Leonard Mason (DD 852) - Naval Cruise Book

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ZH ililfilfl USS LEONARD F. MASON CDD 852D was named in honor of Leonard F Mason, PFC, USMC who, was killed in action on the island of Guam during World War II. For his heroism Private Mason was posthumously awarded the Congressional medal of Honor. These Asian Annals are dedicated to those MASON-MEN-OF- WARS- MEN who served loyally and with great devotion to duty in the USS LEONARD F. MASON during the Western Pacifc Cruise of 1964-1966. Though the MASON has proudly carried the flag for 20 years and literally thousands of good men have served in her, this short history is dedicated particularly to those who took part in this cruise. Each and every individual has stout-heartedly and with determination contributed to an unforgettable team ejfort that brought them and this ship great distinc- tion through flawless performance over a demanding and challenging two year distant duty cruise. You have left a brilliant record for which you can always be proud. A. M. HAZEN COMMANDING OFFICER

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HIP'S HISTORY USS LEONARD F. MASON CDD 852J was named in honor of a Private First Class of the United States Marine Corps who gallantly gave his life while in action on the island of Guam during World War II, and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery. Built by the Bethlehem Steel Company at Quincy, Massachusetts, her keel was laid on ,6 August 1945 and she was launched on 15 December 1945. She was commissioned at the Boston Naval Shipyard on 28iJune 1946. ' After a shakedown cruise in the Caribbean, MASON passed through the Panama Canal to join the U. S. Pacific Fleet as a unit of Destroyer Squadron THREE early in 1947. From 1947 until 1951 she completed two Western Pacific cruises and an overhaul period in the United States. On 13 December 1950 MASON departed San Diego, California, to join Task Group 96.7 for anti-submarine duty. In the middle of May 1951, she was assigned to Task Force 95 operating off the Korean Peninsula. The last two weeks of May were spent participating in the seige of Wonsan. During this time MASON maintained continuous bombardment of enemy railroad and highway bridges, tunnels, and troop concentrations. Although she received no damage, her five inch guns infiicted much injury on Communist Forces. In June she performed blockade duties and operated with a British carrier force off the west coast of Korea, returning to the United States for the latter part of the year. ' V I MASON departed on her fourth cruise to the Western Pacific in February 1952. Operating again in Wonsan Harbor and along the eastern coast of Korea, her guns fired almost 2,000 rounds of ammunition against the enemy. For her service in Korea MASON was Awarded the Korean Service Medal with seven stars, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the United Nations Service Medal. After the Korean Campaign, operations returned to normal until the Middle East crisis in November 1956 when MASON departed Long Beach, California, as part of Fast Carrier Task Force ELEVEN with the USS YORKTOWN, USS SHANGRI-LA, and Destroyer Division Thirty TWO. With various ships of the Pacific Fleet she conducted intensive training and readiness exercises during this critical period, returning to Long each in April 1957 to complete her ninth successful tour in the Western Pacific in eleven years of com- missioned service. For the next year she operated between Long Beach, Pearl Harbor, and Yokosuka, visiting numerous ports of call including Hong Kong, Subic Bay, Pago Pago, Brisbane, Sasebo, and Kao-Hsiung. In June 1958 MASON arrived in San Francisco Bay for a four day visit as part of the fiftieth anniversary cele- bration of the world cruise of the Great White Fleet. May 1960 saw MASON departing Long Beach with Destroyer Squadron THREE for her new home port Yokosuka, Japan. During the next two years she operated with the Squadron from Yokosuka in anti-submarine exercises with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, amphibious operations with South Korean Marines, various exercises with units of the U. S. Pacific Fleet, and on patrol in the Taiwan Straits. In May 1961 MASON headed south from Yokosuka for Shimoda, Japan, where she participated in the annual Black Ship Festival. During the festival the ship's Landing Force took part in a parade commemorating Commodore Perry's landing at Shimoda, afterwards, several hundred Japanese braved a long boat ride to visit the ship during her Open House. In late September nearly six thousand more Japanese visitors came aboard during MASON's visit to Shimonoseki as one of Commander Seventh Fleet's representatives to the Annual Baseball game between the cities of Shimonoseki and Moji for the Admiral Kivette Trophy.