Damato (DDE 871) - Naval Cruise Book

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OUR NEW CAPTAIN VICTOR F. WADSWORTH Commander, U.S.N. Commander Victor Flemming Wadsworth, U. S. Navy, was born on 30 May 1913 in Marinette, Wisconsin. He attended Grammar School in Green Bay, Wisconsin and Oak Park, Illinois, and the Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park. In 1931 he entered Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, graduating in 1935 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce and a commis- sion as an Ensign in the U. S. Naval Reserve. After college he served on active duty for two and a half years until March 1938. In 1939 he was recalled to active duty and was assigned to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5). He served on the YORKTOWN during the Battle of the Coral Sea and at Midway, where the ship was sunk. In September 1942, he went to the U.S.S. NASSAU (CVE-13) and helped place the vessel in commission. Served on board as Gunnery Officer at Guadalcanal and Attu. In September 1944, upon being detached from the NASSAU, he reported to the U.S.S. TENNESSEE (BB-45) as Asst. Gunnery Officer and then Gunnery Officer. Served on board during Iwo Jima and Okinawa and, as Com- manding Officer, placed the U.S.S. TENNES- SEE out of commission in reserve in 1946 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Commander Wadsworth attended the General Line School, Newport, R. I. from July 1947 to May 1948. Upon completion of the course of instruction he was assigned the duties of Inspector Instructor, Naval Reserve in Louisville, Ky. In August 1950 he reported as Executive Officer of the U.S.S. AMPHION (AR-13). Commander Wadsworth has received the following awards: Commendation ribbon, Navy Unit citation, American Defense, Ameri- can Theater, Asiatic-Pacific (with eight en- gagement stars). World War Two victory medal, Navy occupation, Korean and United Nations ribbons. He was appointed to the rank of Commander on 20 July 1945.

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] U. S. S. DAMATO (DDE-871) • A d Care of Fleet Post Office 1 3 M 7 New York, New York TO THE CREW I As this book goes to press we are preparing to embark on another year in the history of the DAMATO, There are among you many new men; some new to the Destroyer Navy; some new to shipboard life. In perusing this book you will see unfolded in its pages typical activity of the sailors who have been there . Liberty ports that we will hit again, experiences that we will re-live and memories that will always have a place in our NAVY BOOK . All these we hope to do together. We are starting a cycle in July that is not new, but parallels the chain of events that led to the eventual winning of the DESLA.OT E in 1952. It is my sincere belief and hope that a spirit that was evi- denced then still exists and will be the spark which makes the DAMTO an E ship for the fiscal year ' 54-. Guantanarao Bay for the post yard shakedown promises to be a rug- ged training exercise, but the ultimate is a better ship and a more efficient crew. To those men who participated in winning the first DESLI ' IT E , well done , to the new men aboard Welcome and Help us win the next one . Good shooting and good sailing - - - together we can and will win, VICTOR F. WADSWORTH Commanding Officer for PEAa or Nil- m SAVINGS BONDS

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CHARLIE VENTURA The Mail Man DICK STAPLETON In Our Ships Store