Epperson (DD 719) - Naval Cruise Book

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Commodore i a1i' C? X 4 ' V Q f if 1 Ha gi Captain Raymond E. Ward was born in China, Maine and entered the naval service in December of 1942. As a member of the V-1lV-12 program he was called to active duty and assigned to Tufts University, graduating from there in June 1945 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He was commissioned in November 1945 at the Columbia University Midshipman School. Captain Ward has served aboard the aircraft carrier USS VALLEY FORGE the supply ship USS MERCURY the heavy cruiser USS SALEM and the destroyer USS MURRAY His commands Include USS ROBERTS QDD 8321 USS ROAN QDD 853j USS BRYCE CANYON QAD 361 and Destroyer Squadron ELEVEN During 1962 1963 Captain Ward attended the Naval War College Newport Rhode lsland ln September of 1963 he received a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from George Washington University Captain Ward was assigned to the Joint Staff CINCPAC as Southeast Asia Communications Officer Captain Ward is married to Patricia Kearn of London The Wards have three children Susan Patricia Anne and Michael ' s - . ! 9 ' 1 7 , . . . ' 1 1 9 . . . ' 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . , . - 1 . . . 1 v ' ------L - A A -:1 --1.- 2: --- -W 4-v--fe-asf.:V.::a.-l.f1-.ew:3fag,i.a, , .. ,. 1: f e: .1 , - - 1 '- ' - 1. L M . uaialf ' . .,., .F u me N 1' Af.. L-in-. --x-:n-- - ' ' ' '

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USS Epperson QDD 195 EPPERSON QDD 719i is a Gearing Class Destroyer whose primary missions are anti-submarine warfare. She measures 106 feet from waterline to mast tip, is 391 feet long, 40 feet wide at her beam and has a speed in excess of 30 knots. She has a crew of approximately 18 officers and 260 enlisted men. The construction of EPPERSON was originally approved during World War ll. Her keel was laid in June 1945 at the Federal Ship- building and Drydock Company in Kearney, New Jersey. Construc- tion was stopped at the end of World War ll and the uncompleted hull was towed to Boston Naval Shipyard where it remained until she was completed by Bath lron Works, Bath, Maine, and commissioned on 19 March 1949. The ship is named after Private Harold Glenn Epperson, USMC, who won with his valor and his life the Nation's highest decoration, the Congressional Medal Of Honor, on Saipan during World War ll. Extensive sea trials were conducted in the Key West, Florida area September 1950 at which EPPERSON was transferred to Pearl Har- bor. ln 1951 and 1952 she saw service with the United Nations Forces in Korea and in 1954 with the U. S. Seventh Fleet Formosa Straits Patrol. Routine deployments to the Western Pacific with anti- submarine groups have been made by EPPERSON since 1955. She participated in the 1958 High Altitude Nuclear Tests at Johnson lslandg and in 1962 she was stationed in the mid-pacific as a recovery vessel for Colonel John Glenn's historic flight. In October of the same 'year she was part of the recovery force for astronaut Walter Schirra's successful six orbit flight, and later in 1963 for the recovery of astronaut Gordon Cooper. Since 1965, EPPERSON has completed eight deployments to the Western Pacific. During these operations with the U. S. Seventh Fleet she has participated in extensive gunfire support missions in support of U. S. Forces in South Vietnam, and as a unit of Operation Sea Dragon, EPPERSON made numerous raids against enemy in- stallations along the coast of North Vietnam. On the most recent deployment EPPERSON was one of the first ships assigned to Operation Endsweep, the removal of mines from the waters of North Vietnam. The successful completion of these missions, along with search and rescue missions, and support of Attack Carrier Forces has indeed kept EPPERSON, a unit of Destroyer Squadron Eleven, On The Way. --. -- .....--,...----mn..--.2.a .. - .... 2 W 'P' ,. ,. ,.., , , ',, ' f '

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Commandmg 3 fg l l - nun... III I ICBI Commander George Milton Elliot was born in Gumbovo Delaware, on 29 July, 1937, and is a graduate of the U. S. Naval 'Academy class of 1959. He was commissioned Ensign in June 1959. He has served aboard USS MEREDITH QDD 890i as MPA and Engineering Officer, Executive Officer of the USS ALACRITY QMSO 5201, and Commanding Officer of the USS MIPMUC QATF 157y. He spent a year in Vietnam where he served as Commander Coastal Division Eleven and then as Commander Coastal Division Fifteen. Before coming aboard EPPERSON as Commanding Officer, he served as Executive Officer, USS ORLECK QDD 8861 Commander Elliot holds a B. S. degree in Electrical Engineer ing from Naval Post Graduate School and an Nl. S. degree in International Affairs from George Washington University. He and his wife Trennick have one daughter, Kristin ,..-1 ff ifff Lf r 1 1 . , f .Q . .