This page is confined to photos and stories related to events occurring during what came to be known as the Santa Maria "Piracy"Incident, taking place during late January and early February of 1961. The Acrobat (.pdf) files may be viewed on your computer immediately if you have an Acrobat Reader 'plug-in' installed as part of your browser. Or, you might downloaded and read the files offline and at your leisure.
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( Click on any photo to see the full-sized version!!! )

Operation utilized elements of the 1st, 2nd and the entire 3rd Platoon of
"G" Company
2nd Battalion
6th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division

Jan-Feb 1961


CDR J. E. Tingle, USN

USS Gearing DD-710
"She was a tin can, a destroyer,
the lead ship of the
U.S. Navy's Gearing class... "

Home Page

USS Gearing
DD710

*Familygram Four



*Familygram Five



**Notice to Families:
Troop reassignment
to USS Gearing



Aerial Photogragh by
Hurricane Hunters
During Search for
the Santa Maria




Aerial Photos Provided by
Doug Bender and
VW-4 Hurricane Hunters



Landing Ship Dock
LSD-34 USS Hermitage


Santa Maria
Photo by John Lemongelli

First Encounter with
Santa Maria at Sea
Solant Amity I

***3rd Plt.Travel Log

Gearing Launch Leaves
for Santa Maria


Idiot Parachutist from
Paris Match Magazine
[Read the full story]


Negotiations Proceed


Troops Prepare
for the Worst

Ken Kollai "Demands
Galvao's Surrender."


Amiral Meets Galvao

Galvao Surrenders
to Brazilian Authorities

Santa Maria Coming
in Recife, Brazil


All the photos of
3rd Platoon
while aboard the
U.S.S. Gearing DD-710

Published in Acrobat


USS Gearing's

***DD-710 Travel Log

LCDR S.F. McMurray, Admin Remarks****


Photos of
Santa Maria Incident
from
Solant Amity Cruise Book

Published in Acrobat


Galvao's Press
Conference in Recife


* Familygrams #4 and #5 were sent to the families of Gearing's crew, including Marines, by Captain, CDR J. E. Tingle . #4 was furnished to website by former L/Cpl James J. McCarthy and #5 by then Pfc. BARman Trevor E. Davies, who left the Corps in 1965 as a Corporal.
** Copy of "Personal" form letter provided by Captain Tingle of the USS Gearing to families of Marine crew, each member was provided an opportunity to add personal comments before sending it. Great concept.
***Travel Logs: 3rd Platoon, G-2-6 AND the USS Gearing provided by then L/Cpl George Bitsoli. Please note the discrepancy: the 3rd Herd's log omitted a refueling stop in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Gearing arrived 2100 on 26Jan61 and departed 1100 on 27Jan61, sailing then to intercept the Santa Maria.
****Administrative Remarks of Gearing's Executive Officer. Provided by then Pfc. Joseph Teklits. Another copy with same content was obtained from former L/Cpl James J. McCarthy. Thank you both.

If you've any questions or can add anything to enhance this page, please contact the site webmaster .

To Home page. Meet the 3rd Platoon , view the Biographies of those contacted thusfar from the 3rd Platoon, 1st, 2nd and Weapons. See Solant Amity Cruise related photographs. Read the Comments of visitors to the site or a tribute to the Marines aboard the Hermitage or of the Corp's Discipline Problems in the 1970s.
Or, perhaps you would just like to see some recent photos of the Corps' Parris Island Training Center or an array of Military Anecdotes from the 60's .
Then, maybe you'd just like to see recent photos of the Parris Island Training Center or an array of Links and Things.