Bayfield (APA 33) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPTAIN L. E. DARBY, USN COMMANDING OFFICER NOV 'I963 - Captain DARBY graduated in 1938 from Pur- due University where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering Qmajor- ing in Communications Engineeringj. Subsequent to graduation, while employed as an engineer in South Bend, Indiana, he applied for a commission in the U. S. Naval Reserve and was commissioned Ensign, C-VfSj, USNR, in August of 1940. After serving briefly on the Staff of Commander Section Three, U. S. Naval Communications Reserve, he was ordered to active duty on the U.S.S. DENT QDD-116j in April of 1941 and served on this West Coast Sonar School ship as instructor for the officer students until the outbreak of World War II. After commencement of hostilities, he continued serving on the U.S.S. DENT as Com- munications Officer and ASW Officer until Feb- ruary of 1943 when he was ordered to Applied Communications Course of the U. S. Naval Post- graduate School. After Postgraduate School, he continued postgraduate work at NRL in the field of Electronic Warfare and upon completion was assigned to the Staff of Admiral HALSEY, Com- mander Third Fleet, until December of 1945. In January 1946, the then Lieutenant Com- mander DARBY reported to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations for duty in Electronic Warfare which was followed by assignments to General Line School 11947-19485, Communica- tions Officer, Staff Commander De-stroyers Atlan- tic H948-1949j, Executive Officer, U.S.S. .IAMES E. KYES QDD-787j f1950-19515, Chief of Naval Operations fElectronic Warfarej 11951- 1954j, Commanding Officer, U.S.S. SAMUEL N. MOORE fDD-747j H954-1956j, MAAC Federal Republic of Germany 11957-l958j, SACLANT ASW Research Center 1959-19601 and as Chief, Allocations Division, Defense Communications Agency from 1960 until assuming command of the U.S.S. BAYFIELD QAPA-335 on 25 Novem- ber 1963. Captain DARBY has been awarded the Navy Commendation Ribbon ffor work in Electronic Warfare while on the Third Fleet Staffj, Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal Q5 Starsj, American De- fense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, China Service Medal, World War II Victory Med- al, Navy Occupation Service Medal Uapanj, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Philip- pine Liberation Ribbon 12 Starsj and Korean Presidential Unit Citation. He is the son of Charles H. DARBY fdeceasedj and Iva M. DARBY of Butler, Indiana, and is married to the former LTJG Kathryn L. POHOR- SKY, USNRCWJ of Detroit, Michigan, and has one daughter, Barbara Lee, who is now a student at Indiana University.

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Training nd Readiness CAPTAIN JOHN H. HITCHCOCK, USN CQMMANDING oFFlcER SEP 1962 T0 NOV 1963 A 1940 graduate of the University of Wash- ington, Captain Hitchcock enrolled in the V-7 Officers Training Program and received his lVIid- shipman training in the U.S.S. PRAIRIE STATE, graduating in February 1941. Immediately there- after he reported to his first duty station, the U.S.S. lVIAHAN fDD-3645 then serving as a part of the Hawaiian Squadron in the U. S. Pacific Fleet. Captain Hitchcock's duties in the Mahan progressed from those of Torpedo Officer succes- sively through all departments culminating in his assignment as Executive Officer early in 1943. In October of 1944 he was ordered back to the United States from the Pacific Theatre of opera- tions for duty as prospective Executive Officer of the U.S.S. ROWAN QDD-782D and remained aboard in that capacity after commissioning until the end of World War II. In November of 1945 the then LCDR Hitchcock assumed command of the U.S.S. BELET QAPD- 109j and participated in the occupation of Japan. The U.S.S. BELET was ordered into the mothball fleet in 1946 and LCDR Hitchcock's next assign- Rhode Island. His foll slgnment as Officer in 1 wing duties included as- harge, Naval Reserve In- structor Training School, Treasure Island 11947- ment was to the General Line School at Newport, o R 48j, U.S.S. HOLLISTE and Executive Officer 4 1 QDD 7881 as Navigator 1948-501, Post Graduate Studies at Ohio State University f1950-51J, Bu- reau of Naval Personnel Branch - Recruiting -N as Head, Stds. and Policy Division f1951-53j, Com- manding Officer of the U.S.S. RADFORD QDDE- 446j Q1953-555, Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel and Administration, COMCRUDESPAC H955-571r, Bureau of Naval Personnel as Assist- ant Head, Active Plans Branch, Plans Division Q1957-591i , Student at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island f1959-605 , and finally the staff CINCPACFLT, Pearl Harbor, as the Fleet and Fleet Ordnance Offi a . cer f1960-625 before reporting as Commanding Officer, U.S.S. BAYFIELD QAPA-33D on 8 Sep- tember 1962. He was promoted to Commander on 1 July 1951 and to Captain on 1 April 1960. Captain Hitchcock has been awarded the Ameri- can Defense fwith starj, American Area, Pacific Area Q5 starsj, Wlorld War' II Victory, Occupation Service flapanj, China Service fextendedj, Na- tion Defense, Korean Service, and the United Nations Service medals. He is the son of George P. Hitchcock of Eugene, Oregon, and Constance Hitchcock of San Francisco, California. He is married to the former lVIar'garet Walsh of Newport, Rhode Island, and has two sons: John, age 14, and Michael, age 10.

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CAPTAIN W. C. MEYER, USN COMMANDER AMPHIBIOUS SQUADRON SEVEN SEP 1962 - DEC 1963 A graduate of the University of California in 1937, Captain MEYER received his original com- mission as an Ensign, U.S. Naval Reserve, via the NROTC program. Upon mobilization in January 1941, Captain MEYER was assigned as Gunnery Officer of the USS ALDEBARAN fAF 101. On 5 February 1942 he placed in commission and commanded P C 476 which operated in the Atlantic, the Hawaiian area and took part in the Guadalcanal operatio-ns. In September 1943, Captain MEYER placed in commission and commanded USS NEW- MAN KDE 2051 and escorted convoys to Great Britain and the Mediterranean. In August 1944 he placed in commission and commanded USS RINGNESS fAPD 1001 and later participated in the landings at Okinawa, where he received the Bronze Star with Combat MVR. After the war, Captain MEYER spent a year under instruction at the General Line School, Newport, R. I., and 18 months as Assistant Direc- tor of Training on the Staff of Commandant 12th Naval District. In January 1949, Captain MEYER recommis- sioned and commanded USS FRANK E. EVANS fDD 7541. In January 1950 he assumed com- mand of USS TAUSSIG QDD 7461 and spent fourteen months in the Korean Theatre where he was awarded the Commendation Medal with Com- bat MVR Returning from Korea, Captain MEYER served 'as Executive Officer of the NROTC unit, Univer- sity of California, Berkeley. In July 1954 he reported to the Staff, Commander United Nations Blockade and Escort Force Pacific as Asst. Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans. He was awarded the Korean Military Order of Ulchi in recognition of outstanding services to the Republic of Korea Navy. Captain MEYER reported to the Naval War College in July of 1955 for instruction in the Naval Warfare Course and the following year he was assigned to the staff as an instructor. On 5 July, 1957, Captain MEYER assumed command of Destroyer Division 192 and on 15 August, 1958, command of USS CACAPON QAO 521 which, a year later, was awarded the Battle Efficiency Award. I Returning to the University of California, Berk- eley, in September of 1959, Captain MEYER as- sumed duties as Commanding Officer of the NROTC unit and Professor of Naval Science. Cap- tain MEYER broke his pennant on board BAY- FIELD on 22 September 1962 as Commander Amphibious Squadron Seven.