Galveston (CLG 3) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 92 text:

Sm.n.-,m- 'h , , Q t , , ,. .,.,...,.,,,,-.s.......a. , ,..,. V - The initiating directive for Operation Backpack was flashed by message to all units concerned and as in history the men of the Navy and Marine Corps were prepared. i i . . . Aboard the USS GALVESTON men arose to the challenge with characteristic vigor and initiative. Working on one side to coordinate the advance force and the Pre D-Day Shore Bombardment was Rear Admiral ENSEY and his Staff while on the other the officers and men of the USS GALVESTON worked to smooth the rough edges on the infinite number of tasks that lay ahead. There were com- munication circuits to be checked, tiring procedures to be tested and targets to be chosen and assigned. ' ' h S h ti of Taiwan The hour to start the operation was then upon us. As the ship flashed by t e out ern p the results of the many hours spent in planning paid oifg with competent speed, the firing data was passed, the ship steadied, the mounts trained and the command to fire was passed. The battle against the Circle Trigon aggressor forces had begun. Now for three days it was the job of the USS GALVESTON and her sister ships of the advance force to pound the enemy positions, soften the landing beaches and pave the way for the Marines that would arrive with the Amphibious Task Force. On 4 March, 1964 the word was passed that had launched the landings at Iwo lima and Normandy, Land the Landing Forcef' again sent LVT's and LCVP's iilled with men in battle dress from the mul- titude of ships laying off the coast of Taiwan. VVith these words the mission of the USS GALVESTON changed. Now supporting the troops ashore had an equal importance. The tracking radars of the mis- sile system searched the skies for aggressor aircraft in connection with our new role, that of providing antiaircraft protection for the Task Force. Then as quickly as the operation was upon us it was over. Gone but not forgotten were the hours spent on watch or at General Quarters, the backbreaking labor of replenishment at sea and the orders and counter orders passed during the heat of battle. Again the USS GALVESTON had paved the way for the Marines, protected the Task Force and proved Anything You Can Do, We Can Do Better.

Page 91 text:

14 i ,r 4? V916 V W if Sw JS' 'f K 1 Shrines at Ta-Bei Lake fj,Nw?gx? . e X 4. .ff 4: -QQN, N yw 5 Qw fpni N X .. fipiflj .xx 1 ai . qi iz 4 ss ,.,. :Mix 1 : ,. f 355 4- 1:4 .l , :Vai . I 7' X ,-,Kimi .. I ' bg r 'E .Q S+! - , ,Y f 1 iw 4' f R ' Y 15 .tc 1 4' 1, 1' Kr' . mg L 0' , HQ. X' 2 Wffi' 77 ,ugf 1 41

Page 93 text:

Smash AKS-CAXCL record set in early 1963 by POLLUX and LOS ANGELES fell on our first WESTPAC UNREP with POLLUX, to be broken by our sub- sequent unreps with CASTOR three consecutive times. Our final transfer rate of 93 tons per hour is almost three times the old transfer record. AF-CAXCL record set in 1956 by ZELIMA and ROANOKE of 130 tons per hour was smashed by the GALVESTON-VEGA team with a record rate of 286 tons pn' hour. Teamwork on both sides Approaching Vega For the victors work still remains Bug sprlll