Fort Mandan (LSD 21) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE STORY OF THE FORT MANDAN The U.S.S. Fort Mandan (LSD 21) was constructed during the latter stages of World War II, and was commis- sioned after hostilities had ended. The Fort Mandan ' s keel was laid on January 21, 1945, and the ship was launched June 2, 1945. The ship is named for Fort Mandan, North Dakota, the home of the Hidasa Indian Tribe on the Missouri River, near where the Lewis and Clark Expedition wintered in 1804-1805. The ship was officially commissioned October 31, 1945 at the U. S. Navy Yard at Boston, Mass., where it was built. She was originally assigned to the Atlantic 16th Reserve Fleet, but in December, 1945, was reassigned to the Second Fleet for duty with the Service Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet. The Fort Mandan was assigned to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet in August, 1947, and was placed out of commission in January, 1948. As a result of the aggression in Korea , the Fort Mandan was ordered reactivated , and was recommissioned October 25, 1950. In December of that year she reported for duty with the Amphibious Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet. The Fort Mandan participated in the initial NATO maneuvers, Operation Mainbrace, in August and September of 1952. The ship was assigned to the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean from October 1952 through January 1953. From September to November 1953, the Fort Mandan took part in Operation SUNEC (Supply Northeast Con- struction) and made calls at ports in Greenland, Labrador and Newfoundland. The year 1954, saw the Fort Mandan overhauling at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard at Portsmouth, Virginia. This was followed, later in the spring, by refresher training at Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, and another cruise to the Northlands during Operation SUNEC. This time the ship visited Baffin Island, Labrador, and Newfoundland. In 1955, the ship made two trips to the Carribean area for training exercises. In July 1955, the Fort Mandan again sailed North on Operation SUNEC. Early in September, the Fort Mandan went through Hudson Strait and spent some time in western Hudson Bay. In the latter part of the same year the ship made a liberty cruise to Ber- muda, British West Indies. In January and February of 1956, the ship visited Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as a liberty port and later engaged in amphibious exercises off Vieques, followed by liberty in Havana, Cuba. April through mid-August was spent in overhaul at Baltimore, followed by refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. August through October of 1956 found the ship in Fox Basin (North of Hudson Bay). On the way home, between Labrador and Newfoundland, the Fort Mandan picked up a distress signal from a Canadian motor vessel, and under very severe weather conditions, towed the ship 140 miles down the coast of Newfoundland where a Canadian ice- breaker relieved the Fort Mandan of the tow. For this task, the Fort Mandan was highly commended by the Chief of Naval Operations, the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, the Commander, Amphibious Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet, and other operational and administrative commanders. In November 1956, the Fort Mandan par- ticipated in the Fall amphibious exercises, which were curtailed due to the emergency situation arising in Europe at this time. During 1957, the Fort Mandan participated in several Amphibious Operations. Among them was CARIBEX, which was an amphibious landing in the Panama Canal Zone, and NARMID I and II, which were Midshipmen land- ing exercises. A summer Naval Reserve cruise to Bermuda was made in August. During the period September-November of 1957, the Fort Mandan was assigned to the Military Sea Transporta- tion Service for Arctic services. The ship accomplished the task of lifting U.S. Army personnel and equipment from Thule, Greenland, and Sondrestromfjord, Greenland to Argentia, Newfoundland and Norfolk, Virginia. This was a winter closing-out operation for the two Greenland ports. After spending a short holiday season at Little Creek, the Fort Mandan departed for Morehead City, N. C., and Port Everglades, Fla., to load the advance echelon of PHIBTRAEX 1-58, to be lifted to Vieques, P. R., and Roosevelt Roads, P.R. During this cruise, she participated in SPRINGBOARD training exercises and visited the port of San Juan, P.R. , for liberty. The Fort Mandan returned to the United States via Bermuda where she loaded personnel and equipment of DET H, of Mobile Construction Battalion Six, for transportation to Davisville, R.I. Enroute to Davisville, two severe storms were encountered, in which winds of hurricane force were experienced. The ship arrived at Davis- ville, R.I., on 3 February 1958. After three days of liberty here, the ship went back to Norfolk to prepare for the second phase of PHIBTRAEX 1-58. She sailed on 5 March 1958 for Vieques, and Roosevelt Roads, where she loaded Marine Air Units for a landing at Onslow Beach, North Carolina. The Fort Mandan entered the Norfolk Naval Ship Yard at Portsmouth, Va., for her Biennial overhaul in July 1958. In September, having completed the overhaul, the ship sailed for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for refresher training. While visiting Cuban waters, the Fort Mandan paid a call at Montego Bay, Jamaica. The ship returned to Little Creek in October. November, 1958 found the ship steaming for Argentia, via liberty in Newport, Rhode Island. The ship again returned to Little Creek early in December 1958. Her crew prepared for the end -of- the -year holidays, then settled down to the task of preparing for the trip to the Mediterranean.

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U. S. S. FORT MANDAN (LSD-21 ) They also serve who only stand and wait. John Milton THIS BOOK IS FONDLY DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO WAITED. THEIR TASK WAS BY FAR THE HARDER ONE.

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A MESSAGE FROM THE CAPTAIN It has been my rare privilege to have had com- mand of the U.S.S. FORT MANDAN at a time when this fine ship was called to the front line of the Navy, the Sixth Fleet. We were ready as I knew we would be; we were willing as we are now, to do our duty; and we were able as we always are. In the ever pressing job of guarding the peace, there are few stations more important than being a part of the Amphibious Squadron deployed in the Mediterranean. Our presence, there, is a comfort to our friends and a constant reminder to all would-be aggressors, of the might of the American People and their unwaivering determination to de- fend the liberty and peace of the free world. I hope that in the years to come, you will turn these pages occasionally, as I know I shall, and re- call with pride that we served here, today, with honor. Stirling W. Bass, Jr. CDR. Stirling W. Bass Jr., USN BIOGRAPHY Cdr. Stirling W . Bass , Jr. USN , completed his tour of duty as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Fort Mandan approximately two months after the beginning of this cruise. He was relieved by Cdr. Robert G. Laurie at change of command ceremonies held at Stavromenos, Crete on May 8, 1959. Cdr. Bass had been captain of this ship since December 2, 1957. Commander Bass enlisted in the Naval Service in August 1940 as an apprentice seaman in the V-7 Reserve Program. He received his Midshipman training at the Midshipman School of Northwestern University and was commissioned an Ensign, USNR, March 14, 1941. His first duty assignment was on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Wasp, where he served as division officer, Officer of the Deck, and communications watch officer. Other assignments during World War II included duty on HMS Austonia as liaison officer, USS 0-3, USS 0-6, USS Yorktown, and a tour of shore duty at the Naval Air Station at Quonset Point, R.I. Commander Bass was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in July, 1945 and integrated into the regular Navy in September, 1946. After duty as Communications Officer on the staff of Commander Carrier Division Six in July 1949, he entered General Line School in Newport, R. I. , which he completed in June, 1950, and where he remained as instructor until August, 1950. Other post war duty assignments include duty on the staff of Commander Naval Forces, Far East as Officer in Charge of Communication Center during the Korean hostilities and duty on the staff of Commander Transport Squadron ONE with the Pacific Fleet. He also served as Executive Officer on the U.S.S. Catamount (LSD-17) from July 1952 to August 1953 and Executive Officer of the Naval Communications Station, Balboa, Canal Zone, from August 1953 to September 1955, where he was promoted to his present rank of Commander ' in July 1954. He has also served as head of readiness and ship control branches in New York. Commander Bass saw service in the American, European and Asiatic Pacific Theaters of operations during World War II and is authorized six battle stars in his Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal. He wears the Presidential Unit Citation earned while serving aboard the U.S.S. Yorktown. Other service includes the Korean Theater of Opera- tions, with three engagements to his credit. He also wears the Korean Presidential Unit Citation with second award cluster for duty with Task Forces 90 and 95 during the Korean Hostilities.