USS Tarawa (LHA 1) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE CAPTAIN f Dwight D. Timm, CAPT USN A native of Jamestown, North Dakota, our C.0. has the reputation aboard ship of belng quite a guy. No wonder. Among other accomplishments, he can claim more than 4,600 hours of fllght time in over FORTY different models of alrcraftl Since his commissioning in 1957, Capt. Tlmm has served in a variety of billets ranging from Naval Test Pilot to commanding officer of two combat ships. He has over 200 combat missions in the Vietnam conflict, more than 1,000 carrier land- ings, and a chestfull of medals includlng the Bronze Star, Individual Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, 14 Strlke,'FIIght Air Medals and the Vietnamese Air Gallantry Cross with Gold Star. Why would a man with his obviously distin- guished record want to squirt his X.O. wlth a wa- ter pistol? Well, it was Polly Wog Day . It seems that with all of that air and sea tlme, Capt. Timm just never seemed to be in quite the right sea at the right time to cross the equator and when we crossed the line this year, he was as much a wog as any of the others in the ceremony. This was changed when the good Captain took his turn in the Initiation proceedings. We got the feeling that he was as proud of that accomplishment as any previous ones. In less than a year's time as our C.O., the Cap- tain has won the respect, admiration, and frlend- ship of his crew. If he decides to accept another sea command he might look around and find many old Tarawa faces among his new crew. We salute you and our best wishes are with you always, Captain.

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All? UIUNI A million men cannot take Tarawa in a hundred years. . . Japanese Admiral de- fending Tarawa - The battle had raged almost three full days. The pounding of big guns from naval ships had all but deafened the some 8,000 partici- pants in what was to become one of World War Il's bloodiest and most decisive battles. At 1300 hours, 23 November 1943, the island atool of Tarawa was pronounced secured by the Second U.S. Marine Division, having taken it from some 5,000 veteran Japanese Imperial Troops. Con- spicuous for their valor, the marines of the Fighting 2nd were awarded four Medals of Honor Qthree posthumouslyj, 44 Navy Crosses of Valor, and 223 Silver Stars. This was her namesake and when the second ship-of-the-line to bear her proud name was christened December 1, 1973, Tarawa carried on in fine Navy tradition. ' With two cruises under her belt the 820-foot-long ship is certainly the most tried of the new vessels and in addition to being the first in her class she's gained the reputation of setting firsts and doing it with class. Tarawa has operated in exercises from small to the size of 1979's 26-ship Fortress Gale , and this year's Team Spirit . She's operat- ed in anti-air warfare exercises where previously an amphib was not even considered for the role. Her guns and missiles make her a force to be reckoned with when it comes to self-defense. She could light a city of 160,000, evacuate a large city in time of national disaster and land two complete Marine Battalions in a mat- ter of hours in time of war. Tarawa has even given the gift of life when during her first cruise 400 Vietnamese refugees were taken aboard and a new baby was delivered in Tarawa's advanced medical facili- ties and was named in Tarawa's honor Grace Tarawa Tran . She's quite a ship and has quite a crew, evidenced by the more than 100 volunteers who spent Christmas in Thailand repainting and fixing an oprhanage and playing Santa for the children. Tarawa's quite a ship and her size is equalled only by the amount of pride her sailors have in her.

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L' f iff--lwf,ffL0,,M W W QWff SS TARAWA - EAGLE OF THE SEA The wonder ls always that any sane man can be a sallor. Ralph Waldo Emerson A captain's job ranges between The grimy ana glamourous, but aboard ship he is always number one.