Fort Marion (LSD 22) - Naval Cruise Book

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m OUR XO LCDR. C. D. WILLIAMS, U. S. N. Aiding the Captain in his overall responsibility lor the ship is the Executive Officer. He reports directly to the Captain and is responsible for the execution of his orders. He is charged with maintaining the upkeep, good ordei efficiency of both vessel and crew. id

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USS FORT MARION LSD-22 USS FORT MARION is an LSD-Landing Ship Dock built from the keel up as an amphibious type ship and originally designed for assault operations in World ar II. The LSD is a unique ship combining the speed, maneuverability and endurance of other ships of her size with the ability to ballast and deballast like a floating drydock. The ballasting operation allows the ship to float landing craft and amphibious vehicles in the large well-deck. Thereby, the Navy ' s largest landing craft can be transported to the objective area and laun ched to proceed directly to the invasion beach. These craft include the LCI ' ( landing craft, utility), LOI (landing craft, mechanized), and LVT (landing vehicle, tracked). The LSD is also used as a boat haven or tender for landing craft and is equipped to repair limited numbers of these craft. She may, after debarking her cargo, serve as a control ship which guides landing craft to the beach by radar and radio. Other duties may include those of a hospital ship or a platform to launch and recover helicopters. The ship ' s storerooms, repair shops and fuel bunkers make it self-sustaining and capable of supporting the operations of amphibious craft and vehicles during extended operations. Her varied capabilities make the LSD the most versatile of naval vessels. USS FORT MARION is named after a famous fortification located at St. Augustine, Florida. which i the oldest defense work standing in the United States having been built bv the Spanish in 1672. FORT MARION was built by Gulf Shipbuilding Corporation in Chickasaw, Alabama with her keel being laid on 9 September 1944. FORT MARION was launched on 22 May 1945 and commissioned on 29 January 1946. FORT MARION is 457 9 . It is powered by two (2) 9000 ILP. steam powered turbines with a maximum speed of I6V2 knots. Besides carrying its own ship ' s compliment of 247 enlisted men and 20 officers, FORT M VRION can also accommodate 175 enlisted men and 16 officer troops. Though commissiond too late for entry in World War II. FORT MARION saw a great deal of action in Korea. She served as flagship for the early phases of the daring Inchon landings and later participated in landings at W onsan, command raids and evacuation duties.

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OUR OFFICERS FIRST ROW : LTJG Moye, LT Zivich, LCDR Williams CDR Anderson, LT Anderson, LT IMazurek. LTJG Eischen. SECOND ROW: LTJG Schaag, LTJG Blankenfeld, Midshipmen Thompson, ENS Foster, Midshipman Pyrdybasy, ENS Tighe, LTJG Casey. THIRD ROW : LTJG Magnnson, LTJG Reece, ENS Wesson, ENS Shemper, LTJG Warren. The officers that serve on the FOKT MART ON have maiiv vaired duties hut their primary duties are to insure that the FORT is always ready to accomplish the commitments that are assigned by higher authority. Tht five department heads. Operations. Deck Engineering, Navigation and Supply report directly to the 0 on all matters pertaining to their respective departments. In turn, each department head has division officers who handle most of the every day problems that arise on the ship. Furthermore, the officers stand OOI) watches underway and in port. As officer of the Deck, an officer is the direct representative of the Commanding Officer. OOD ' s are responsible for the lives of some 250 men and the safety of a multi-million dollar ship. Theirs is a big job, but one that is handled competently by the officers of the FORT MARION.