Canberra (CAG 2) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 7 text:

. , A I .,,. 'rgf,.i.,g1A-xii, -2:1-'a f N' .bi fggggg.,N:.1:-.:4f,Q? . . gp B' 2' if QRS :Wi Q f f -2 E Szilfgglyfl 12: if Mita? A QW KET' ing ships. There were 110 in all, representing 17 nations. A year later, in june 1958, I found myself in the gray, choppy, Atlantic performing a historic and solemn duty. On my decks aft lay three Unknown Americans from the Second World War and the Korean conflict. I steamed as sedately as I could as the ceremony took place to select the two for burial beside the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D. C. The other Unknown was buried at sea with full military honors. Now it is 1959 and there is much yet to be done, and I am looking forward to it. I am a hard worker as my with the hashmark proves. fFeeding and sheltering 1300 men is only a tiny part of my jobj. That little red triangle with the black meatball is one of my proudest pos- sessions. I spend long hours at my work, sometimes many weeks without resting against a pier. It is not however, without rewards. I am happy and satisfied when portions -of my crew bid me a temporary goodbye and step ashore to enjoy a .liberty in the USA or absorb the sights, sounds, and adventures of a foreign port. QThey always insure that enough stay behind to take good care of me during their absencej. Perhaps my greatest reward is 'the satisfaction of know- ing that my crew and I, through cooperation with each other and with other nations are doing our part to pro-i tect and preserve the rights, freedoms, and beliefs of not only 170,000,000 Americans but all free people of the world. . USS CANBERRA QCAG-25 if

Page 6 text:

L . A 'Ht fwi.. . I 1 ts ' -H A x I R .31 V Wray. N Y. V i f I r , K I 71 gril l ing. M . ' 7 I ,W , . Q . 1 3 S S CANBERRA AUT OBIOGRAPI-IY I am a ship. Not just an ordinary ship I might add, but one of the U.S. Navy's finest modern cruisers, the USS CANBERRA. Now as you know, ships like me are re- ferred to as she,,' and like other ladies I love to go places and do things. I love the sea as any of my crew will confirm, but the USS,' in my name does NOT stand for Underway Saturday and sunday as some suspect. Unlike' most of the feminine gender, however, I am willing to divulge my age and am not at all bothered by my weight. I was sweet sixteen on 19 April 1959 and I weigh in at about 16,700 tons Qwhich is about right for a lady of my classy. I will admit that Iive had my share of face lifting and overhaul. In addition, my crew has taken good care of me and I have never been a sufferer of the Rust, Dirt, and Tarnish Disease. All the latest fashions are provided for me by the Navy, and my modern equipment is second to none. But enough about my present . . . a V A I came into the world in April 1943 at Quin-cy, Mas- sachusetts and the Navy promptly adopted me and sent me off to do my part in World War II. I served in the Pacific Theater from January 1944 to October 1944 and wound up a fine record with a Japanese torpedo in my side. After I was fixed up I finished out the war and then in the spring of 1946 I went home for a rest. In 1952 the Navy decided to call me back to active duty. The shipyard at Camden, N. I. fitted me out with all the latest, modern equipment but I was a little gloomy when I heard they intended installing some Coke Ma- chinesv in my lsternparts. What was I to be? A seagoing soda shop? My fears quickly turned to pride when the Coke Ma-chinesi' turned out to be one of the newest and most lethal guided missile installations in the world, the TERRIER. Then in june of 1956, after receiving a complete wardrobe of new paint and a new crew, I once again took my place in the fleet and started a renewed career. . ' Since my conversion I have cruised throughout the Mediterranean Sea, shivered my timbers in the Arctic Ocean, spread my canvas -in the South Atlantic, plied the waters of the Carribean, and, upon occasion, returned to Norfolk, Virginia Cmy hometownj for a short visit or to acquire some new equipment. I have met and carried many people. Midshipmen, civilian technicians, news- papermen, dignitaries 'Cforeign and domestic varietyl, military visitors, and various others have walked my decks. Then in March of 1957, my brightwork beamed as the President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisen- hower, stepped across'my quarterdeck. I had been se- lected to carry him and his party to Bermuda for his his- toric meeting with Prime Minister MacMillan of Great Britain. i ' ' Three months later I was again honored. As Fleet Re- viewing Ship at the International Naval Review held at Norfolk, Va. in Iune 1957, I carried the Secretary of Defense, Charles E. Wilson, between two rows of iight-

Page 8 text:

RADM. J. MON. TAYLOR COMMANDER CRUISER FORCE ATLANTIC Rear Admiral Iohn MCN. TAYLOR, USN was horn in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Was appointed to the U. S. Naval Academy in 1922, graduating With distinction in 1926. After seven years of gunnery and communications duties in various ships and staffs, he returned to the Naval Academy in 1933 for Postgraduate study in ord- nance engineering. World War II and having served in USS MONTPELIER and Staff, COMPHIBPACF LT, Ad- miral TAYLOR Won the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit with -Combat Tours of duty at Washington, D, o., Command of the Uss oEoRoE 'CLYMER and Chief of staff, ooMPH1BoRU oN1:, followed 'World War II. After study at the National War College and command of DESRON SIX, he was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1953. Following his tours as Chief of Staff to COMPHIBLANT and Deputy commander, Armed Forces Staff College, he assumed command of the MSTS NELM area. He returned to Washington, D. C. as ACNO for Naval Reserve and on I April 1959 became COM- CRULANT, with additional duty-as COMCRUDIV SIX. CAPT. R. L. TAYLOR Chief of Staff CAPT. LIN EHAN Acting Chief of Staff