Cleveland (LPD 7 CL 55) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPTAIN E. W. BURROUGH, USN CAPTAIN A. G. SHEPARU. USN CAPTAIN H. G. HOPWOOD, USN COMMANDER C. B. McVAY, III, USN COMMANDER E. ST.C. VON KLEEK, USN [9]

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FORMER C.O. ' s AND X.O. ' s Captain Edmund W. Burrough, USN Captain Edmund VV. Burrough, USN... (Now Rear Admiral) .. .Naval Academy Class of 1914. Captain Burrough assumed command of the Cleveland at the com- missioning ceremonies on June 15, 1942 and guided her through her first baptism of fire during the operations covering the invasion of North Africa. He then took the Cleveland to the South Pacific and started her on the way to a truly amazing war-time record. For meritorious service during the bombardment of Vila-Stanmore Area of New Georgia he was awarded the Legion of Merit. Captain Burrough was relieved by Captain Shepard in June of 1943 after having given the Cleveland the right amount of everything that was to bring her through the following years of war. Captain Andrew G. Shepard, USN Captain Andrew G. Shepard, USN . . . Naval Academy Class of 191 7. Prior to relieving Captain Burrough, Captain Shepard served on the Staff of CincLant and was awarded the Legion of Merit for outstanding services rendered during the invasion of North Africa. The Cleveland under Captain Shepard took part in many operations throughout the Solomons, among them the now historic Battle of Empress Augusta Bay. For this action Captain Shepard was awarded the Navy Cross for distinguished service as the Commanding Officer of the Cleveland. He was with the ship throughout the occu- pation of the Mariannas and the First Battle of the Philippine Sea. For these he was awarded the Silver Star. Captain Shepard was relieved in August of 1944. Captain Herbert G. Hopwood, USN Captain Herbert G. Hopwood, USN . . . (Now Rear Ad- miral) . . .Naval Academy Class of 1920. Captain Hop- wood assumed command of the Cleveland in August of 1944 and commanded the ship during the invasion of the Palau Group. He then brought the ship back to the States for a well deserved overhaul period. Upon our return to the front areas we joined the Seventh Fleet. There followed numerous amphibious operation through- out the Philippines and Borneo; among them the re- capture of Corregidor and Bataan and the invasion of Brunei Bay and Balikpapan. It was at Balikpapan that General MacArthur, who was our guest, paid a fine tribute to Captain Hopwood and the men of the Cleve- land. Captain Hopwood was relieved in July of 1945 by the present Commanding Officer, Captain Maguire. Commander Charles B. McVay,iIII, USN Commander Charles B. McVay, HI, USN . . . (Now Cap- tain) ... Naval Academy Class of 1920. Commander McVay assumed the duties of the Cleveland ' s first Execu- tive Officer on commissioning day and served until April of the following year, when he was relieved by Commander Von Kleek. Commander McVay partici- pated in the landings in North Africa and was with the Cleveland in the Pacific. Here he assisted in covering the transport groups moving from Noumea to Guadalcanal, and in March of that year participated in operations in the New Georgia Area. For his services during the bom- bardment of Kolombangara, Commander McVay was awarded the Silver Star Medal. Commander Ernest St. C. Von Kleek, USN Commander Ernest St. C. Von Kleek, USN . . . (Now Captain) . . .Naval Academy Class of 1925. Commander Von Kleek, a plank owner, started his long tour of duty aboard the USS Cleveland as her Engineering Officer and held that position until he relieved Commander McVay as Executive Officer. He served in the capacity of Executive Officer until January of 1945, having seen service under three Commanding Officers. Commander von Kleek was awarded the Legion of Merit for outstand- ing services as the Executive Officer of the Cleveland dur- ing the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay. Commander von Kleek was relieved by Commander McCoy, the present Executive Officer. [8]

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COMMANDING OFFICER EXECUTIVE OFFICER ' f-V- m 1 rl l kJ r m 1 • iiini ■ HPirrnnsHi M r lt™: r-Ivl 1 Captain Charles J. Maguire, USN... Naval Acade- my, Class of 1 92 1. Served in Wisconsin in World War I as midshipman. Upon being commissioned an Ensign in 1920, assigned to ' orl l Dakota followed by destroyer duty in Robinson, Cowell, Edsall and Case including two years duty in the Near East during the Greek-Turk War. In 1926 commenced postgraduate training leading to a Master of Science degree from Harvard in 1928. Then followed two years in charge of the Navy ' s weather ser- vice during which time he wrote a book on meteorology. In 1930 ordered to flight training at Lakehurst. Upon designation as naval aviator assigned to rigid airship Los Angeles. Returned to general service in 1934, re- porting to the light cruiser Concord. Commanded destroyer ane in 1937 and 1938 and served as Gunnery Officer of the West Virginia in 1939 and 1940. Following a tour of duty in Naval Operations, ordered in 1942 to command of the Naval Air Station, Richmond, Fla. Returned in August 1 943 to Naval Operations as head of the Airship Section. In June 1944 assigned to the staff of the Com- mander Seventh Fleet. Awarded the Legion of Merit for his services as Plans Officer during the Philippine cam- paign. Reported to the Cleveland in June 1945, and led this ship during the closing days of the war in the East China Sea and the occupation of Japan. Commander Melvyn ' lH. ' McCoy, USN... Naval Academy Class 1927. After graduation, he served over three years in the battleship West Virginia, during which time he also served two tours of six months temporary duty with the American Electoral Mission in Nicaragua. Then followed three and one-half years destroyer duty m the Elliot and Waters. In July, 1934, he commenced a post-graduate course in radio engineering, receiving a Master of Science degree from the University of Cal- ifornia. He was then ordered to the Brooklyn as Communi- cation Officer. After three years in the Brooklyn, he was ordered to the i6th Naval District as Radio Material Officer and was captured on Corregidor, 6 May 1942. After being in several Japanese prison camps, he en- gineered and led a successful escape and brought back the first eye-witness story of the atrocities and starvation inflicted upon American prisoners in tht Philippines, as well as valuable military information. For this he was awarded the Army ' s Distinguished Service Cross. Then followed one year of shore duty in command of Naval Radio Activities, Bainbridge Island, Washington. In December 1944, he again returned to sea duty in the Pacific as Executive Officer of the Cleveland. He obtained a large measure of revenge when the Cleveland took part in the bombardment and recapture of Corregidor. I i l