Comstock (LSD 45 LSD 19) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 64 of the 1959 volume:

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Fischer Jr. Artists Ens L. J. Tassone G. F. Sweeney, HM2 1959 FAR EAST CRUISE A HISTORY Since her assignment to the U. S. Pacific Fleet a few months after commissioning July 2, 1945, at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, COMSTOCK has been a proud member of the Pacific Fleet Am- phibious Force. From April 16 to November 24, 1959, COM- STOCK called at Oahu, Kwajalein, Republic of Philippines, Okinawa, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Ja- pan and Guam, and participated in Seventh Fleet exercises. This book sets down some of the events of this, the latest in her numerous Far Eastern tours of duty. Earlier, COMSTOCK completed four tours in Korean waters from September 1950 to June 1953. While operating with United Nation forces, COMSTOCK served as flagship for Mine Squadrons 3 and 7 and Minesweeping Boat Di- vision 1, as gunfire support ship, and as boat haven for landing craft used in a Commando raid by British Royal Marines. She was active in Inchon and Wonsan landings of the Korean War, also. Peace-time duties included participation in Operation Passage to Freedom in the summer of 1954 when the U. S. evacuated thousands of freedom-loving Indo-Chinese from Communist domination in what now is known as North Viet Nam. Twice COMSTOCK has spent tours with Joint Task Force 7, aiding in nuclear weapons test preparations at the Pacific Proving Grounds. The most recent period was in 1957-58 in the build- up phase of Operation Hardtack . COMSTOCK, named in remembrance of the famous Comstock Lode at Virginia City, Nevada, is home ported at San Diego, California, as a unit of Amphibious Squadron ONE. COMMANDING Commander Donald M. Kable, USN, commanded COMSTOCK from April 1958 until 22 September 1959. He reported aboard after a tour as Executive Officer of U.S.S. OKANOGAN (APA-220). Wearer of the Submarine Combat Pin, CDR Kable participated in 12 war patrols in submarines during World War II. His awards include the Silver Star and five Bronze Stars. The Commander, a 1940 gradu- ate of the Naval Academy, is mar- ried to the former Miss Patty Poe Cooper of Berkeley, California. They have two children, Donald Mark, Junior, and Kristine Lucille. w y. OFFICERS Commander Ralph E. Sandvigen, USNR, assumed command of COM- STOCK September 22, 1959, at Buckner Bay, Okinawa. Prior to his pres- ent assignment he was on the Staff, 12th Naval District. Also a Silver Star winner, CDR Sandvigen participated in seven Pacific campaigns during World War II and two WESTPAC tours during the Ko- rean fighting. He is a 1937 graduate of College of Puget Sound, and was commis- sioned in 1941. He is married to the former Miss Barbara Kinsey of Ta- coma, Washington. They have one son, Scott Edward. EXECUTIVE OFFICER Lieutenant Commander Donald E. Rowe, USN, reported aboard for duty as executive officer in March 1959 from the Naval Amphibious School, Coronado, California. Mr. Rowe was commissioned in 1946 on completion of the V-12 Program and graduation from Rensselaer Poly- technic Institute. Advanced schooling includes the Ord- nance course at the U. S. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, completed in 1954. The Executive Officer and his wife, the former Miss Maria Gisela Victoria Gonzales of Cali, Colombia, have two daughters, Rita lone and Gisela Maria. f ■! I o . -SO ui •ft - W - ° £ c -= Z . £ E u m % « HI ■ d u o •FN (£ Q 3 Q .. 6 | jS 2 Z o. o. O t- — 2 .Ql- O M O iis z ° a- u = .. z . « VI UJ co c a w ui g ... . . 2 ntfoe c S .. . £ 1 Z .2 2 -Z . ■: uih ' cL 41 •-. . ifi o.i_ ■ro s •« w-$ • • £ o u £ •? Q. ■= S • .? - o S « Z -S . _ « • « .  5 u u -■ 5 CM x o - = « c r Z 5 D U. 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NOT PICTURED: J. F. Daly, OMC; C. D. McClure, SN; N. L. Pine, QM1. 19 20 21 22 L iWh A 23 24 25 26 27 28 30 AMPHIBS ACTION 31 R imi! 9 i! VIS 32 33 ASSAULT BOAT PARTY 35 pearl harbor kwajalein subic bav Cruise Highlights When a sailor leaves Point Loma behind, he does so with mixed emotions. There is the thought of leaving behind his family, his friends, his established way of life. Balancing this is the adventure of sailing to foreign lands, of shop- ping tours in storybook places, of facing the unknown. And so it was on April 16, 1959, aboard the Comstock when, in company with most of Trans- Ron One, she departed San Diego for a seven- month deployment as a unit of the Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific. This cruise book has as its purpose not only to set down in pictures a few of the highlights of the cruise, but also to jog the memory of many other pleasant experiences that might otherwise be forgotten. For instance, the scenes of heavy seas remind us of the landlubbers who earned their sea legs kaohsiung hong kong buekner bav iiuiiia ii scarcely any time at all after the Channel Islands had dropped from sight astern. These pictures also recall to mind the seemingly endless require- ment for typhoon evasion. We ran through an alphabet-full of typhoons while deployed. Re- member one evasion when we came across three Russianvessels headed for Petropavlovsk? Our memory is mindful, too, of the constant change in scheduling that started when we es- corted the Noble to Pearl Harbor at the cruise outset and ended only when we returned to San Diego November 24. The shipboard scenes remind us that life never seemed quite routine. There was always some- thing to write home about, whether it was about making repairs to a boat or what the main course was at dinner. Inspections, maintenance, watch standing — all were part of the day to day life. On the trip from Pearl to Kwajalien we found the well deck to be a ready-made volleyball court. The O Division squeezed by the Officers to win the first tournament, while S Division was leading the second one when the tournament was called off due to a crowded court. Life aboard was never more hectic, possibly, than when Mob 5 came aboard for a month ' s stay. Both the Comstock and the Seabees learned what the word mobile in the MCB title really stands for. Training, of course, could not be neglected during our tour. Kin Lex Beach on Okinawa was the scene of many amphibious exercises. The re- sult of our efforts was to win the amphibious assault insigne, which in turn led to the unpre- cedented steak fry on the 5 gun deck. No cruise resume is complete without at least a mention of the ports of call. Oahu with its grass skirts and Waikiki Beach was a pleasant interlude, both going to and re- turning from WestPac. The stop at Kwajalein, a mere coral speck in the expanse of the Pacific, where many Ameri- cans died in World War II, made us realize what a waste of humanity war is. Subic Bay provided a breathing spell after a month of nearly-continuous steaming. The cock fights, the golf course, the swimming pool, the clubs are brought to mind. At Naha, Okinawa, the Comstock entertained yokosuka apra about 70 school children in support of the Presi- dent ' s People-to-People program. During this event each youngster was given a picture of him- self with his sailor escort, taken by means of a Polaroid camera. The Navy ' s Chief of Informa- tion thought so much of this procedure that he authorized each Navy ship to purchase a Pola- roid camera for use in similar situations. Among activities at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, was the change of command September 22. With Commodore King in attendance, Commander Sandvigen relieved Commander Kable in a brief, formal ceremony. Our visit to Kaohsiung was occasioned by a few days ' training with Chinese Nationalist forces at Tsoying. Here, too, we contributed to world friendship by entertaining about 40 youngsters with a tour of the ship and ice cream and cake. Hong Kong was its usual glamorous self. Sightseeing and shopping were never-ending in a week filled with finding the least expensive way to go broke saving money. A week ' s stay at Yokosuka, sandwiched around an operational visit to Numazu, Japan, permitted informal excursions to Tokyo, Yoko- hama, Kamakura and other neighborhood areas. Shopping was the favorite diversion. China, pearls, glassware and toys were purchased in huge quantities as items on the shopping list were pared. Finally, there was Guam. Two periods of up- keep provided a wealth of time for sightseeing and recreation, especially softball, bowling, golf and swimming. Summing it all up, it was quite a cruise with quite a few memories, wasn ' t it? fyr- 38 39 SUBIC BAY 40 OKINAWA 41 $£ 7 rs 44 45 HONG KONG 46 47 48 49 C0C05 ISLAND ASA POINT 50 51 52 PEOPLE PEOPLE ■MMHB 53 55 56 s OF THE £f £So£the kM W . J m W$ $ TO ALL SAILORS ai fewves ' ye may fie a o - ie ee i a ' eve ' i cAaAefA, ana a QR66tinQS: z Cnout ye A at on net 10th fonae ' u€ e_ 180° E A ere a tAea ea eve ' A uss cc tine datt veMef, oA cen ant c ettt nave fit fiot y ant d oufjA. S nt Anow ye. ' s e Aia ate ant att=roant Aant fttfiAefA Aa wor Ay o fie nttrnfievet a o me Ze oA £ne tji tfijt u ent ' t ' a et tn o ie SlLGflL 3Se r ' t Atc ne ant et oot . ' J na fiy V4 A command ' a t money cenaer j e t ' ne defce o a iow A.ono ant vedAec o ate nil t (Qsejofiey ntd commant ttnt ev golden 6raqoii staler oA Ae J A ertt t ' an $ 7 § OcomtCHT 1954 JACK DAVIDSON SALES CO. 101 989 San DKGO, CaliPOINIA J So a f tne m.ac( , (uena t taaonS, f efj — y of — November _y 59 (U tfuf e.1H a 35.3 ' N STOCK i tnAAecfea ' anr AaMea en iy a afeaee f e ' dcaneMj Aaccattt men o ie ' ffm tmcA-eMj ece=men tave ' na veen veena ane anc m ( ®a naS veen aa nevea en tniu cta ane lystemes op the Par east cjf ne Aoe e cnves aa en nte J e o neve v ca ape ' owne ana aeemu o ie dueyecea net wneneve Ae nirru en e mu veaetn. natty o nu auau t o ' ejA-teeteape. ? ■■■ - •fr