Lexington (CVA 16) - Naval Cruise Book

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FORW RD POWER FOR PEACE has been chosen as the title for this story ofthe 1960-61 Lexington W'estPac cruise. And whdf could be more appropriate than to include the United Nations emblem as a symbol for Peace . This cruise book is a pictorial history of the operations of a great aircraft carrier and of its men-operations which have been an experience we shall long remember, and this book will refresh our memories in years to come. POWER EOR PEACE is published for the men of the Lexington, their families and friends. For people who have never seen an aircraft carrier, but have only heard about it through your . . . . Q 79 letters, here is a training aid for you to use to describe your M home away from home . The Editors would like to have had twice as many pages available to tell this story. It is hoped that each man will feel that he is reading a diary written about a few months of his lje as he looks through these pages. q Here, then, is your book, POWER FOR PEACE. THE DECISION MAKERS REAR ADMIRAL FRANK B. MILLER, COMMANDER CARRIER DIVISION 3 Rear Admiral Frank B. Miller attended Swavely Preparatory School at Manasas, Virginia before his appointment to the Naval Academy in June 1926. He was commissioned an Ensign in June 1930. Upon graduation he served for nine months on board the USS NEVADA before reporting to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida in March 1931. After graduation, he served with aviation units in USS AUGUSTA and USS HOUSTON during 1932-1933. In 1935 he returned to Pensacola as an instructor. Two years later, he was assigned to Scouting Squadron SIX aboard USS ENTERPRISE. He assumed command of Scouting Squadron 1-D3 in December 1941 and served in that capacity until November 1942. His squadron participated in the antisubmarine campaign against the German U-boats that were ravaging the eastern seaboard at the start of the war. He next served as Air Ofiicer of USS PRINCETON from her commissioning until May 1944. During that tour of duty he received a letter of Commendation and Combat V from the Commander-in-Chief Pacific Fleet, for especially meritorious service as Air Officer. He next served as Executive Ofiicer of USS MONTEREY, and saw action in the Philippines, including the first battle of the Eastern Philippine Sea and the battle for Leyte Gulf. In 1944 he was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic achievement. ' In August 1945 he returned to Washington, D. C. for duty as Head of the Research and Development Section for Aviation Ordnance in the Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Department. He served there until June 1948, when he was ordered to the staff of Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet. In 1950 Captain Miller assisted in forming the staff of Commander Naval Air Japan in Tokyo. He served there as Assistant Chief-of-Staff for Plans and Operations until December when he was ordered to the Strategic Plans Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department. Admiral Miller was a student from July 1952 to June 1953 at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. Upon graduation he served as Commanding Ofiicer of USS PALAU which saw action in Korea in 1953. Later that year, he returned to the Naval War College as Head of the Department of Strategy and Tactics. Command of the USS BOXER in 1955-1956 preceded his assignment to the Staff of the Commander Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet in July 1956. In 1957 he was transferred to duty as Chief-of-Staff and Aide to the Commander Carrier Division SEVEN and in December 1957, was again assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations CGeneral Planningj and Director of the General Planning Group. Admiral Miller wears the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V , Commendation Ribbon with Combat V , American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp, the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. His selection for the rank of Rear Admiral was approved by the President to date August 1, 1958. He became Commander Carrier Division THREE on August 5, 1960. He was born on August 5, 1906 in Washington, D.C. He is married to the former Miss Dorothy Darrow Graham of Chevy Chase, Maryland. They have one son, Frank Blake Miller, Jr. CAPTAIN FRENCH WAMPLER, JR., CHIEF OF STAFF Captain French Wampler, Jr., was born in Fountain City, Tennessee and entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1931. Upon graduation he served for three years in the carrier USS SARATOGA before entering fiight training. He was designated a Naval Aviator in the summer of 1939. Captain Wampler joined Torpedo Squadron' TWO operating off the carrier USS LEXINGTON after graduating from flight training. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroic conduct in aerial flight during an attack in enemy controlled territory, which resulted in sinking three enemy ships. Following an assignment as Flight Officer at the Naval Air Station, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, he reported in December 1943, as Air Officer aboard the escort carrier USS SANGAMON. He was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat V for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the Southwest Pacific Area from October 20 to November 1, 1944. During the early part of 1945 he was Air Officer on the staff of Commander Amphibious Group SEVEN and in August became Commanding Officer of the Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Barin Field, Foley, Alabama. For two years, 1947-49, he served as Operations Officer of the aircraft carrier USS SAIPANQ after that he had duty in the Aviation Personnel Division Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department. Captain Wampler was a student in Strategy and Tactics at the Naval War College from August 1951 until June 1952 and in July became

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TABLE DF CONTENTS DAY AT SEA Welcome Aboard Underway Replenishment Turn To Training Flight Operations Sports MOMENTS TO REMEMBER ORI Laos Christmas HMS Hermes Weapons Demonstration Moments You Probably Donpt Remember PORTS OF CALL Hawaii Guam Philippines Okinawa A Hong Kong Japan PERSONNEL Administration Operations Navigation Medical Sr Dental Gunnery A Engineering Supply Air Air Group 21 Carrier Division 3

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'land I. n ami! eU5 11 nteriil Nm C6105 HQ fd 55 fa ,icer 2 F1055 JS. lf Comb? .ldufff if Nt was All bacilli wr Fvf 'lo 5 OW fter 'Wi 1 DW 'inf' .,' Q2 .f Wal' W es' M Advisor to the Chief of the United States Naval Mission to Peru with headquarters in Lima. In August 1954 he returned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations where he served as head of the Distribution Detail Branch and later as Assistant Director of the Aviation Personnel Division until December 1956. He next commanded the seaplane tender USS GREENWICH BAY. In November 1957 he was designated Commander of the United States Naval Activities, Rota, Spain. Prior to becoming Chief-of-Staff for Commander Carrier Division THREE on September 30, 1960, Captain Wampler was commanding ofiicer of the anti-submarine aircraft carrier USS BENNINGTON. During his naval 'career Captain Wampler has been awarded the following decorations : Legion of Merit with Combat V , Distinguished Flying Cross, Navy Unit Commendation, Presidential Unit Citation, and Navy Cross awarded by the Government of Peru. CAPTAIN STOCKTON B. STRONG COMMANDING OFFICER Captain Stockton B. Strong, USN, entered the U.S. Naval Academy on an appointment at large in 1933. Upon graduation in June 1937, he joined the USS VINCENNES and in June 1939 was detached for flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. He was designated a Naval Aviator on April 18, 1940, after which he went with Scouting Squadron FIVE. During his tour of duty with Scouting Squadron FIVE he was awarded the Navy Cross for his contribution in the sinking or damaging of eight enemy vessels in Tulagi Harbor and for fiercely engaging in the combined attack of enemy bombing and torpedo planes and their heavy fighter support while on an anti-torpedo plane patrol. In August 1942, he transferred to Scouting Squadron TEN and was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of the Second Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism as section leader of a scouting fiight from the USS ENTERPRISE during the engagement of enemy naval and air forces near the Santa Cruz Islands. Captain Strong wears a Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon which was awarded the USS ENTERPRISE while he was on board. He commanded Bombing Squadron TEN from February to June 1943, after which he served with the Aircraft Armament Unit at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland. He remained there until May 1944, when he became Commanding Ofiicer of Bombing Squadron EIGHTY-FIVE. In January 1945, he assumed command of Bombing-Fighting Squadron EIGHTY-FIVE and for meritorious service in that assignment was was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and extraordinary achievement in action against enemy forces in the vicinity of Muroran Harbor, Hokkaido, Japan. He also received Gold Stars in lieu of the Second, Third and Fourth Air Medal which were awarded for five combat missions during the period. Captain Strong has held staff positions with the Chief of Naval Air Basic Training at the Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas and the Chief of Naval Air Technical Training, Naval Air Station, Memphis, Tennessee. Following assignments were Training and Assistant Operations Ofiicer with Composite Squadron FIVE, Operations Ofiicer with Composite Squadron SIX, Staff Operations Officer of Heavy Attack Wing ONE and Navy Member on the Joint Air Defense Board, Colorado Springs, Colorado. He joined the USS CORAL SEA as Executive Officer in September 1953 and in March 1955, was detached for test pilot training at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland. Upon completion of training he served as Director of Armament Test until 1958, when he assumed command of the USS ONSLOW. Prior to assuming command of the USS LEXINGTON on July 8, 1960, he underwent a course of instruction at the National War College, Washington, D.C. In addition to the Navy Cross with two Gold Stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with three Gold Stars, and the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Captain Strong has the American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic5Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. He was born in Washington, D.C. on August 19, 1916 and is married to the former Miss Mani Marquerite Graham. They live at 719 lst Street, Coronado, California with their two children. COMMANDER MARTIN J. STACK EXECUTIVE OFFICER Commander Martin J. Stack, USN, Executive Ofiicer, attended the University of Washington Where he was member .of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. In 1941 he went to Corpus Christi, Texas, where, in 1942, he received his commission and aviator's wings. ' His first duty station was on Guadalcanal with Torpedo Squadron ELEVEN until 1943, when he was transferred to Composite Squadron SIXTY-SIX. Before taking over as Assistant Operations Ofiicer of Carrier Division FIFTEEN, he served with Attack Squadron ONE CED, Composite Squadron TWENTY-ONE and Antisubmarine Squadron T WENTY-ONE. ' While serving in the Ofiice of the Chief of Naval Operations CDR Stack wrote a naval warfare publication on antisubmarine operations, and was technical advisor to Naval Warfare Publication, series. After leaving this ofiice he entered the U. S. Naval Line School at Monterey, California. Upon graduation he went to Hawaii where he was in charge of all tactical developments in the Pacific Fleet. Thereafter he took com- mand of Attack Squadron NINETY-FIVE sta- tioned at Alameda, California. Prior to assuming the duties of Executive Ofiicer of the USS LEXINGTON, CDR Stack underwent a course of training at the Naval War College and had a tour of duty as Com- manding Officer of Attack Squadron FORTY- TWO at the Naval Air Station, Oceana, Virginia. During his naval career he has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross twice. The first was for his part in the attacks on Bouganville and New Guinea. The other was for the sinking of a Japanese destroyer by depositing a 2,000 pound bomb on her deck. In these and other engagements he won the nickname Lucky. However, he probably never deserved it as much as the night he was the last of his squadron taking off for a ,raid when, in the middle of the fiyoff, a Japanese raid flew over. The f1eld's lights went off and the searchlights went on. His squadron con- tinued their flyoff. With only four planes ahead of him, he looked up and saw in the searchlights' beam four bombs coming down toward him. They all landed within 100 feet of his aircraft but all were duds. 1' Lucky also holds six Air Medals, a Presi- dential Unit Citation, a letter of commendatiion plus various theatre and campaign ribbons. CDR Stack is married to the former Miss Shirley Gresham of Seattle, Washington. They have two children, Bill age 13 and Shiella age 8. COMMANDER HOWARD J. BOYDSTUN COMMANDER AIR GROUP 21 Commander Howard J. Boydstun, USN, at- tended Southeastern State College in Durant, Oklahoma before enlisting in the Navy in 1940. He had a cruise aboard the battleship USS NEW YORK as seaman apprentice before being selected for Midshipman School at Northwestern University. I He was commissioned an Ensign but resigned his commission to enter the Naval Aviation Cadet Program. In June 1942 he received his wings as a naval aviator. , Fighter Squadron TEN aboard the carrier USS ENTERPRISE was CDR Boydstun's first duty. During 1943--1944 he flew with Fighter Squadron EIGHT stationed aboard the Pacific carriers USS INTREPID and USS BUNKER HILL respectively. On these two carriers he participated in the campaigns of New Guinea, Saipan, Tinian, Philippine Sea, Truk, Philippine Islands, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Formosa. ' From 1948 to 1950 CDR Boydstun served as Operations and later Executive Ofiicer of Fighter Squadron FIFTY-TWO, which was one of the first carrier jet squadrons to deploy in the Pacific. During his duty with Fighter Squadron FIFTY- TWO aboard the USS VALLEY FORGE in the Far East, he participated infthe initial attacks of Task Force 77, against the Communists in Korea. He attended the Navy's General Line School in Monterey, California and upon completion in 1952 reported to the Office of the Chief 'of Naval Operations for duty in the Military Requirements Branch ofithe Air Warfare Divi- sion. Here he was involved with the ground work of the FSU Crusader. CDR Boydstun had a tour of duty as As- sistant Air Officer aboard the carrier USS WASP and was Commanding Officer of Fighter Squadron ONE FIVE FOUR in 1955-1956. In 1956 he returned to Washington, D. C. for duty in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Prior to assuming command of Carrier Air Group TWENTY-ONE he attended the Indus- trial College of the Armed Forces. CDR Boydstun wears two Distinguished Flying Crosses, 11 Air Medals, a Presidential Unit Citation, Naval Unit Commendation and various campaign ribbons. He was born near Durant, Oklahama on March 7, 1920. He is married to the former Miss Juanita Coker of Durant, Okla. They live in Mt. View, Calif. with their two daughters.