Leonard Mason (DD 852) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDING OFFICERS COMMAND RALPH E. GRAHAM December 1963 - August 1965 CDR Alan M HAZEN was born 18 June 1926 at Monroe Lou1sana He attended C F Byrd Hlgh School Shreveport Lou1sana and Tulane Un1vers1ty CDR HAZEN was co1nm1ss1oned an Ens1gn on 20 October 1945 and has rema1ned on cont1nuous act1ve duty PIIOI to assummg command of the USS LEONARD F MASON QDD 8525 on 19 August 1965 CDR HAZEN Was attached to the Defense Language Inst1tute Wash1ngton D C CDR HAZEN 1S marr1ed to the former M1ss Ruby Al1ce Forrest of Gvvynms Island Vlfglnla They have four ch1ldren and are presently res1d1ng 1n Yokosuka Japan CDR HAZEN has earned the follovvmg SCIVICC medals Amer1can Campa1gn World War 11 Ch1na SCIVICC Jo1nt SCIVICC Commendat1on V1et Nam SGIVICC AS1at1C P8C1f1C Navy OCCUp3t1OH Nat1ona1 Defense Armed Forces EXped1t1onary Wlllle servmg 1n the follovvmg sh1ps USS USS USS USS USS USS USS USS USS USS LCFF 399 ALCOR CAD 343 MATHEWS CAKA 963 CHILTON CAPA 383 sPoKAN1-3 CCLAA 1203 M1ss1ss1PP1 CEAG 1283 RUSSELL COUNTY CLST 10903 TWINING CDD 5403 BOSTON CCAC 13 LEONARD F MASON CDD 8523 CDR ALAN M HAZEN a , . U . . Ji I I . 2 A . a 1 , . , a. . , .1 . u 1 o I ' , : . .- . i. . . 2 . N . T

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MASON was a unit in the Department of Defense's Pacific Recovery Force for NASA project Geminiis spaceflight, GT-4. MASON arrived in Yokosuka on 22 May at the completion of the 4 day orbit of GT-4 to offload the recovery equipment which had been installed prior to the flight. Station ship Hong Kong was next in MASON,s operational schedule and she assumed her duties upon arriving Hong Kong 22 June. Upon completion of duty as station ship MASON departed and joined USS ORISKANY for operations in the South China Sea before returning to Yokosuka. On 19 August CDR RALPH E. GRAHAM, USN, was relieved as Commanding Oficer by CDR A. M. HAZEN, USN. CDR HAZEN took MASON to sea on 24 August as a unit of the Gemini Recovery Force for GT-5 space shot. MASON assumed patrol east of Japan in order to assist the astronauts should an early re-entry and landing in this area be necessary. Manila was the next port of interest that was visited by MASON. This was the first time that MASON had visited this port and the four days spent there were enjoyed by all hands. From 24 September through 6 November MASON was engaged in Naval Gunfire Support off the coast of Vietnam firing over 2,500 rounds of 5738 ammunition. On 10 October Commander Destroyer Division THIRTY-TWO was embarked. His flag was flown through 11 November when MASON departed Hong Kong, B. C. C. for her homeport Yokosuka, Japan. On arriving in Yokosuka on 17 November MASON commenced a Mid-Term availability which extended through 31 December 1965. On 10 January 1966 MASON was underway again for 57 consecutive days providing NGFS in Vietnam. MASON fired over 4,000 rounds of 5 f38 ammunition while participating in Operations Masher, Double Eagle, New York, and White VVing. MASON then returned to homeport Yokosuka, Japan on 9 March getting underway again 14 March 1966 as a unit of the Gemini Recovery Force for GT-8 space shot. On 17 March 1966, in what may be considered MASON's most important mission she recovered the GT-8 space capsule and astronauts David SCOTT and Niel ARMSTRONG. MASON debarked the astronauts at Naha, Okinawa and returned to Yokosuka until 15 April when she departed for 19 days duty as station ship Hong Kong. Then MASON returned to Vietnam providing NGFS for approximately three weeks. She then returned to Yokosuka for 11 days and on 15 June 1966 departed for CONUS, arriving in Long Beach after 755 days in WestPac. 'f

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS LIEUTENANT COMMANDER WILLIAM L. BRITTON March 1964-April 1965 LCDR Stanley L. HAVENS Was born in Troy, Pennsylvania on 6 November 1931. He graduated from Lock Haven State College, Lock Haven, Pennsylvania in June 1953 and was commissioned as Ensign, U. S. Naval Reserves on graduation from Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island, November 1953. Upon commissioning LCDR HAVENS first assignment was as Main Propulsion Assistant aboard the USS CHARLES R. WARE CDD 8651 followed by assignment as Damage Control Assistant and Engineer Ofhcer. Duty as instructor at OCS in the Engineering and Opera- tion section from August 1956-June 1958 followed. He next served aboard the USS WASHOE COUNTY CLST 11651 as Executive Officer and in October 1960 he reported for duty with NROTC Unit University of VVashington, Seattle, Washington as an instructor in Engineering and Navigation. i A tour as Officer in Charge, USS CHARLES E. BRANNON CDE 4465 from July 1962 to August 1963 followed.. In September 1963 LCDR HAVENS was assigned temporary duty aboard USS JOSEPH STRAUSS CDDG I rep followed by duty with sms COMDESRON THREE LCDR STANLEY L. HAVEN S as Operations Officer and Chief Staff Officer. 19 April 1965 LCDR HAVENS reported aboard USS LEONARD E. MASON CDD 8525 for duty as Executive Officer. LCDR HAVENS is married to the former Dorothy STOCKHOUSE of Bristol, Pennsylvania. They have two sons, Stanley Jr., and David and daughter Linda. LCDR HAVENS is eligible to wear the National Defense Service, the Navy Occupation and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals.