Arkansas (CGN 41) - Naval Cruise Book

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The Past • • CGN-41 is the fifth fighting ship to carry the ARKANSAS name. Construction on the Confederate ironclad river ram ARKANSAS began in 1861 in Memphis, Tcnn. However, when the Union fleet threatened Memphis in May 1862. the ship was moved up the Yazoo River for completion. Two months later, ARKANSAS broke out of the Yazoo River, disabling three vessels. Heading down the Mississippi River, ARKANSAS smashed through Farragut’s fleet and safely reached Vicksburg, Mississippi. The ship survived an attack by two ships while lying under the Vicksburg batteries. Nearly two weeks later ARKANSAS was attacked about five miles above Baton Rouge. It became unmanageable and drifted ashore. The ship was abandoned and set on fire to prevent Union capture. The second ARKANSAS was a screw steamer built and commissioned in 1863 at Philadelphia, Pa. as TONAWANDA. It served in the West Gulf Blockading Squadron as a transport and tug and captured one prize. The ship was ordered north to Portsmouth N.H. and decommissioned in 1865. The third ARKANSAS was a Newport News-built vessel. It was a single-turretcd NEW NAVY monitor and one of the last monitors built for the Navy. Its keel was laid on November 14, 1899, and Hull Number 26 was launched a year later. The ship's first duty was with the U.S. Naval Academy as an instruction and cruise ship for midshipmen. Renamed OZARK on March 2, 1909. the ship was assigned to the District of Columbia Naval Militia from 1910 to 1913. It was then sent to Norfolk for refitting as a submarine tender. The ship patrolled waters off Mexico. Key West, Central America and the Canal Zone. OZARK returned to Hampton Roads in June 1919, and was decommissioned two months later. j •-T i .. j - ‘ '• I'ri-'iz t« . - ft O O ----u 6 BLUE PRINT OF THIRD ARKANSAS LATER RENAMED OZARK

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The Executive Officer Commander Gary L. Weerts, USN Commander Gary L. Weerts enlisted in the Navy in 1958 under the Nuclear Field Program. While serving aboard the submarine USS BLACKFIN (SS-332), he was selected to attend the University of Kansas under the NESEP program. Following graduation in 1964, he received his commission as an Ensign via Officer Candidate School. While at OCS Commander Weerts was selected for the Nuclear Power Program. Following nuclear power training Commander Weerts reported to the USS SALISBURY SOUND (A V-13) as Electrical Officer. Following the decommissioning of the USS SALISBURY SOUND (AV-13), he reported to the USS BAINBRIDGE (DLGN-25) in 1967 for duty as M Division Officer and then as Main Propulsion Assistant. In 1969, Commander Weerts enrolled in the Ordinance Engineering Curriculum at the Naval Post-Graduate School in Monterey, California and received his Master of Science in chemistry in 1971. Commander Weerts subsequently served aboard the USS LONG BEACH (CGN-9), USS SOUTH CAROLINA (CGN-37), and served on Commander Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet staff as Nuclear Program Officer and as Ship Material Coordinator for the nuclear carriers NIMITZ (CVN-68) and EISENHOWER (CVN-69). Commander Weerts was born in Paxton, Illinois and is a 1958 graduate of Farmington Community High School, Farmington, Illinois. He and his wife, the former Penny Payne of Prairie Village, Kansas, reside in Virginia Beach, Viriginia, with their son Alan, and their daughter Jori. Commander William R. Burns, USN CDR William R. Burns, Jr., is a native of Dcs Moines, Iowa. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1967. CDR BURNS was initially assigned as Weapons Officer in USS GALLUP (PG-85), a unit of the Market Time forces in South Vietnam. He subsequently obtained a Master of Public Administration degree from the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University and then completed department head training at the Naval Destroyer School. CDR BURNS returned to sea as Operations Officer in USS MEYERKORD (DE-1058) and then as Commanding Officer of the USS UTE (ATF-76). After a brief tour as a Junior Officer detailer, he was ordered to training in the Nuclear Power Program. Following qualification, CDR BURNS was assigned as Main Propulsion Assistant in USS Long Beach (CGN-9) and subsequently as Nuclear Type Desk Officer on the staff of Commander Naval Surface Force Pacific. CDR Burns relieved as Executive Officer of USS ARKANSAS in October 1981. He wears the Navy Commendation Medal with gold star as well as various unit and service awards. CDR Burns is married to the former Barbara Newman. They have a daughter Bobbi and a son Billy. 5

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USSOZARK The battleship ARKANSAS (BB-33) was launched in 1911 by New York Shipbuilding Co., Camden N.J. The ship took part in the Presidential Naval review in the 1 ludson River in 1912. Later in the same year ARKANSAS carried President William H. Taft to the Panama Canal Zone for an inspection of the unfinished canal. From 1913 until 1917 the ship cruised in Caribbean and Mediterranean waters and assisted in the occupation of Veracruz., Mexico. USS Arkansas GB-33 in World War II Sixth Battle Squadron, British Grand Fleet Operations Trans-Atlantic Escort — World War II Invasion of Normandy Invasion of Southern France Iwo Jima Operation Okinawa Gunto Operation 1918 1941-1944 1944 1944 1945 1945 7