Coontz (DLG 9) - Naval Cruise Book

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-y COMMANDER H. H. RIES COMMANDING OFFICER COMMANDING OFFICER

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AFTER THE COMMISSIONING CEREMONIES WE PUT TO SEA FOR THE FIRST TIME WERE WELCOMED TO SAN DIEGO DEPARTED ON OUR SHAKEDOWN CRUISE . . . . AND CUT OUR FIRST BIRTHDAY CAKE

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COMMANDER HERBERT H. RIES, USN, COMMANDING USS COONTZ (DLG-9) Commander Herbert H. RIES, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert J. RIES, was born in Tiffin, Iowa ON 27 April 1920. He graduated from University High School, Iowa City, Iowa in 1938, attended THE University of iowa for one year and entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1939, graduating in June 1942. Upon graduation he was ordered to the USS NELSON fDD-623 ' i in which he served from the commissioning date until shortly before the ship was deactivated after World War II. He served IN all billets up to and including that of Executive Officer during this period. The ship operated IN the North Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pacific areas and participated in the invasion of Sicily, Normandy and finally in the Japanese occupation. In 1946 Lieutenant RIES placed the USS DAMATO (DD-871) in commission as Executive Offi- cer. In 1 948 he commanded the USS TERCEL ( AM-BSG ) ASA unit of the Mine Force , U .S . Atlan- tic Fleet. From 1949 to 195 1 he served as Aide to the Commandant , Eleventh Naval District at San Diego . In June 1951 Lieutenant Commander RIES placed the USS FORMOE fDE-509) in commission as Commanding Officer and operated in the Pacific and Atlantic areas. In October 1953, he placed the USS JOHN S . MCCAIN (DL-3) in commission as Executive Offi- cer and in 1955 attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. Following the Staff College, Commander RIES reported to the Bureau of Naval Personnel as Head of the Active Officer Promotion Branch. In March 1958 Commander RIES reported for duty as Prospective Commanding Officer of the USS HULL ' DD— 945 ) building at Bath , Maine. He assumed command upon commission on 3 July 1958. In October 1958 HULL reported for duty as a unit of the Cruiser-Destroyer Force , U.S. Pacific Fleet and as Flagship for Destroyer Squadron ONE, the first of seven DD— 945 class ships.. In March 1960 Commander RIES was ordered as Prospective Commanding Officer of the USS COONTZ (DLG— 9) building at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington. COONTZ was commissioned on 15 July 1960. After completion of fitting out she reported for duty as a UNIT OF Cruiser-Destroyer Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet and as Flagship for Destroyer Division 152, home ported in San Diego, California. Commander RIES is married to the former Miss Mary Carolyn Kuever , daughter of DE- N R . A . Kuever of Iowa City, Iowa. Commander and Mrs. RIES currently reside in Coronado, California WITH their two children STEPHEN HAMILTON AND GRETCHEN ANNE. commanding OFFICER ' S INSPECTION CDR . AND MRS . Rl ES