Francis Marion (LPA 249) - Naval Cruise Book

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DEPARTMENT HEADS LCDR D. W. ANDERSON Operations Officer LT William W, WERNDLI 1st Lieutenant LCDR James B. RARIEY, Jr Supplj ' Officer LT Edwin F. WOOLARD Engineering Officer LT Pearce C. RAY Communications Officer ENS Luke F. MAYER Navi gator LT Norman WALL Medical Officer LCDR Robert G. THOMPSON Dental Officer

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CAPTAIN JOHN J. BECKER, USN Captain John J. Becker, U.S. Navy, former Com- mander Amphibi ous Squadron TWE LVE , gi aduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1935. He sub- sequently served on the following ships: USS PEN- SACOLA(CA-24), USS PRINCETON (CVL-23), USS RANDOLPH (CV-15), USS VALLEY FORGE (CV- 45), and Captain Becker attended the Postgraduate School at the Naval Academy as a student in the first general line course. His next assignment as a student was at the Armed Forces Staff College. Captain Becker commanded the following ships: USS SHEA (DM-30), USS FURSE (DDR-822), USS CAPRICORNUS (AKA-57). Captain Becker spent two years on the staff of Commandant, lOth Naval District at San Juan, Puerto Rico. In May 1956 he was promoted to Captain and ordered to a post- graduate course at George Washington University where he was awarded a Master ' s Degree in Bus- iness Administration. Captain Becker was relieved as Amphibious Squadron TWELVE on August 13 by Captain Sheldon H. Kinney. CAPTAIN SHELDON H. KINNEY, USN Captain Sheldon H. Kinnev entered the Navy as a recruit in 1935. He served as a Seaman on USS OMAHA (CL-4), and was ' a Signalman on board the USS NEW YORK. Captain Knney entered the Naval Academy in 1937 and was commissioned as Ensign on February 7, 1941 and subsequently ad- vanced to the rank of Captain to date from August 1, 1958. Captain Kinney served on the following ships and duty stations: USS STURTEVANT (DD-240); Sub- marine Chaser Training Center, Miami, Florida; USS EDALL (DE-129), serving first as X. O. and Navagitor andlater as Commanding Officer; Commanding Officer, USS BRONSTEIN; Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer and Planning Officer on the Staff of Commander Destroyers, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy, Navy Department, Washington, D.C.; Gunnery and CIC Officer on the Staff of Commander Cruiser Division FOUR; Aide to the Commandant of the 6th Naval District; USS COLUMBUS (CA-74); Commanding Officer, USS TAYLOR (DDE - 468); Bureau of Naval Personnel, Navy Department; Anti-Submarine and Naval Gunfire Support Instructor, U.S. Naval Academy; Commanding Officer, USSMITSCHER (DL-2); Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D. C. ; Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics, Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, Commanding Officer, USS MISSISSINEWA (AD-144), and Captain Kinney assumed command of Amphibious Squadron TWELVE on August 13. Captain Kinney has been awarded the Navy Cross, Legion of Merit with Combat V , Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Bronze Star Medal with V , the Com- mendation Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Korean Presidential Unit Cita tion Ribbon, American Defense Service Medal with Bronze A , European- African - Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four engagement stars, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory, Navy Occupation Service Medal, Eu- rope Clasp, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with one star, and the United Nations Service Medal.