Bio: Pribbernow, Paul C. – USS Hewitt Crew Member (1976)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Pribbernow, Hewitt

---------Source: Owen Enterprise (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 06 Oct 1976

Navy Engineman Fireman Paul C. Pribbernow, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Pribbernow of Route 1, Withee, is a crew member aboard the Navy’s newest Destroyer.

The USS Hewitt was commissioned September 25, 1976 at Pascagoula, Miss.

Mississippi U.S. Congressman Trent Lott was the guest speaker for the ship’s commissioning.

Pribbernow is one of more than 250 officers and enlist men assigned to the Hewitt. His ship is of a multi-mission design, capable of operated alone, or in support of large carrier task forces. Primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), she is armed with two light weight guns, ASW torpedo tubes, and an ASW rocket launcher. Additional, his ship is capable of carrying alight airborne multi-purpose sensor helicopter for long range weapons delivery.

The Hewitt is the fourth ship in ists class. She is named after Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, who distinguished himself by his command of the Allied amphibious landings in North Africa and Sicily during World War II.

Pribbernow’s ship is 529 feet long, displace 7,800 tons fully loaded and can reach speeds in excess of 30 knots.

A former student at Owen-Withee High School, Owen, Wis., he joined the Navy in May 1975. His ship will be home ported in San Diego.