The Leahy was completely out of commission until I commissioned her on 4 May 1968.  
 
 The whole intent of the DLG 16/6 program was that the ships were to be put back 
 into commission as new ships and in new ship condition. There was no CO assigned 
 during the rebuild time. The PCO is the first CO. It was a unique program. As it 
 turned out, the Leahy was the only ship to complete it fully. The shipyards fought 
 it with all their might because it gave control to the PCO's instead of the shipyard 
 commanders. 
 
 When I arrived in Philadelphia, the Leahy looked much as she does now, moored at 
 the pier with no care, who is her CO now?  Yard didn't care much about her until the
 Chief engineer and I arrived and started to stir the pot. The radar and missile systems 
 were off the ship being upgraded but not much else was going on. The turbines, main 
 draft blowers, and boilers were all untouched and needed much work. The New Jersey 
 was being reactivated at the time and much of the shipyard force and Leahy money 
 was being used there. The New Jersey would have never left mothballs if Philly hadn't 
 had buckets of money to upgrade the Leahy. 
 
 Also you may remember we were the first ship with all the missile fire control com-
 ponents "plug-ins" not hard wired. They were all tested at a Sperry site on Long Island, 
 brought to the ship in Philadelphia, turned on and tested again. Shipyard said it wouldn't 
 work, Leahy crew made it work!!!

 Long story never truly told.