Bryce Canyon (AD 36) - Naval Cruise Book

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Captain Amebeo hemay Qalvam Repomteo - Septemsen 1965 Oetacheo - manch 1967

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x l'f '- Q X X X X .t ff Jvc? 00627 xg f x HHH , p V---Lf-L1..u. :' ....--Y--A I hlstonyf Of the Ll.S.S. Bnyce Canyon A0-36 The Korean conflict was responsible for the birth of the BRYCE CANYON-2, although initial construction began April 16, 1945, construc- tion was originally suspended when World War II ended. Only minor work was done from 1946 until 1950 when hostilities in Korea caused cancellation of plans to put the tender in the reserve fleet. Captain M. R. Gerlin took command and set the first watch after commissioning ceremonies on 15 September, 1950, in the Charleston QS. C.J Naval Shipyard. The Shenandoah Class D tender is named after Bryce Canyon Na- tional Park, a scenic tract of land located in the towering plateau coun- try of Southern Utah. The park is noted for its vivid colors and fantas- tically eroded terraces and pinnacles rising 800 feet above the pine cov- ered canyon floor, By a strange coincidence, both the anniversary of the USS BRYCE CANYON and the Bryce Canyon National Park fall on the same date, September 15th. The National.Park was established in 1928, and the ship was commissioned in 1950. The BRYCE CANYON began her naval career with an unusual inci- dent and a probable first in naval history. Within two months after -commissioning, the ship was transferred from the Atlantic to the Paci- fic. So sudden was the change of orders that the officers and men would have had no chance to provide their families with finances to cover transportation to the Pacific coast. For the first time in recorded naval history, a pay day was held for all hands at midnight, followed by liberty at 0100, only a few hours before sailing. During her first Far Eastern tour in 1951 and her second in 1952-53, she took part in the Korean conflict and received one star on the Korean Ribbon for Providing logistic support to the Forces Afloat in the Combat Area. She also holds the United Nations Service Ribbon. During the fiscal years 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1959, BRYCE CANYON won first place in Battle Efficiency Competition among the small Pacific Fleet destroyer tenders, making her the first ship in the United States Navy to win the Gold E , Again in 1962, she was awarded her HEII. Throughout her career the BRYCE CANYON's schedule has been a six month deployed tour followed by an eight to ten month homeport period. Whether she is in Long Beach, her homeport, or deployed in the Pacific the ship's primary mission is repair and logistic support. The repair mission is performed in 38 repair shops, so diversified, that they can handle almost any job from the minute adjustment of a stop watch to a complete main engine overhaul. The logistic supportrmission is per- formed by all of the departments in BRYCE CANYON. The Engineering Department produces steam and electrical power. The BRYCE CANYON is ,492 feet long, displaces 18, 000 tons, has one 5 f 38 gum 'mount and can comfortably accomodate '51 officers, 66 chief Petty Officers and 748 enlisted men. 1 6 ,- X , , Z, Z Z ,

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i . s '- A .-:.:' -1-- -:s:m:.':. 1:sga.:naML.2eL4gf.4-34144, 44-.,i..,sf.,,,24 Captain ameoeo hemzy Galvani Amedeo Henry Galvani was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts. He attended Plymouth High School and Tufts College prior to entering the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1939. He was a member of the Class of 1943 which graduated in June 1942, due to a stepped up wartime program. Following short tours of duty as Ordnance Instructor at Dartmouth College and gunnery training aboard the USS WYOMING, he reported to the USS BURNS QDD-5583 as Assistant Gunnery and CIC officer. He served succes- sively as Gunnery Officer and Executive Officer of the BURNS. While aboard the BURNS, Captain Galvani Qthen Ltjgj was awarded the Bronze Star with combat V for heroic achievement on 16 February 1944. In June 1946, he was ordered to USS DENNIS J , BUCKLEY QDDR-8081 aboard which he served two years as Executive Officer and Navigator. During this period the BUCKLEY operated seven months with the 7th Fleet in China-Korean waters. Next followed three years of post graduate instruction in Ordnance Engineering QChemi- calj at Annapolis and Lehigh University during which Captain Galvani received a Masters of Science Degree in Chemistry from Lehigh University, . In July 1951, he reported to the Staff of Commander Carrier Division FOUR aboard USS MIDWAY QCVA-411 for a two year tour as Gunnery and Readiness Officer. Next followed 3 years at the U. S. Naval Ammunition Depot, Hawthorne, Nevada, as Assistant Ordnance Officer. He was Commanding Officer of USS LEWIS HANCOCK QDD-6751 from August 1956, until the ship was decommissioned inDecember 1957. In January 1958, he assumed command of the destroyer USS JOHN PAUL JONES QDD-9321, flagship of ComDes- Ron 30, at San Juan, Puerto Rico. In April 1959, he served as the Executive Officer of the U. S. Naval Propellant Plant, Indian Head, Maryland, and for a short time also doubled as NPP's Commanding Officer. From April 1961, until June 1962, he served as the Executive Officer of the NEWPORT NEWS during which period, that ship won the Cruiser, Atlantic Fleet Battle Efficiency Pennant. He then reported to NAD, McAlester, Oklahoma, for duty as Commanding Officer, attaining the rank of captain effective July lst, 1962. September 1965, Captain Galvani reported to the USS BRYCE CANYON QAD-361 as Commanding Officer, The Long Beach, California, homeported, destroyer tender departed Long Beach July 11, 1966, for its first Far East cruise in four years. In addition to the Bronze Star Medal, Captain Galvani is entitled to wear the American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 10 battle stars, World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia Clasp, China Service Medal, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 2 stars. .1-, .... s - nn., :l..,-- - , 1? 5