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!!! )

Third Platoon
"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




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

Solant Amity I

***USMC - Travel Log

First Encounter with
Santa Maria at Sea

Santa Maria
Photo by John Lemongelli

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


Solant Amity I

***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 Log for "G" Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine regiment provided by then L/Cpl George Bitsoli.
****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.