Canberra (CAG 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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Commander Robert john Brabant was born in Sacramento, California in November, 1925. While attending Peru State Teachers College and the University of Califonia at Los Angeles he was enrolled in the Navy ROTC Program. In june, 1946 he was commissioned Ensign and ordered to f the USS ADAMS QDM-27D, Where he served as a Deck Department Oiiicer. Three months later Ensign Brabant was transserred to the USS T. E. CHANDLER CDD-7175, and in May, 1947 he was ordered to the USS SUTHERLAND QDDR-7430. He served as Communications Officer aboard both vessels. In March, 1948 Ensign Brabant was assigned to the Electronics Material OfHcer's School at Treasure Island, California. Upon completion of an eight month course of instruction he returned to the USS SUTHERLAND QDDR- 743j. In june, 1949 he was promoted to Lieutenant junior Grade. From April, 1950 until July, 1952 Lieutenant Qjgl Brabant was attached to Staff, COMPHIBGRU ONE as assistant Communications Ofiicer and Signal Ofiicer. During the Korean War he participated in several amphibious landing oparations, including Inchon QSeptember, 19505. Shortly before leaving COMPHIBGRU ONE he was promoted to Lieutenant. In july, 1952 Lieutenant Brabant reported to the U.S. Navy Post-Graduate School in Monterey, California. In june, 1953 he was transferred to the Staff, COMSEVRON TWO, and subsequently served as Staff Electronics Ofiicer, Communica- tion Officer until December, 1954 when Lieutenant Brabant became Operations Oflicer for the USS AMMEN QDD-527j. He reported to the Naval Security Headquarters, Washington, D. C. in April, 1956. He was assigned to Facilities Engineering, Research and Development, and during this tour Lieutenant Brabant was promoted to Lieutenant Com- mander. In june, 1958 he was ordered to Staff, COMDESRON THIRTEEN, and twenty-one months later Lieutenant Commander Brabant took command of the USS PIVOT QMSO-463l. After attending the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, from August, 1961 until june, 1962, he was ordered to the Naval Communications Station at San Francisco where he headed various departments. Shortly after his arrival he was promoted to Commander. Prior to becoming Executive Ofiicer of the USS CANBERRA QCAG-25 in November, 1965, Commander Brabant was commanding ofiicer of the USS UHLMANN QDD-6872. In addition to the South Korean Presidential Citation, Commander Brabant is entitled to Wear the American Cam- paign Medal, the China Service Ribbon, the World War II Victory Medal, the japanese Occupation Ribbon, the U.S- Korean Service Ribbon, 3 stars, and the U.S. Korean Service Medal. 7

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COMMANDER RQBERT j. ERAEANT EXECUTIVE OFFICER 6

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The call was urgentg the Navy needed our big eight-inch guns in WESTPAC. So, a half year ahead of schedule and on just ten days' notice, CANBERRA left for her second Far Eastern deployment in less than a year. Even before our mission began, our crew, many of them new aboard since our last cruise, proved a CAN-DO group. In under 250 hours, they regunned one of our eight-inchers, packed up all the neces- sary supplies, shook down the ship from a recent yard period and readied themselves for the sudden call to combat duty far away from home.