Grand Canyon (AD 28) - Naval Cruise Book

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This was the 8th Mediterranean Cruise of the Grand Canyon, touching 3 continents and 6 countries, repairing and making seaworthy, ships of 6 Destroyer Divisions, 4 Submarines, etc. All in keeping with the ship named in honor of the seventh wonder of the world. From Gibralter to the Suez to Piraeus and from the Riviera to Barcelona to Palermo shesuccess- fully carried out her mission as the Flag for Service Forces Sixth Fleet, Fleet Tender and an ambassador of good will from America to the peoples of the 1,000,000 square miles of the Mediterranean. With the best wishes of DesLant upon de- parture, we have, we believe, fulfilled his wishes and maintained the finest traditions of the Naval Service. This journal, then, is a tribute to its splendid crew. v . 1-., ' - - 7 - .-., ---, ' n - P' 2 .r ' T l l 4

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UNE. l 0 'ron GNT! ' A man I guess never realizes how fortunate he is or how wonderful life can be until he has his own home, his own quarterdeck on which to walk. Funny, the fantastic ideas and memories that creep back into your Daddy's head justwatching the dancing, tapering, multicolored flames in the fireplace. Must stop this dreaming! I'm living now, not in the past. Don't you youngsters have any homework? What is that you're reading, Jimmy? An old Navy book of mine? Which one? The what? Ohl Oh! The Grand Canyon's cruise to the Med in 1956 - 1957. A sea story, eh? You know your Dad always has time for another such story. I was once a student of ancient history just as you are today. And, it was as difficult for me as it is for you, To remember all the fabulous characters who walked across the stage of life, played their parts, spoke their lines fsome of which have echoed through the corridors of the centuriesj oftimes seemed impossible. For example: 'the men of iron who sailed the ships of wood' it is still hard to believe, - ships propelled by either sails or rows of galley-slaves chained to their oarlocks, As a boy l was fascinated by these stories recorded in our history books. The Phoenicians - men of the sea, the sea faring Norsemen - the Vikings, what menl And, in your Dad's day, the intrepid crew that sailed the Mediterranean in a ship called the Grand Canyon. This is the log or journal of that cruise. We travelled over the same sea lanes of routes which saw the earliest sailing men R h proceed on voyages of conquest or discovery. - The people of ancient Carthage, ome, t e Egyptians, the Greeks, the Goths, the Saracens, the Franks, the Italians and Spaniards. It was all a series of wonderful stories. Why? You ask? Why bother to fill your heads with such things of a past longdead, when the world is resentin so many new and wonderful things everyday? Dreams of 20 or 30 years ago P S which are today realities, I know are of much more interest - space ships, earth satellites, ' d . H wever, commercial flights which exceed the speed of sound. Yes, these are modern won ers o l' d for et all such wonders are the results of the trials and errors of you must rea ize an never g the peoples who lived long before our time. What people? Euclid, Archimedes, Plato, Socrates, ' ' ll have DeMedici, Pasteur, Newton, the Wright brothers, our own research laboratories - a contributed a fair share to the present mechanical progress of the world. Why, it seems only -2 ' 1 e earch corporation whose show yesterday, TV was new to us then, that accrtain arge r s n appeared for one hour weekly had a slogan, Progress is our most important product. x , -s I ' L: 4,113 ':,, we ms, -' Z: , K: jr ,

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L' iter f7'N 1. r Nc '4 v J 5 E fflulfl fl Y- fag , I 68 ffv'-i-'::' eytwiwv- fi J 519. 5 C t 1 ff. .- . wh, 5' L X 7x Durin this memo bl ' 1 . a, - s , N witnesses? our workira fe CIllI'1SL to tm Mbdltpgranean I have 1 X h Y ng. inte ' igently and unstintingly for long ours of the days and nights in rendering service to others of the Sixth Fleet. Every department on the ship is to be com- mended. Our deck force and those members ofthe other departments assisting that force have handled hundreds of tons of replenish- ment items during long arduous hours at sea, often on slippery and pitching decks. In port we have seen them working round the clock on duty for benefitof the whole fleet. At the same time, they have maintained the appearance of the ship in a manner that we all can be proud of while moving in company with the smart-appearing Sixth Fleet. Grand Canyon's repair department has shown acompetence li ff7 'fiff and versatility that has made known its splendid reputation in , JAAKJJQ waters beyond Narragansett Bay. No matter the size of the J ship, Iowa class, Forrestal class or the little minesweeper, an excellent job has been done. We are , truly a fleet tender in every sense of the word. Our engineers have transformed this ship from the doubtful class of engineering readiness of old ,L Fall River days to a none superior condition. Yes, and the evap gang has learned how to make enough 4 water to replenish a goodly part of the Sixth Fleet, In fact, in their stride, they have done a bit of just lj that. Meanwhile the boys below have made the engineering spaces look like a palace. fi Supply has earned the gratitude of a host of pleased naval personnel throughout the Sixth Fleet, in- cluding some well-fed sailors in the Grand Canyon. Dependents on station have been particularly thank- lj ful for Supply's courteous and efficient service in providing the necessities from far away America. At '55 this juncture, I might also say 'thank you from the orphans of Greece and France. - l jj Operations have kept us safe and smart in the conduct of the ship at sea. Our communications have , been responsive and alert, Many are those who have painfully thanked the dental department for its is always effective and highly professional service to the fleet. Our medicos invariably have demonstrated M know-how under the guidance of our energetic and intelligent young surgeon. I 1 u H, Lastly, may I personally thank the members of the cruise book staff who, in addition to their regular it Eliuties, have devoted themselves in long hours of toil for the common good. There is no higher SGHSG of uty than their's. ., :Q 4 .. 51: XL ummvm 7 i From the Commodore's Bridge' your cruise in the Med- 901129 Dewel' Hoffman . fashianean has been a particularly successful event in the , mng of Modern American Naval history. Many reasons will call to memory the features that will occasion the telling of Iall tales more commonly known as sea stories. Your sea- Zlinsaki manner in carrying a tremendous workload is borne Sixiheplifages of this journal. 1 ' i eet Destroyers, Cruisers, Carriers and Auxiliaries ecipients of your efforts and reaped the benefits of were the 1' 3 l0b well done, thelfgg work records,. and, it hasn't been all work, speak fOr will arlfefh. The additional duties, as ambassadors of good hasiatteedlkewise to be commended with a well done. Success the placn ed Y0Ur every effort, Much of the incentive lies in of and tis and Ihlngs we have been privileged to L6 H Daft sions be asee. - The recollection of which will on many occa- X M Source of pleasant memories. mg ylgusuge and l are happy to have been your shipmates dur- comfo 1' Cilterranean Cruise. The Grand Canyon haS been 9 Habla. h3PPY home. May God go with you always. A. J. Miller mawJ.wmwm S X... vvvxau f'X'x