De Soto County (LST 1171) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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- 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.-. . ..

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rpgsgzgsfisaazss f4sssi i t L ' gas : 1.......g.es:'m-mc?---mf - - t UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET COMPHIBLANT USS POCONO KAGC 161, Flagship U. S. Naval Base, Norfolk, Va. Operation Order COMPHIBLANT NO. 503-64 References: Cal CINCLANTFLT ltr ser 0464 of 18 MAR 1964 qbp cNo msg 281404Z MAR 1964 i cap CINCLANTFLT msg 3021402 MAR 1964 TASK ORGANIZATION VADM J. S. MCCAIN, Jr., USN LCDR H. H. ,MANN, USN ENS G. R. YOCUM, ,USNR Officer in Charge Officer in Charge Amphibious Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet a. USS DESOTO COUNTY CLST 11715 b. UDT Detachment Assigned . c. Helicopter Detachment Assigned d. U. S. Marine Corps Detachment Assigned . e. PIO Team Assigned LCDR J. A. WIDDER, Jr. ,. USN 1. SITUATION. This is Commander Amphibious Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet Operation .Order for the conduct of a cruise to the Great Lakes by a modern LST of the Amphibious Force during the summer 1964. This cruise, proposed by reference tal and approved by reference fbi, has been assigned to this force. for implementation by reference tel. There have been frequent requests for U. S. Navy ship cruises in the Great Lakes from sources ranging from Congressmen to Commanders of local Naval Reserve Training Centers. Accordingly, there is every reason to believe that the large numbers of our population congregated in the Great Lakes area are keenly interested in once again being visited by a fleet unit. The Amphibious Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet is privileged and honoredto have been chosen to send a ship of the force on such .a Worthwhile assignment. 2. MISSION. Visit the maximum number of population center ports in the Great Lakes area, conduct Open House in the ports visited, depict by means of embarked displays and equipment, UDT Demonstrations, TV and radio interviews, press conferences, speeches, and by every other dynamic public information procedure the full meaning of Seapower and the Navy- Marine Corps Team with particular emphasis on the vital role they play in meeting the Four Ocean Challenge, in order to again provide the people of the Great Lakes area with an opportunity to see and know their Navy and to spur the recruiting efforts. CComplete Operation Order in Appendix! ... 4.1.4.-.... . .rr f .-4.,--l.: ,..-,-W.. , N, L., 4 -s g ..,. -,.- .-. .,-,, . -., . U' few' Qc-L-f-4-'1-i-lf1vcs...-:g.11.::nn4-f- 4:4 -Q 41'-A V - - - ---L -v-Y .-: r':.r:--- Ar:-11:-.-vc--A ----L ---.. ' ---. - --.. 4 - 4... .. . . . .. ' - -- :f 2--J:-an ' - - -Lutz:- 'f'--ff :g..- -V - 5'--.1 --1 -r- ff- --. --A .---va ' - ..r-4-4 1 ,. , I . . .1. ,., ' 1 H' '-a--- ffm v,,.J1,u4,..1.af....1:x.1:-0.1.....,....3xs1.4.:u.:1i.:f,us1.mu5.1x..a.- u.1...mk.u. 1:....u4m. uf U 1 ' 'i'1i'If:2 E5i?.:. ff-'Q