Samuel Gompers (AD 37) - Naval Cruise Book

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FCDLIDWING Tl-lE SUN lO ll-lL Gklnil' lt was westward bound on a quiet journey, following the suntg the Orient leaving San Diego and loved ones behind for the thir time in as many years. But just prior to our departure, Captain Bradley was called away on emergency leave, turning over Command of the SAMUEL GOMPERS to the Executive Officer, Commander Watson, during our transit across the Pacific. In the early morning of March nineteenth, Hawaii emerged on the horizon like a jagged line. Effortlessly the GOMPERS passed into Pearl Harbor for a three day R 84 R. The itinerary was simple - letters home, shopping, tours, and just getting lost in the warm tropical sun. Underway again on the afternoon of the twenty- second, the ship was into the second leg of the crossing. Cruising just six miles north of Wake lsland, ever plodding westward passing between Pagan and Alamagan Islands, part of the Marianas chain, the Philippine archipelago greeted the GOMPERS and led the way to Subic Bay, our home for the next three months. Mooring to buoy 19, the last deployment's tethering grounds, word was soon received of a shift to the Alava Pier Extension at the Naval Base, a welcome improvement over the previous deployment. Captain Bradley rejoined the SAMUEL GOMPERS on April fifth, the same day that the hectic tending period started, a pace which did not slacken until the mid-deployment R gl R to the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong. On the thirteenth day of June, the GOMPERS was underway for Hong Kong with 164 dependents embarked aboard from the Subic Bay Naval Base and various military installations throughout the Philippines. After a two-day journey to the northwest, the anchor was dropped just outside of the teeming Hong Kong harbor for five days of R 84 R. Returning to Subic Bay on June twenty-second, the GOMPERS offloaded not only the extensive purchases of her guests, but bid farewell to the guests themselves, making the ship once again available for tending services. ici i , 44 M .2 ff Not long after the Hong Kong R 81 R,the GOMPER3 cele her third birthday on the first of July with a ceremonyj forecastle and a ship's party at Dungaree Beach. The followig an emergency need for tending services in Yokosuka, Japa realized and the GOMPERS was ordered to sail as soon 35 After six days of accelerated completion of all outstandi orders, the ship was underway for Yokosuka arriving there C tenth. The first availabilities began almost immediately after the and in the first four days alone over 1,000job orders were ac and processed. While tending in Yokosuka, the SAMUEL G0ll second change of command took place on August first whenC Daniel L. Banks, Jr. relieved Captain Bradley. Enjoying Japan and all that it offered, two months passed: and on August thirtieth the GOMPERS began her long trek arriving in San Diego on Sunday, the thirteenth of Sept completing a third memorable deployment. The deployment statistics were impressive as the GOIVIPERS once again passed Point Loma and edged into San Diego and Throughout the deployment, the SAMUEL GOMPERS re availabilities to over 215 different ships, quite a number when realize that there are only 736 ships in active Naval service. 45 of the ships tended were taken alongside, at times compi nest of seven ships. The number of work requests accomplis the Repair Department totaled over 9,500, with an a man-power utilization of 942. The GOMPERS tended evei from midget submarines and carriers to hospital ships and Guard cutters. The ship actively participated in the ACTC program, as well, training thirty-five Vietnamese sailors. But important of all, the deployment strengthened our reputation hardest working, most productive, and finest tender in the fleet. 'J it 'M--ffcllnw'

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