Manatee (AO 58) - Naval Cruise Book

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Commander Richard H. Engelbrecht was graduated in the class of 1953 from Wartburg College of Waverly, Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in mathematics. In July of that year he reported to the Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island where he was commissioned in November. Duty followed as Electronics Officer and Com- munications Officer of Tactical Air Control Squadron 22 at Norfolk, Virginia. Commander Engelbrecht ' s next assignment, in June 1959, was as Officer-in-Charge of Electronics Class B School in Treasure Island, California. He then attended the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California where he graduated in June 1962 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications Engineering. Duty followed as Communications Of- ficer of USS SAINT PAUL (CA-73). In August 1964, Commander Engelbrecht was assigned duty as Assistant to the Naval Liaison Office CDR. RICHARD H. ENGELBRECHT, USN, COMMANDING OFFICER of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Analysis Center in Annapolis, Maryland. During this tour he was awarded a Master of Science Degree in Personnel Ad- ministration from George Washington University. In November 1966, Commander Engelbrecht reported aboard USS CALOOSAHATCHEE (AO 98) as Execitive Officer where he served until June 1968. From the CALOOSAHATCHEE he reported as the Commander of the Defense Communications Agency, Southeast Asia Region at Clark Air Base in the Phillippines. His most recent assignment was as the Executive Officer aboard USS CAMADEN (AOE-2). He assumed his present duties aboard the MANATEE in November 1971. Commander Engelbrecht and his wife, the former Bernice Hilmer of Dysart, Iowa, together with their two children, Lisa Ann and Lori Ann, reside in Long Beach, California.

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FROM THE CAPTAIN ' S CABIN This Cruise Book commemorates what will undoubtedly be the last cruise of USS MANATEE to the Western Pacific. It is expected that the ship will be decommissioned in the near future. She has served the Navy for over 29 years and the cruise depicted on these pages represents her final deployment to WESTPAC. She has served in three conflicts with distinction. Most ports in the Far East have seen her at one time or another. This cruise has been the busiest of all. During the ten month deployment the ship made 13 separate trips to Vietnam waters to replenish ships of the Seventh Fleet. Over 200 ships were provid- ed fuel, provisions and ammunition during these periods. Upon arrival to WESTPAC the MANATEE joined what was to be the largest Seventh Fleet in history. The end of the deployment saw a cease fire in Vietnam with an attendant reduction in Fleet size. In spite of the busy trips to Vietnam, time was found to visit Sasebo, Japan, Kaoshung, Taiwan, and Cebu City, Philippines. These visits are also depicted herein. A ship does not perform as MANATEE has done without the dedicated efforts of her crew. The ship has been particularly blessed with outstanding efforts of men who invariably performed well. Their efforts kept the ship operational in spite of numerous material casualties. The ship, as a result, returned to her home port in better condition than when she departed. This accomplishment is particularly noteworthy when one considers the high tempo of operations when deployed. It is hoped that this Cruise Book represents completely what was to be MANATEE ' s last deployment. Many of the crew members have contributed to its puplication. Their efforts are ap- preciated.

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The Captain has the Conn. 8 November 1972, one full year in Command of MANATEE The Captain congratulates newly ad- vanced men at ceremonies in June.