Alamo (LSD 33) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE USS ALAMO Built by Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation at Pascagoula. Mississippi. The USS ALAMO is 5 10 ' long and 84 ' at the beam with a cargo capacity of more than 2.400 tons. Her well deck. 395 ' long and 48 ' wide, can be flooded to a depth of 10 ' by an elaborate push button ballast system. This large area, plus the expansive super deck and mezzanine deck, afford the USS ALAMO the ability to carry 3 LCU ' s, the largest of the amphibious craft, or 20 LCM ' s or 40 LCVP ' s. As many as 200 2 • 2 ton trucks, for combat, can be transported at one time. In addition to the complement of 2! officers and 384 enlisted men, the USS ALAMO is capable of embarking 272 troops plus 29 troop officers and 9 staff officers. The ship ' s twin propulsion plant develops 24,000 horsepower, driving the ship at speeds in excess of 23 knots. For armament, the ship has 3 mounts of Twin 3 50 caliber anti-aircraft guns. For the handling of supplies and equipment, the ship has 2 cranes, capable of lifting 50 tons each. The USS ALAMO competently fulfills the qualifications of an amphibious assault ship by display- ing flexibility of use. swift mobility, and demonstrated qualities of a powerful tactical weapon. The USS ALAMO is ready to meet any challenge of the present or the future, in peace or in war.

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«M THE ALAMO MISSION SAN ANTONIO DE VALERO In 1718 hy Ihe authority of Spain ' s Viceroy of Mexico. Father Antonio de Olivares established the Mission San Antonio de Valero in San Antonio The cornerstone of the chapel known today as the Alamo was laid in I 744 Named in honor of St Anthony de Padua and the Marques de Valero, Spanish viceroy. Ihe mission was founded for the purpose of Christionizing and educating the Indians The four acre mission establishment included stone living and leaching quarters for the converted Indians, and a two story building for the monks The various buildings were situated around a verdant, irrigated plaza and enclosed by the thick quadrangle well. The missions activities eventually ceased and il was abandoned in 1793 and the Mission archives were removed to San Fernando Parish Church in San Antonio Il was before Mexico ' s revolution from Spanish rule that a company of Spanish solders from Alamo del Parras in Mexico, used Ihe mission buildings as barracks Thus was probably derived the name ALAMO . The Alamo defenders held the garrison through 13 days of siege Subsequently, the Alamo was used as a commissary by the United States Government, and as a Confederate quartermaster depot during the Civil War Care of the sacred shrine finally was given by the Stale of Texas to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, who are the present custodians

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CIDIC ll€NNIIIE f,. CaVGIIE Commander Lonnie F. CAGLE. U.S. Navy, was born in Dixon, California on 14 November 1937. He entered the Navy through Officer Candidate School in May 1961 and then reported aboard USS EDSON (DD-946) as First Lieutenant and then as Weapons Officer. In 1964 he was assigned as Executive Officer. USS CONQUEST (MSO-488). He then attended Mine Warfare School and was assigned as Mine Countermeasure Officer for Mine Squadron EIGHT in Charleston. South Caroline, in 1966. Commander CAGLE assumed command of USS CLARION RIVER (LFR-409) in 1968. He then attended the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey. California, where he was awarded a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1973. Upon completion of the Command and Staff Course at the Naval War College in Newport. Rhode Island, he was assigned as Executive Officer. USS POINT DEFIANCE (LSD-31) in 1974. Commander CAGLE reports aboard from duty on OPNAV Staff where he was RDT 6 E Development Coordina- tor for Navy Satellite Communications Programs. During a 23 month span. Commander CAGLE led ALAMO through Enewetok 79 and WESTPAC 80 . after bringing us out of Todd Shipyard in January of 1980. Commander CAGLE has been awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V . Commander CAGLE is married to the former Joyce Lynne Williams of Oakland, California. I I