Boston (CAG 1) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDER LEFTERIS LAVRAKAS upheld in competition and practice, lives as part of her name cAN oo BOSTON COMMANDER CHARLES W. SMYERS, IR. -

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....7-w-- If f I V r wwrxiha H AN ml Q .1 iv Q- -.J In FM QEL W Z-.5 3fH,,Q,5a mi1.,.-'3::,j.,m 1' . f 1. , -1.5.1, I , .. nf' Uni. ,,.. .fp 1. V' 'flirknm11'+'9.i?g'j-L-r1g'g..7,, 5. wg:--'f-rg,-i.k .1 fi .- 'gg 5 , M , J., ., - .iw-'-4 1 .r :A 4, , .. ' - ' f -ff, --wa snt-in -f -- M- -W ' Gi r Lefteris Lavrakas, son of Apostle and Fofo Lav- ralgajswrilnlizrsdiaorn in Watertown, Massachusetts on 18 October, 1919. He entered the United .States Naval Academy and grad- uated as an Ensign in 1943. His first ship was the USS EBERLE KDD-430I, followed by the USS ARON WARD CDM-84l. While On Okinawa picket station, the WARD was hit by six kamlkazes. During the Second World War, Commander Lavrakas also served in the North African Landings, the Anzlo Campaign, and IODGVE' tions against raiders and submarine wolf-packs in the Caribbean Sea. , . Following the war, he served as Navigator and Executive Of- ficer aboard the USS MANSFIELD CDD-728l. After serving as the Commanding Officer of the USS WHEATEAR CAM-3901, Com- mander Lavrakas returned to the Naval Academy as an instructor in seamanship and navigation. n i During the Korean conflict he served as commanding officer of the USS HORACE A. BASS KAPD-124l and commanding officer Executlve Born and educated in Pittsburgh Pa Commander Smyers re celved his Navy commission from the Naval Academy in June 1942 His initial duty as a World War ll Ensign was aboard the U SS MINNEAPOLIS QCA 36l serving in the Pacific Fleet While aboard the MINNEAPOLIS he participated In the land ings at Guadalcanal and a night battle during which the ship was torpedoed and seriously damaged While the MINNEAPOLIS lumped into port for repairs Ensign Smyers was assigned duty aboard the U SS NEW JERSEY CBB 62I for the latter stages of the War in the Pacific The NEW JERSEY was involved In many of the operations for the remainder of the war and served as the fleet flagship for both Admiral Halsey and Admiral Spruance Following the war Lieutenant Smyers came East to serve l I from 194951 he was assigned duty as ordnance and gunnery instructor at the Naval ROTC unit of Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute Troy N Y Fresh from his promotion to Lieutenant Commander he re turned to sea duty aboard the USS WASP KCVA 181 and the U S S BENNINGTON CCVA 20l serving for 15 months on each He served as Gunnery Officer for both of these carriers as they were being recommissloned From 1953 55 he returned to in of commando task elements of British and' South Koreans. Fol- lowing the Korean War, he served as executive officer aboard the USS WILKINSON CDL-Sl, followed by duty with CNO. I From 1958-1959 Commander Lavrakas was the Commanding Officer of the USS DAVIS CDD-937I. Commander Lavrakas reported aboard the USS BOSTON as Executive Officer in November of 1959. For services in both World War II and the Korean War he was awarded the following: Bronze Star with Gold Star Medal, Presi- dential Unit Citation with Star, Europe-Italian-North African with two stars, American Service with one star, Asiatic-Pacific with one star, World War Il Victory, China Service, Japan Occupation, Korean Service with three stars, United Nation, Korean Presl- dential Unit Citation, and National Defense Medal. 1 U Commander Lavrakas and Mrs. Lavrakas reside in Hingam, Massachusetts with their four daughters. Offlcers structor duty in ordnance and gunnery this time at the Naval Academy His next tour of duty found him on destroyers for the first time initially as Executive Officer of the USS MCNAIR CDD 6793 for 15 months In 1955 he was promoted to his present rank of Commander During the years 1957 58 Commander Smyers received his first command that of the USS HAR WOOD CDDE 861I Returning to shore duty following his tour on the HARWOOD he was assigned duty as Executive Officer of the Naval Ammu niton Depot at Hingham Mass from 1958 59 From then until 1961 Commander Smyers was made Commanding Officer of the ammunition depot In the fall of 1961 he left Hmgham to relieve Commander Smyers was married to the former Pauline Whites of Pittsburgh on New Years Eve 1946 They now have three chil dren Robert 14 Karen 7 and Richard 6 The Commanders parents are still living in Pittsburgh Since coming to the East Coast after World War Il Com mander Smyers has been deployed eight times to the Mediter ranean Sea on various ships He looks forward to his ninth Sixth Fleet tour this fall aboard BOSTON Q 0 ' , ' ' c d L ' ' ' - n aboard the USS. PROVIDENCE CL-8? Them. - I omman er avrakas as Executive Officer of the BOSTON. . I4 I l

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BUSTUN Following an idyllic spring in the Caribbean, Summer of 1961 began with a trip to Newport to embark Mid. shipmen for their annual cruise. The two months that lay ahead for the lVliddies were designed to show them the ways and means of Navy life. lVlore than 100 potential officers took to sea on the BOSTON. 'For the Midshipmen, the first port of call was Boston itself. For the ship's company, it was an opportunity to visit home port for a weekend-three days spent with families and friends in a city fast becoming proud of her seagoing namesake. That's two directions, how about the other six? 'Y