Columbus (CA 74) - Naval Cruise Book

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yuCoK ampjieU CAPTAIN, USN t ap+ain Gordon Campbell, USN, has been Commanding Officer of the USS COLUMBUS since April 1952 when he relieved Captain F. B. Warder, USN, during the ship ' s latest yard overhaul. A veteran of 26 years naval service. Captain Campbell came to the COLUMBUS from duty in the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington. Among his other assignments since being commissioned in June 1926 were billets in the Gunnery Departments of the battleships USS PENNSYLVANIA and USS OKLAHOMA and the destroyer USS COLE, hie was then sent to Submarine School, New London, Conn., and duty followed on the submarines USS S-17 and USS S-43. Later he was placed in command of submarines USS S-23 and USS BASS, and from there became Operations Officer of Submarine Squadron 3. During the war he was in command at different times of Submarine Squadrons 53 and 45. After the war he was sent to shore duty with Naval Operations and then the Staff of CINCPACFLT. During 1950-51 he attended Industrial College of the Armed Forces and his next assignment was as Assistant Director of Training afBUPERS, prior to taking command of the COLUMBUS. In addition to the Legion of Merit, Captain Campbell has earned the follow- ing medals and awards: Silver Life Saving Medal, American Defense Medal, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal.

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IUh 7ft. COMMANDER, USN C ommander Nibbs reported aboard to replace Commander Presler as Executive Officer of the COLUMBUS while the ship was undergoing refresher training at Cuba last summer. Born in Portsmouth, England, Commander Nibbs spent most of his boyhood years in and around New London, Conn., before attending the Naval Academy from 1931 to 1935. He first served on the USS WEST VIRGINIA and then went to the PORTLAND, where he was at the outbreak of WWII. That ship saw extended service in the Pacific during 1942, participating in the Battles of the Coral Sea, Midway, Tulagi Landings, Eastern Solomons, Santa Cruz Islands, capture and defense of Guadalcanal and Third Savo. He then reported to the USS MOBILE in 1944 and in 1945 went to BUPERS for duty. That was followed by a year at the Naval War College before taking command of the USS MASSEY (DD-778) in June 1947. Two years in that capacity preceded another tour at the Bureau of Naval Personnel before being assigned to the COLUMBUS. Commander Nibbs has been decorated with the following awards and medals: Bronze Star Medal (Combat Distinguishing Device), Commendation Ribbon (Combat Distinguishing Device), Navy Unit Commendation, American Defense Medal (I star), Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal (17 battle stars), American Area Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal (2 stars).