Colonial (LSD 18) - Naval Cruise Book

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( omntenciaii on 18 JUN 65: 19 JUN 65: 02 JUL 64: 15 JUL 64: 06 AUG 64: 13 AUG 64: 08 OCT 64: 23 NOV 64: 16 DEC 64: 17 DEC 64: Departed the Continental Limits of the United States for employment with Amphibious Force, U. S. Seventh Fleet. Issued Armed Forces of the United States Geneva Convention Card. Participated in Amphibious Exervise TOOLBOX with the First Marine Brigade in the Hawaiian area, 29 June through 2 July 1964. Crossed the International Date Line. Member of the Domain of the Golden Dragon. Commenced loadout of Units of the 3rd Marine Division at Okinawa in response to the Gulf of Tonkin incident. Arrived Viet-Nam Area of Ofjerations and assigned to TG 76.7, Am- phibious Ready Group for Contingency Operations. Departed Viet-Nam area of Operations. Eligible for award of Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for operations of 9 June 1964, and author- ized to wear service ribbon bar. During period 1-23 November 1964 participated in Contingency Oper- ations in Viet-Nam area as Unit of TG 76.7. Collected Geneva Convention Card. During employment with the Amphibious Force, U. S. Seventh Fleet as a Unit of TG 76.7, COLONIAL participated in extensive contingency operations in a ready state with Marines embarked. COLONIAL was underway 152 days, 67 of which were consecutively on station, and was in port only for a 9 day upkeep period and short periods to load unload Marine units. While at sea extensive repairs and maintenance was required, volumes of communications were handled, 33 underway re- plenishments were conducted and extensive operations were carried out under war-time conditions. In spite of the arduous schedule, no major material or personnel casualties were experienced. This outstanding record was the subject of commendation by COMSEVENTHFLT, COMPHIBFOR SEVENTHFLT and CTG 76.7. As a member of the crew you contributed materially to the success of this cruise by your unfailing devotion to duty, hard work and high morale. You are commended for a job WELL DONE! 18 DEC 64: Returned to the Continental Limits of the United States. JOHN H. VOSSELLER, LCDR, USN, Exec. Off. By dir of the C. O.

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il LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JOHN H. VOSSELLER EXECUTIVE OFFICER LCDR John H. Vosseller is 1953 graduate of the Naval Academy. After a tour aboard USS TALLADEGA (APA-2p8), he attended flight training at Pensacola, where he received his jet wings. Later he flew F7U, F8, and F9 aircraft. Following a change of designator to line, he served as Chief Engineer of the USS ISHERWOOD (DD-52p). This was followed by completion of submarine school at New London and then a tour as Operations Officer and Navigator of the USS ASHTABULA (AO-51). Before becoming XO of the COLONIAL in January 1964 he was Briefing Officer of the Fleet Operational Computer Center, Pacific and First Lieutenant of the USS ST. PAUL (CL-73). Coronado is now LCDR Vosseller ' s home, where he lives with his wife. Sue, and their four children, Walter, Catherine, James, and John. J£

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1 ( aptain in ..Action... The Captain ' s back from the Exchange. Call away a 10 hand working party. Thanks for the goodies.