Cacapon (AO 52) - Naval Cruise Book

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10 FEB-10 MAR Leave 11 MAR-13 MAR 14 MAR-9 APR 10 APR-24 MAY Beach, California California California 25 MAY-7 fUlY ORI 8 JUN-17 JUN 18 jUN,10 jUL 11 jUL-18 jUL 19 jUL-20 jUL' AU 2 OCT-3 3 OCT-9 OCT Taiwan Bay, B.P.1. 10 OCT 12 OCT 23 OCT 29 OCT 11 OCT 22 OCT 28 OCT 8 NOV 9 NOV-10 NOV 11 Nov- 19 NOV 21 Nov 23 Nov 18 NOV 20 NOV 22 NOV -4 DEC 5 DEC-6 DEC 7 DEC-18 DEC 19 DEC-21 DEC 22 DEC-31 DEC 1 JAN-7 JAN 8 JAN-21 JAN 22 JAN-29 JAN 30 JAN-3 FEB 4 FEB-13 FEB R.P.I. c Bay, R.P.l. ff Coast Vietnam Bay, B.P.1. Kong, B.C.C. ublc Bay, R.P.l. Bay, B.P.l. Bay, R.P.I.' Coast of Vietnam the Coast of Vietnam the Coast of Vietnam Bay, R.P.I. ff the Coast of Vietnam Bay, B.P.1. ff the Coast of Vietnam Taiwan Japan 14 FEB-6 MAR Beach, California

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Ships History The USS CACAPON QAO-525 was commissioned September 21, 1943, by LCDR George Eyth, DM, USNR, the first Commanding Officer. The CACAPON is named after the Cacapon River in West Virginia. She is a twin screw, geared turbine propelled tanker. Her designers were part of the U.S. Maritime Commission who had the idea in mind to build large fast tankers suitable for naval operation during wartime. , The CACAPON lived up to her purpose, spending 22 months supporting the Fifth Fleet units in their raids against the Gilbert lslands. She refueled some 600 naval vessels, discharging 2,100,000 barrels of fuel oil, 134,000 barrels of diesel oil, and 5,824,000 gallons of aviation gasoline. In 1947, the CACAPON spent 10 weeks operating in the Antarctic waters with Admiral Byrdis famous expedition. She steamed about 20,000 miles total from the beginning of Operation Highjumpw until its end on 1 March 1947. V From 1950 to 1953, the duration, of the Korean Conflictn, the CACAPON made 5 tours off the coast of Korea in the combat zone. Sherestablished her eligibility to wear 8 of the total 9,engagement stars authorized since the start of Korean hostilities. - Captain Becker, Commanding Officer of the CAC in brought to new life the symbolic house flag of a black rooster, which nowflies over the ship at the end of each unrep. This accompanied with our- notorious slogan Find em, Fuel em, Forget emn. In the time since commissioning, the CACAPON has had at least 3 major million dollar , overhauls. She is being modernized as quickly as new ideas and practices are put to use.

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Captain WATSON was commissioned 71 une 1944 following graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy. His first assignment was in the Gunnery Department of the USS BIRMINGHAM QCL-625 where he took part in the battles of Iwo ,I ima and Okinawa. He entered flight training at Dallas, Texas in 1945 and was designated a Naval Aviator at the U.S. Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida 31 january 1947. His aviation billets have included Patrol Squadrons TWENTY-TWO, TWENTY-THREE and TWENTY-FOUR and Flag Lieutenant to COIVIFAIRWINGSLANT. He was stationed in Long Beach from 1955 to 1957 while attached to Staff, COMINPAC. Since receiving a Masters Degree in Ordnance Engineering QAviationj at MIT in 1953 he has had assignments in BUORD and BUWEPS. He reports as Commanding Officer, USS CACAPON QAO-52j from the Anti-Submarine Warfare Systems Project Office in Washington, D.C. where he was Director of the Plans Division. He commanded Patrol Squadron TWENTY-THREE in 1963 and USS GREENWICH BAY QAVP-415 in 1965. He is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College. Captain WATSON and his wife, the former Charlotte Ann Henderson, have three sons, Brian Q18j, Jeffrey Q15j and Drew f12j. Commanding Officer USS CACAPON A052 CAPTAIN FRED C. WATSON