Donner (LSD 20) - Naval Cruise Book

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CRUISE NARRATIVE to the folks at home Preparations began about a mo six months deploynrient were emba of gift items and food stuffs. The friends and allies, and render ass nth and a half before the scheduled departure. Supplies for the projected rked along with extra ammunitions, special evacuation gear and a variety Force was then ready to carry out its good will mission, lend support to [stance in whatever form needed. Friday, 15 Septer (LST-1173) got under later. The USS Forr« and Mayport, Fla. , i iber was a cold, cloudy day as the USS Donner (LSD-ZO) and the USS Suffolk County vay from Little Creek, Virginia. The USS Mattabesset (AOG-5Z) left Norfolk a day St Sherman (DD-931) and the USS Meredith (DD-890) got underway from Newport, R. I. sspectively. At Morehead City, N. C. , the Don: group - F Company of the 6th Mar aboard off Onslow Beach. The Force and Suffolk County loaded the participants Battalion, Znd, Marine Division. Later s now ready, lacking only the titular Comr in the Solant Amity visit , 5 LVTP-5 ' s were put lander -in -Chief. We proceeded directly to Trinidad, Rear Admiral Allan Reed emba aboard the Don 23 Sept. The Mattabesset, Forrest Sherman and Meredith made a short stop at Tobago, proceeding west to Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Here they visited a local orphanage, the Royal Police Academy and a banana planta- tion. The Donner and Suffolk County set forth for the Cape of Good Hope, crossed the Equator 29 September, observing traditional ceremonies, and entered the South African Naval Base, Simonstown 12 October. All hands were Salute, and a 19 g turn, returned gur marines and the Si in dress blues for entering the harbor. The Flagship, Donner, fired a 21 gun National in salute to Rear Admiral Bierman, Chief of Staff of the South African Navy. They, in salutes to our ships and Rear Admiral Allan Reed. A rifle match was held between our )uth African Navy. The Forrest Sherman, Meredith and Mattabesset proceeded to Pointe Noire and Port Gentile, French Equatorial Africa, after leaving Abidjan, then proceeded south to Capetown. They participated in anti- submarine exercises. The Donner and Suffolk County got underway for Port Elizabeth, docking 16 October. This is a bustling industrial city that was happy to see us. We received over 11, 000 visitors and held many receptions. The ships entertained children fronn a local orphanage, and in return accepted invitations to various hospitals and institutions. Leaving Port Eli opportunities to see tl Ships visiting was lir comed all ship ' s cre was with reluctance ibeth 20 October, we entered Capetown afte townand countryside, especially the many ,ted to invitation only, and official functions 5 with the same courtesy and hospitality shov ; departed 28 October. four days of rough seas. The men had .ews of magnificent Table Top Mountain, ere held to a nninii;num. Capetown wel- n by Port Elizabeth and Simonstown, It Avoiding Japanese fisl at Mullet Bank. The Doni the equator on 10 Novemb brated 9 November at sea. All visit proceeded 16 November to Conakry, capital city of Guinea. A Solant F. of the visit. The two amphibious ships proceeded 19 November to Baffu the Liberian coast. After four interesting days of sightseeing, we proc Liberian President Tubman ' s birthday celebration. Marines paraded nets, and investigating unidentified ra and Suffolk County got underway for Fr All hands became Golden Shellbacks, at Freetown were brief but pie -apital ar contacts, the ships stopped briefly etown. Sierra Leone, again crossing The Marine Corps birthday was cele- sant. The Donner and Suffolk County r and reception were the highlights 3ay, a small mission settlement on eded to Harper for participation in ith the Liberian Frontier Forces. The two ships continu ;d on to Mon occasio IS to d istribute the r g ifts. The entire Task F orce rei idezv Final de stinat on for a U is hoi Tie. We A-ould ike to s hare ou r pri ashore. They perforn led a se capital city of Liberia, 1 and 2 December, having many memorable dezvoused off Monrovia 3 December with a salute from the Destroyer Group. le with the families of oi; to the United States Nav Der of the American sailc and their behavior be en, in the exemplary conduct displayed while nd to the Nation, by showing the people of the nd marine. Their appearance was outstanding

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STAFF First row: LT R, L. Slawson, USN; CAPT J. M. MacKenzie, USMC; CORE. W. Myers, USN; CAPT R. D. Shepard, USN; RADM A. L. Reed, USN; CDR J. S. Spielman, USN; LCDR T. J. Elliott, USN; LT P. H. Edmunds, USN; LTJG D, R. Lindskog, USNR. Second row: Hawbaker, B, RM2; Marques, O, JOl; Lines, C, RMl; Cathey, G, YNl; Newbern, T, YNl; Schlatter, E, YNCS; Yarbrough, P, RMCM; Abille, R,SDC; Bennett, B, PHI; Howe, L, QMl; Elliott, C, BMl; McCall, J, RM2. Third row: Symons , R, SN; Driver, S, SN; Sullivan, W, RM3; Sproule, J, EN3; Genteel, S, RM2; Pickney, G, YN2; Switaj, D, PH2; Johnson, R, YN3; Wagemaker, E, RM3; Valdez, J, TN; Huerta, O, TN

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