John Paul Jones (DDG 32) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDER LOUIS R. LESTER, JR., COMMANDING OFFICER USN

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p :y ' USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG-32) is the second of the new DDG-31 Class of Guided Missile Destroyers. Originally commissioned in 1956 as DD-932, JOHN PAUL JONES was named in honor of Commodore John Paul Jones, the Found- er of the American Navy. USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DD-932), the second of the SHERMAN (DD-932) Class of destroyers, was the fourth ship of the Fleet to be named in honor of John Paul Jones, and the first to bear his full name. She was built by the Bath Iron Works Corporation, Bath, Maine, and was com- missioned in the Boston Naval Shipyard on 5 April 1956. At that time, with the permission of the Secretary of the Navy, the Grand Union Flag, our first national flag, was hoisted again aboard an American Man-of-war, much as it was raised by the hands of John Paul Jones for the first time aboard the ALFRED on 3 December 1775. JOHN PAUL JONES is 418 feet long, with a 45-foot beam and a full load displacement of 4250 tons. Having completed nine years of service alternating between the Second and Sixth Fleets of the Atlantic Command from her homeport of Newport, Rhode Island, JOHN PAUL JONES (DD-932) entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in December 1965 for de- commissioning and conversion to a guided missile destroyer. The conversion which added a TARTAR Missile Weapons System, an Anti -Submarine Rocket capability; upgraded all electronics equipments and improved the haJoitability; was part of the United States Navy Fleet modernization pro- gram for a continuing policy of strength through sea power. On 23 September 1967, USS JOHN PAUL JONES was again placed in commission under the command of Commander Louis R. Lester, Jr., USN. Amid flourishes and fanfare, the tradition of the Founder of the American Navy was continued as the Grand Union Flag flew once more from the main mast. The ensuing months were a time of intensive testing, trials, and training as the crew prepared for its first deployment to Southeast Asia, which commenced 26 October 1968 and ended 19 April 1969.

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COMMANDER LOUIS R. LESTER, JR., USN Louis R. Lester, Jr., son of Louis Rhea and Helen Evans Lester, was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on February ' 14, 1930. After graduation from Albright College in 1951, he at- tended the Naval Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island. Commander Lester, then an Ensign, was ordered to USS MALOY (DD-791) after gradu- ation and served in that ship as Damage Control Assistant and later, as Engineering Officer. In November 1954, as a Lieutenant Junior Grade, Commander Lester was or- dered to USS BORIE (DD-704) where he served as Operations Officer of that Norfolk- based destroyer. From Alay 1956 until December 1957, he had duty as Main Battery Officer and later Air Defense Officer in the heavy cruiser, USS TOLEDO (CA-133) homeported in Long Beach, California. From January 1958 until March 1960, Commander Lester, as a Lieutenant served in the Bureau of Naval Weapons, Washington, D.C., as Project Officer for construction of the Polaris Missile Facility near Charleston, South Carolina. Following this tour, he was Aide and Flag Lieutenant to Commander, Anti-Submarine Warfare Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In August 1962, as Lieutenant Commander, he returned to sea duty as Executive Officer of USS BLANDY (DD-943). From June 1963 until 1964, he was in Command of USS DEA- LY (1006). Commander Lester attended the School of Naval Command and Staff of the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, from August 1964 until June 1965. After graduation, he remained on the Staff of the Naval War College. In March 1967, Commander Lester received orders as Prospective Commanding Officer, USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG-32) and was the first Commanding Officer upon her com- missioning as a guided missile destroyer on 23 September 1967. He is married to the former Shiela Shore of Che ' y Chase, Maryland. They have two children, John, eight, and Nancy, seven.