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Page 8 text:
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THE CAPTAIN Commander ROBERT G. LAURIE relieved Commander S. W. BASS, Jr., as Commanding Offi- cer of the USS FORT MANDAN (LSD-21) on 7 May 1959 at Stavromenos, Crete. Commander Laurie is a native of Providence, R.I. He attended Providence Technical High School, and later studied at the University of Iowa under the Navy stemard gram. He is married to the former Christine Rebecca Bell of Kinston, N.C. Commander Laurie entered the Navy in 1933 as an enlisted man and served aboard the battleships, USS NEW MEXICO and USS TEXAS, and the destroyer USS LUDLOW as a fire controlman. He was commissioned Ensign, U.S. Navy on 4 June 1942, and was made Gunnery Officer in the LUDLOW, a position he held through the remainder of World War II. After the end of the war, he served aboard the Gunnery Training Ship, USS WYOMING, as Assistant Gunnery Officer, and later a s Navigator and Opera- tions Officer aboard the fleet oiler USS CHIPOLA. His first command was the landing Ship Medium Rocket 515. During the Korean conflict, he was Commander Landing Ship Rocket Division 32, serving three tours in Korean waters. This was followed by a tour of duty as Gunnery Officer with the Fleet Training Group at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Immediately before taking command of the Fort Mandan, Commander Laurie was Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence and Security, of Joint Task Force Seven in Washington, D.C. He wears the bronze star with the Combat V, the letter of commendation with the Combat V, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the African-European Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with seven battle stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the China Service Medal, the Navy Occupation Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with two stars, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Med al and the Good Conduct Medal with two stars. 1(11 Vr COMMANDER ROBERT G. LAURIE, USN Commanding Officer, USS Fort Mandan The wardroom welcomed Captain Laurie aboard with a party, which included a fine looking cake that would do honors to any baker. Our two Captains give each other a hand in cutting the cake. While welcoming Captain Laurie, we also said goodbye to Captain Bass.
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Page 7 text:
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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.
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