Venture decommissioned

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USS VENTURE (MSO-496)
DECOMMISSIONED
August 2, 1971

VENTURE's ensign being hauled down for the last time,
with USS DIRECT (MSO-430) and USS ASSURANCE (MSO-521) in the background.
Courtesy of CDR Douglas Conwell USN (Ret)

CO at podium, Final address to the crew, LTJG Hood Hampton to the left. Courtesy of CDR Douglas Conwell USN (Ret)

The CO, LTCDR Douglas Conwell, at podium, Final address to the crew, LTJG Hood Hampton to the left.
Courtesy of CDR Douglas Conwell USN (Ret)

Invited guests, with engineering department in the background.
Courtesy of CDR Douglas Conwell USN (Ret)

Chief Thibodeau turning over VENTURE's jack to LTCDR Douglas Conwell.
Courtesy of CDR Douglas Conwell USN (Ret)

ENS Ernie Perez handing the OOD spyglass to secure the quarterdeck watch to LTCDR Douglas Conwell.
Courtesy of CDR Douglas Conwell USN (Ret)

Venture began preparations for her inactivation on May 3, 1971 at Charleston.
She was de-commissioned there on August 2, 1971

Venture got transferred to Charleston Jan 1st of 1971. We were scheduled for a trip to the Med, then got decommissioned at the last minute, August 2nd of that year.

It really hurt as we had worked hard to get that ship ready to go. Great crew too.

I would guess about 10 years later I had breakfast with the ex MineLant (or what ever it was called) Ops boss who choose Venture for decommission. He literally used a dart and the status board.

Venture was a good ship. Our [final] CO wanted a destroyer so we, I swear, were the first MSO (DD)! It was fun. I was the Ops Officer and became the XO for the last month just before decom.

Hood Hampton