Donner (LSD 20) - Naval Cruise Book

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seapower . . . Bc ' forr wl- tell you about the construtlioii uf uuj- liiij Jmt ■ l ' ' sl U-U you ■ ■hy, in llu first pUi,., |I„. Na y ships like the Donner in our modurn fleet I n the present world allies and my c ;ther with your ei ition, the ability to use the sea is vital to y as well. The United States is joined y and the rest of the free world by the ommon bond of the sea. All but a few nations border on the sea . ' he integrity of our bond is necessary to preserve our freedom One of the elements of seapower is the amphibious force. To fully appreciate the value of this element, one merely has to glance at the map of the world and see that 70 percent of the world is covered by the sea. Amphibious capability furnishes a means by which we can come to the aid of our allies swiftly and land our forces in case of enemy attack. The USS Donner is capable of such an aid. Seventy-two feet wide and 458 feet long, the USS Donner draws Zt feet of water, and can do 15 knots. Aside from her regular crewmembers, the ship has berthing spaces for about 175 troops. Built by the Boston Naval Shipyard during World War Two, the ship was first put in commission on July 31, 1943. After four years of service, she was decommissioned and mothballed in Charleston, S. C. A year later, September 16, 1950, she was recommissioned and has operated continuously since then. her mission . . . The USS Donner rs a landing ship dock designed to load combat troops and equipment, small amphibious craft and vehicles transport them across oceans; and launch them ashore. The ship is also so designed that it can render docking and repair services at sea or in port to small ships and craft. In accomplishing her mission, the Donner can easily fit into her roomy well deck three landing craft utility (LCU) or 18 landing craft , In an entirely different mission, the ship lany as 15 helicopters. However, on routine ly four to six helicopters. d (LCM) . aki up Ihe - ' V J , 5, re the Donn. r Tot wblcl liJs a specific job to do. ' s engines, ' ' ° ' j j nj shipfilters , u „„ on. nunnery ais.sions, the deck her crew . . • . ' ■., mbal information center (CIC) Coinmunic.Uions, the com under the operations ■ ' ,,,,„enl While each crewmcmber is u-.ioi. dep..rtme, together as ' -■••I I '

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-1 arc on board the USS Donne r LSD ? T have you wUh us as our ,uest and w h J ' pleasure to an Old s.ado, s..u.a..„,.: WELCOME ' Tb ' o A R D f ■■

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her landing force I he- lunsiqiicnos c «as unable to rcpa onth his family U ' llu- first rchc-f party =hov...ci up ..r ' s thiltiri.-n safuly to Californi. -p-daushtcrs Elitha and Li-anna. Sho Klitha and Lcanna. . . thcy ' r iblt winter. Mc-an« ill from expos nil- Ci- food and survived on the wa: Deeeinber, it ould only take uld iihe ;,is fa ? Hci 1 them all. w. .nd they might forget what they ' ve scon here, and ner whisper... You ' ll come back for them (her own children) - remaining Donners m.ra. lul food. But before Ih ary 1847, George IDonner had dropp ' ■ r urged Tamsen to ti would bury them alive. With Tiurinured her liusband was sti that she kissed her daughters coma. The relief par ith them with her children before the sn eves, she shook her he mphibioui sneak in c s behind e jmbat nemy 1 roups ant ines. Til el. copter equipme 1 envelope ily on prevents troops de jarkinj; f her proud name Now I peopli A ' her rum . . . .ind what it means. To the American the name Uonncr stands as a symbol of courage d unselfish devotion. In the summer of 184D, George Donner, a husky man of about 50, led a string of covered wagons from Illinois U) California. With him washis family his wife Tamsen and their five small daughters. This wa the first attempt by pioneers to steer covered wagons across the Rocky Mountains -- a short cut to the West. A series of delays found the Donner party still at the Rocky Mountains at th start of winter. Food supplies had run out. Some members abandoned the group in frantic search of refuge from the coming snow and hunger. Howev. the Donner party went on . . . George Donner ' s wagon moving last because c Its heavy weight. About 8 miles from Truckee Lake, Nev. (which was late to bear Donner ' s name) his wagon broke down. The others had reached the safety of abandoned cabins by Donner La - before they discovered George Donner and his family were missii Out of 87 pioneering people of along the Rocky Mountains during t the widow of George Donner-- the c i. .i, ,„,! .levoled Tamsen Donn Lake The Navy has chosen t a ship after the Donne We, as USS Donner n; strive to be as courage devoted to duty just as Tamsen W.1S to pioneer George Donne