Durham (LKA 114) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 78 of the 1985 volume:

ORBIS TERR fM DESCRIPTfO DUOI S PLAMS HEMlSPHitKllS COMPREhESA USS DURHAM (LKA114) WESTERN PACmC DEPLOYMENT Commanding Officer Captain Tliomas L. Blackmon, U.S. Navy Captain Thomas Lesto Blackmon was bom in Four Oaks, North Carolina He graduated from Four Oaks High School in 1956 and attended North Carolina State University at Raleigh, North Carolina, graduating in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He was commissioned Ensign in March 1961, after attending OCS in Newport, Rhode Island From March 1961 until July 1964, he served aboard USS Dupont (DD 941) as MPA, DCA and Engineering Officer. He then attended U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and completed the Engineering Science Program in May 1965, at which time he was transferred to USS Fort Snel- ling (LSD 30) as Engineering Officer. In November 1967, he assumed command of USS Summit County (LST 1146) and upon completion of this tour, in November 1969, was trans- ferred to the Staff CINCPAC where he served as an Opera- tions Staff Officer in the Command and Control and Opera- tions Security Branches. In November 1972, he was transferred to the HQ MACV where he served in the Current Intelligence and Indications Branch. In y ril 1973, he assumed command of USS Grapple (ARS 7) and in July 1975, he was transferred to the Naval Amphibious School, Coronado as a Prosjjective Commanding Officer Executive Officer Leader- sfiip and Management Training Department Director. In July 1981, he was assigned as the Readiness Officer COMPHIB- GRUEASTPAC and subsequently served as ACOS for Opera- tions and Plans at COMPHIBGRU ONE. He reports for duty fi-om COMPHIBGRUEASTPAC where he served as ACOS for Operations and Plans. Captain Blackmon ' s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (with two stars) and the Joint Ser- vice Commendation Medal. His unit, campaign and service awards are the Navy Unit Commendation, the Navy Expedi- tionary Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Battle Efficiency Ribbon (2 awards), the Armed Forces Expedition- ary Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal (with 3 engagement stars), the Sea Service Ribbon (with 2 stars), the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation (with palm) and the Vietnam Ser- vice Medal. Captain Blackmon is married to the former Sadie Clark of Lewiston, North Carolina They have two children, Thomas Jr., and Steven. The Blackmons reside in Bonita, CaUfomia Executive Officer Commander David W. Hagstrom, U.S. Navy Commander Hagstrom reported to the Durham in Sep- tember 1984. Previous tours included ASW Officer on USS Fanning (FF 1076), Battery Control Officer onboard USS Bainbridge (CGN 25), Chief Engineo onboard USS St. Louis (LKA 116) and COMNAVSURFPAC Force Planning Office MAU Service Support Group THIRTEEN Commanding Officer LTCOL J.P. Leonard III Executive Officer MAJ H.L. Inabinet USS DURHAM (LKA 1 14) The USS Durham is an Amphibious Cargo Ship (LKA), designed to carry the necessary material and equipment to support a waterbome attack upon defended or undefended enemy soil, as well as being capable of providing a miner advance base support role to boats and or helicopters in remote inaccessible areas already secured, or in countries requiring emergency search and rescue operations assistance To accomplish her mission, Durham has the most modem equipment available. Many new developments and concepts have been designed into her Deck and Engineering Depart- ments that allow the ship to perform her missions more effi- ciently. For example, ha- expansive cargo holds have hydrau- lic hatch cova-s that open automatically in a matter of a few minutes. Using a system of eight fifteen-ton booms, two forty- ton booms, and two seventy-ton booms, all four hatches can be loaded or unloaded simultaneously, and this can be done with about one half to one third of the personnel required on older cargo ships. In addition, there is a completely auto- mated engineroom which can be operated by four men at one control console. Commissioned 24 May 1969, USS Durham took her place in America ' s fighting force in the Pacific on 19 August 1969. Since that time she has completed seven deployments to the U.S. Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific Ocean. USS Durham is assigned to Amphibious Squadron FIVE and is homeported in San Diego, California Department Heads LCDR Don Slaton - OPS LCDR Paul Archer - ENGINEERING mk f mi mm ■Hi lPi SffliT fM mm LT Peter Mohn - SUPPLY LT Brad Canaday - NAV ADMIN. Boatswain ' s Mate (BM) Aviation Boatswain ' s Mate (AB) Deck Department V Gunner ' s Mate (GM) The expertise of all the men of Deck Department was called upon in every exercise, since the ship revolves around the ability of Deck Department to get boats away and equip- ment offloaded quickly. Deck Department consists of four div- isions: First, Second, Third, and Fourth. First and Second Div- isions split the entire main deck area into two areas of responsibility. First forward and Second aft They operate the world ' s largest sea going cargo booms, the massive 70-tons, along with smaller 40- and 15-ton booms. They are in charge of anchoring forward through the forecastle, and mooring to piers and buoys. Third operates the ship ' s main armament, its assault boats. Fourth Division operates and maintains 3 3 50 caliber gun mounts and numerous small arms. Upon our return to San Diego, every man in Deck Depart- ment could see the improvement in our techniques and pro- ficiency which came as a result of the many long and ardu- ous hours and effort expended in these operations, and we know the ship is a better fi. ting unit for it. 1st Division 10 2nd Division 11 3rd Division KX i 12 4th Division 13 Combat Cargo 14 15 Operations Department The Operations Department is responsible for the planning and scheduling of the operation of the ship, including logistic services relating to the operations. The different divisions within the department are: OC (Radio), OE (Electronics Technicians), 01 (Operations Specialists), OS (Signalmen) and NAV (Quartermasters). Operations handles external communications, maintenance of electronic gear and process- ing of tactical data The Radiomen process thousands of messages and use hundreds of reams of paper to get the job done every day. The ET ' s work diligently at all hours of the day and ni t to keep us talking with the rest of the world. The Signalmen and Operations Specialists keep the vital flow of tactical informa- tion to the watch on the bridge. The Quartermasters keep us steaming in a safe direction. HOME. 16 17 Interior Communications Electrician (IC) Hull Maintenance Technician (HT) Engineerings Department On our deployment just completed, the Engineers did it all. Distilling millions of gallons of water, providing steam and generating millions of kilowatt hours of electric p)ower. The engineers worked on deck winches, assault boats, cargo ele- vators, steering units, air conditioning units, refrigeration sys- tems, boilers, generators and control systems. All in a day ' s work! The Chief Engineer and his division officers, chiefs and crew carried the load tfirou it all. They did it all and then some. Electrician ' s Mate (EM) 18 Boiler Technician (BT) (Op o« Machinery Machinist ' s Mate Repairman (MR) (mm) -.J 19 E Division 20 A Gang 21 B Division 22 M Division 23 R Division 24 H ' Iv m Ilii l Sk 1 F fl ? V J 25 Medical Department 26 27 Supply Department Supply does what the name implies. They are the ship ' s restaurant, bank, barber shop, warehouse, department store and soda fountain. The DK ' s were always cashing checks and changing money while the SH ' s kept the ship ' s laundry, store and barber shop running. Entertainment was improved with popcorn machines and video games. The SK ' s process thou- sands of spare parts that will eventually make their way to appropriate work centers. Whether it was stores or food Supply always got up the working parties and kept the ship in stock. A Bravo Zulu to all these hard workers. 28 29 Executive Division The Executive Officer ' s Division is the catch-all for every- one whose job entails special responsibilities within the command The ship ' s administrative office (YN ' s and PN ' s) runs the paperwork and record keeping, the postal clerks (PC) take care of mail, the master-at-arms (MA) polices the ship, the career counselor (NC) encourage members to further their profession and the 3M Coordinator processes the ship ' s maintenance efforts. The Legal Officer kept the rest of us in line. 30 31 GOODBYE SAN DIEGO t«  32 33 HONG KONG y-iJifiHI — _ --.|«- '   ., jgai iM 34 35 TIGER 19 ' •«aT;:-! fc :: ' ■ 36 CRUISE 85 37 The Garden City SINGAPORE 38 Ji ' hu; ' ' ' ■Hi ' 39 40 41 i P E N A N G AiAIAYSIA •£2- 42 43 NOW SET . t ' ' U.L I t A 44 CONDITION ONE ALPHA 45 Enter fhe Realm of f NEPTUMJSREX 46 47 The Entertainment! Dancing Girls 48 Minstrails 49 . ' 50 51 OPERATION HANDCLASP 52 i 1 f If  j 1 r H S 53 54 FROM THE LAND DOWN UNDER -•■f- GERALDTON, WJL f -f 55 56 ' $- 57 58 59 60 61 62 64 65 . . 66 . 67 HOMECOMING SAN DIEGO 68 iizm • HO ' ' - OURHW HSSC •13 69 m WALSWORTH Cruise Book Sales Office PUBLISHING 912 Skylarli Drive COMPANY La Jolla, CA 92037 MARCELINE, MISSOURI, USA ! ij ' ; ' ' ' 7r ' f; ' ' ,i ■■. ' ■- ' .■ -■ ,, ] | l ' .. iSi