Duluth (LPD 6) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 10 text:

2 November, 1968: DULUTH left San Diego, California. Underway for WESTPAC. UNDERWAY 8-10 November, 1968: Moored at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to receive fuel and supplies. 16 November, 1968: Arrived off the coast of Wake Island to offload ammunition barge.

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CDR. LELAND E. MENCH, USN EXECUTIVE OFFICER Commander Leland E. Mench, USN, received his commission in June 1951 at the Univer- sity of Southern California. He had received a BA degree at USC in 1950, and after a graduate year in which he completed the NROTC curriculum he also received a California General Sec- ondary Teaching Credential. His first duty was in destroyers, serving on USS WALKER (DDE 517) and COMCORTDESDIV THIRTEEN Staff during the Korean War and until December 1954. As a Lieutenant (junior grade) he was Commanding Officer, USS VIREO (MSC 205) until August 1956 when he reported to shore duty as Ordnance and Gunnery instructor at the NROTC Unit, University of New Mexico for two academic years. In July 1958 he reported as Executive Officer, USS WHITEHURST (DE 634), later reliev- ing as Commanding Officer and then becoming Officer in Charge when WHITEHURST became a Selected Reserve training ship. He served one year from June 1959 as Executive Officer, USS LOWE (DER 325) and then spent one year of study at the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, California. Following duty on the Staff of Commander Carrier Division SEVENTEEN until September 1963, he served on the Staff of Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet until May 1966. Next he was Officer in Charge, U.S. Naval Radio Station Fort Allen in Puerto Rico until July 1968. He relieved as Executive Officer of DULUTH in August 1968.

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24 November to 6 December, 1968: Moored at Subic Bay, Philippines. Received fuel and supplies. 8 December, 1968: Anchored in Da Nang Harbor. Offloaded helicopters, received troops, equipment, and ammunition. Relieved USS DUBUQUE LPD 8. joining AMPHIBIOUS READY GROUP A .