Fort Snelling (LSD 30) - Naval Cruise Book

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HISTORY OF THE U.S.S. FORT SNELLING The U.S.S. FORT SNELLING is named after Old Fort Snelling , a national monu- ment in Saint Paul, Minnesota, which when originally constructed in 1819 was the most north-western outpost of the united states. it was located at the junction of the miss- ISSIPPI and Minnesota rivers. Built as a part of a national plan for frontier defense, it was a tiny island of civilization in the wilderness. here the indian agency, the fur traders, a few white settlers, the soldier, and the indian neighbors made the old fort a hub of Northwest activity. Many distinguished army officers, including Zachary Taylor and Jefferson Davis, served the fort. Today the Round Tower and Blockhouse survive. They are the oldest buildings in minnesota and are under the care of the minnesota historical Society. The U.S.S. FORT SNELLING was built by the ingalls Shipbuilding Company in Pesca- goula, Mississippi. Mrs. Robert F. Briscoe, wife of Vice Admiral Briscoe, deputy Chief of Naval Operations and Readiness, was the sponsor at her launching on 16 July 1954. She was placed in commission 24 january 1955. Since commissioning, the FORT SNELLING has undergone training at Guantanamo Bay, CUBA, FOURT1MES, HAS PARTICIPATED IN MANYAMPHIBIOUS EXERCISES IN THE CARIBBEAN AREA , VISIT- ING SUCH PORTS AS SAN JUAN , PUERTO R ICO ; ST. THOMAS, VIRGIN ISLANDS; CU [DAD T RU J ILLO , DOMINICAN REPUBLIC; MONTEGO BAY; KINGSTON, JAMAICA AND PORT-AU- PR INCE , HAITI. THE FORT SNELLING HASALSO PARTICIPATED IN LARGE SCALE FLEET AMPHIBIOUS EXERCISES AT ONSLOW BEACH, NORTH CAROLINA, AND LARGE SCALE NATO EXERCISES, ONE HELD OFF THE VIRGINIA CAPES IN MAY OF 1956, AND ANOTHER OFF THE COAST OF TURKEY DURING THE FALL OF 1957. The FORT SNELLING has spent three regular rotational deployments with the Sixth Fleet. The first of these (August 1956 - January 1957) is especially memorable for the ship assisted in the evacuation of American and European Nationals from Egypt during the Suez crisis. While the ship was anchored near Alexandria, Egypt, from 30 October to 2 Nov- ember REPEATED ATTACKS BY BRITISH AIRCRAFT ON EGYPTIAN AIRFIELDS WITH RETURN ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE AND OTHER HARASSMENTS WERE OBSERVED. MEANWHILE, A TOTAL OF 284 EVACUEES, INCLUDING SOME 81 CHILDREN, HAD BEEN TAKEN ON BOARD, AND CARING FOR THEM HAD BEGUN. ON 2 NOVEMBER 1956THE SHIP DEPARTED FOR THE ISLAND OF CRETE, AND TWO DAYS LATER HER EVACUEES WERE TRANS- FERRED TO ANOTHER SHIP. THESECONDOF THE MEDITERRANEAN DEPLOYMENTS (JUNE 1958 - DECEMBER 1958) WAS EQUALLY EVENTFUL AS THE FORT SNELLING, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER SIXTH FLEET SHIPS, PARTICIPATED IN THE LANDING OF MARINES AT BEIRUT DURING THE LEBANON CRISIS. OPERATIONS CONSISTED OF ACTING AS PRIMARY CONTROL VESSEL FOR THE LANDING OF EMBARKED MARINES IN BEIRUT ON 15 JULY 1958, PATROLLING OFF THE COAST OF LEBANON AND FURNISHING SUPPORT TO THE MARINES ASHORE. InOctober 1958, the FORT SNELLING was assigned to Amphibious Squadron Ten, along WITH THE U.S.S. BOXER (LPH— 4). WITH THIS SQUADRON SHE PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL CARIBBEAN DEPLOYMENTS PLUS ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENTS WHICH CARRIED HER TO CANADA, NEW YORK ClTY, BAL- TIMORE, MAYPORT AND BERMUDA. |N JANUARY, 1962, THE FORT SNELLING BECAME PART OF AM- PHIBIOUS Squadron Eight for deployment to the Mediterranean.

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Commanding Officer CAPTAIN L. C. KLINGAMAN, USN Falls Church, Virginia CAPTAIN LEON C. KLINGAMAN WAS RAISED in York, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1941. During World War II he served aboard destroyers and partici- pated in the battles of the Coral Sea, Midway and Stewart Islands, He completed post grad- uate schooling AT MIT, AND SERVED ABOARD THE USS MISSOURI during the Korean War, receiving the Bronze Star . Prior to commanding the FORT SNELLING, CAPTAIN KLINGAMAN was assigned to the Bu- reau of Naval Weapons in Washington. He is married to the former anita morand of honolulu, Hawaii, and has two children, Carla and Leon Carl , Jr . Executive Officer COMMANDER C. R. HINMAN Elgin, Nebraska COMMANDER CHARLES R. HINMAN WAS born in Elgin, Nebraska, and entered the Navy in 1944. After completing underwater demolition traininghe participated in the Allied landing at Borneo, where he received the Bronze Star, and laterthe demilitarization of japan. these were followed by tours of duty aboard west coast vessels and as recruiting officer. Prior to reporting to the FORT SNELLING, CDR HINMAN was Commanding Officer of the Underwater Swimmers School at Key West, Flo- rida. HE IS MARRIED TO THE FORMER MARGARET ANN Taylor of San Diego, California, and has four children .

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