John Thomason (DD 760) - Naval Cruise Book

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E' E as ,, 51 E EE :zu 11 ' ilifililiikiliiifllll F' '3l2i1l'I?2fi1'dH2li1liIf11i511i1I.'l1lli2I1lfl5dllll :r -4 It is with great pride as Commanding Officer that I dedicate this Cruise Book to the Wives , families and friends who patiently and faithfully awaited our re- turn. The many experi- ences and achievements of the john W. Destroyer- men are ably presented in this record of our 1963 tour in the Western Pacific COMMANDING OFFICER, COMMANDER FRANK A. MITCHELL, U. S. N. Commander Frank A. Mitchell received his commission into the U. S. Navy upon graduation from the Pennsylvania Maritime Academy in 1946. Prior to assuming command of the USS jOl-IN W. Tl-IOMASON QDD 7601 in january 1963 Commander Mitchell served as Executive Officer aboard the USS SOMERS CDD 9471 and the USS EVANS CDE 10235 and was the first Commanding Officer of the mine sweeper USS CORMORANT QMSC 1225. During a tour aboard the USS KEPPLER QDDE 7655 he participated in the Korean conflict as a unit of Task Force 77 operating in the Formosa Straits Commander Mitchell has received post graduate instruction in Naval Intelligence and has served a tour in the Operational Intelligence Division of the Office of Naval Intelligence . It 1 o u u ' 4 X . M..

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'f -ff-'- ..z-.r C41-.r vs-:Awm-, fsrzz., 5.11 ,if--'15-'-5'1ie:-.-T.. After a brief return to the United States, JOHN W. THOMASON sailed on 21 February 1953 for her third Korean tour. While firing at targets on Hando-Pando on 7 July, she was taken under fire by enemy shore batteries, and received over thirty shrapnel holes from mast to keel but none of her men were injured. She replied with her five inch guns as she maneuvered radically in restricted waters near minefields and exchanged concentrated fire for some thirty minutes. She was straddled about twenty times by enemy fire and some fifty rounds fell close aboard before she scored hits which knocked out three enemy gun em- placements. On 7 September 1953, THOMASON completed her mission in Korea and sailed for San Diego and home. Between the months of April 1954 and July 1958 JOHN W. THOMASON conducted three more tours of duty in WESTPAC. In March of 1959, 'after eight months of local operations, JOHN W. THOMASON entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard for an extensive overhaul as the prototype ship in the FRAM II QF1eet Rehabilitation and Modernizationj program. Upon completion, almost one year later, the ship emerged with an entirely new look and capability. A major portion of her original superstructure was removed. No longer present were her 40 MM and ten 20 MM Mounts. Instead, a Helicopter Platform was added, complete a hanger to house the Helicopter, a variable depth sonar was 'mounted on the fantail and a new radio central and combat information center were enlarged to house the latest equipment. Living conditions were improved throughout the ship. On 8 March, 1961, after a year of sea trials and local operations, JOHN W. THOMASON departed for the Western Pacific as flag ship for COMMANDER DESTROYER DIVISION 72. On 27 April 1961 THOMASON sailed into the South China Sea and patrolled the coast of Laos for twenty-one days during the Laotion Crisis. During the remainder of the cruise THOMASON participated in training operations with Anti-Submarine Warfare Forces of the U. S. Seventh Fleet. I I On 1 April 1962, due to the administrative reorganization of Cruiser-Destroyer Forces, Pacific, JOHN W. THOMASON became the Flag Ship for COMMANDER DESTROYER DIVI- s1oN 153. J p 9 J n . ' coLoNEL JoHN W. THOMASON, USMC The JOHN W. THOMASON is named for a Marine Corps hero who distinguished himself in many walks of life. Colonel THOMASON was born in Texas in 1893 and was the grandson of General I.,ongstreet's Chief of Staff. From the many tales of the confederacy he heard in his boyhood, he later constructed a number of historical novels dealing with the Civil War. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1917, soon won a commission and was awarded the Navy Cross and the Silver Star for gallantry in action at Soissons. Between the wars, he served in Cuba, Nicaragua, and China, and he was awarded the Air Medal for his service in World War II. Colonel Thomason died of a heart attack. in 1944. with .. .: .-41.1.- -.1 '.--' :'f ',,55,u5- . .F v-., : - - - -- -w .LI rx--:xr::ze.-:1'8:1f+3-'f-'1v!v!5:..-:f:---.....x3pfgn L:iSr?Q'::.:? -W:2i+fv?g:'g-9-K5-s-.-.1.-f-,Liivyik-'f+-iziifr-'.1bi1T-ifH9ffrf I ' - - . '- ' -f-

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As We complete our West- Pac tour and review the many congratulatory messages to- gether vvith the verbal com- pliments received during the past eight months, it Seems that it has all been said. All I can add With my sincere to each and every one. CAPTAIN RAYMOND A. HUBBARD, COMMANDER DESTROYER DIVISION 153, EMBARKED IN USS JOHN W. THOMASON QDD-7601 Captain Raymond A. Hubbard graduated from Cornell University in 1941 Where he received a commission as Ensign in the U. S. Naval Reserve. Stationed at NAS Ford Island in Pearl Harbor he was an eye Witness to the japanese surprise attack of 7 December 1941. Captain Hubbard rose to Lt. Commander during the Second. World War and was awarded a Personal Commendation for his participation in the Inchon Landings during the Korean War. After serving as Executive Officer on the USS WASLEIGH QDD 6895 and Commanding Officer on the USS COLAHAN IDD-6891 Captain Hubbard was ordered to Staff, Commander FIRST Fleet and assumed command of Destroyer Division ONE HUNDRED FIFTY -THREE .on 15 February 1963. 5 Q1-ai-:. '1-fam. Q uwaxa.i:Q-.asar.za?:faQ?,ua1mfmammn:,ii-xtf-a+:.9,-mx'a4a1-.s.,'g,:a.-,:g-::gp1q,::g,,, appreciation is WELL DONE,