Boxer (CVS 21) - Naval Cruise Book

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I-HSTCDRY construction was authorized by Congress. She was commissioned on I6 April IQLLS. - l-lowever, the BOXER was not destined to see action in World War ll. After shakedown cruises in Atlantic and Caribbean waters, she squeezed through the panama Canal and steamed northward toward California. While she was undergoing, alteration in San Francisco in preparation tor joining her sister carriers in battle, a document was signed aboard the U.S.S. MISSOURI in Tokyo Bay, bringing peace to the Paciliic and to the world. On ll October IQLL5, the BOXER relieved the U.S.S. ANUETAM in the Yellow Sea and made her acquaintance with the Orient. With the outbreak ot hostilities in Korea in June lQ5O, the BOXER had her First taste ot war and her liirst opportunity to live up to her Fighting name. Within one month ol: the outbreak ot the Korean conflict, she sped across the pacific in a record-breaking run to bring one hundred and titty tighter planes to the allied Forces in Korea. l-ler return was even! more phenomenal: seven days, eighteen hours, and thirty-six minutes. She immediately headed west again with an air group aboard For the first ol: her tours ot duty in Korean waters. The BOXEI2 played an important part in quelling the Communist aggression in Korea. During her tour tours oi: duty in the Western Pacific with Task Force 77 she worked night and day, harassed enemy on their own ground and gave cover and support to the men Fighting under the United Nations Command. She set unprecedented recordsg she earned and won the respect of her own Forces and ot allied nationsg and she was recognized by all as a valiant warrior. l-ler ettorts were rewarded when, while still Hon the line hurling - I ' ' , strikes against the enemy, a truce was signed at W panmunjom bringing about a cease-tire in Korea. . There cannot be an end to the history ot the A D BOXEIQS and what they are doing, For their history is still being written. lt is written, not in words, but in work. It is written in the blood ot those who are giving their lives. and in the labors ol: those who are dedicating their energy to the 'enormous task of subduing the enemies ol: the tree world. ff We ot the BOXEI2 are proud ot our ship and ot the heritage that is ours by reason ol: our association I with her. Our highest aspiration is that we might prove ourselves worthy ot this ,great warrior oi: the seas.

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I 8 I I J BCDXEIQ 'Like aII noble. ladies ol: 'great names, the BOXEI2 can point with pride to a Iine ol? illustrious Forebears. I-Ier name is inseparably linked with American naval history since its early beginnings, and the Feats ot our BOXEI2 ol: today guarantee an even Firmeriposition in the annals ol: naval achievement. The prows ot the BOXEIQS have ploughed the waters ol: the seven seas. Their mastsfihave borne Old Glory to the Iiarthest shores ol: the world and have impressed men ol: several generations and many lands with the might ol: American naval power. V As our name implies, the successive BOXEIQS have been warriors ol: renown and have proudly Iived up to their tighting name. The first BOXEI2 was built in I8I5 under the personal direction ot Commodore Oliver I-Iazard Perry, who Iater achieved undying Fame by opening the empire ol: Japan to world trade. The men ol: the BOXER today, therefore, are Fulfilling Perry's dreams ot the tuturie by manning a great warship named The Boxerl' and calling at the teeming ports ot a new Japan whose Flow ot mercantile trade encircles the globe. The First BOXEI2 served in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and the Gull: of Mexico until I8I7 when she was Iost olit Central America. The second BOXEI2 was at one time commanded by D. G. C'Damn the torpedoesul Farragut and was the First to enter Pacific waters, so blazing a trail that would be widened by her descendants into a thoroughfare ol: naval trattic. Atter seventeen years ol: active duty in both the Atlantic and pacific, she was sold in philadelphia in I8LL8. I During the turbulent period ot Civil War' in America, the third BOXEIQ saw action in the service ot both ol: the opposing naval torces. As the 'I'ristam Shandyll, N She ran the Northern blockade ol: Southern ports. I . Captured in I86iI by the Union Forces, she success- .X Fully served the Northern cause and shared in its ' laurels oli I865. I . Our immediate predecessor, BOXEI2 IV, was devoted to a more peaceI:uI career. She served as a 'Craining ship For the future olzliicers ol: the Navy at Annapolis as well as For the boots ol: the Naval Training Center, Newport, Rhode Island. In I92O, she was turned' over to the Department ol: the Interior and steamed away to the Arctic Circle N For service in the study ot Iittle-known Alaskan regions. The story ot the U.S.S. BOXEI2 ICVA-QII begins legs than a week aI:ter Pearl I-Iarbor when, on I3 December IQ!-II, her i, .I I I I I I I I ,I 1

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Captain MAIQSHALL B. GUIQNEY U. S. Navy LL August I952d8 August 1953 Graduating from the Naval Academy in 1926, Captain Gurney served in the MARBLE1-IEAD, BUIMEIQ and the ARIZONA before entering Flight training at Pensacola, where he was designated a Naval Aviator in January, 1930. From VS Squadron 9 on board the PENSACQLA, he was ordered to duty as an instructor at Pensacola in June, 1932. Next, three years in VB Squadron 1, the Navy's First dive bombing squadron, on board the LEXINGTON and the IQANGEQ. This was Followed by duty as test pilot ' at the Ship Experimental Unit in Philadelphia betore being ordered to command the OWL. : ln 19110, he was Executive Oltticer ot VP-31 in Coco Solo on Neutrality Patrol AA and in February, 19Lil, went to the stalili ot Commander Support Force, operating in the North Atlantic. April, 19Li2, Found him in command ol: the West Coast A , Base Service Unit in San Francisco, and in March, 1943, took charge ol: the by Acorn Assembly and Training Detachment, Amphibious Forces, pacific. ln 191-15, lofi! he commanded the PANSHAW BAY Followed by chief or starr to comcxxrepiv , FOUQ and SIX, where he served until August, l9Li7. ln 19118 and 1949, he K Efflsiepugy Commxipder, Naval Air Transport Service and Commander Fleet 'TZ OQIS ics upport ings. ln December, 19Li9, he was ordered to the Statli ot Chief ol: Naval Air lQeserve Training. l-le was transferred to the Naval War College in August, 1951, and From there ordered to command the USS BOXEQ QCVA-21l. COMMANDING 1 1 1 1 . 1 i ,l