Damato (DDE 871) - Naval Cruise Book

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E. C. ELLIOT LCDR, USN Executive Officer LCDR ELLIOTT reported aboard in October of 1960. His duties prior to assuming the duties of Executive Officer on the DAMATO included a tour as aide and Flag Secretary to Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force in Norfolk. Other tours of duty include the USS NOA as Gunnery Officer, in the Atlantic Fleet and in the Pacific Fleet, where a good part of his naval career has been spent, the USS PRESIDENT JACKSON and USS MERAPI. LCDR ELLIOTT now resides in Norfolk with his wife and five children. SHIPS OFFICERS

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.V ,J S VINCENT L. CASSANI, JR. Commander, USN Commanding Officer Commander Vincent L. Cassani, Jr., United States Navy, the present Commanding Officer of the USS DAMATO (DDE 871 ), was born in Cam- bridge, Massachusetts on 16 December 1921. After receiving a public school education in Chelsa, Massachusetts he attended Severn School, Severna Pork Maryland for one year prior to entering the U. S. Naval Academy in June of 1940. Graduating from the Naval Academy in June 1943, Ensign Cassani ' s first tour was as on aerial observer with the Naval Air Technical Training Command at Jacksonville, Florida. Reporting to the USS TRIPPE IDD-403) early in September of 1943, he soon sow action at the invasion of Salerno Italy followed thereafter by the Anzio landings Notable other experiences during World War II included the sinking of o German Submarine U-73, Atlantic and Mediterranean conveys and Ulithi Siapan-Okinawa convoy. Moving up successively from Assistant Gun- nery Officer to Gunnery Officer and Navigator, lieutenent Cassani assumed the duties of Executive Officer of the TRIPPE in August 1945 and as such participated in surrender negotiations and occupa- tion of various islands in the Marians and Bonins In the summer of 1946 he participated in Opera tion CROSSROADS as the TRIPPE was one of the target ships for the first atmoic tests at Bikini In November 1946 he assumed the duties of Executive Officer and Navigator of the USS JEFFERS (DMS-27) ond participated in Fleet Op erations in the Atlantic area. After a 14 month tour on the JEFFERS, lieutont Cassani reported to the Staff of Commander-in-Chief, U S Atlantic Fleet and for 3 years served as the Assistant Readiness and Training Officer. Lieutenant Cassani assumed his first command in October 1950 when he re-commissioned the minesweeper USS SEER AM- 112) as Commanding Officer at Orange, Texas. After participating in various exercises in the Atlantic Fleet, he was ordered to duty as Commander Mine Division THIRTY-THREE based at Sasebo, Japan. Assuming these duties in April 1952, he served in this capac- ity for 14 months and in so doing participated in combat minesweeping operations in Korean waters in support of the United Nations Blockade of North Korea. During this tour he also performed brief temporary additional duty as Commanding Officer of the USS CHIEF (AM-315) and as an observer with British Minesweeping Squadron SIX at Singa- pore. For performance as Commander Mine Div- ision THIRTY-THREE, Lieutenant Cassani was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation In July 1953 Lieutenant Cassani reported to the Fleet Training Group Key West, Florida for duty as Training Officer and Chief of Staff Officer After a 2 year tour in this capacity he was assigned to the Naval War College Newport, Rhode Island as a student in the Command and Staff Course. Completing this course in June 1956 he then re- ported to the USS NORTHAMPTON (CLC 1) as Navigator. Detached from the NORTHAMPTON in March 1958 Commander Cassani was then as- signed to the Fleet Training Group, Guantonamo Boy, Cuba and served successively as the Asistant Training Officer. He was detached from this duty in June of 1960 and on 13 July 1960 relieved Commander H. G. Wynne as Commanding Officer of the USS DAMATO (DDE-871 ). In addition to the Bronze Star ond Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Commander Cassani has been awarded nine other area and campaign med- als for service during World War II and the Koreon War Commander Cassani is morried to the former Catherine McColgan of Chelsa, Massachusetts who was a Navy Nurse from 1944 to 1947. With their three children, Vincent III, 11, Paul. 7, ond Jane, 5. They presently reside at 6419 Glenook Drive, Greenhill Farms, Norfolk, Virginia.

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