De Soto County (LST 1171) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 14 text:

- Jlrrmr -::::.:-.11-r 1-5-S1-...nr--1 q3r:-::..f- --N ..... .ru :-:.r- .i -- .'- ' :- - - U... - , .. ........ ... ... -HL 'J3Q42:zf-g.95:',r,3:::-159312:-2.2-?':r:-. .L.::3f1 P22351'f:?:.1ffII'f2'm:--2'-lm.-E512-1:::2E1as Vanguard field trips to several cities were made by public information specialists who would be making the cruise. They contacted local project officers, explored means of capitalizing on every cruise potential, firmed up arrangements, and polished techniques. Ways were found to hitch-hike on local events, timing adjusted to permit appropriate participation by civic leaders, and ideas sought for particularly useful publicity material. It was decided to add Navy and Marine Corps public relations OffiCGI'S the ship's crew. They included a Navy lieutenant commander and Marine first lieutenant, and enlisted information specialists and photographers from each service. This group had cruise public information functions, while the commanding officer had public relations responsibilities. Press kits taking shape contained news releases, fact sheets, radio and television spots, photographs, and 16-mm movie footage of the ship, its embarked special units and amphibious assault action. . ' Planning also included arrangements for an advance team to precede the DeSoto County into each port during the cruise. This team of one Navy and one Marine Corps officer, drawn from the ship's public infor- mation force, were to promote arrival publicity, firm up last minute arrangements for participation in local events, and otherwise assist local military and civilian planners. This link between ship and city proved its worth again and again. As planned, advance publicity began withla press conference May 22, three weeks before the cruise got underway. Releases went to the wire services, and radio and television, networks. Publicity material also went to newspapers and radio and television stations in the 17 cities to be visited, as well as to media in areas where cruise units were based. . As the DeSoto County and its embarked Navy-Marine Corps Team steamed out of Norfolk on June 8 for Ogdensburg, N. Y. , planners and team members alike were confident. Though the extensive planning proved itself with a resoundingly successful visit in the first port, the DeSoto County team kept trying to improve its effectiveness. Nothing was allowed to interfere with its mission, and nothing was left undone that might help. Eval- uations of each visit helped to improve the next, with innovations made easier because of the flexibility judiciously and confidently left to the cruise team by the original planners. 1 1 'UNQM - - -., -wy:.m .. vvg.-wnu1 .-,-.--.razzigezs-gwummg.-'n-3,-1-f.mf-.-.-.-vm-..i:F,--- ---- -Y-. ... M.-. . ..

Page 13 text:

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.

Page 15 text:

UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF Norfolk, Virginia 23511 18 March 1964 From: Commander in Chief U. S. Atlantic Fleet To: Chief of Naval Operations Subj: LST Cruise to the Great Lakes QUJ 1. There have been frequent requests from sources ranging from Congress- men to Commanders of local naval reserve training centers for ship cruises in the Great Lakes. Due to expense and operational requirements it is seldom that such cruises can be made. The last such cruise was by USS LAWRENCE QDDG-41 in the summer of 1962. 2. In order to again provide the people of the Great Lakes area with an opportunity to see their Navy and to spur the recruiting efforts, it is con- sidered advisable to schedule a demonstration cruise in the summer of 1964. The expense and temporary non-operational deployment are deemed accept- able in View of the overall benefits. 1 3. It is requested that the Chief of Naval Operations approve the concept of a summer cruise by a modern LST of the Amphibious Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet and: a. Authorize direct liaison between COMPHIBLANT and appropriate District Commandant for planning of itineraries and visits. b. Authorize direct liaison between COMPHIBLANT and the Chief of Information for planning and procurement of Motion Pictures and Static, Displays. c. Request the assistance of the Commandant of the Marine Corps in providing suitable U. S. Marine Corps representation to include drill teams. d. Provide representation funds as appropriate. XS! RAY C. NEEDHAM Deputy and Chief of Staff