Leonard Mason (DD 852) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE CAPTAIN Commander Lester E. G. Setser United States Navy Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Leonard F, Mason (DD 852) Commander LESTER E. G. SETSER was born in Gra- vett, Arkansas. He attended Northeastern State Col- lege, Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Following this he enlisted in the Navy serving at the U. S. Naval Training Center, San Diego, California, and on the USS Nevada (BB 36). In December 1942, he enrolled in the USNR Midshipman ' s School, New York, N.Y., and was com- missioned Ensign on 31 March, 1943. His first duty sta- tion was the USS CONY (DD 508) as assistant Gunnery Officer, Gunnery Officer and finally Executive Officer. In August 1946 he was assigned to the University of Oklahoma as a student of the Holloway Plan, followed by another period of instruction commencing in July 1947 in the General Line School, Newport, R.I. After termination of this duty in June 1948 he was attached as Executive Officer on the USS MALOY (EDE 791), thence in January 1950 to COMDESLANT Staff as Assistant Personnel Officer. He next served as Executive Officer on board the USS NICHOLAS (DDE 449). From there he was assigned as Enlisted Shore Detail Officer at BU- PERS, and then as Commanding Officer of the USS J. C. BUTLER (DE 339). In January 1958 Commander Setser assumed command of the USS LEONARD F. MASON (DD 852). THE EXEC Lieutenant Commander James E. Alsover, USN, was commissioned Ensign in April, 1945. His first duty was with the Atlantic Fleet Destroyer Force, then in the Pa- cific aboard the USS BENNER (DD 807) at the end of Worid War II. He remained aboard the BENNER until 1948, when he joined the USS RABY (DE 698) at Pearl Harbor and remained aboard until after the RABY was converted to the Navy ' s first DEC in 1950. The Korean conflict saw him aboard the USS WHITEHURST (DE 634) on the line during 1950-51. A year of instruction at General Line School followed, then he was assigned to Commander Operational Development Force for project work in CIC Systems during 1953-54. From 1955 to 1957, Commander Alsover was assigned to Staff, Commander in Chief, Far East and Commander Naval Forces Far East as ECM Warfare Officer, then reported aboard the MASON in June, 1957. Lieutenant Commander James E. Alsover

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FROM THE CAPTAIN At the end of August, 1957, the USS LEONARD F. MASON completed her shipyard overhaul immediately followed by a refresher training period under the Fleet Training Group, Son Diego. Living up to her reputation, the MASON came through that rigorous period with a record well above the overage de- stroyer, and was then ready for any duties assigned. Commander Destroyer Flotilla Three gave the GO signal in November, and the ship then deployed to join the SEVENTH FLEET in the Western Pacific. The first few months of the cruise saw the MASON in as tight an operating schedule as one could imagine. There were few weekend rest periods — Thanks- giving, Christmas, and New Year ' s were spent underway — most Sundays found us in the middle of Task Force operations. We experimented with new tactics and performed all the old ones. A cheerful, CAN DO attitude allowed us to meet each and every operational commitment within the span of human endeavor, and were praised by our Flotilla Commander, our operating carrier Task Force commander and our ship- mates in the Service Force for an outstanding performance. Now the cruise is over. You may well congratulate yourselves and I con- gratulate you on a job WELL DONE. We now look ahead to the future — Smooth sailing with a following sea. LESTER E. G. SETSER COMMANDER, US NAVY COMMANDING

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HUYETTE, CARL W. JR. Operations Long Beach, California MAGGAY, ISIDORO (N) JR. Engineering Long Beach, Caliiornia KNEPPER, DONALD E. Gunnery Arlington, Virginia COMPAU, lAY P. A.S.W. Spokane, Washington ATHEA. ' N, FOLGER (N) JR. Supply San Francisco. Caliiornia WALKER, NEAL T. Damage Control Ruunene, Maui, T.H.