Leonard Mason (DD 852) - Naval Cruise Book

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MASON ' S 1955- ' 56 CRUISE MASON departed Long Beach 13 September 1955. Type training and short visits at Pearl Harbor and Midway Island characterized her seventh trip to the Orient. She arrived in Yokosuka, Japan on 6 October 1955 for 8 days te nder availability, interrupted by Typhoon Nora. Two days of type training marked the trip from Yokosuka to Buckner Bay, Okinawa. After replenishing and avoiding Typhoon Opal, MASON in company with DESDIV 32 joined TG 70.4 on 22 October for six days Hunter Killer opera- tions. Upon completion of these operations MASON returned to Buckner Bay for supplies, upkeep and type training. Departing Buckner Bay 6 November 1955, MASON joined TF 11 , the fast carrier task force. After two eventful weeks climaxed by a full-scale night re- plenishment operation, MASON and her crew were ready for Sasebo, Japan, the next port of call. From 19 November 1955 to 30 November 1955, MASON was made ready for further operations. Departing on 30 November, MASON joined TG 90.7 and took part in a NAVMARLEX amphibious operation at Kinmu Wan, Okinawa. Upon completion of NAVMARLEX, MASON proceeded to Buckner Bay for 2 days up- keep and replenishment. Departing 6 December, MASON joined the BEN- NINGTON (CVA20) and DESDIV 32 to provide plane guard services and conduct training exercises. Upon completion of this assignment MASON rejoined TF 77 for a second valuable period of task force train- ing. This training was again climaxed by a full scale replenishment, and MASON in company with DES- DIV 32 then headed for Hong Kong and a well earned Christmas holiday. From 21 December to 26 December liberty and rest revitalized MASON and her crew. Leaving Hong Kong 27 December, she enjoyed an uneventful pas- sage to Subic Bay on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. The duration of this visit to Subic was spent readying MASON for her most important mis- sion of the cruise, and on 3 January she departed for the Taiwan Defense Patrol. From 5 January to 29 January she operated off Taiwan, and then headed north. A stop at Nagasaki 1 and 2 February afforded a brief respite, and then she departed for Yokosuka, arriving 5 February. The next 1 1 days were spent preparing MASON for her return trip to CONUS, and she headed homeward on 17 February with DESDIV 32. Having rested briefly at Midway and Pearl Harbor, MASON moored in Long Beach on 4 March 1956.

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COMMANDING OFFICER Captain J. H. Raybum, CDR., USN entered the Navy in July 1940 under the V-7 program as an Apprentice Seaman. He was commissioned EN- SIGN in December 1940, and be- tween that date and June 1944, he served aboard respectively the USS GAMBEL (DM15), the USS DALY (DD519), and the USS HAZELWOOD (DD531). In June 1944 Commander Raybum reported to the staff of COMCRUDESPAC. A year later he was ordered to the General Line School in Annapolis, Maryland, and in June 1946 he was assigned to the office of CNO. He later joined the Staff of COMOPDEVFOR. In July of 1949 he became Commanding Offi- cer of the USS ROBINSON (DE220), and two years later he returned to OPNAV. In July 1954 Commander Raybum reported aboard MASON as Commanding Officer. EXECUTIVE OFFICER Thomas V. Kelly, LCDR, USN was com- missioned Ensign in June 1943. His first duty was aboard the USS FANNING (DD 385). In January 1946 Mr. Kelly reported to the NROTC Unit at the University of New Mexico. In June of that year he was trans- ferred to the NROTC Unit at the University of Missouri. The next sea duty for Mr. Kelly was aboard the USS JOHN W. THOMA- SON (DD760) from July 1948 to June 1950. He then reported to the Staff of COMDES- RON 1. In August 1951 he was assigned to the Staff of COMDESFLOT 3. In October 1952, Mr. Kelly reported to the Office of CNO and he was assigned to the General Line School, Monterey, California in Nov- ember 1954. LCDR Kelly reported aboard the MASON in June 1955 to serve as Execu- tive Officer.