Gainard (DD 706) - Naval Cruise Book

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CQMMANDING OFFICER Commander Charles E. Smith was born in Zanesville, Ohio. He entered the Naval Academy in 1938, being graduated and receiving his commission as Ensign, USN, on December 19, 1941. His first duty was ln the USS NEW IORK KBB-341 in the engineering department. Aboard that ship he participated in the in- vasion of North Africa in 1942 and North Atlantic convoy duty. ln 1944, he was reassigned to the commis- ' ' d 'l f s1on1ng etal ' o the USS AMSTERDAM KCL-1011 and served in the gunnery department during the final stages of the war in the Pacific. He remalnedwlth the AMSTERDAM as gunnery officer until she was de- commissioned in June, 1947. A CDH Smith completed flight training and was designated a naval aviator in November 1948 He was assigned as Executive Officer of VF-41 in 1949. He left the flight program in 1950 and was, then .chosen to serve as aide to VADIVI J. L. Hall, Jr, USN, Commandant, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va. He continued as aide to Lieut General A. D. Bruce, USA., when ADM Hall was relieved by Gen Bruce, in July 1951. Foil h' ' ' ' owing t IS tour of shore duty,CDH Smith went to sea as Executive Officer ofthe USS BORDELOAJ QDDR-8811 where he served until April, 1954. Then, having been promoted to Commander, he was ordered to overseas duty on the Joint Planning Staff of Commander in Chief, Caribbean, Quarr H ' h C l y e1g ts, ana Zone. He served there until. July, 1956. V V CDR Smith served for three years on the staff of the Naval War College in Newport before assuming his duties as Commanding' Officer of the GAINARD IDD-7061, on August 14, 1959. I A ln 1950, CDR Smith married the former Helen Augustiny of Chicago. They have two daughters, Sheryl Sue, age seven, and Deborah Helen, age six. - In September 1960, CDR Smith was notified of his selection for promotion to rank of Captain.

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After a brief stay in Newport the GAINARD sailedfor Northern Europe to participate in Midshipman cruise ALPHA , returning to Newport in August 1958. During the remainder of 1958 GAINARD operated with the ready anti-submarine group off the coast. ln January, 1959 GAINARD, left for the Carribean to take part in SPRINGBOARD 59. She returned in February and went to the Boston Naval Shipyard for an overhaul. After leaving the shipyard she pro- ceeded to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for refresher training, returning to Newport in August. GAINARD spent the first three months of 1960 operating as school ship for DESL ANT'Gunnery School. During this period the ship made two trips to San Juan, Puerto Rico, stopping enroute at Ciudad, Tru'illo Dominican Republic, and Bermuda. Upon return from Puerto Rico the ship operated locally 1n the J 1 Newport area until mid-June. From mid-June until the latter part of July, the GAINARD participated in LANTFLEX with the U.S. Second Fleet. During this exercise the GAINARD embarked midshipmen for training in the various aspects of fleet operations. Upon the termination of LANTFLEX, the GAINARD returned to Newport to prepare for deployment with the U.S. Sixth Fleet. The departure date, 4 August, was unexpectedly delayed until 23 August by a restricted availability in the Boston Naval Shipyard. Upon departure on 23 August the GAINARD proceeded to rendezvous at sea with the USS SARATOGA CCVA 601. This meeting of The Biggest and The Best was only the first, as SARATOGA and GAIN- ARD became almost constant companions during their deployment in the Mediterranean. Upon arrival in the Mediterranean GAINARD made brief fueling stops at Rota, Spain, and Piraeus, Greece, and then transited the Suez Canal to join the Middle East Force for six weeks. While operating in ' ' ' F h S l'1 d Bahrain the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, GAINARD made short visits to Djiboutl, renc oma 1 an , , Bahrain lslandg Aden, and Massawa. GAINARD returned to the Mediterranean in Octo er an op . . mainder of 1960. Ports visited during this period were Beirut, Lebanon, Cannes, France, Naples, Italy, Leghorn, Italy, Ajaccio, Corsicag and Golfe Juan, France, Gainard returned to Newport on 24 February 1961. b d erated with the U S Sixth Fleet the re-

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