Columbus (CA 74) - Naval Cruise Book

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Rear Admiral Francis D. McCorkle, USN, Com- mander Cruiser Division Three, is a native of Tennessee and was graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1926. After graduation he first served in the USS New Mexico and the USS Preble. In 1941 Rear Admiral McCorkle assumed command of the destroyer USS Simpson, carrying out escort operations in the North Atlantic. A phase of this duty included the historic Churchill-Roosevelt meeting at Argentia, Newfoundland. On 5 May 1942 he assumed command of the new destroyer, USS Tillman, and participated in the North African and Sicilian invasions, during which Tillman was credited with the sinking of a French corvette and the capture of three French merchant ships. Transferring to the Pacific in January 1945, he took command of Destroyer Squadron Five in the Seventh Fleet, and after the war he participated in the occupation of Japan and the demilitarization of Japanese naval and merchant ships in the Sasebo-Nagasaki area. After commanding the AKA, USS Vermillion, and a tour as Department Head at the Naval Academy, Admiral McCorkle was named Captain of the USS New Jersey, which was in the Far East in support of military operations in Korea. On 21 June 1955 he asssumed command of Cruiser Division Three, US Pacific Fleet, consisting of the Helena, Toledo, and Pittsburgh. Since that time the Columbus has replaced the Pittsburgh, and the Worcester has joined the division. In June 1956 Rear Admiral McCorkle left CruDivThree for duty in Washington. (Zafit, enttand rf. Smit Captain Bernard A. Smith, USN, Chief of Staff, Cruiser Division Three, was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy from Spokane, Washington. Following his graduation from the Academy in 1934 he served for five years in the USS Minneapolis and one year in the four stack destroyer Southard. World War II service included duty in the USS Lexington, USS Saratoga, and as Commanding Officer of destroyer Murphy. Following the war he placed the destroyer Ozbourn in commission and remained on board as her Commanding Officer for two years. During the Korean War he served as Commander Escort Squadron Eleven. Immediately prior to reporting for his present duty in July 1955 Captain Smith served in Wash- ington for two years as Head Enlisted Distribution Branch, Bureau of Naval Personnel, and for one year as a student at the National War College.

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