De Soto County (LST 1171) - Naval Cruise Book

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i I u Immediate liaison was set up with Marine officers on the staff of the Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, and with the Second Marine Division. Assistance also came from Atlantic Fleet Headquarters and the Navy and Marine Corps offices of information in Washington, D.C. Planners delved into data about city populations, harbor facilities, timing of local observances and special events, Seaway rules and shipping traffic patterns. They worked out proposed schedules featuring minimum transit times and maximum in-port times. Fortunately, because of DeSoto County's normal 14, 000-mile cruising range, it would not require special arrangements for fuel and other non-perishable supplies. As a boost to shipboard morale and local commercial public relations, however, procedures were devised for buying fresh produce in each port. Advance messages sent to commandants of each naval district in the Great Lakes area obtained valuable logistics and operational data, as well as information about military public relations personnel in each city to be visited. f '... N 1 1 --,A yt -L. .,, . H I ' A I' K . By request, commandants also named project officers for each city. Many were recruiters, familiar with civic groups and city leaders and possessed of excellent working relations with local news media.

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A recognition of a stand-out ship with a top crew as well as a great potential for reaching a maximum number of persons with the cruise message, this decision was solidly based. One of the ship's greatest advantages was its commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Horace D. Mann, Jr., an outstanding leader with a flair for public relations, a field in which he once intended to specialize. Delighted with the assignment, LCDR Mann approached each cruise challenge with zest, originality and dedication. Fired by their leader's enthusiasm and example, his officer and enlisted per- sonnel turned to for a performance that never failed to impress. Prime consideration in selecting the DeSoto County, however was its configuration which provided unique capabilities for a show boat per formance It was the newest of a famed war tested type Its hull size and draft permitted effective operations in the seaway canal system and the rela tively shallow Great Lakes harbors Its troop carrying capacity permitted em barkation of special demonstration teams Its tank deck longer than a football field provided exhibit space and room for visitors of all ages to move around with ease and safety And its open mouth Chinged bowl created an immediate impact upon all who saw the ship Actual cruise planning responsi bility rested upon a Navy captain on the Amphibious Force Commander s staff Public relations officers of all commands shared in the planning from the very start More persons saw the Cine- Globe Cruiser Theater loaned by the Navy Exhibit Center than its counterpart at the New York World's Fair. Longer than a football field the ship s tank deck gave room for displays and demonstra tions and for visitors to walk around in safety

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Prominent community leaders, from many different fields, were nominated for daytime and overnight cruises between cities. Special approval by the Secretary of the Navy permitted guest cruise arrange- ments to be made with a minimum of red tape. The national president of the Navy League of the United States also alerted chapter leaders in each port to lend appropriate assistance. The Public Relations Society of America lent the cruise its support through local chapters. - Prestige visits by flag officers were carefully timed in the cruise format to reach a higher level of local leaders, emphasize the high level of support given by the services to the cruise and to acknowledge support and hospitality rendered by cities. It became apparent early in the cruise how extremely valuable were these visits by Vice Admiral John S. McCain, Jr. , Amphibious Force Commander, and Lieutenant General James P. Berkeley, Fleet Marine Force Commanding General. Their appearances attracted extraattention, permitted demonstrations of impressive military customs and ceremonies, and their speeches dramatized roles of the Navy-Marine Corps Team. Determined to package in the DeSoto County the best display of Seapower possible on an austere budget, planners concentrated on available exhibits, special units that could perform double functions, and give-aways that could be mass produced from available material, obtained free, or purchased at minimum cost. Heavy Marine fighting equipment borrowed from the Second Marine Division included a tracked landing vehicle, 52-ton tank, self-propelled howitzer, a mechanical mule jeep, and an Ontos tank killer. ' An H-19 anti-submarine helicopter crew landed aboard with temporary duty orders, to team up with an Underwater Demolition Team from Little Creek. A Marine karate team and a 25-voice chorus doubled as a security A detachment. The 12-piece Amphibious Force band marched aboard too. The Navy Exhibit Center furnished a Polaris ballistic missile, a special display featuring Admiral McCain's famous Four Ocean Challenge' presentation, and a special version of the Navy's Cine-Globe Cruiser Theater being used at the New York World's Fair. Although special seats and other installation required for the Cine-Globe required 314, 300 of the 315, O00 in special funds received for the cruise, this money came from the Exhibit Center and would have been used for other exhibit purposes. Cruise statistics also showed that more people saw the movies aboard the DeSoto County than at the fair.