Ashtabula (AO 51) - Naval Cruise Book

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'-L..1.... i.....1........, .r . .. -i , t 1 .. 4 v - ' 1 .. ' I .. -1 1 MESSAGOE mom TH E CAPTAI A . Inavery real sense, this cruisebook characterizes that special and very unique 'bond that unites men ofthe sea. WESTPAC73-74 was but a brief . interval' really, but jto those men who then served in Ashtabula, its experience, was memorable, perhaps even unforgettable. There was no Vietnam,War-in progress to strain the ship's logistic .support function to its maximum capacity, but there was a-job to be done. Ashtabula sailors did it - with 'pride,f dedication, and professionalism. Although infrequent, there were-,isa-ls'o5brief5 periods for reIaxation in Japan, Singapore, and the Philippines. Q w is 1 ' f .A 5 e . ',ii,A VWESTPAC'73.W'+t 74, though 'Iargely'pictorial, presents the story of' Ashtabulafs deployment to the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean. The cruiseaspatnlnied 175 days altogether, ofiwhich. roughly 125 days were spent underway,'and.-which covered approximately 50,000 miles. ' V - '.t , 1' Each '-man inAshta-bula can be proud to have ebeenfa. part of thatextend- - , . V ' y A '-A if 'Ag DI CKINS if C

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