Ashtabula (AO 51) - Naval Cruise Book

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xi II OCTOBER I965 CHANGE CUMMAND M4 NILS W. BCE CAPTAIN, USN RELIEVED R, E. GRAHAM CAPTAIN, USN ,i 7,2

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'n.'s.fJ1mv' W , A',', I 3 R: if . sm 'Q mi rw-A aug, A 11 .' 1 affix: f ' ' ' . WAX. 1f'5f'-suv' 'lie J rt if IX? 3-21. -'sl ' .' ' . .'? f1i.,- ' uw ... , W .. 1 v Q , g gM,,5.SQ., CAPTAIN NILS W. BOE V 5 .K.- - .ai . -Z A2 'I f' i f f, nr, Captain Nils W. BOE is a native of Decorah, Iowa. He was commissioned as an Ensign in the Aviation Cadet V-5 program in 1941. He first reported for duty as a pilot in Anti-Submarine Squadron 62. During World War II he participated in fast carrier task force strikes from the USS WASP fCVA- 181 in the South China Sea and the first carrier air strike on japan. Captain BOE is credited with shooting down a japanese aircraft during that strike. In the Korean conflict as Commanding Officer of Fighter Squadron 193 operating from the carrier USS PRINCETON CCVA-375 he participated in strikes on power plants over Korea. He has been awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, NINE Air Medals, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V and two Navy Unit Com- mendations in addition to the usual World War II and Korean AsiaticfPhilippine Service Medals. In june 1961 he was promoted to Captain and served as head of the Aircraft Programs Office for the Chief of Naval Operations. After his tour of duty for the Chief of Naval Operations, Captain BOE assumed command of the fleet oiler USS ASHTABULA CAO-515 until Oct 11. 1965. Captain BOE presently is Commanding Officer of the USS IWO JIMA CLPH-25 homeported in San Diego, California. Captain BOE resides in Coronado, California with his wife Norma and their three children, Helene, Buzz and Missief' ff .ik ff - if 1 X V ,ff f ,. , f 2 ,X ,V f ' 4 X f , M X fx! jf 4 A A ,V V , X L if.-iff ' , 'f 'ff

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CAPTAIN RALPH E. GRAHAM Captain Ralph E. GRAHAM was born in Oldham, South Dakota july 11, 192o. He was enlisted in the Naval Reserve from 1937 till 1941 while attending college. With the coming of World War II, Captain GRAHAM enlisted serving aboard USS RODMAN QDD-4569 and as Assistant Engineering Officer aboard the USS CAPERTON QDD-6505. On February 28, I944, he was commissioned Ensign, United States Naval Reserve. After his commissioning Captain GRAHAM served tours as engineering officer in USS HAILEY CDD-5565, Uss OWEN QDD-5365, and USS HOLLISTER QDD-788j. He then served as operations officer aboard USS GANTNER CAPD-425 until january 1949. He was a Flag Lieutenant on an amphibious staff from then until june 1950. In 1950 Captain Graham began three semes- ters of study at UCLA, followed by the Navy CIC School in San Diego. From August 1951 to December 1952 he served as gunnery officer in USS TUCKER CDD-8755. The next year he served as Executive Officer, and for a short time as acting Commanding Officer, of USS EDMONDS QDE-406D . He then attended gen- eral line school in Monterey, until September 1954. Upon completion of general line school, he was attached briefly to COMINRON NINE STAFF as Liason Officer in Charge of the Military Defense Assistance Program. In Feb- ruary of 1955, Captain GRAHAM took com- mand of USS CONSTANT CMSO-427D Following command of USS CONSTANT he was assigned to the Pittsburgh area office of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission where he served as a Bureau of Ships Technical Assistant to the Manager of the Naval Reactors Branch from August 1956 until December 1959. Cap- tain GRAHAM was given command of Mine Division 73 and USS PLEDGE CMSO-4525 in December of 1959. From COMINDIV 7 3 Captain GRAHAM assumed command of the Naval Explosive Ord- nance Disposal Facility at Indian Head, Mary- land. In December of 1963 he left NAVEOD- FAC to assume command of USS LEONARD F. MASON QDD-8525, which he commanded until August 19, 1965. Captain GRAHAM took command of uss ASHTABULA QAO-51? OH Oct 11, 1965.