Leonard Mason (DD 852) - Naval Cruise Book

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On 27 November 1962 MASON broke her homeward bound Pennant and, departing YOkOSuka, headed for San Francisco, California, arriving on the 13th of December. For many Of the Crew this was the first leave at home Since May 1960. Qne month after her arrival, MASON departed San Francisco for Boston, Massachusetts, via Acapulco, Mexico and the Panama Canal. En-route frO1n the Canal She tOOk part in the search for the pirated Venezuelan freighter ANZOATEGUT. Upon the Sighting of ANZOATEGUI by other forces, MASON proceeded to Boston. From February 1963 until January 1964 MASON underwest a FRAM MK 1 conversion at Boston Naval Shipyard where she was first commissioned in 1946. During the conversion she received increased radar and communications facilities, rehabilitated living spaces, and modern anti-submarine weapons, including ASROC and DASH, Her five inch guns and engineering equipment were overhauled, her hull was given routine repairs, and a new superstructure was added. On 12 February 1964 MASON departed Boston for Long Beach, California, via the Panama Canal and Acapulco, Mexico, to rejoin Destroyer Squadron THREE in the Pacific. From Acapulco to Long Beach MASON carried the remain of John A. Sutter Jr., son of the founder of Sacramento, and U. S. Consul General in Acapulco where he died and was buried in 1897. MASON arrived in Long Beach on 9 March 1964. In April and May she trained in San Diego, California, and in June she enjoyed a final shipyard period in Long Beach On 30 June 1964 MASON departed the United States with Destroyer Division THIRTY ONE to resume her homeport in Yokosuka for a renewed period of operations in the Western Pacific Arriving in Yokosuka on 21 July 1964 MASON underwent a tender availability until the North Viet Namese PT boat attacks on the destroyers USS MADDOX and USS C TURNER JOY at which time MASON was deployed to the South China Sea with Destroyer Division THIRTY ONE as a part of Carrier Task Group 77 6 During the August operations MASON s officers and men earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for the Viet Nam area of operations Returning to Yokosuka on 8 September for the brief yard period MASON agam found herself destined for the South China Sea when she departed Yokosuka on 20 September with a ship s v1s1t to Beppu MASON operated w1th Task Group 77 5 USS TICONDEROGA in the outh China Sea with a one day operational visit to Subic Bay Philippines in October MASON visited Hong Kong from 7 to 14 November UPO11 departure frOn1 HOng Kong MASON again returned to the South China Sea via a one day stop at Subic Bay on 16 November to operate with the USS CONSTELLATION and USS RANGER as part of the Task Groups 77 5 and 77 7 On 13 December MASON returned to Yobosuka where she remained for the rest of 1964 In .January 1965 MASON again left Yokosuka for a short tour of duty as CTG 72 1 Commander Taiwan Surface Patrol Group operating out of Kao Hsiung Taiwan While operating 1n these waters MASON rescued eight Chinese fishermen During the course of the Taiwan Patrol she sighted a boat and upon investigation questioned It was discovered that they had been adrift for approximately 30 hours MASON fed and clothed the men and MASON s crew after learning that the boat had to be sunk because of the navigational hazard it presented collected and presented over S 200 00 to the men in order for them to replace their boat MASON then proceeded to Keelung where the fishermen were tuned over to local authorities for further transportation to their homes The Taiwan Patrol was then reassumed On 24 February MASON arrived in Yokosuka for a rest period which lasted untll 10 March at which time she departed with USS HANCOF K for the South China Sea by now a very familiar operating area On 5 April she departed the South China Sea and headed for Subic from whence she departed for Yokoguka only to return again to Subic arriving on 2 May The 3rd of May USS HENRY W TUCKER USS GEORGE M MACKENZIE USS RUPERTUS and the MAS Saw Tabones Gunfire Range ON depart for a 2 day shore bombardment exercise at the 3 - . . , . . 1 . . . . . ' , 1 0 7 u Q 7 N-f 7 7 ' . , . 3 ' - ' 3 - i . . . discovered it was a Taiwanese fishing boat adrift with five Chinese aboard. The men were taken aboard and 7 . 9 . . ' - 7 , l o Q - c U Q l T , . D , 0 , '

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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.

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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