Casa Grande (LSD 13) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 52 of the 1955 volume:

QF' ART T1 Tiff ,AV AR CTI'C TO TROPTC rABOARD'FHE USSCASA.GRANDER A 1955 RECEIVED JUL 2 5 T958 NAVY DEPARTMENT LIBRARY A EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Q DONAILD N. EKVALL xg,-,J uv XA ASSOCIATE EDITOR Q ROLAND E. McCANDLlSH 8 9 A ASSOCIATE EDITOR 0 ROBERT L. GLADFELTER , f 4 PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Q BENJAMIN BACKUS - A 'fa R: CONTRIBUTING STAFF MEMBERS 55 30 A I Z ROBERT E. WILDRIDGTE .E PETER A DENTIOI XY ! JEROME B MANSKE LlNwOOD N CANADY DONALD J WORTH , 'Q 77 i THE CAPTAIN ZCOMMANDER wn.uAM o. SPEARS, JR. fCHATTANOOC-JA, TENNESSEE Commander William O. Spears, Jr., followed fhe example of his fafher now a refired rear adm' l . :ra , in choosing a naval career. Born in Chaffanooga, Tennessee, abouf half his boyhood days were spenf in S h . . . . . . ouf America where his fafher served on fhree naval missions fo Peru and Brazil during fhe l92O's. Refurning from Peru in I93O, young Spears complefed high school af his birfhplace and was, by fhen, decided in his ambifion fo become a naval officer. l-le passed The examinafion and enfered +he U. S. Naval Academy in fhe summer of l934. Commissioned an ensign upon graduafion in June l938, he leff fhe cl s- , as room for his firsf four of dufy aboard 'rhe baffleship Colorado. Two years lafer, upon accepfance of his l' f f app :ca ion or Asiafic dufy, Ensign Spears was ordered fo 'rhe USS Pope lDD 225l. Affer an apprenfice- ship as firsf lieufenanf and commissary officer, he became forpedo and communicafions officer and was promofed fo LT JG in l94l. Operafing asa unif offhe Asiafic fleei' fhe Pope was anchored in lvlanil- Bay when fhe Ja an f- . a p ese a faclced Pearl Harbor. ln fhe early monfhs of fhe war. shorf of men. ships and planes, fhe navy ufilized ifs I 1 n T I 1 1 p u n - y a weapon e splrlf fo win. Before winning, however, if losf mosf of fhe Aslaflc fleef, includ- ing fhe Pope. which was sunlc by bombing and surface fire on I March I942 while escorfing fhe damaged HMS Exefer foward Ceylon. Several days passed before fhe Pope's crew, driffing abouf fhe embaffled wafers, was spoffed and falcen capfive by a Japanese desfroyer. Firs+ confined on Celeloes Island, a few of fhe crew were senf fo Japan where fhey were inferned in a cam which fh o d d l p e c mman er ryy labels. Nof as bad as some. Three and a half years laferfhe war ended and Commander Spears was released orfly affer his refurn he mef his fufure wife, Marie O l-lara, of Norwich, N. Y.. and was married five monfhs lafer. By July of I946 he was back on acfive dufy, insfrucfing midshipmen af Annapolis in seaman- ship and navigafion. Then, in Sepfember. I949, he served for an eighfeen-monfh period as execufive offi- cer of fhe USS Fremonf IAPA 441 and for one year affer fhaf in command of fhe USS lsherwood IDD 5201. Commander Spears' warfime experience resulfing from fhe navy's fragic unpreparedness af fhe oufsef of World War ll had primed him for his nexf assignmenf: Readiness and fraining secfion of sfaff. Cinclanffleef, where he spenl' fwo years prior fo affending fhe Armed Forces Sfaff Colle d I I ge an assum- Ing his presenf dufies. Slf1Ce l'1lS faking Command of fhe USS Casa Grande lLSD-l3l on 2 Augusf l954, fhe ship has Success- fully mef all commifmenfs-from 'frying operafions in fhe Arcfic fo exacfing assaulf landing in Hue Carri- biin,.The vyorlc ainoard ship during fhese operafions has been balanced wifh a liberal amoun+ of liberfy w ie in por 1. . , ringing a high degree of morale fo fhe crew. The cap+ain's calm manner and consid- eraflon for his men have prompfed many fo decide in favor of a naval career. H ,. 1 p s. sec p p .fn Cuff? Port C3h'f?s'.s p New YsfQfn'fNew Yl,Yl'ki'ff,:'1 Q ' e at -'A. Fgsiy M AN opnv LETTER TO nm orrrcnzsp ring s? 9 JH During the periodcovereq adn 'Qhas Steamed wo l h 'interesting experiences. Most of us with its North Atlantic gales, the cogieentration of 'ice we gingerly threaded our I-Jay towards lfhule, or ys and t ng cold nights in Sondrestrometsfjord. Less perhaps, but more emcting were our Amphibious Exercises in the Caribbean and South Atlantic These were highlighted by such events as the' night landing at Vieques and our operations with the Ahqy off Pendleton. A We have loaded almost every conceivable type of vehicle in our well M t from an Air Force snow plow to an Almy Bare. In landing exercises and on training cruises We have carried Marines, Army, Naval Reserves, Midshipmen and Boy Scouts. These passengers have all been impressed by your consideration for them and have helped spread the Casa Grande' s reputation as a friendly hard working ship. Between operations we have managed to get OUP fail' Share ai, g liberty and recreation 5 and thanks to our new found home at the Naval Ahlphibious Base, we have even managed to get a pier most of the time. 47.1 in all, I would say that the Casa Grande had a very sl10ceSSfUl .Yea and I think that the overall mark of Excellent On Our' recent Operational Readiness Inspection is a well deserved tribute, to your fine team spirit, professional competence, and plain hard work. No Captain could have asked for a' finer sh,-Lp's company! Good luck, and best wishes for an even happier 5 Cruise next year. i Z . . SEAQWJ ,,- ,-,-1-,v- r ' - , l EXECUTIVE 'OFFICER LT. eEo'rieE T. WALKER . CLINTON, MONTANA Lieufenanf George T. Walker came 'foighis commission fhrough The hawsepipen-serving over eiqhf years as a boafswainsmafe before being 'selecfed as an officer. Born near Spokane, Washingfon, his fa- fher's railroading life kepf fhe family moving fhroughouf fhe Norfheasf . . . finally seffling fhe Walkers in Missoula, Monfana. The lieufenanf complefed high school in Missoula and enlisfed in fhe Navy in l935. Affer recruif fraining, Seaman Second Class Walker wen+aboard fhe USS Ranger lCV 4l. Reminiscing on fhe rigid prewar Navy, he recalls he became coxswain affer faking fhe examinafion several fimesf' Aboard fhe carrier four years, he lafer was among fhe crew fha+ commissioned fhe USS Albemarle lAV 53 in I94O. ln February, I943, Boafswainsmafe Firsf Class Walker was fransferred fo fhe Pacific and infro- duced fo amphibious warfareaboard fhe LST 353, seeing acfion in The Solomons. The war years, demanding officers wifh a pracfical knowledge of seamanship, changed Chief Boaf- swainsmafe Vifalker fo ensign in ,Se-pfember, I943. From April, I944, unfil fhe summer of l945, he was com- municafions officer of LST 554, fhen, shiffing fo fhe Aflanfic, he became execufive officer of LST 983. Lieufenanf lJGl Walker 'rock command of LST 391 in January, I946, and lafer commanded LST.5do. Affer 'ren years of sea'du+,,, he insfrucfed in Naval science af 'rhe U. S. Merchanf Marine' Academy, King's Poinf, New York, from I947 'ro I95l. Aboa'd fhe famed Baffleship Missouri, he served for fwo years as combaf informafioriicenfer officer before affending fhe Universify of Minnesofa in l953. Lieufenanf Walker became execufive officer of +he USS Casa Grande lLSD- I 3l on 30 Neyember l954. The living condifions abpard,.sh,ip have been improved by fhe execufive officer's close donfacf wifh fhe crew-a reason for his popularify wifhfhem. 3 H E A D S 0 F Eliirfgi LT MARION C. COLLINS Norfolk, Virginia ENGINEERING OFFICER LTJG ROBERT E. WILDRIDGE Syracuse, New York OPERATIONS OFFICER ,ge IM ,ly ,S I . ii ' LTJG DANIEL O. MCCOOK. JR Macon, Georgia NAVIGATOR LT JACK W. HILLMAN Upper Marlboro, Maryland SUPPLY OFFICER LTJG EDWARD D. MCDONALD Leroy, New York FIRST LIEUTENANT Br GUNNERY OFFICER , ..-...-- - V-...4..1v.,.,--. . , , . ,. revs-7.v..f D ' ' - ., ..::.1 ..-- I-2' 2' -f -2-',:.'5'.s:s:23- ae:- - e,. ..e z111....::: A' ---'PA av i, A-, , V K, L...,.,,,, ,A fe--V-A 'MM .M,....,..,...,.,, -- -- ..,,.,...,, 1.iu3 -R wN,,a,,,,aLub r 25 SRL' WHL?-fgfifi LTJG ROBERT I'I. KROKUS Long Island, New York A'SST GUNNERY OFFICER LTJG ROBERT L. LYON. JR. Ponfofoq Mississippi DISBURSING OFFICER My SHIP'S ENS DONALD N. EKVALL Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT fiat Q.: LTJG P. FOWLER Gregg Neck, Ipwsich, Massachusetts MMUNICATIONS OFFICER -r:.a.e-- ENS HAROLD T. DUBOIS Merhfown, R.D. No. I4 Pennsylvania ASSISTANT NAVIGATOR --- ENS CHARLES A. HERUBIN Superior, Wisconsin SIGNAL OFFICER OFFICERS CHCARP WAYNE J. MCCLAIN Springfield, Massachusefts DAMAGE CONTROL ASSISTANT Nu-If ,-4.1 4 S1 :EE-3-mr: ,'4 .f. .V Cr-IBOSN JOSEPH L. VAINE Jacksonville, Florida SHlP'S BOATSWAIN CHELEC MARVIN W. HEATON Norfolk, Virginia ELECTRICAL OFFICER CHMACH McARTHUR SINGLETARY Pinopolis, Soufh Carolina MAIN PROPULSION ASSISTANT g if Y,-fra.. 3 rf:-'egg JAMES R. DEMO HMC ,, Norfolk, Virginae DOMINIC fn, GIGLIUTO SKCA Lodi, New Jersey JAMES fn, FINNEY ICC Bayonne, New Jersey NELSON V. GREEN MMC Palmeffo, Florfda sAMuEL Inj GUEST .MORRIS R. HARRELL Pensacola, Florida FPC Charlesion, Soufh Carolina JOHN R. TOFT CSC Princeville, lllinois ALVlN lnl ZAKOWSKI MMC Porlsmoufh, Virginia HUBERT L. McGINNlS DCC Orrick, Missouri HAROLD L. SMITH 3 SKC Ngriolk, Virginia RICHARD H. WALLACE Q ENC F 'Q Norfolk, Virginia I vga N I 5 'Ill 0 Y I 1 0 C!! lf' 1 1 1' .wt .-. z v ' l 111' A xi, 'f :ia warn-.w-.7.qv ,vw-an ....,,,,,,,., A -H ,,,-,x,,,,.,, ,,,- -Y --v-v-1-- N if 'W- x 'X . 'J fl CHARLES CALDES A, ? if -q lslen?r:ljlNew Yorf: . '- NE 11: 1, ,ta . , 11- X 4 v Run, M. W:?xf5lvR ARCHER R. BROWN cams w awe Beau: 95,12 BM3 ' BM3 noni, Texas Levanon, New Hampshlre Hancock lava 4--at ,.,,k :H 4' J -' C333-f MATTHEVNSMA. GYOLAI CHARLES HANNER WILLIAIBAMSI. ROTH ALFRED J. THOMAS RICHARD J ALMEDA 3 B 3 BM3 New England, Ncrfh Dakola Guillorc' College, N.C. Wilkes-Barres, Pennsylvania New Caslle, Pennsylvania Taunlon Massachusefls 5. fwf'N ALBERT ENBABCOCK Newlon, New Jersey ROBERTSE. BAILEY Omaha, Nebraska -an-- July in l'l1e Arclic ' l ' l ' v , i L ! hz' irllnli ,- ' i V 1 r ,gf L ANTHONY J. BARTLINSKI Ranshaw, Pennsylvania The loading slralegy was carefully planned FRANKS L. BU MP Housfo:LTexas 1 SE. BUTLER GEORGE CASTRITSIS JOHN TgNCONNER SANTO J.SCONVERSO WILLIAM FOTHERBY SN ' A Sch'-'Yle . Virginia Chicago, Illinois Riverside, New Jersey W Lockporl, New York Royal Oak, Michigan ,5av33 F. DANIEL P.SlliORRESTER RICHARD T. GRADY ALFRED HARO DONALIQNE. ICKES ROBERT REIANNUCCI N G ee Vllle- 50'-IH1 Carolina P111-Sfieldl Slltgssachuselfs MeIvindai'TiMIchiqan Flinf, Michigan Washington, D.C. 'T-T7 WILBUR T. JAY GEORGE' DEAN Pl KARY A N: DAVlD,l'l. MAC RAE JOHN F. M1 -CA SN ' 'K SN SN Y SN, L. Bradford Pennsylvania BrooklYnM i fM0b l l9e1 SOUTH Dikflli Y- Rowley, Massachulelfs Berwyn, lliIrw'S x,-R? 4 X4 XA: - iff DONALDNC. MERZ ROBERT MORRIS JAMES J.S'l:I1lUSLlTCH CARL NNUGENT DOUGLASNH. OLSEN S S S Masfic Beach, New York Wellsburg, Wesl Virginia Befhlehem, Pennsylvania Brooklyn, New York Sayreville, New Jersey RICHARD e.,+lARKs Lnvnngslon Manor, New York JOHN W. PAR Asheville, Norlh Carolina Manned +o receive LCU's .' ' ' ' , 1eIF2.t:i.iC:E,-13: .igggaar - - - ff - -.flifal L-1,--, , , , A ..., ......, V--....,.+--r.N - Y fr!-i 1 , 'lr T' ' Jo P -11 's,g1,-4212, ' 'M .1 151A-1E':'2-w f11f:f :aY1 Q .., -,,, V . T r so , 1 ,, .413 .. . W ,Arm-3' , ' A- ,,,.:.'-WT p . ' ' ,- ' , ' Qf I K A , V, , , ' fWT4,? ,, ,, , ,, , Mi. ,. A ,QAM f PHILIP F.Shi:EARSALL HERMAN SPERLMUTTER ROBERT PRATT JIMMIESR. REESE JAMES P. REED S A SN Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn, New York Rayland, Ohio Meridian, Mississippi Trenton, New Jersey , , Y 3.516 THE,-gl, I A-fg.A,,ggQ'f,1?i ff.-riigpgqf 1 .-.--.'.-.-f --4 1-:'1::!:1' .3 lr'.iA:A'L-r'.t--,---cr.-'y:l:.fx'.,?-' 51352 FJf41'Ei'i'1Tr'2f- Zlfifi, ru ' ' l l ORDNQANCE DIVISION , STANFORD E. WOLFE SHERMANMEN. HECK RICHARD R. NELSON NEAL B.Srll'lAMMlL GMI G FT2 Norfolk, Virginia Dumonf, New Jersey Ord, Nebraska Erie, Pennsylvania Make preparalions For gelling underway FLOYD Rome-ERS A 4 GMSN Columbus, Georgia , x., I .f - Y , ,. 1 ' L - NELSON F. TINNEL GM3 Shipman, Virginia I WM, -.v..J..lQI.l 1.1.LL2.,4..-v-.-....L,.....-.-.-N-,.......,vfv.---- V - ---.....LT.....A.q-.-...-...-.-.q..v-.w,.,,-.,,-,v-f--,,...-. . -.- - -- - -A --Y11!'::s:l.,- ., A- x ---V---of-T ---r, OPERATIONS DIVISION in T ii- 1 f i The CIC ieam ready for acfion wiih Jacinio and Smiih on DRT WALTER J. NEIDIG JAMES M. SKIDMORE WILLIAMMJ. BYRNE BENJA M2 M Q 3 Germaniown Pennsylvania S1'evensoli1 ZAaryIand Van DYIYQ MICIW-Jaf' .f .2 NFA x...- LESTER A. DEMAREE CAMERONM M. MILLS THOMAS FMANDREWS RlCHARDRri:4Ai KOLEDA R 2 Cincinnaii Ohio BalIardvaleQ-Miassachuseiis Cohoes New York Van Dyke Michigan MINDB. BACKUS onx New York adage-sein I W . N I 'X R 1 R fr 1 , L 5 RUDOLPH R. CARROL R. L. GLADFELTER FRANDE JACINTO PERRE V. MANLEY , mba YN3 I I RD3 A A -msn I Sears Porf, Maine New Freedom, PEHDEYIYBHIB Loram, Ohio Defronf. M'Ch'Q6'f1 N I JEROME B. MANSKE GENARO J. PENNACHI CHARLES A. SCHOENING EDWARD M. SHAW YN3, , , . OM3 Dayion, Ohio RM3 L Fox Lake, Wlsconsm Wnlmmgfon, Delaware H The clan as +'heir noses 'lurned Blue PERLEY A. SWASEY RM3 Porfland, Maine 1 1 if , J. W, '- - T R R ee.. .... ---- an ' ' ' 'W---'ef--v- -1': ., - ...--, ....,, e -.,... - v ,. 1 ' LlNwooD N. CANADY ,I -mg SN Polloxyille, Norih Carolina 'N Radio men KoIecIa and Kline copy 'rI1e sIcecIs I in 1 RICHARD J. DUPRAS WILLIAM C. FRAMKE STANLEY P. HUNTER MARVIN F. KLINE ETSN TESN RDSN RMSN Nixon, New Jersey Chicago, Illinois Tenafly, New Jersey Aberdeen, Soufh Dakota CHARLES RADI CHARLEZSIE SMITH JOSEPH STEVENS DONALDs.:i WORTH New Yoq-ENNQW York Sayreville, New Jersey Chaffanooga, Tennessee Buffalo. New York ....,..-.,.,....-...-.,,-..,-,-.-f..q13f-- - -N-,Hsu ,, - . ,X UN H- .:::.-. - - - - - -,Hun ' Y M A The boys in 1-he supply office wen'l'+i1eir weary way SUPPLY DEPARTMEN EDWAREDIBRYANT ARTHUR H. ESSMAN SHELLEY P. PACE JOE L. WSEELER, JR. CSI SDI I Lane Cify, Texas Jackson, Ohio Porismouih, Virginia Willson, Norfh Carolina RA'-PHHEJZBAKER BINFORD SIE' COLLINS CHARLES B. DARLING WALLACE R. JENKINS Seams' washingion NOff0'k. Vifginia Norfollsssirginia Y Sfafen IslaE1'J?Naw YA.-I, Jenkins SH2 has lhe ship s slore operaling EARL E. ECKERT JOHN D. ALLEN HM2 SD3 lhlehem. Pennsylvania Annapolis, Maryland CARLETTE MOORE Porlsmoulh Virginia 444, ,.-- sv-I mi a cIarIy basis MERVIN E. SPENCE CS3 Knoxville, Tennessee LEVVY GNATT I ARTHUR J. JEFFERSON DANIEL E. JEMBRYCKI CS3 Chicago, Illinois STANLEY B. LEE SELDON G. LOWDER , MICHAEL C. MEANEY PAUL A. PARLIER A. W. THOMAS SH3 CS3 DK3 C53 SH3 Norwalk, Connecllcut Norfolk, Virginia Brooklyn, New York Easf Polnf, Alabama Baltimore, Marvlarld -1 ------- -lv-- '24': Q ff 'gg' .Vg f 4? 1 Y Z WW McCandllsh fhe engmeerrlng yeoman has a full hme 'ob wl'rh engmeermg records and aclmlmsfrahve paper work GINEERING DEPARTME Nr ' i' I l ' - r 14 4 1 . I f V - N T l 1 ' f ' ' ' ' ,ML ', ...J...4-.2-...:...1..,--.: --.:.' -M -E- .:.- . i q. f.. - ,ivy -ffafrg-..-tk,.-.-. xr- - E,--,-...-:.f, E,-.N,.. ,EL-ff,f:Efg-ml, .,.. Y, L . -E JOSEPH L DUNCAN JOHN D GREENE MERLE EAMQREENLY AllenfownMi:Z1nsylvanLa Westerly Rhode lsland Sandslone Minnesota GERAID F HAYES PETER B JANSEN EN2 Randolph Massachusefls BEIIYHOPE New Y0fk VIRGIL L. LARSON EDWARD M. LOPEZ JAMES M. MILLER D02 FP2 FP2 New Hyde Park, New York Alledonl 'mm-,qs ROBERT L. ESJZUBBLEFIELD Salem, Kenlucky OLEN IEFZTRACH Wind Gap, Pennsylvania ROBERT C. PIACINE REYNOLD B. BT2 FP3 Poflsville, Pennsylvania Defroif, Michigan Main conlrol underway Q : ZTTf22'3'S', 1, A , ,L C332 WILLIAM A. ZIPP ME2 Lakewood, Ohio Two mas'rer mechanics af work LLEWELLYN E. ADAMS EN3 Nescopeck, Pennsylvania ERNEST F. BASON FRANKLIN D. BEIRIS BILLY M. BREEDLOVE DOUGLAS A. BURNS DAVID S. CARR EN3 DC3 EN3 MML3 MM3 Whife Plains, New York Auburn, Washingfon Lubbock, Texas Binghamton, New York Breckville, Ohio E21 BENJAMIN E CLAYTON ROBERT E CORNELL SONNY A DAVENPORT JACKIE ZMLDAWKINS wlLLlAmEg DRIER MM3 MM3 Richmond VIFQIIIIB EgpuancrgMI3ew York Burnwell WesfV1rgTnTa Mahomef llllnols Warren Mlchlgan JS' - N f -a-z:z::- -A ' rf ff-1. ALANO ini REVO MM! San Francisco, California Diligeni engineers loo busy +o pose for pholographer LON R. SAYLOR an Brohead, Kenfucky E l RONALD 'BCEWIDERSKI ADOLPHUgNgni TURNER CARL iniFsERNSTEiN GEORGE W. BLACK WILLIAM G. BLEVINS Deffoif. Midliqirl Elizabelh, Norlh Carolina Long Island, New York Waynesburgibiennsylvania Mafioffzirginia LESTER CLEMONS FLOYD H. DE SANO JOSEPH L. GALLIER, JR. JOHN E. HANSEN ROBERT HINDMAN, JR. FN I FN ENDFN FA FA Y0unqSfOWI'I. OHIO Van Dyke, Michigan Beaumont, Texars New Haven, Connecticut Belleville, New Jersey x.,.- . n- -ll- 'GN 1 Mr BRUCE W HAYES CALVINMI-MHINER WALTER F HYMAN JOHN P KIMMET ROBERT J KINSELLA MM3 EM Flinl, Michigan Mounfaln Grove, Vlralma East Delroxf ,Mlghxgarn frgmonl' Ohio , -.-. ,Haskell New Jersey 'QI 'xx NORRIS S. LOPER PHILIP l.. MASTERS ROLAND E.YrI:I3cCANDLISH CHARLESEQ MQCLAIN HEZIA AMMCDANIEL BT3 FP3 R3 Springfield, Ohio Cleveland, Ohio No. Hollywood, California Danville, Illinois Morehead, Kenfucky Ins'lruc'lion by lhe experl Slraniero IRI shows Oehrle ILI ALBERT J,M?AEHRLE. JR- some of 'lhe finer poinls Fern Creek, Kenfucky Q-i ROBERT E. PELLETIER BT3 Cranston, Rhode Island QTY! E- ,,H,'4:,.5 of 4'1?iF' IOHN R. HOGAN CHARLcS JIMENEZ GERALD R. LCJINSWORTHY WlLLlAhiNB. LUNN JAMES MICKLE Sfanfordwglllhlmneclicul New YohlENNaw,York Middletown, Ohio Nashville, Tennessee Andover, New York GERALD MURPHY VICTOR T'5NODlORNE THOMASFIL.. OHLER ROBERT A. FRYOR LOWEL:-ENL. ROY EMFN l-lVi0f1i6'ClfY. MiCl'Il9-in Welmore, Texas Tarr, Pennsylvania Louisville, Kenfucky Flushing, Michigan Fuel clelail, hooking up X DONALD A. SALTER Covmglon, Kenfucky DALE A. SANDERS Daylon, Ohio 345' Liv 5 'A Efizfz-.J.a, ,-5,-r -,T - 1: - - T- - - - - si-M a A good sfarf on a good iob LY'-E E- ESHAEFER Kanawha, Iowa EDGAR R. SCHMIEDLIN Yorkfown, Texas HISTORY OF THE U. S. S. CASA GRANDE QLSD-132 The USS CASA GRANDE was builT by The NewporT News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in No- vember l943, launched on I l April XI944 and commissioned in June of The same year. The ship is named for a naTional shrine aT Coolidge, Arizona. The shrine, The only building of iTs Type which sTilI sTands, is an unreinforced four-sTory adobe waTch Tower and eleven-room aparTmenT building, 'builT by The Salado ln- dians abouT l350. The designed purpose oT This vessel is To carry landing boaTs, amphibious vehicles and Trucks To an ob- iecTive area. The ship TransporTs, quarTers. and subsisTs The Troops and personnel needed To man and operaTe The vehicles and boaTs when They are discharged Trom The flooded well deck. ATTer The iniTial assaulT, The LSD is used as a dry dock To effecT repairs To landing craTT and small vessels or as a boaT haven in The evenT of heavy weafher. The CASA GRANDE was senT To The Pacific Area and parTicipaTed in Three major invasions of The Pacific Campaign. lT firsf parTicipaTed in The invasion of LeyTe, Philippine Islands, on 20 OcTober I944. The ship disembarked all Troops and eguipmenT on schedule wiThouT a single casualTy. This ship also par- TicipaTed in The invasions of Lingayen and Okinawa and was repeafedly aTTacked by aircrafT. In spiTe of This The CASA GRANDE susTained only Tour casualTies. AfTer many posT-war hops abouT'The Pacific, The CASA GRANDE refurned To Norfolk and was de- commissioned in early I947 and Transferred To The reserve TleeT. IT remained There unTil i950 when The ship reTurned To acTive dufy. ln The pasf year The CASA GRANDE has operaTed in all climaTes, Trom The arcfic Greenland To The l95lmY Caribbean. In boTh The spring and Tall The ship was employed in ArcTic operaTions, in supporf Of The U.. S. NorTheasT Air Command. Since The TirsT of The year The CASA GRANDE has operaTed wifh The Marines on .TRAEX 2-55 and TRAEX 3-55 on The beaches oT Vieques. PuerTo Rico. in April The ship Uggliilll In The ioinf Army Navy operahon l-lughTide landings on The beaches of Camp PendleTon. ua : Since AugusT 2 l954 when Commander William O Spears relieved CapTain RoberT P. Winkle as Commanding OTTicer of The USS CASA GRANDE TLSD I3 many miles have been Traveled and many porTs have been vusiTed from The glacial wasTes of The Arcfuc To The warm richness of The Caribbean. I ' , -'i .1-H . , is 'if . . , Original Casa Grande-Coolidge, Arizona And in our memories oT These days will long be remembered The names oT such porTs as Thule. ST. Johns. Narsarsuak, SondresTrom, Viegues, and PorT Au Prince, To menTion only a Tew. IT was Monday morning The 2OTh oT SepTember, l954, ThaT we seT sail Trom civilizaTion To The TurbulenT and sTormy nor'Thland. AnTicipaTion oT sighTing The TirsT iceberg was high buT Tapered oTT quickly as The monsTers oT The norTh became more commonplace. By The 29Th oT SepTember The ship had crossed The ArcTic Circle inTo The land oT The Polar Bear and each oT The crew was iniTiaTed, by The cold and sTorm, a Bluenose. ATTer several more crisp days oT Arc- Tic sailing we arrived in Thule. our TirsT porT on The rooT oT The world. Through unToreseen circumsTances our cruise To The NorTh was exTended and exTenCled. The Tabulous CASA GRANDE TooTball pool was one linlc,To our old civilizaTion, buT ThaT diversion alone could noT ade- quaTely Till The many long nighTs. Soon The whole ship echoed The slogan, LeT's go baclc To NorToll4. The CASA GRANDE Tinally made porT aT NorTollc Army Pier 2 iusT beTore Thanksgiving, giving ThaT holi- Olay special meaning To each member oT The crew. ATTer a holiday season in porT The CASA GRANDE weighed anchor and headed souTh Tor operaTions in The island oT Vieques, PuerTo Rico. These exercises consisTed oT TransporTing Marine uniTs To The Carrib- bean Area, Through assaulT landings on The island oT Vieoues, PuerTo Rico, and various Training exercises. AnTi-Submarine. AnTi-AircraTT and ATomic DeTense prOCSdUFGS- ThroughouT The Tinal landing phase oT The exercise everyThing possible was done To reproduce realisTic BaTTle CondiTions. All ships had To TulTill Their missions in compleTe darlcness To lessen The chance OT ex- posing The ships +0 agqressor guns and aircraTT. An added TuncTion OT These assaulT landings-was The use OT T'lelicopTers To land assaulT Troops. The CASA GRANDE carried The TirsT assaulT wave oT Marines To The obiecTive area Tor The Tinal land- ing. l'ler iob was To move close To The beach and discharge The wave under The cover oT darkness, and guide The wave Toward The beach, using her radar and comrnunicaTions equipment SpliT second Timing WGS UGCGSSGFY TO ensure ThaT The wave hiT The beach exacTly aT H-hour wiThou+ The beneTiT oT daylight BoTh The operaTions in The ArcTic and AssaulT Landings in The Caribbean have helped in molding This ship's crew inTo a compacT well inTegraTed TighTing uniT. x ---- -R ,. ,. ,. ,. HSN ss THE GREAT URTHER All 'l'haP ice and no scoPchl' The winds blow, Phe seas rage, Phe lowering skies hurPle blinding whiPe pellePs Po earfh. And above Phe shreik of Phe winds can be heard a horrible, mournful laughPer as from wiPhin Phe ominous whorls of black cloud a long, bony Pinger-uPPerly free of skin-poinPs Poward a Piny speck Possing among 'Phe moving mounPains of foam. And now, we see, Phe speck is a ship-a ship wiPh a large whiPe PhirPeen painred upon her bow, and flying Phe ensign of Phe UniPed SPa'l'es. On and on she labors-rolling, sPaggering, heaving, hurling back wave a'FPer crushing wave in grim defiance of Phe elemenPs. WiPhin, Pwo hundred and PiPPy weary souls-hungry, sleepless, baPPered, lonely- curse Phe luck PhaP broughP Phem here and dream of homes now Par asfern. And all Phe while, above Phem, PhaP knarled, bony Pinger Praces Pheir halPing progress Phrough Phe PempesP, norPhward-ever nor-Phward . . . Suddenly, Land ho! Prom Phe crow's nesP as now a huge, black, iagged shoreline looms beyond Phe Powering cresPs of waves. lP is Greenland, Pheir desPinaPion, Phe barren, rocky, icy home of Phe gods who spawn Phe Perrible PempesPs of Phe ArcPic-gods iealous oP Pheir 'Frozen land and raging aP Phe audaciPy of Phese inPruding morPals. Gods who now draw 'from Pheir arsenal Phe horrible weapons of ice and snow and biPPer cold wiPh which, by Phunder, Phey'lI imprison 'Forever in Pheir ArcPic vasPness Phis ship which dares invade Pheir Preasured wasPeland. And while gods gird for ba'PPle, men and ship move sPeadily closer -J, a.,.,,.....e,.v, W , W ,.,..-,..f... R P i5i'::' ,a,,,.,,, , s,...w,-W..-ee..vss.1- .,.as.......f'e3'zL ,es - ,xfqpfirz , 1 gay Ltr? . knee ici 'r' ' 1 MounP Dundee of Thule So'ndresProm . . . a girl behind every Pree. i TNHHHQ NV G U1 -I xl Om EO: CS QW' UIT1 av' 1 ' 1 l ISE 7 ri-IULE f i I in I yea 60 N up Phe Piord, liPPle knowing how-Par from ended-Pheir baPPles have iusP begun: liPPle suspecPing how long Phey are Po bear Phe aching hunger for wife and misPress and sweePhearP-liPPle realizing how happy Phey shall be aP lasP Po Pace again, in Pheir odyssey, Phose sPorm-swepP seas l'wixP Phem and Pheir beloved homeland. And knowing Phis, FaPe poinPs down aP Phem from Phrough iPs cloudy shroud and laughs ever louder i'l's mournful, hideous laugh . . , Al?S3fif52'SeSUAK 6. . 5 vi I l 5 v '1? 5-. 'h.nn an-A :L-,', 'P - ' ., mv . F! --gn,--,r Avhsf'-!'1'3,r, r-42 S 1385 45N 60W Goose Bay geese love 11' fc ARGENffIATv ST- JOHNS l x 2 'K 3 ,gf I z Oo l Co If l ai QCQ QI we gl if X, fl rig il xli ll 1 in ,xl ,,2l xl?- vz Q ly! S til: Q Y lil fall nik! 9 llgx. lil ,I :Gil l lilly lux' ' l 1 0 Ill '15 O The ship was loaded and so was 'rhe crew Narsarssuak, 'rhe wonderland of no+hingness S+ John s llghf pr lnde To llberfy 450 W Wednesday Segn'.ernlaF-.ir T954 underway from PorT Newark Termi- nal, Newark, New Jerzey, To Thule, Greenland . . . Tuesday,28 Sep e:n'rlQeri 11954 siqlrl- ed Tirs+ iceberrjg, My if ,V,1 V i Wednesday 'ZQLNTS-eplenwber' I954' . crossed Arclic Circle faT'5E5O13-6 W. Blue Nose cerifificfflies issued To Those on board. VHAT PRICE FRIEES? Wednesday T29 Saeplremloer I954 DARl.lNlf5,'C.V., CS2, USN, while worlcinq in The gal- ley susTained minoffburns on riglil anlce when lie slipped and fell. 1 1 I . 1 l l THE STRICT IECKERT, HM3 made l1im slay in his bunkl if f, ' 5 VM V 0 W' y wk ' THE STRICKEN lHe read Mickey Spillanel -l 'Y 't Q.,-.., ? Y il ,-ET'S QC-0 BACK T0 EWlx..RFOLK! Thursday 4 Novemloe l954. The Caplain ancl crew celebrariecl 'Pine 'fourlh anniversary of lhe recommissionirfg of l'he USS CASA GRANDE while al' anchor in Sonclreslrom, Greenland. The Caplain cufs cake as engineers DeCoIa, LiHle, Schwamb, Adams and Greenly look on. Pace, CSI, beams pride in +'l1e home-made bir+l1day cake. Fla'Hlil'l'I9 lhe rable ll, +0 r.l belween 'lhe Caprain and Spence. CS3, are plank owners Cosson, BTI: Greene, FP2g Forquer, EMZQ McCool, BMI: Mills, QMI, and L+. Clark. f M, TH , . -14.12 V. If . Mm , 555' . . , ' gen.: Q : , , . , ,-.., f ' K' Q ,w:ff,fA,Mwwwkfe -,1 s' 1 ,f - 'ff .1 ,. mfgwfg,25y,gmAM 1-. 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Keen Observahon 8: Anhclpahon A Navlga+or s Dilemma Which Way To G07 L The Eyes and Ears of The Ship Mr. an rs. Arclic Baby H s Cold Oufsiclel 'A ' Trail Blazing fhru 'lhe Ice W 6 erous am, Thai' our ,, coun ng of fhem sev me else ihe call of rnoraccas an periods of self congrafulaflon B 6 e we gol' a ralher heady shololSpan1sh so alrmosphere Bolh San Juan and Porl Au L,-,HCL ropolulan Cl'l'IGS wlfh palm lrees as s+a+ely as dverh gf as rlgh our of 'rhe +ravel 'Folder excepr for +hose hor bloode +ha+ never maferlallze Bu+ 'rhe lack o luscious Lahns served well +o remand us +ha+ aller all +here aml no place like home when y gel rrghl down 'lo brass facks and home we came a+ lhe end of March To Jrhe dear old Sfales lo fry a lrlle of +ha+ blessed home coolcm r1gl'1+ here In +he common ordinary wonderful +emoera+e zone EXACTING ASSAULT LANDINGS y Tanks a lo+ prlor 1'o'l'he assaull' landmg fhe s'hlp was combai' loaded wl+h LVT and LVT QA fype amphzblous vehicles To Fhe lme of depariure go our cargo of amphibious mlghi' fo mee+ an enemy a+ hus own ground on our 'lerms Unloadmg was done expeduhously all serlals deparhng on schedules M TDIC0 En'rering San Juan Harbor early in ihe morning. . Q, M f -X. , W J . LIBERTY CALL Moore-d wilh new San Juan in +l'1e clisfance. The The grew was ready for liberfy as soon as +l'1e crew was ready for Hs firsr Caribbean liberfy. ship was secure in i+s berilh. . X . if Q1 flghr seeing 'fours of l'l1e lwo dollar spending sailors A . g -j ' i included +he elniralnce +o +l1e' local army es L r Y ' fl Kami' , +abIishmen+. is N. . ll? I ' Y ,r,1 f . ,. AZ, .A l LIBERTY IN THE CARRIBEAN One of +he Isla-ncl s more dlsiinciive resudenfs fakes hme ouf for a picfure. Some visi+ed +he g y ' I11' l'f a Offered by fhe bigglrofgag . . . I e The balmy iropics were a we-lcome change 'from +he cold Arcfic win+er. Ofhers a few momen+s of peace' in one of San Juan's many beaufiful churehes. Ponce, P.R., was noi' So omafly cons+ruc+ed as San Juan bu+ a new por+ wi+h new places and faces . . . While in Por'r-Au-Prince +he ship celebraied fhe Amphibious force anniversary. Lafer fhe ship visi+eci Porf-Au-Prince, Haifi, porf of +ouris'rs and Fine hofels. Affer ihe cake was cu'r ihe crew and officers made shor+ work of it -3- JK F618 1 .i.Lm.-, Some chow hounds . :io leave s s +he mess hr. 1 S The baker s+ar'rs fhe bread and fhe desserfs The serving line. Whale fhe cooks make final prep arahons fo pu+ +he chow on 'iq .I vc L+. Jg. R. E. Wilclriclge, +he ,ship's legal officer, a+ work on an acciclenf inves+iga+ion. Take four pills every +wo hours . . . or was 'rhal' N20 pills every Four hours . . . Well. 6nYWaY- You ll love 'em- Transfers, discharge, shipping over and spe- cial requesl' are buf few of lhe Hems 'l'ha+ migh+ concern you wi+h +he personnel man in +he ship's office. in Now add +wo pin'rs of zoo proof alcohol . . . w T HE DECK F ORCE Clean sweep down . . Now iurn +o . . . Q? Con+inue ship's work . . . Now refurn all paini' and pain+ brushes +o +he painf locker . . . THE CASA GRAND? Q E E223 'Wg 6.113431 Requesf permnssnon +o ge+ underway Bend on a'noll1er flag Mayflower Ho+el bearings Single up all lines . . . . . ' I ' 1 fax '. 1 - . N - ... ,L 1 . Q f ..-, .. . , 1 L -- v - I . ., . :gi s ' 3 N l 1 1 ' 'r7'1V ' , 'L , in, W V n 0 - . 1 ' . ,Q A ax. , II ll f . f O , 2 , I y ' V xx ' k I N 2v,,. f mfg' ., I ff 'KU , 5 ,,-,1 Q Q si Q25 . me V. er fan- ' - ,4 7-5 Tiff ' wif? fx L . - .q 5 W' ,1: ',j , sk' . .IJ V LJ, j kv -f, a 1 L, rgzwc- , hi wi Q,-A - 'V 4 , A 2 Aff, M-13: kwfffs.. , 532'-A 9 Z, 1 ,w. -sw f-', , Q 14 L. 2 tg' x ' -M - 2f-?:? 5-- - - ' 5 1- ffigg, Q , YY '- 3, -f 5 f l , Mia -- C M. 5 fkw-' f QM K V ip: pmifs' rf V .5 W ' N' ' ,Z 0 Wy ,L l' i a-U H., r . J T54 .f'- fi - H 2 II I f ' I I e I -. ' 4 I+ s cu+e. Wlllrs'5' run? ' w.:-11' ' ' W I, I I R h a r 1f:f, . 5- x 1 X All I ever do is scrub, work, and swea+ all day over a 'ho'I' radar se+. x A a iH,D+fR,0'C lg.. rv ,N 5.3 -v ' EH 9.9 ... wx-:fr x A5 gif ff ,fw- A The besf dressed man on fhe ship. The American insfifufion . fe fhe coffee break sexe 39 3131 Wa+er in lhe oil again? Well, l'll be dag goned! ? 'wg SMP repair man overhauling Oldsmobile airfilfer. lN0l On company lime, of course.l I ggi l'll be clarned if my deck force is gonna clean up 'l'l1a+ oil. -Kremsner. Main con+rol answering all bells. .., Q, 'H , ii Lim AW ' . 4,,gf E. ' -Q' ' 'I Y..-1. ' I I I .1 T31 S I Y 1 74,11 . X! mx mzV.,.1- '. 1- Jew - ?I5f?5?3'E 1- , ww' A . 'Q 5, F225 -'W I we 2+ -T9 I Y 'f -,I kv -1345 A I 2 y?W'5fi ' 141' Ip H A , A -' - , I f Awww ,I-'ff E Af I . N : I N' 1 I, ., I 1 I I 1 E5NS.?1L'N' fi 1 +21 I II ff LiP IiII - I 'ILE ' ' I If E' H LE . N 5 If L- W. ,Ju D, N .I -3, gf ,lx I W, It ' ENS. ROBERT I . I 'I ' I I ' , E- FT- F353 Ifi'i1 A' -, Z ' I I A A I I 1 Em Ar? -' .. I z e I. cf-:Lf is . ew Q ' q f,3a4i. .e'1. 13 W gi 'O -' I Af ' 3 wiygr-If ' f..,.O1ffa ' gn , , 5- 0,3 JY fiigif- A ,, n,, V f gI , f f . '5?5i I!fIA L :If-'12 .Lani-'fi' .-I '-'11 'D ?'fw?f+:4I5?I1.I , 5532 .5 5,3 W I IESTER IffiLEIviONS, FN' T ' 'Q Y O U N I I EI - 'ff ' '-- A. V, , , GSTQWN' OH'O , SAXONVILLE, MASS. JOSEPH COFELICE, FN HERBERT G. MANNING, JR. LIBERTY, N.Y. I I KENNETH ERICKSON, SN ABERDEEN, WASHINGTON RICHARD HUGHES, GM3 INDIANAPOLIS, IND. l......,.A I - MICHAEL YAKEMIK, JR. R'C 'ARD D- NELSON. BT3 TRENTON, NJ. ST- CLAIR- MICH. WILLIAM WAY, I I I, SN ROBERT WIGGER, FA cl-IARLOTTESVILLE, vA. EATON, OHIO IALIF V. AJASKI, SA HARTFORD, CONN. PETER A. DENTICI, PNI NASHVILLE, TENN. n. :Y-' , ., .a , ' ' I H- If ' tra :gm Tzzgigf? fs sg IF ,I A1 53+ ' iiggii, ' in than Q : L, xlxsn - vm .-iflivl .5 iff: .i I-, . I vT':1:f' S AJW, 3 T ' I 4 1 H' I, ,-ix . . '2f,f.1f V ' ' --' 'A .QV-' ,:'f-1' 'A ,..,m, .1-.' I E 5,7 , N , , . :,f ' Z' f Hi-Li. J. I m I.3'EI'I SN EI r I55JH . f:'Ifr, 9 - JI 5. ,-Q . Q.. 3541 K5 -A .ti J. Lp' 1 ' o 1 . ff vfjfifiiwjh,-v . . , . . , C ., f ff! .. Sq.. 113449-..,.-gg L Qfg,.L I. - , ga, -1 . i:RfgsIQ5 if', ..f1d-' I' - .. LT' if 2' 5 L 0 Vt .AF ' 5:12-s:sa?Ii f P ?27Tff f ,H -13292 '- If f'f91.ffEf'cn14fQI:5IL 3535 'EI'Ef,1v ,,,f r. QQ .2-V, ug . v:,Y 3' I- . A-11 ' ff! kk'IK 'I5 fnf' -. am-16 , -' , . I. 5 ,Wg -',f,,.3.--5. ' -'i -fx, 4' 'QQA' i f I ff fyfd fi .,. 5 1'Aa1.-M121 T ' ' 442 Ai ik ' nf. , 3 i 4 Q ' -I., Q pl, v-- Y ,lt lv U A 4? IYA 'C' ,Q dz, c 1 g R ei , - . ,, a ' L. If-My , Mx 51,1- I P A fl: A ,H fl-15 5 6 I I MI I at v .fzj I 1' 1153? Hl1xT'.h55E5'.? 'T. RICHARD L. EI-uw, SN DENVER, COLO. GARTH JESTER, SA TROY, OHIO I . 14 I -.Ie J. - 1 DALE MONNIN, SN MEADVILLE, PA. I GERALD LAYMAN, FA BENTON HARBOR, MICH. I 11' HENRY STUART, BM3 RAYMOND SHARTRAND, SN NORTH ADAMS. MASS. CABOT, VT. JOHN R. HOGAN, FN NORWICH, CONN. CHARLES MUEHLBAUER PITTSBURGH, PA. fn memory af 4 Sluqemate MORGAN J. BORUM, BTI, USN 3I Oc+ober l926+22 May l955 Pbllhdb TH Pblh C N fIkV IddIPhf hbTff Sd NfIkV 8:55 B589 ij M 1 4 1 ggi