576 reunion being held at Harrisburg Pennsylvania in the Fall of 2018.
Radioman Third Class Royce W. Rush attended Boot Camp at Great Lakes in 1959 and graduated from Bethlehem High School in 1960. Upon completion of High School, Rush was ordered to Radio School in Bainbridge Maryland for six months. He recalled, "I got to choose what I wanted to do because I was in the Naval Reserves, and I took the test, passed it, and qualified for Radio School. I learned Morse code and learned how to use a typewriter.” While at Radio School he was selected to visit Washington D.C. and observe the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy.
After successfully completing Radio School, he received orders to the USS Murray DD 576. He met the 
ship in Norfolk in 1960 and quickly became acclimated to destroyer life. Rush was assigned to the radio room and relayed messages between the Officers of the USS Murray. His first cruises on the USS Murray was to Guantanamo Bay, Bermuda, and Jamaica.
He recalled with vivid memory that on October 16th, 1962 the USS Murray sailed into harms way when Cuban Missile Crisis erupted. Rush recalled, "I was onboard during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I remember that we scared up a Russian submarine once and we chased a trawler down." While in the radio room, Rush received and relayed sensitive messages between the officers with the latest updates about Soviet vessels, their movements, and cargo. At times the Murray encountered trawlers and other vessels of the Soviet Navy that were threatening to break the blockade line and transport weapons to 
Cuba. His memories illustrated a pivotal moment during the Cold War that nearly brought the United States of America and Soviet Union to all out war.
The United States Navy Memorial honors United States Navy Veteran, Radioman Third Class Royce W. Rush, featured within this series titled, Tales from the Navy Log, Story of the Month. Each month, this series honors a Veteran’s story recorded by the Stories of Service Program at the Navy Memorial. To learn more about this story and to explore the Navy Memorial archive, visit the Navy Memorial Stories of Service site at http://navylog.navymemorial.org/stories-of-service.
To view this interview please visit the USS Murray DD 576 Collection on the Navy Memorial Stories of Service page.
Interview of Royce Rush Part One Joining the Navy Reserves in 1961 and Memories of Radio School
Interview of Royce Rush Part Two Reporting to the USS Murray DD 576 and Memories of the Radio Shack
USNM Interview of Royce Rush Part Three Memories of the USS Murray and Cruises to the Caribbean
Interview of Royce Rush Part Four Memories of the Cuban Missile Crisis and Concluding Service in 1963