Essex (CVA 9) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 13 text:

The ESSEX was operating with Air Task Group TWO, and lQear Admiral lQobert E. Blick, Commander Carrier Division Tl-HQEE and Commander -l-ask Eorce 77, was embarked. On Eebruary I3, lQ5Li, vvliile operating in tlwe East China Sea, Captain Erank -l'Ul2NElQ relieved Captain DUBOQG and became tlwe eleventlw com- manding olikicer ol: tl'1e USS ESSEX. Eor I65 years tlwe vessels bearing time name USS ESSEX l'1ave been lieared by tlweir enemies and lwonored by the country tlwey served. The present ESSEX, last and miglwtiest of ber line, is the inberitor of a proud tradition that is almost W4 .4 1'..i: i 1f-:-:2: 2 ,dmnwfwu wikis- :-:---4:r::?!!9Wf as old as tlwe United States itselt. ,fl qmpwwmww 24,55 W wr . mffffffff ' ' J Q'l....,.,

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.4 .,,. I M K i mr l 1 , . ,9 2. ,:1, oil- 1 q is., ,II c 3 ::1. IA 1.1:rf:+3giQLiii.3ifi12'iQf? Q1 A, qf 1 vliq I', ' commanding orcticer Ol: the ESSEX. Ca ptai n B. B. 'il' '1'l of i-rl'-iff,gif! :,: ,IQ 1Aq:qT.:,. Q. :,, Q ..A'A if C. LQVE-l-T took command oli the huge ship just ibi ,'bA:A one month later. I n'ttt ' n'n 'nA f' lz. .-.... a,.:. ..,f The ESSEX returned stateside on February 6, , .,,, . r.,, E. S AAA . iiiii,ii.iii ivo i q,Q.q IQ53, For a well deserved rest and entered the , -rrr A r' Naval Shipyard at Bremerton, Washington, For .,,,,,:,,,,,,.,,.,.,4 ,V . I WMMMM ..,, r yr .,..,...,..., E ,,.,,, ,, several months of alterations, repairs, and overhaul. E l IAIVWW X ii iii'i 'iiii iii' A lthough the ESSEX was the oldest carrier ot her 1 2 class she now had the distinction orc also bein y 1 Q 9 the most modern. Captain Christian l-i. DUBORG 0 lffiiiu V. assumed command ol: the ESSEX on March II, ri ' -f-a ' iifffi ..Q.:.:- .....,..:-:-a.::1: 2 ...:.-......-..-. -.--..-:f f l IQ53, relieving Captain LQVET-l-. . 3 ' i i 1 Cn December I, IQ53, the ESSEX sailed From fl , . iiiiit' i'i ' 'Q 1 'r12 1111 San Diego on her third tour ol: duty In the Ear ' in Z, I East since her recommissioning in January lQ5I. i ra X 2 I , i Q Q ' 5 ,- i i ' ' ' K 4 - lrll ,QQ ,',.,. .,, . A ,f V - - - ' --'---- '- ' -2-Irrx49-12:af:s:-:rp11sza-:rf:sapg:::r:r:z1:r:r:1f.-:-:-- wr: .Si R: .,:,B,,., Y - M I. I. i I, is l r r r i r ii of n G.. nv N. 'G . if Z I 1 . A rl. ,. -r 1 9 1- :.f v-1ffm4.,,.,,..,,,,,,, ...4. .,w.,,.,,,,v f-.-.-. M- Z1 . - i . r . ZVAN rl A...' ., I -M N . 1 rm . .. ,f l ,,,, . is 'Q . , ,..,.., .,. . l22l.lLQi.g.1.5filTi 1,1. zfl . ' . ..,' i H Q A- . It 3 ,, .a , , 'VIQ EZ: zl- LZ A H aa, mt, 4, a Y K, ,H . '10 Vyrl 1 iEi5g:.?E?:i::'.:E. ...,., , b , J L A . :, Iqiii v I xvylvlyvqiyi ,ii ,,.,.,,, l if , ii 'ii A v,IVVVv,:.v.ii,i,.VA7V I : V :gi5 l g 5g f -1 2531. .52 -,,,,, Z ., .ii M .,,. 13.5 - 2.-: lb ,- gy57TZ: Qg,gQQj5Qg, :V -1, Qtk- A :,v,1 55, ,.-..-,,,,,,- . C54 . Gosiw 'no ' 1' 'rrifiifggai5522523-1-j-s:gg5:v:::1: :-1+V-'--.-1-.-.fzismayi . M ,L

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Q'- .iANuAQY 25, IQ53, Yoi4osui4A, .JAPAN n January 25, IQ53, the USS ESSEX sailed From Yolqosuka l-larbor, bound For home after seven months in Korean waters Fighting a war which would never bring victory. It was a war in which men shot to kill For two years aicter talks designed to end it, were begung it was a war in which Falling bombs blew great holes in the harsh Korean earth For lack ot better targets while the very arsenals oi: the enemy lay untouched in privileged sanctuaries a Few miles away. It seemed, some- times, the most illogical, trus- trating and liruitless war in history, but it was a war which had to be Fought. lt was a cause which had to be detended. During this cruise, Five men From the ESSEX gave up their lives For that cause. To the world, the Korean War was a limited war. To the pilots ot the ESSEX, who Faced enemy guns every day and to the men who supported them, it was war unlimited. It was a war ot bombing, straining, road and rail interdic- tion and the air support ot ground troops. It was a war ot endless maintainance, spot- ting and respotting, tending boilers and the myriad ot other tasks that lceep a great carrier underway and her planes in the air. i l A -pi- I i i 1 E i L ?'2 lg