Worcester (CL 144) - Naval Cruise Book

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APTAIN HARRY HAVELOCK HENDERSON, Kendal Green, Massachusetts, was graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1925, where he was on the Var- sity Football Squad and Boxing Team, and was intercollegiate middleweight boxing champion in 1925. After graduation he served with the USS UTAH and USS STURTEVANT. He was detached in 1928 to return to the Naval Academy for duty on the Boxing Team in the 1928 Olympics. He had successive service until December 1931 in the USS S-19, USS 0-2 and USS S-21. y Duty at the Naval Academy from January 1932 until February 1934, included eighteen months in the Department of Physical Training and six months as Assistant Secretary of the Academic Board. During the three years following, he served in the USS R-13, the USS R-2 and commanded the USS R-3. He completed a course in deep sea diving at the Navy Yard, Washington, D. C., in May 1937, after which he was stationed at the Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, T. H., from June 1937 until May 1939. For four months thereafter, he was Assistant Fire Control Officer of the USS WEST VIRGINIA. After fitting out the USS CROWNINSHIELD in September 1939, he assumed command upon her commissioning on September 30, 1939, and was transferred in September 1940 to duty as Gunnery A-----M..-..,,-.--.....,...,.,,., .F-,,.........a..,,.,,,,,,, WW? Officer of the USS OKLAHOMA. The OKLA- HOMA was damaged during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and he served as Operations Officer of Submarine Squadron 8, until May 1942. For his rescue work on the OKLAHOMA December 7-9, 1941, he received a Letter of Commendation with authorization to wear the Commendation Ribbon from the Com- mander in Chief, Pacific Fleet. Returning to the United States, he reported to the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Kearny, New Jersey, for duty in connection with fitting out the USS LA VALLETTE. He had command of that vessel from her commissioning August 12, 1942 until july 1943, when he reported for a tour of duty in the Promotion Section, En- listed Performance Division, Bureau of Naval Per- sonnel, Navy Department, VVashington, D. C. For meritorious service in that assignment he received a Second Letter of Commendation, with the au- thorization to wear a star on his Commendation Ribbon, from the Secretary of the Navy. In 1945 he commanded Destroyer Squadron 48 in action in Japanese waters. 1-le reported in 1945 as Commanding OIIicer of the USS ELOKO- MIN. After service in 1'Vashington he was ap- pointed Commanding Ofhcer of the USS VVOR- CESTER in june 1950.

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X s HNKS wif W APTAIN VVILSONAS naval background and experience since his graduation from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1924, has been wide and colorful. He has served in various ships, sta- tions and staffs, during his naval career. He is a graduate of the Submarine school, New London, Conn., and is qualified to command submarines and prior to 1939 served in the U.S.S. R-12 and U.S.S. Narwhal. During the IJZISI ten years, he has served with the following naval activities and units: February to September 1939, as assistant engineer officer on board the U.S.S. VVichita. September 1939 to June 1940, as Commanding Officer ol the Destroyer U.S.S. Upshur, and also as the division com- mander of destroyer Division 61 during the period March to June 1940. llune 1940 to January 1942, in the Electrical Section of the Bureau of Ships, Navy Department, IfVashington, D. C. January 1942 to January 1943, as Commanding Officer of the destroyer U. S. S. Buchanan. January 1943 to June 1943, as Naval Liaison Officer on the Staff of the Commanding General, Guadalcanal QU. S. Armyy. August 1943 to April 1944, as Assistant Operations Olhcer on the Staff of Commander South Pacific. April 1944 to November 1945, as Operations Officer on the Staff of Commander THIRD Fleet. January 1946 to September 1946, as Chief ol the Welfare Division of The Bureau of Naval Personnel, Navy Depart- ment, VVashington, D. C. September 1946 to August 1948, as Senior Naval Oflicer on the staff of Army-Navy Petroleum Board and Chief of the Tanker Section, office of the Chief of Naval Operations. August 1948 to Qlune 1949, attended the National Hlar Col- lege, VVashington, D. C. During Wforld Vllar II, Captain IfVilson, as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Buchanan, participated in the capture and consolidation of Guadalcanal and Tulagi Islands: the occupation of the Ellice Islands, and the naval action in the battle of Cape Esperance. Wlhile attached to the Staff of the Commanding General, Guadalcanal, he participated in the hnal action on Guadalcanal. As Assistant Operations Officer on the Stall? of Commander South Pacific, he participated in the combined action against the Solomon Islands. As Op- erations Oflicer on the Staff of Commander THIRD Fleet. he participated in the seizure and occupation of the Palau Islands, the seizure olf Leyte Gulf and Manila in the Philip- pine lslandsg the second battle of the Philippine Sea: all raids and operations made by the THIRD Fleet against the Ryukas, Formosa, South China Sea and Japan, until the final surrender ol' the Japanese in September 1945. He was present on board the U.S.S. lXlissouri at the time of the formal .lapa- nese surrender. f, , ,. ,IQ .

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S ... fi N . sf. Q5 X L CUIVINIANUER J. H. DAVIS U. N. Executive Ufficer U. S. S. Worcester RAlll1A'l'lClJ 'june l9f5l. Spent first two years alter graduation in Destroy- ers Battle lforce and the third year on the l.l.S.S. PENNSYLVANIA, Flag- ship, Commander in Chief, At- lantic Fleet. Graduated Submarine School, New London, Conn., in May l935. Served in submarines until l938 then to post graduate instruction, Annapolis, Mary- land in August 1938. Upon the establishing of the New- trality Patrol, was ordered to re-com- mission the destroyer BIDDLE. After 18 months on the BIDDLE was ordered to the U.S.S. GRAYLING CSS2095 as Executive Ofhcer. In january 1946 was ordered to Submarine Squadron Six as Opera- tions Oflicer with base at Balboa, C. Z. Reported on board the U.S.S. XNORCESTER ll july 1949 as relief for Commander A. C. Veasey, Execu- tive Officer. DEPARTME Harold F. Hayes James W. Gustin James R. Payne John R. Beardall. Jr. John H. Newcomb Traver R. Hamilton David P. Polatty, Jr. Willianl T. Miller