Newport News (CA 148) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPTAIN RALPH C. JOHNSON United States Navy ALPH C. JGHNSON, USN, now Captain, reported on board the USS NEWPORT NEWS CA-14-8 late in August, 1950, to assume the duties as the ship's Executive Oflicer. Captain Johnson, a native of Caleshurgh, Illinois, was born on 4 January, 1911. He attended Gales- burgh High School and graduated in 1928. He en- tered the U. S. Naval Academy soon after gradua- tion and was graduated and commissioned Ensign with the c1ass of 1932. After graduation Captain Johnson's billets in- cluded battleship duty f1932-1937j and destroyer duty Q1937-1940 and 1911-2-194-65. ln 1940 he was assigned to the Naval Academy as an instructor where he served until 1942. During the war Captain Johnson saw action on board the USS COWIE U94-2-19451, where he served as Executive Officer and Commanding Of- ficer. In 1911-5 he was attached to ComDesLant as Gunnery Ofiicer and continued in that capacity un- til 194-6 when he reported for duty at the Naval Mine Depot, Yorktown, Virginia. Prior to report- ing to the Newport News, Capt. Johnson was sta- tioned at the Naval Amphib Base at Coronado, California, since 1948. Among his awards, Capt. Johnson is the holder of the Bronze Star and Com- mendation Letter received during World War ll. Captain and Mrs. Johnson presently reside at 6129 Rolfe Ave., Norfolk, with their three chil- dren, Carol, David and Sara.

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E i CAPTAIN EDWARD N. PARKER United States Navy HWE HAVE a beautiful ship, letis make her the fightingest ship in the Navyf, These are the words of our Commanding Officer, Captain Edward N. Parker, USN, who on September 11, 1950, as- sumed the task as 4'Skipper,7 of the USS NEW- PORT NEWS CA-111-8. Captain Parker, a native of the uKeystone State, was born on July 26, 19011-, in Avalon, Pennsyl- vania. Upon graduating from Louisville fKen- tuckyj High School, he entered the U. S. Naval Academy in September, 1921, and was graduated and commissioned Ensign in June 1925. Activi- ties while at the Academy included working on the publications 4'LogH and 'lucky Bagw and also par- ticipating in class football. Among his earlier sea billets, included such ships at the BB7s UTAH and CALIFORNIA and the cruiser PENSACOLA. He also served on board the MAHAM QDIVIJ, DOBBIN CADD, and the DD,s PERKINS, PARROTT and the CUSHING. During World War II, Captain Parker saw ac- tion with the Asiatic Fleet in the Java Campaign and also with various destroyers in the Gaudal- canal engagements. It was while serving as C.O. of the USS CUSHINC in the battle of Gaudalcanal that he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a third Navy Cross. In 19-41-6 he served as Commander Surface Pa- trol Group, during the atomic bomb tests at Bi- kini Atol. His last tour of duty was with Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washing- ton, D. C. In addition to the Navy Cross with two Gold Stars, the Silver Star Medal, and the Commenda- tion Ribbon with a bronze star, Captain Parker also holds the Presidential Unit Citation with two stars, and the 6lVIilitary Willemsordef presented to him by the Netherlands Government. Captain Parker married the former Miss Eliza- beth Hunter and they presently reside at 1819 N. Inglewood St., Arlington, Va. ' 1 f fl

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VICE ADMIRAL JOIHN J. BALLENTINE United States Navy ICE ADMIRAL JOHN JENNINGS BALLENTINE was as- signed Commander of the Sixth Fleet on November 3, 1949, succeeding Admiral Forrest P. Sherman, now Chief of Naval Operations. He served in the Mediterranean area previously as Commander of Carrier Division ONE. Born in Hillsboro, Ohio, October 4, 1896, Ad- miral Ballentine was graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1917. Since 1920, when he received his designation, he has served in Naval Aviation. At the outbreak of World War II, he was serving as 'Executive Officer of the aircraft carrier USS RANGER. On December 24, 1941, he was or- dered to take command of the carrier USS LONG ISLAND. He took command of the newly con- structed 27,000-ton aircraft carrier USS BUNKER HILL on May 25, 1943. While under his com- mand, the BUNKER HILL participated in Pacific operations at Rabaul, the Gilbert Islands, Nauru, Kavieng and the Marshall Islands providing air cover for amphibious operations striking crushing blows towards annihilating'Japanese fighting power, and inflicting numerous losses on the Japanese Fleet and merchant marine units sunk and dam- aged. In February 1944, Admiral Ballentine reported for duty as Deputy and Chief of Staff and Aide to the Commander, Aircraft, Pacific Fleet, at Pearl Harbor, 'Iv.H. Later, he was assigned to duty as Fleet Liaison Ofiicer for Commander in Chief, Pa- cific, at Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, Pacific. He landed at Atsugi Airport on 30 August in the airborne occupation of Japan, escorting General of the Army, Douglas MacArthur to the surrender ceremonies on the bat- tleship MISSOURI on 2 September 1945. In January 1946, Admiral Ballentine reported to the Office of Naval Operations, for duty as Assistant on the Military Staff Committee of the Security Council, United Nations. He made a five months cruise in the Mediter- ranean in the USS MIDWAY during the winter of 1947-48 and made a similar cruise with the Sixth Fleet on board the USS ROOSEVELT in 1948-49. An ardent student of the Mediterranean, after having served in these waters for more than four years, he unhesitatingly describes his duty as the best in the Navyf, His guest book reads like an international 66Who's Wllowg it is inscribed with names of kings and queens, presidents, governors, mayors, cardinals and bishops, dukes and duch- esses. He collects and reads avidly everything pub- lished about the Mediterranean, supplementing his reading knowledge during calls with tours, and con- versations with officials. Q li 'E I 3 ill J 1 an-1 -