Burton Island (AGB 1) - Naval Cruise Book

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If S1 E. H J I FI I A I I I H WE MET THE STQRIS ARE You SURE You NEVER PLAYED CRIBBAGE BEFORE? 5 A5-Wg ' N-,XX FN Y TX Eg,-K3 J we R ' ' J g X .Q if 7 - S:-Z-257333-' ...,,q-i BUT THEcAvmm saw ICOULD KEEP A Psr I Q SHE CAME IN FOR A VISIT NE WERE GLAD WHEN SHE LEE-E ONE GOOD INSPECTION DESERVES ANOTHER! I I I!

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1 1 P R O J E C T 5 7 2 On 8 July at approximately 1600 it was f'ANcHoRs AWE1cH', for tha BURTON ISLAND fTh 1' ' f h' h . e summer cruise, or W IC the sbipaand the men who would man her, were hurriedly prepared during theshort four weeks in port following the Bering SCH Expedition in the spring, was now beginning. Before it would be over long hours of vigilant watching, skillful towing and maneu- vering through heavy and treacherous ice would prove the durability of the ship and the capabilities of its crew. - After two beautiful days at Seattle, and three days at Kodiak, Alaska, en route 'to the Arctic region where the summer ex- pedition was to center, the BURTON ISLAND never again was rmitted t t k ,pe o a e a breather from her appointed task, that Of escorting ships through ice and water that presented a never-ending source of danger to men and ships. It was approximately 1000 hours on 29 September, that the men of the BURTON ISLAND, those fortunate to 'be in the liberty sections, could g0 ashore for a needed rest from their labors. The 1955 BEAUFORT SEA EXPEDITION given the name PROJECT 572 Q , was to be a newadventure for the intrepid Sl11P and her company of men. It would be a part of a vast operation that would include 117 ships of various sizes and descriptions:- This operation would have as its objective the transportation of over 500,000 tones of vital cargo which would be used ill the construction of the DEW LINE, a series of radar stations- that would stretch from the west coast of Alaska to to the Eastern Coast of Northern Canada. This DEW LINE would provide' a distant early warning in event of attack from that portion of the world by ang enegncy fof the, UNITED STATES or Canada. The above map illustrates the area where this radar '6fence would be H ron 1er o e ense. The DEW LINE, costing billions of dollars, was actuall b g ' ' 1954 h h ' ' ' l S, but, the bulk of the cargo had to come by ships. Like the Silvllzillulh h W en t e AH Force began flying m great Supp le 1 a Cy ad to get through. The portion of the operation that centered in the BEAUFORT SEA area was known as the MONA LISA OPERATION. The Military Sea Transportation Service was in charge of the operation involving Naval vessels and it was Ot until the BURTON ISLAND was released on 18 September at Pt. Barrow, Alaska, after all the other shi s werd f l h nh th ' that she waS operationally under the Commander, Service Forces, U. S. Pacific Fleet. . P Sa e y t mug e Ice, Many lessons were learned by all concerned with this r t . . g ea Operation, and Yet we all feel that l d vital role in H vital operation. The BURTON ISLAND'suHered damage o l ' we p aye 8 t proving her durability and dependability. Her crew proverd iigeskillxllhasggni as she Performed her tasks, but She Came Ou k9 Th a . , , ld anyone as . eir WELL DONE was deserved and appreciated. gmeermg and Seamanshlp' And what else Cou

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? J MET THE REQULS WE ITE TOOK HER IN TOW DAMAGE CONTROL HELD AN UNSCHEDU LED EXERC S