Clarence K Bronson (DD 668) - Naval Cruise Book

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Japanese Navy, and participating in the victor- ious assaults on Okinawa and Iwo Jima. When V-J Day came and the scores were all in, checked and tallied, USS Clarence K. Bran- son had to her credit: 6 enemy planes shot down, 37 sorties against the enemy, 9 Battle stars in the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon for her crew, 2 Battle stars in the Philippines ribbon for her crew, 25 survivors rescued from the sea, 9 Battle ribbons. Cited for their heroic work, Cdr. Gifford Scull, USN, Commanding Officer; Lt. R. L. Patterson, USNR, Executive Officer; and Lt. Richard McManus, MSUSNR, sTiip ' s doctor, all received the Bronze Star Medal. The ship returned to the United States in 1946 and soon thereafter entered the dormant years of mothballing. But alliances have the habit of falling apart, and once again troubled spilled over in the misnamed Pacific. So, in June, 1951, Branson was recommissioned— put back on the job, and in 1953, revisited the scene of her past triumphs. So there it is. The life story of the Branson up to now. A good story, if not the greatest, the most heroic. The ship has been lucky to have come through the broil of war unscathed and to have contributed a share to the history of this nation. For history is woven out of many strands, slowly, always growing. And although one ship does not make a Navy, or win a war, it plays a part. USS Clarence K. Branson has played such a part, and will con- tinue to do so as long as it is necessary. For the Bransons story is something of the horror of war, the eternal mystery of the sea, the unconciuerable, undaunted spirit of the men in the tin cans and the little ships themselves whose proud, defiant motto is always: Don ' t tread on me.

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Cdr. Thomas R. Weschler, USN Commanding Officer Cdh. William F. Emslie, USN Executive Officer Cdr. Thomas R. Weschler reported aboard the Bronson as Captain in July 1953. bringing with him a wealth of experience gained from a wide ranging naval career. Born in Erie, Pa. 21 December 1917, he entered the Naval Academy in 1935, graduating in the class of ' 39. In 1941 he was an instructor of Thermody- namics in the Marine Engineering Department at Annapolis. He requested and was assigned to sea duty in June 1941, aboard VSS Wasp (CV-7} then on the Atlantic Neutrality Patrol. In 1942, after operations with the British Home Fleet, the Wasp went to the Pacific and partici- pated in the Guadalcanal Invasion. On 15 September 1942, tlie Wasp was sunk in action. Cdr. Weschler was next assigned to t SS Sigsbee (DD-502) where he served as First Lieutenant and Gunnery Officer. He took part in the raids on Marcus and Wake Islands, the invasion of the Gilberts, Marshalls, Rabaul, Hollandia, Halmabera, the Mariannas, the Philippines, Iwo Jima and the first carrier attacks on Japan. In March 1945, Cdr. Weschler became Executive Officer of the t SS Young (DD-580). In this capacity he partici- pated in the invasion of Mindanao in the Phil- ippines. Since the war, Cdr. Weschler has served in the Bureau of Ordnance, aboard 17SS Macon (CA-132), as Gunnery Officer, on tlie Staff of ComCruLant as assistant training offi- cer, and on the staff of the Naval War College. He makes his home in Newport, R. I., is mar- ried, and the father of two children. 1 Cdr. Emslie, the firm but just administrator of the Bronson, hails from Ohio. His past naval career has seen him among other things, Com- manding Officer of an LST. Shortly after the end of the cruise, Cdr. Emslie reported to a new duty: Executi ' e Officer of VSi Viilrun. at Norfolk, ' a.