Catamount (LSD 17) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 10 text:

The Executive Officer Lieutenant Commander John A. Simmons, Jr. Lieutenant Commander John A, Simmons, Jr., a native of Chicago, entered Princeton Uni- versity in September 1944 under the V-12 program. In June 1946 he graduated and was commissioned an Ensign. Shortly thereafter he went to his first duty station, the USS Kearsarge (CV 33) where he served as Signal Officer. In May 1947 he commenced a tour of duty with COMSERVLANT, serving on the Communications staff. After 18 months of staff duty, LCDR Simmons spent four months aboard the USS Fresno (CLAA-121), acting as both 4th Division Officer and Forward Heavy Machine Gun Officer. From February 1949 until July 1950 he was Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, Operations Officer, and Communications Officer of LSM 297. He then became an Executive Officer for the first time, serving aboard the USS Marion County (LST 975) until March 1951. LCDR Simmons then went to the USS Erben (DD 631), where he was Operations Officer until December 1952. Commencing in January 1953, LCDR Simmons attended General Line School, then Post Grad- uate School, both in Monterey, California. After specializing there in Communcations Engineering, he served two years on the COMPHIBPAC staff, acting as Assistant Communications Officer and Flog Lieutenant. After completing this tour in July 1956, LCDR Simmons became Commanding Officer of the USS Steuben County (LST 1 138); he was relieved in August 1958. During the next 13 months, LCDR Simmons served as Executive Officer, Naval Communica- tions Station, Seattle, Washington. Following this assignment, he began in November 1959 a 26- month tour of duty as Communications Advisor to the Korean Navy. After leaving Korea in January 1962, LCDR became Executive Officer of the Catamount on 25 February 1962. LCDR Simmons was married in July 1951 to the former Gloria Peterson of Fullerton, Cali- fornia. They have two boys, William and Michael.

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The Captain Commander Harry F. Slawsm Commander Harry F. Slawson relieved as Commanding Officer of the Catamount on Friday, 13 October as the ship entered the FRAAA yard period at Long Beach. He came from the Washburn (AKA 108) where he had served as Executive Officer since June 1960. Commander Slavi son was commissioned an Ensign, USNR, on 13 June 1943 after graduating from Bowling Green University and the USNR Midshipman ' s School, Columbia University. Upon commissioning, he attended Harvard University a nd Massachusetts Institute of Technology for duty under instruction in electronics and radar and taught briefly at radar maintenance school in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. While in Hawaii, he volunteered for submarines and was selected for duty as Elec- tronics Officer aboard the Piranha. From May 1944 to May 1952 Commander Slawson served aboard the submarines Piranha, Diodon, Charr, Tilefish, and Trutta, during which time he partici- pated in 5 ' A World War II war patrols and 2 during the Korean conflict. From June 1952 until July 1955 Commander Slawson served in the Regulus Missile program, in guided Missile Unit 50 as Executive Officer and Atomic Warhead Assembly Supervisor and in Submarine Missile Division 51 as Missile Operations Officer and Test Coordinator. For the next two years he served as Executive Officer aboard the Alfred A. Cunningham (DD 752); from November 1957 to December 1959 he was Development Officer and Safety Analyst in Research and Development Directorate Headquarters Defense Atomic Support Agency, coordinating atomic weapons matters among the service headquarters, DOD, and AEC in Washington. He then attended the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California and was enrolled in the Man- agement curriculum from January to June 1960, after which he went to the Washburn. Commander Slawson is designated qualified for command of submarines and destroyers. He has been awarded the commendation medal with Combat V, the World War II Victory Medal, United Nations and Korean Service medals, China Service and Asiatic Occupation Medal, the American theater and Asiatic Pacific theater (with 6 stars), and submarine combat pin plus two stars. Commander Slawson has just completed his 7fh deployment to the Western Pacific. He was married in May 1949 to the former Helene Dudley of Newport, Rhode Island. The Slawsons, who have one boy and three girls, reside in Chula Vista, California.

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The Story of a Cruise June 11th — the day awaited for so long had suddenly arrived. With wives, kids, dogs, and sweethearts waving farewells, line three was clear of the pier at the scheduled 0855, the whistle sounded, engines answered all bells, and the Catamount left pier 6 for points west — Hawaii, the Philippine Islands, Japan, Hong Kong, South Vietnam, Okinawa, and Korea. Eight days later the Catamount steamed carefully into Kaneohe Bay for opera- tion Flying Disc; the Operation was completed on 22 June. During Flying Disc we acted as Primary Control Ship. Completing the three-day operation, the Catamount passed Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach, and entered Pearl Harbor on 23 June, moor- ing 500 yards from the newly completed Arizona battleship memorial. Four days of Hawaiian liberty were both busy and enjoyable, and more than one member of the crew spent too much time in the sun. The morning of June 27th began the long run — the 16 day trip to Subic Bay, Philippine Islands. This was to be the longest period during the cruise without mail, and both Beedy and Brown were kept busy on the 1 3th of July, arrival day. The Cata- mount spent nine days in Subic Bay. The air conditioners were also installed and remained until the end of December, when they were removed just prior to our return to the United States. On the 16th of July, the RED E award was presented for Engineering Efficiency; Lt. Thompson, the Engineering Officer, donned a pair of white shorts and climbed the starboard stack to paint the E. On the 27th of July, exactly one month after leaving Hawaii, the ship arrived in Yokosuka, Japan after a brief stop at White Beach, Okinawa, scene of much World War II action. The first stay in Yokosuka lasted five days, long enough for payday to be awaited anxiously. However, as always seemed to happen, payday came one day too late, so much buying had to be postponed until the next time. During the five days, several ventured as far north as Tokyo and Yokohama, discovering to their amazement that there is a country where trains operate EXACTLY on schedule. For many, the turkish bath was tried, and enjoyed. The time came to again answer bells; this time the Cata- mount steamed for Operation 2 — Seven ' Seas off the coast of Korea. Typhoon Nora however, altered plans; we spent the evening of 2 August anchored in Beppu Bay, near the famous Japanese resort city Beppu. Reports of liberty there were quite positive; we all hoped to return. The next day we continued to Korea, stopping first at Pusan to offload LCU ' s. We then steamed around the southern coast of Korea and continued north to Inchon, where the Catamount was loaded for the Operation. The operation took pbce near Po-Hang,