Midway (CVA 41) - Naval Cruise Book

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I relieve you, Sir . . . , and with these words, Captain John Thomas Blackburn relieved Captain Francis E. Nuessle as Commanding Officer of the MIDWAY on June 2, 1958. They ' re four simple words, but by utter- ing them, Captain Blackburn achieved the goal and ambition of all professional Navy men — command of his own ship ! It is possible that no other station in life gives one man so much responsibility and authority as that of Commanding Officer. The comfort, personal problems, efficiency, and morale of thirty two hundred men very truly and positively become his concern, not to mention the safety of forty five thousand tons of machinery and e quipment worth hundreds of millions of dollars. MIDWAY has been privileged to be com- manded by two fine officers, and through their leadership, the ship has progressed from the disorganization and confusion of precommissioning days to the united, proud fighting machine she is this day. Meanwhile at the O Club 33

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mi ilpMeii In July and August of 1958, MIDWAY served as training ship for over one hundred and fifty future officers when Midshipmen from colleges all over the Western United States reported aboard at Hunter ' s Point Naval Shipyard for a six weeks cruise. In their role of junior-junior officers, the Middies received a small taste of the life that was soon to be theirs for several years. An opportunity was afforded for all hands to learn by do- ing. Series of on the job instructions and lectures were estab- lished to show the why , as well as the how of seagoing operations. At the end of their month and a half tour, the Midshipmen returned to their colleges for completion of their senior year, and when they return again it will be as Ensigns. ■ ' A