Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31) - Naval Cruise Book

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J.. uss B 0 N H 0 M M E R I C H A R D CVA 31W ig 0 A1 I The proud tradition of the USS BON HOIVIME RICHARD has its gen- esis not in the relatively recent age of World War II, but has been embodied in the history of America itself, from the point of conception of the Amer- ican nation. For it was in 1779 during the great struggle for independence from Britain that the first B O N HOMME RICHARD, under the unfal- tering leadership of John Paul Jones, refused to give up the fight until vic- tory was won. The converted Indiaman commissioned in the Continental Navy went down with the colors still flying, but John Paul Jones and his gallant crew, having boarded and captured the SERAPIS, took victory from defeat showing the world that never should anyone question nor attempt to exert influence on the freedom of the nation. The present BON HOMME RICH- ARD took to the seas in another part ofthe world and in another age, but with identical purpose. In 1944 CV 31 was launched to help in the all out ef- fort of the country in defeating those that would challenge our way of life. The same name, the same purpose, the same challenge-but the present BON HOMME RICHARD was quite a dif- ferent ship from the two-deck frigate with a crew of 80 that was her name- sake. CV 31 was indeed a monarch of the seas with the power wielded by her embarked air group. After exhaustive training she was ready for combat and in June 1945, with CVGKNJ-91 aboard set sail for the Pacific and the final ef- forts of the US Navy in World War II. IIIRYM As part of Task Force 38 her air group participated in the Okinawa campaign, and conducted successive strikes over the Japanese islands of Hokkaido, Hon- shu, Kyushu and Shikoku. On 16 Sep- tember, 1945, the BON HOMME RICH- ARD entered triumphantly into Tokyo Bay as a member of the mighty US Pacific Fleet, just fourteen days after the formal surrender of the Japanese on the decks of the USS MISSOURI. Again, in 1951, the BON HOMNIE RICHARD was called upon to play a leading role in the defense of world- wide freedom. Her record in th Korean War will not be forgotten. Two tours of duty in Korean waters were crammed with gruelling months spent at sea 5 she added her strength to theunited effort of halting the Communist hordes. Due to-the nature of the war, her squadrons flew mostly close support and CAP missions, resulting in a most impressive record of ground targets destroyed. Her role in the Revolutionary War, World War II, and again in the Korean War have indeed succeeded in imbed- ding her name in the annals of Ameri- can history, but undoubtedly her most important role ever is that which she plays today. Never has her military potential nor her role as ambassador of goodwill been so important to the welfare of our country. The BON HOMME RICH- ARD in a most real sense is today fight- ing the enemy of subversion and pres- sure that is the present day war-the Cold War!

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It is victory in this cold war that is our mission - by being strong enough to defeat aggression any- where, anytime, by any means. The life of our country depends on our carrying to the peoples of the world the strength of our convictions - that subversion and the threat of world-wide Communism will not be tolerated. To be succesful in this greatest of our Nation's efforts, we must show the world that our military potential is indeed the greatest ever. Fortu- nately, we have not been forced to use it in a decade, but we stand ready. Yet, this is only a part of our overall mission. The strongest weap- on available to us is proving to the rest of the world that our democratic way of life is better than a Com- munist dictatorship ever could be. It is for this reason that We have our People to People program, as it is the primary means by which peo- ples of foreign lands can see democ- racy for themselves. The majority of Americans that are seen in the Far East are servicemen, and it is up to us as ambassadors of the United States to carry the fight to the en- emy, and see our way to victory. A MISSION fi-4a-Ak