Menifee (APA 202) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 13 text:

OUR CfiPTRinS Commodore Knowles, Commander Transport Squadron 12, was in the habit of calling commanding officers of ships in his squadron to the microphone of the inter-ship radio and asking them in blunt and highly embarrassing terms, to account for the inadequate performance of their ships. This was never the case with Capt. Paul P. Spaulding (left) or Lt. Comdr. Robert D. Lamson (right), who served as the Menifee ' s captains. In fact, when the Commodore passed out the Well Dones the old 202 was usually near the top. This was particularly the case during the occupation of Nagasaki, when Captain Lamson, a young man wearing the gold oak leaves of a lieutenant commander, got his troops and equipment ashore while other APfl skippers, wearing age-corroded chickens on their collars, were still getting the lay of the land. find our skippers weathered another acid test, when a Menifee seaman deuce meets a buddy, an- other seaman deuce from another flPfl and is asked, How ' s your Skipper and Exec? The answer is, Good, damn good!

Page 12 text:

in reply refer to: APA 202 Serial I S S. MENIFEE IAPA-202I % Fleet Post Office San Francisco, California By the time this book goes to press, the Menifee will have been in commission for a little more than a year. During this year, it has been my privilege to watch the ship develope into a fine and well-functioning unit, of which you and the Navy can well be proud. It is with a feeling of pride that I remember the organization of the ship ' s crew. Most of you were somewhat green when you first came aboard; and it is a credit to the nation that you worked hard and were willing to learn from the old salts the business of running a ship. If you had failed the ship, she would have failed with you. lou learned your work well, and further than that, you took and still take pride in your ship. That ' s what makes a ship pride in her appearance and performance. The Menifee may not have seen as much action as some ships, but whatever job she has been assigned, she has done well. Much of the credit goes to our former commanding officer, Captain Spaulding, who so ably commanded the Menifee. I have endeavored to carry on his policies after taking command. But, however much credit is given to Captain Spaulding or to me, a larger amount is due to you, the officers and men of the U35 Menifee. ' Without your whole-hearted and spirited co- operation and diligence, no man, however well qualified, could have made this ship what she is today. 1 aeem it an honor and a privilege to have served with you. j kfe azmadrt

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER Lieutenant Commander Nathan E. Dozier DEPfiRTmEIlT HERDS Top row: Lt. A. Clark Fleehart, Lt. John W. Drannen, Lt. Elmer E. Shine. Bottom row: Lt. (jg) Donald E. Clark, Comdr. Samuel B. Rentsch, Lt. Comdr. John M. Owen. 10