Dubuque (LPD 8) - Naval Cruise Book

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cargo, including monorails, forkliiis, l..a7,is:t convey0TS, elevators, and the RTFL's trough terram forkliftsj the Marines lent us. But even the best equipment is subject to breakdown after continuous use around the clock, and pallets can only be moved, safely, so fast. lts largely a matter of plugging away at it, emptying the boats, moving the cargo, repairing the equipment, filling the holds. At the same time the flight deck is alive, landing helos with the troops themselves, and using the BSIA Crane to hoist aboard cargo and vehicles from additional boats alongside. It can take as long as two or three days to load the ship. The weather often interferes with boat operations, sometimes not permitting boats to get out to the river resulting in the cargo being sent infrequently as the ship rolls in the swells impatiently. And of course when the boats and their cargo are on hand, it is wisely decided that safety must not be sacrificed for excessive speed. DUBUQUE reaches a happy balance: all com- mittments met on time, without any serious injury or loss of life. We steamed independently this cruise, but we were rarely alone. KEYSTONF. CARDINAL was completed November, and the ship spruced up to welcome Commander Amphibious Force Seventh Fleet and his staff aboard. lt was a new role for DUBUQUE. She had backloaded and landed Marines before, but she had never served as flagship to an Admiral. It can be a problem, 'especially since LPDs are not designed to serve so large a staff, but we worked to meet our counterparts ??'l-,-fay, and it worked very well. We discovered that a 1.1, .,.. .5 can be more of a help than a headache. lt was nice ffctiing the best berth, it was nice going to Bangkok, 5'-fiwaii, Cam Rahn Bay, and Vung Tau, and it was nice having new friends and additional professional advice. We learned a great deal more about Vietnam and the war from our guests, and we were able to watch the plans develop for Operation KEYSTUNE BLUEJAY, the next Marine redeployment scheduled for March and April. Having a staff did not diminish DUBUQUE's work load, as the communicators discovered. Besides all units of Task Force 76, the amphibious arm of the Seventh Fleet, CTF 76 'was required to keep circuits open throughout Southeast Asia and a good part of the rest of the world. The Radiomen and ETS showed DUBUQUE's hallmark: professionalism. This extended through every rate and division, throughout the ship. We showed what we can do, from precision anchorings to shooting down sleeves. Admiral Rosenberg was asked to observe us conduct a battle problem - and we aced it. We showed off the best engineering holds in the Pacific. We also demonstrated that we knew how to act on the beach. The beach was good to DUBUQUE this cruise. It was around a lot. Okinawa, Subic, Cam Ranh Bay, Bangkok, Vung Tau, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, lwakuni. Even a very quick look at Guam. DUBUQUE will be remembered there as long as we remember those wonderful places. They were different, each having it's own special quality of life to offer to us. There were also enough shopping bargains to have the majority of us just about go broke saving money. Stereo gear, jewelry, clothes, wood- carvings, furniture, cameras, everything, There was also recreation. The DUBUQUE softball team made itis presence felt in almost every port, winning friends fand quite a few games as wellj. Led by the old man, the

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. 1,3-. ,f,n'- ' ,, .- 1 f, ,.,-. ,-tl -. 'J'V'I' ei' vf. 7' . ' I -4 ,- LM - , ,'5-,. ,. ,. Edwin Miller ROSENBERG 'was borrrrin Moscow, Idaho on February 24, 1919, and entered the Naval A'cademyHin'1938 He' was graduated in 1941 and WHS Sfilefffed for Flag rankrin 1968 . Upon commissioning he was assigned to the USS OMAHA fCL4b and saw actlon in the South Atlantic Campaign IH 1944 he attended fllght training and upon com- pleuon served in PV Squadrons in Lake City Florida and Beaufort South Caro- lina, His next duty was aboard the USS RUDYERD BAY QCVE81j as navigator -nf 1947 he was retired after prolonged treatment at the U S Naval Hospitals 1n Chelsea and Brooklyn In 1948 he returned to active duty as Sian instructor at the U S Naval Academy lfimltll July 1950 Pursuant to an Act of Q-hon.gress he was restored to the active list of the Navy He was then assigned as cutive Officer of the USS VOLGEL- the Commanding Officer of the 'USS BLACKWOOD QDE 2191, duty in the'iOff1ce of the Chief of Naval Operations and Commanding Officer of the USS if, .IRKE QDD-783D Subsequently he served Operations Control Officer on Com- : rider-in-Chief Pacific Fleet Staff and as A Ya, nistrative Aide to the Secretary of the In 1960 he attended the Industrial rzaiiiege of the Armed Forces upon the completion of which he was ordered to the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief Atlan- tic Fleet as Head of the Strategic Plans Section. He was in Command of Dei stroyer Division 282 from September 1963 until August 1964 during which he spent six months in WESTPAC. Returning to staff duty, he then served as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations and Readiness for the FIRST Fleet until June 1966, when he assumed Command of the USS CANBERRA QCAG-21. CANBERRA was the major gun fire support ship for the SEVENTH Fleet from October 1966 through May 1967. As CTG 77.1 Admiral ELCQSENBERG commanded the Sea Dragon 'IIQQIY Group off North Vietnam. From September 1967 until -December 1968 Rear jfflmiral ROSENBERG served on the Staff the Commander-in-Chief Pacific Fleet jv'I'w've he served as Fleet Plans Officer, fissistant Chief of Staff for Plans, and ikeputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Per- sonnel and Administration prior to re- porting as Commander Amphibious Group THREE. . X W N I 7 9 'I' . 1 5 , . E J gif ' . . 7 0 Ive . . GESANG CDD 8625 followed by tours 'ul I O 7 'ir is ' ' fr ri ' ' ' I'-I Rear' A,dmiragi2,g RO7'12iQ,f7ir'Egr'2f33-1 is married Elo tim: iorryicr ijrf ,gffsfnd 3Qi1i1llA,ND ,gf Digs lVlo1nee, Iowa. Thy, iiqgrpg ggfgg, Eric and Eriwin.