Francis Marion (LPA 249) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDING OFFICER 6 JULY 1961 - 29 JULY 1963 CAPTAIN DAVID SPENCER BILL, JR., USN Captain BILL was born on 22 October 1916 in Richmond, Vir- ginia. He entered the Naval Academy from Ohio State University in July 1935. The USS LEXINGTON, Gunnery Division Officer, was his first duty assignment upon gi aduation from the Academy in June 1939. His following tours of duty included command of PC-583, the USS O ' NEILL (DE-188) and the USS HUGHES (DD-410). Captain BILL was Commander DESDIV 1, which participated in the Bikini tests of 1946. This was followed by tours as Commanding Officer USS SHEA (DM-30), Instructor Armed Forces Staff College, Chief of Staff to Commander Middle East Force, and command of three LST and LSMR (Rocket Ship) squadrons. He attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and came to the Francis Marion from the Logistic War Plans Branch of the office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Captain BILL is married to the former Charlotte Harris of Norfolk and has two sons, David, age 18, Winder, age 14 and a daughter, Charlotte Randolph, age 10.