Bexar (APA 237) - Naval Cruise Book

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DEDICA TION To Ensign Robert D. Stannus, IJSN, who gave un- tiringly of his time and effort as Editor of ROUNDUP 1959, we dedicate this cruisebook.

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w My next cruise to WestPac was in July, 1953, where I served as Flagship for Opera- tion Bigswitch, the movement of prisoners from Kojebo to Inchon. April 1954 found me again undergoing overhaul in the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. After extensive refresher training I again departed for Inchon, Korea, with replacement troops for landing units stationed in Inchon. February 1955 found me engaged in the evacuation of Chinese Nationalists from the Ta ' Chen Islands to Formosa. After returning to the States I took part in many exercises and training cruises preceded by an extensive yard overhaul. Shortly after this I won the Red E for engineering efficiency. On the 21st of August, 1957, I once again set sail for WestPac. While on this cruise I participated in operation Strongback , one of the largest post-war Amphibious exercises to be held in the Philippines. After returning to the States in March, 1958, I participated in various operations and training exercises. During this period I wan not only the Assault Boat Coxswain Award for proficiency in Amphibious warfare, but also the Battle Efficiency Award for overall battle readiness and a hash mark for my red E . In October, I saw Seattle for the first time and served as a home for Army troops on Operation Rocky Shoals . In December 1958 I entered Moore ' s Shipyard in Oakland, California, for overhaul which was completed in February, 1959. After extensive training 1 left the States on the 16th of April, 1959. I stopped first in Pearl Harbor before proceeding on my 6th cruise to WestPac. There I served as the temporary home for various marine battalions during the first three months of this cruise. Although I enjoyed a short stay in Yokosuka, my first WestPac port, it was not long before I was on my way to pick up marines for Operation Saddle-Up. After the heat of Borneo and Subic Bay, Hong Kong was a pleasant r st for all hands. An exchange of marines in Okinawa proceeded my trip to Sasebo for R R. My return to Okinawa was just long enough to pick up more troops for the first operations off Numazu, Japan. During these two operations I enjoyed visits in Shimizu and Yokosuka. My two weeks ' upkeep in Yokosuka seemed to pass very quickly, and soon it was time for a helilex off Numazu again. After that I proceeded to Wakayama, Osaka, Hirshima, and Beppu, before sailing south past Keelung, Formosa, to Subic Bay for a dependents cruise and two weeks upkeep prior to my return to good old USA.

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rp i— ' An Arliegh A. spiring lecder, fcmous tactician, more an capable public spea bli. jker, very 31 Knot Eurke represet ts the ideals for which the Navy stands. It is because of his concienfious active administrator, Admiral f his concienfious efforts to keep the Novy ahead of the fast pace of world events that we can all take pride in the Ncvol Service and the country for which we serve.