Anzio (CG 68) - Naval Cruise Book

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[0 CO die esc U USS ANZIO (CVE 57) Sign on and sail with inc. The stature of our homeland is not more than the measure of ourselves. Our job is keep her free. Our will is to keep the torch of freedom burning for all. To this solemn purpose we call the young, the brave, the strong and the free. Heed my call. Come to the Sea. John Paul Jones 54

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AWARDS COMMENDATIONS LCDR Swicegood, QSCS Darragh NAVAL ACHIEVEMENT MEDALS LT Burke, LT Hardy, LT Holobinko, LTJQ Kunzman, LTJQ Maida, ENS Arneson, ENS Ireton, FCC Desouter, FCC Elgin, RMC Gould, ENC Kreamer, OSC Laidley, NCC Pierce, FCC Yourgules, ET1 Cambria, RM1 Cantrell, AMH1 Cryer, QSM1 Casler, STQ1 Cusmano, OS1 De- garmo, ATI Doering (presented by CNO), CTO 1 Fletcher, STQ1 Franchebois, FC1 Keller, SHI Kendle, MAI Wilson, PN2 Bennett, FC2 Clonts, MS2 Cramer, SK2 Finger, OS2 Gillespie, RM2 Kenny, BM2 Minkle, FC2 Sanders, OS2 Stewart, FC2 White, FC3 Haremaker, AMH3 Holmes, EN3 Odachowski, MS3 Thames SURFACE WARFARE OFFICERS LTJG Kunzman ENLISTED SURFACE WARFARE SPECIALISTS SHI Bagby, OS1 Crowder, SK2 Finger, QM2 Sersen, QM3 Adams, OS3 Yost, OS3 Corrigan ADVANCEMENTS PNCS Keane, ETCM Adams, LCDR Tilbury, LTJG Gehl, LTJG Kun- zman, LTJG Maida, CTM1 Ducello, SHI Bagby, GSE1 Flores, GSM1 Lawson, PNL Reed, GSM1 Ryan, ET2 Allen, FC2 Camasosa, IC2 Fal- goust, PN2 Foster, OS2 Gillespie, OS2 Grabill, SM2 Harrison, FC2 Hiott, GMG2 McKenna, GSM2 Patterson, STG2 Rowland, GSE2 Schlot- terbeck, QM2 Sersen, SM2 Stanford, SH2 Syriac, RN2 Washington, TM2 Wilkerson, BM3 Allen, IC3 Bickman, MR3 Cagle, GSM3 Chesson, EM3 Ferrell, SM3 Hess, IC3 Hutchinson, PC3 Kelso, OS3 Mack, OS3 Poe, IC3 Roberts, OS3 Salmieri, EN3 Smith, STG3 Wilkerson PROUD FATHERS LCDR Byron (boy), LT Raspa (boy), EN1 litis (boy), GSE1 Reynolds (boy), FC1 Rodriguez (boy), BM2 Minkle (boy), STG3 Brown (boy), GSM3 Chesson (girl), SMSN Garza (boy), FR Morgan (boy) 53

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On the morning of 27 August, 1943, the vessel that would even- tually bear the name USS ANZIO (CVE-57) was commissioned USS CORAL SEA (CVE-57). She was the third CASABLANCA Class escort aircraft carrier built by Kaiser Shipbuilding of Vancouver Washington. CVE-57 joined the Pacific Fleet in late October 1943 and sailed from Pearl Harbor on 10 November, 1943 into the Western Pacific and combat. Her aircraft flew missions in support of the amphibious land- ings at the Gilbert, Marshall, and Marianas Islands and New Guinea. In October 1944, after return- ing to Pearl Harbor for mainte- nance, CVE-57 sailed with a new name. The Navy Department recognized the significance of the Anzio Campaign in Europe and renamed CVE-57, ANZIO in conjunction with the christening of the new carrier Coral Sea (CV-42) USS ANZIO left Pearl Harbor with a new mission: anti-subma- rine warfare. Her task unit in- cluded five destroyer escorts, which with sonar and the support I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast. For I intend to sail in harm ' s way. John Paul Jones DUTY IN ANZIO l Jo We hold it our sacred duty to keep America, A maritime nation, strong by maintaining ANZIO ' s combat readiness, to ensure our nation ' s free use of the seas, to preserve the security and prosperity of our country. In dedicating ourselves to the cause of American seapower, we honor those who served so valiantly at Anzio Beach, and throughout the course of World War II. ANZIO ' s Commissioning, an investment in Naval strength, is a tremendous endowment for freedom. 55