Bremerton (CA 130) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 9 text:

if J ln Memorium . . . David Terry Collet Seaman, United States Naval Reserve Sewing on active duty in USS Bremerton Lost at Sea lA March i957

Page 8 text:

For showing...an overall superior battle readiness in gunnery, operations and engineering. So read the official press release concerning the presentation of the E. Bremerton has fulfilled in an excellent manner the purpose for which she was built. So said the Commander of Cruisers Destroyers Pacific. The Battle Efficiency Award doesn't come by chance. Nor is a reputation such as Bremerton enioys easily attained. The long road to the top was paved with the determination, perseverence, and whole- hearted cooperation of every man who has been a part of her. It took the steady application of that extra ounce of pride and perspiration which makes a good iob even better. Men who follow the sea have certain feelings about ships which it is hard for landsmen to under- stand. We have a special feeling about our ship which those who do not know her may sense by the time this book is ended. lt comes not only through the shared hardships involved in the titanic task of keeping a l7,000-ton lady squared away-the burn of a line in clenched palms, the searing heat of a boiler face, or the biting cold wind on a lonely mid-watch. A ship can be a hard and demanding mistress. But there's a certain sense of belonging on the team, of being an important part of her hourly existence- it comes with sharing her surge against typhoon seas, bracing to the thunder of her big guns, watching the -flying fish skitter from her bow wave, reporting All secure to the Officer of the Deck-it comes with the strum of a guitar somewhere on deck around sunset, the companionship over a hot cup of coffee, the proud beat of a band as she sidles up to a pier, and the awe-struck gaze of a bunch of kids who have never seen such a wondrous sight before. lt is the feeling of satisfaction when the skipper says Well done. And when we walk away from her into a strange new land, and feel the envious stares, and turn and look at her sweeping majesty parked there in a glistening harbor, we wouldn't trade the experience of being a part of her for anything in the World. This then is the story of men and a ship-one and inseparable, the men the life-blood of the ship, and the ship the common bond of the men. To all those who have made this splendid team and these unforgettable days possible, we dedicate this book. - 1, fa l ll l l l l W . 6.6,- l

Page 10 text:

Charles C. Kirkpatrick V Captain Charles C. Kirkpatrick, USN, who assumed command of the USS Bremerton on 28 February 1956, served as an enlisted man for one year before receiving his appointment to the United States Naval Academy, graduating with the commission of Ensign in 1931. As Commanding Officer of the submarine USS Triton during World War ll, Captain Kirkpatrick made three successful war patrols in the forward Pacific area during which his ship sank several Japanese vessels. He then became Aide to Admiral E.J. King, USN, Commanderein-Chief, United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations, and in this capacity attended wartime conferences which took place in Washington, Quebec, Cairo and and London. ln command of the minelayer USS Shea off Okinawa in 1945, he saved his ship after it was badly damaged by a radio-controlled bomb. Shea was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation. After two years as commander of Submarine Division 81, based at New London, Connecticut, Captain Kirkpatrick acted as Fleet Plans Officer on the Staff of Commander- in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet. l-le served as Director of Plans to the NATO Supreme Allied Command, and helped form the first international Naval Staff. ln 1953, while in the office of Admiral A. W. Radford, USN, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, he joined the Admiral on an around-the-world military tour. Captain Kirkpatrick's tour as Commanding Officer of Bremerton was cut unex- pectedly short by a not-at-all unexpected honor: he was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral. Relieved by Captain R. l-l. Bass in Long Beach September 1, 1956, he left Bremerton to become Chief of Staff, Taiwan Defense Command.