Monrovia (APA 31) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 9 text:

FOREWORD Warsbips of Hue Uniled Slales Navy luave cruised in Hue lvledulerranean Sea since Hue early nine+eenHu ceniuiy Begirnino viHu Hue war wiHu Tripoli ID l802 and almosl coniinuously since l88o American sea power luas operaled in Huis area ol more Huan one million square miles wluiclu Hue ancienls called Hue cenuer our Hue earHu Tluo lufeonlrerranean was ol ra eoic importance in warld aflalrg Cenfurles beufo e America was discovered ln ilue counuries bordering Huis area civilizalion was born Pluoenicians Romans and oHuer powerful peoples . . , ' ' J ,X - - - . . . u l N1 I . V L. . . ' I 1 . . . l . . A ' 'I II I- ra I . . , . . i ' .nl I J u rs ' ' J - . . I r l I I ' 1 I louqlul 'ro conrrol I+. Tlurougluouu luislory il luas been Hue vilal sea linlc be- lween Europe, Africa and Hue counlries ol Hue Near and Middle Easl. Tlue lvledilerranean luas been called Hue loveliesl ol all seas, favored by silualion, sluape, and climale above all oHuers, and likewise belore all oHuers discovered and sailed. Tluis is Hue l-lelen among oceans: like luer il was de- sired by all Hual saw il, and capuured by Hue boldesu. Tluen il was lualuf lorsalcen, obscured by Hue lame of new and dislanu oceans: rediscovered, as if were, aufler Huree luundred yearsg and Jroday, before our eyes, il is louglul over anew. 'k In Hue unsel'Hed years immediauely following Viforld Warll, sluips out Hue Uniled Suaues lvledirerranean Squadron luelped +o eslablislu peace among Hue counuries out Hue Ballcans and Hue Middle Easu. Tluis is Hue lvledilerranean SixHu Fleel, 'Ufanqible evidence ol Hue Uniled Slales' inleresl in an area wluose srraleqic imporlance lowards Hue mainlenance ol peace is rec- oqnizedf' 'Tlue Medilerraneanu-Emil Ludwig

Page 8 text:

DEDICATION This book is dedicaled lo Caplain John S. McCain Jr. who served GS Commanding Crlic-er ol lhe U.S.S. MQNRCDVIA from July IO, l954 unlil March 3l, l955 when he was relieved in change ol command ceremonies al Porlo Scudo, Sardinia by Caplain Rex B. Lillle. Under his command lhf-3 MONRQVM wealhered lhree hurricanes, parlicipared in numerous Train- ing cruises and sailed lor lhe lvledilerranean Sea on January 5, l955. in a slale ol preparedness raled as excellent Working wilh him lhe crew of lhe MONRQVIA underloolq To become one ol lhe linesl unils in Trans- por+ Amphibious Squadron SIX. ll will be a long lime belore men Wl1O have sailed on lhe MCDNROVIA will slop hearing ol Caplain McCain.

Page 10 text:

RUY S. BENSON CapTain, UniTed STaTes Navy Commodore Roy S. Benson became Commander TransporT Amphibious Squadron SIX in AugusT oT I954. Rrior To assuming This duTy he commanded The aTTacIc TransporT BAYEIELD. During WorId War II he was Twice dec- araiaa wiTh boTh The Navy Cross and The Silver STar While Qammandinq The submarines TRIGGER and RAZORBACK. The TRIGGER won The PresidenTiaI UniT CiTaTion Tor acTions in which Commodore Benson Took parT. He was graduaTed Trom The Naval Academy in The Class oT I929 and aIso served on desTroyers and The baTTIeship NEW YORK, besides sub- marines, beTore joining The Amphibious Eorce.