Charles P Cecil (DDR 835) - Naval Cruise Book

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harles P. Cecil DDR 835 The USS Charles P. Cecil, a Gearing class destroyer converted as a radar picket, was launchidffgl 22 April 1945. The sponsor was Mrs. Charles P: Cecil, wife of the late Rear Admiral C601 whom the ship was named. Rear Admiral Cecil died in a plane crash during World War H- While the Cecil arrived too late to participate in the war, she Was present in Tokyo BHY for the surrender ceremonies. Later she participated in the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll. The Cecil was transferred to the Atlantic in 1949 and has participated in several Mediterranean cruises and many NATO, air defense, and anti-submarine exercises. In 1953 she was converted to a radar picket destroyer. Since that time her primary function has been air defense, While retaining all the older functions as workhorse of the fleet. Y .

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ful-. 5 CE jg MEDITERRANEAN C C CRUISE of PHE USS CHARLES P. CECIL DDR 335 1956 - 57 Rhooles C S l Leghorn Florence S Pisa iiiii Rome i Genoa Venice f Cannes il Palma S Gibraltar ---Hw-1-.anew-11-:ww-f1- --'-:ff-wwf-f1'5ff ' fTfn1'i :Tm ' :.t.' PYT.: 5:11971.-.:g1..:.1:5......f'- -.:..,-,,L.-.,,.1g- . ,fff-if-V-S--V' ,.j,:.jg.j, ,,1,v..,, -An, ,, ..1..-.W S. , ,., -...., , ,A-,

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CDR. B. H. STOUGH, JR. Commanding Officer Commander Stough took command of the USS Charles P. Cecil QDDR-8355 on April 21, 1956 at Norfolk, Virginia soon after the ship came out of the shipyard following an extensive overhaul. CDR Stough is a graduate of Birming- ham Southern College and took gradu- ate work at Alabama Polytechnic Insti- tute, Auburn, Alabama. He came on duty in 1941 and transferred to the reg- ular Navy in 1946. One year after his commissioning in the U. S. Naval Reserve on 16 January 1942 CDR Stough was assigned to command the USS PC-464 which was serving in convoy patrol duty in the Atlantic. CDR Stough later served on several different ships and has commanded the USS Robert F. Keller CDE-4195 and the USS Currier CDE 7005 Before reporting to the Cecil CDR Stough served as Executive Officer on board the USS Monrovia CAPA 315 CDR Stough and his wife and son presently reside at 265 A Orange Ave nue Norfolk Virginia. LETTER TO ALL HANDS Dear Shipmates : Although deployment to the Med can never be called a Pleasure Cruise nevertheless the spirit enthusiasm and hard work displayed by you in the tour covered by this Cruise Book made it seem just that Rarely has three and one-half months in my experience passed so profitably and enjoyably. CECIL an outstanding gradeb was, a professional high spot and our week in Palma de Mallorca ffea- turing the two ship s partiesl will always be remembered as a distinctly recreational success. We had our gloomy periods C28 days at sea before our first liberty port for exampleb but all in all both we and the Navy gained by the experience. It is difficult to single out individual events, but the inspection by COMSIXTI-IFLT fwhich netted the This Cruise Book accurately and humorously, pictures the track of the CHARLIE P from start to finish I am sure that it will be a source of enjoyment to you and an excellent record of our travels during the period 6 November 1956 to 18 February 1957. Best of all, it provides us a means of reinforcing our always fallible memories as Zo whvo was that Boatswains Mate who fell overboard near the zores. My thanks are extended to the Staff who labored long hours to make the Cruise Book a reality, and my gratitude and admiration are extended to all of you-the Officers and crew of the CECIL-for able experience. lf .l i ga. ' vi- . Ben H. Stough, Jr. I Commander, U. S. Navy m I l Y Y L , , . . . gg . , , KC Y! . ' Y L ll 3 77 Y nfaking my tour as Commanding Officer such a rewarding and memor- C , . . .W 1 K 2 . V g no . , A Fl. 3- : are W