Casa Grande (LSD 13) - Naval Cruise Book

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T U E CAPTAIN Commander Robert Paul Winkel, U. S. Navy the Commanding 0«icer USS CASA GRANDE (LSD -13) was born January 8, 1908 in ' W ' oodbury, New Jersey, (ionimander Winkel attended George Wasliinglon University vviicre he received an AA degree. He was commissioned Ensign in the U. S. Naval Reserve on November 11, 1931 and in 1940 he was ordered to active duty as Gunnery Officer, and later as Executive Officer of the USS J. FRED TALBOT. He then served as Executive Officer of the USS ERICSSON until ordered as Commanding Officer of the USS MACLEISH in July 1943. Commander Winkel also commanded the USS MOFFETT and Destroyer Division SIXTY- THREE during World War II. Since the war Commander Winkel has had various shore billets and has also served two tours of duty in the Mediterranean as Operations Officer of the USS FARGO. Commander Winkel has commanded the CASA GRANDE since August 2, 1952. C D K . H.I . WINKEL

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' j:SS£iSijii:- ' - ii ' :riiiia. U. S. S. CASA GRANDE (LSD-13) The USS CASA GRANDE was built by the Newport News Sliipbuiltling and Drydock Company at Newport News, Virginia, and was launched 11 April 1944. She is the first ship of her name in the U. S. NAVY; Casa Grande being a national shrine at Coolidge, in the vicinity of Phoenix, Arizona. The shrine is an uureinforced, four story adobe watch tower and eleven room apartment building, built by the Salado Indians about 1350. It was named Casa Grande by the Jesuit missionary. Father Kino and was designated a national monument in 1918. In length she measures 458 ' , 72 ' , in beam and her displacement is 9005 tons. She carries a complement of 317 men, 150 troops and 18 Officers. After commissioning in June of 1944 the CASA GRANDE was ordered to the Pacific theater of operations where she participated in the landings on Leyte and Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines. It was at Lingaten she was credited with destroying a Japanese plane. Following this action in the Philippines the CASA GRANDE assisted in the invasion of Okinawa. Upon termination of the war the CASA GRANDE performed miscellaneous transporting duties until she was taken out of commission in October 1946, and remained in our motliball fleet until November 1950, when she was once again placed in full commission. Since that time the CASA GRANDE has been attached to the AtJantic Amphibious Force and has engaged in various flee ' and force training exercises.

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THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER Lieutenant Commander John Hugo Thomas, U. S. Navy, the Executive Officer of the USS CASA GRANDE (LSD - 13) was born on August 27, 1913 in Savannah, Georgia. Graduated from St. Petersburg High School, St. Petersburg, Florida in 1931. LCDR Thomas enlisted in the Navy as Boatswain Mate Second Class in 1940 and reported for active duty to Charleston, South Carolina with primary duties in piloting, and training armed guard crews. In 1941 he made Boatswain Mate First Class, and Chief in 1942. He was commissioned Ensign in October 1942 - ' -— and was put in command of the YP-51, along with being Officer in Charge of Ships ' Salvage and Diving School, Pier 88, New York, New York. Upon f completion of this duty he was ordered to the USS f OWL (ATO - 137). He was in command of the OWL ; from August 1944 until November 1945; during which time the OWL participated in the Normandy Invasion, being one of the first ships to go in to the beach. Since that time LCDR Thomas has commanded the USS CATAWBA (ATA-210)andtheUSS PANDEMUS i(ARL - 18); along with one tour of shore duty. LCDR Thomas reported aboard the USS CASA GRANDE in January 1953. LCDR. J. H. THOMAS