Frontier (AD 25) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 8 text:

AMW COMMANDING UFHUER IAY S. HOWELL CAPTAIN U N Captain Jay S, Howell became the 19th commanding officer of the USS FRONTIER QAD-255 in September of 1966, Anative of Ohio, Captain Howell graduated as valedictorian of Woodsfield High School in 1940, prior to his enrollment at the United States Naval Academy, where he graduated with distinction three years later. Immediately upon graduation from the Academy, Captain Howell became actively involved in the war with Japan, serving in the Gunnery Department aboard the battle- ship, USS COLORADO QBB-45J. COLORADO participated in the invasions of the Gilbert, Marshall, Marianas, and Ryukyu Islands, along with the recapture of the Philippines and the occupation of Japan. Captain Howell also served as Gunnery Officer of the cruiser, USS TOLEDO QCA-1335 in the later stages of the Korean conflict. Captain Howell attended post graduate school in Ordnance Engineering at the United S . . tates Naval Academy and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he received his Master of Science degree in Nuclear Physics in 1950. Other tours included Air Defense Officer, USS HOUSTON QCL-815, Research As- sistant, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, Executive Officer and Commanding Officer USS PRICHETT QDD-56155 Naval Ordnance, White Oak, Silver Springsg and Operations Officer, Staff, COMCRUDESFLOT ELEVEN. During the three years prior to becoming Commanding Officer of the USS FRONTIER, C t ' H ll ' HP 3111 OWG Served HS the Navy Deputy to the Director of Advanced Ballistic Re- entry Systems at Norton Air Force Base in California Captain Howell and his wife, Eleanor have three children, Charan Agnes, 19, Jay Stanley Jr., 17, and El' b th - ' ' ' iza e Ann, 15, all of whom reside in Garden Grove, California.

Page 7 text:

USS FRONTIER AD-25 SHIP'S CHARACTERISTICS Length ..... 491 Feet Beam ...... .7 , . 69 Feet Displacement . . Q 14,000 Tons Maximum Speed . . .... 17 Knots Cruising Range . . . . . . . 20,000 Miles SHIP'S HISTORY San Pedro, California became the launching site for the FRONTIER in early 1945. Built by the Todd Shipyard, FRONTIER was first commissioned in March of 1946, and soon began to service the various units of the Unites States Pacific Fleet. In 1947, shortly after completing a Far East cruise, FRONTIER was decommissioned due to the lull in military activity. However during the course of the Korean conflict, the need for FRONTIER was once again recognized and she was re-commissioned in November of 1951. After serving her second tour of duty at the Korean war front, FRONTIER re- ceived a commendation from Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, for her outstanding services. During an eight month period between May and December of 1953, FRONTIER serviced over 145 ships, completing some 4,400 different jobs as well as supplying ships operating in the Far East with logistic support. Since 1953, FRONTIER has continued. to service ships of the destroyer force and various other type commands in the Pacific Area. Finally, late in September of 1964, FRONTIER went into the Long Beach Shipyard for an extensive and much needed overhaul. It was during this period that special attention was directed toward improving two major weapons-repair and handling facilities concerning torpedoes and ASROC. Through the continual years of service to the fleet in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Okinawa, Philippines and Hawaii, it became evident that FRONTIER would have to keep up todate with the development of new systems and equipment of the modern Navy. While still in the yard in 1964, FRONTIER's repair capabilities were expanded to include the addition of the Drone-Anti-Submarine Helicopter fDASHJ, one of the most effective weapons currently used in anti-submarine warfare. Early in 1966, to cope with the enormous quantities of paper work accompanying the new facilities, a UNIVAC 1500 Automatic Data Processing machine was installed, This system provided FRONTIER with Maintenance Data Collection and Exception Time Accounting,and' subsequently, on July 1, 1966, FRONTIER converted from manual to mechanized supply control. In 1965, FRONTIER, in competition with five other tenders operating in the Pacific Area, was awarded the CRUDESPAC E for Battle Efficiency and De- partmental Excellence. The award was earned again in 1966, The FRONTIER has a crew of 670 men, which man the 38 different repair shops and facilities, comprising more than 44 different rates of the Navy. Person- nel services of the Medical, Dental and Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy are also furnished aboard FRONTIER.

Page 9 text:

EXECUTIVE OFFICER RICHARD A. VESSIE COMMANDER U NR FRONTIER's Executive Officer, Commander Richard A. Vessie, was born in Long Island, New York. Upon graduation from high school, Commander Vessie attended the New York State Maritime Academy at Ft, Schuyler, New York, where he received his Third Mate's License and a commission as Ensign, USNR. He ultimately received his Chief Mate's License while serving with the United States Lines Company for eight years. Commander Vessie served as a Midshipman in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters during World War II, and was serving as Third Officer aboard the first United States merchant ship to enter Bremen, Germany immediately following the war. Commander Vessie served as Operations Officer aboard the USS BRECKINRIDGE QP-1765 and as Executive Officer aboard the USS LOOKOUT IAGR-25. He then was Head of Operations Department at OCS, Newport, R. I. Late in 1959 Commander Vessie was sent to Naval Intelligence School in Washington D.C., after which he received 165 hours of instruction in the Hebrew language. At the conclusion of language school, Commander Vessie was assigned to Haifa, Israel for two years as Assistant Naval Attache and Attache for Air. Returning Home in 1962, Commander Vessie served as Staff Secretary and Commanding Officer of staff enlisted personnel with Commander Naval Reserve Command, Omaha, Nebraska. In the latter part of 1965, Commander Vessie was transferred to the USS FRONTIER as Executive Officer. Commander Vessie centers most of his hobbies aroundwater sports, such as sailing, swimming, and water skiing. He and his wife, June have two children, Victoria Ann, 9 and Richard Craig, 6.