Halsey Powell (DD 686) - Naval Cruise Book

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41 the etf?aflavge,liSh 1' ffockside lflffmle izine- A slflayfavf ,,gv0dbyes,,, wftlfefilleffelee Gnd .V AV.V .'., , .N, ears 'A ' tres0unds',ffpm aevery bulkhead. The aghi,,tt,gfg,ps rits smearing, zines from 'mme pizings and lasiteprepafuf tions are completed. ' are we going? l fcouyitlesss'questions answered ofbyfone 'simple code word, TPA-Cf. The, Western Pacific. 'k ' t . if 'A if - The- enormous slid away' from the' dock, splashing and tossing a spray around its 'broad tail., The gray f streamlined pilot house pitching hack and forth like -some angry sea. reptile, with itsrgapirtg intake 'holes' yawning ' and salt water' slashing 'through in at human breathlike-ffashion., - g H A And from within, -the hatches excrete sounds of energy.1 .Thef gears' T powerful ' grinding, .the genera? tors' straining whine, and ,working if adjacent they propel' the massive V-hulk T forward Q into the dark coasting brine. Then the anxious serpent sucks down a 'breath through' its perforated walls, and knife- edged propellers jerk violently, spin, and the ship shoots out ,like a projectile. The 'Monster-slides quickly ,int snake like agility, 'through the reluctant shoalstosea.'..freesea!' ', Y -' , - ,Then the potential ofa nation: . A universal masterpiece is underway. M I The threatening destroyer fleet is'energized.' ' n . . . By- , Monte D. Stamper, EM3,

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- agvmz. 5, s. Born in McAfee, Kentucky, on August 3, 1881, Captain Halsey Powell entered the U. S. Naval MAcademy on Sept. 7, 1900 thus beginning an illus- trious career of dedicated service. Following his graduation from the academy on Ianuary 25, 1904, he served aboard a number of vessels including duty aboard the U.S.S. ALABAMA during the first leg of the Grand Fleet's tour ground the world in 1907-1909. ' I In Iuly 1916 he received command of the U.S.S. PARKER, a destroyer operating in the Atlantic, for the duration of World War I. For exceptionally meri- torious service in patrolling the submarine and mine infested European waters, involving convoy protec- tion and especially a successful attack on an enemy submarine, he was awarded the Distinguished Se-rv- ice Order and Medal by the Government of Great Britain. U , On April 3, 1918, he was awarded a letter of com- mendation by the Honorable Franklin D. Roosevelt, then Acting Secretary of the Navy, for his quick and exemplary action in rescuing survivors of the British Hospital Ship GLENART CASTLE, victim of a U-boat torpedo attack. Following af brilliant naval career Captain Halsey Powell was laid to rest in National Cemetery, Ar- lington, Virginia, on December 28, 1936, iust 18 days after he had been selected and approved for the rank of Rear Admiral. 1 ' f V Named in his honor, the U.S.S. HALSEY POWELL, sponsored by his wife Mrs. Margaret Dole Powell, was launched on Iune 30, 1943, at the Bethlehem Steel Company Shipyard, Staten Island, New York. The Powell operated off the East Coast of the U.S. until Ianuary 1944 when she deployed to the Pacific. During her sailings in the Pacific the Powell earned seven battle stars. Her stars were gained in the offensives on the Marianas, Tinian, Western Carolines, Leyte, Luzon, Iwo lima, and Okinawa. On D Day, though on the other side of the world, the POWELL did her part by aiding in the sinking of a Iapanese minesweeper and merchant- I'I1OI1'1. A total of 40 downed pilots were rescued by the Powell in the course of the various campaigns. While transferring three pilots to the U.S.S. HAN- COCK off Kyushu, Iapan, on March 20, 1945, a Kami- kaze attack developed. A plane set aflame by the HANCOCK'S guns overshot the carrier and crashed into the Powell's fantail. The plane tore a large hole in the hull and its burning gasoline spread through the after compartments. As a result of the Kamikaze hit, 29 men were wounded, 9 were killed and 3 reported as missing. The Powell, after temporary repairs, made her way back to the San Pedro Naval shipyard, where she was once again readied for combat. By August 31, 1945, she had again made her way back to the Far East, joining the battleship ,MIS- SOURI and others in Tokyo Bay for the final sur- render ceremonies. The HALSEY POWELL's arduous duties of surface and air defense, anti-submarine warfare, escort duty and shore bombardment were given a rest from Ianuary 1947 until November of 1950 as a member of the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Shortly thereafter two more battle-stars were earned by the fighting vessel and her crew off Korea during the United Nations' summer-fall offensive of 1951 and 1952. Wonsan, Hungnam and Inchon are all among her actions. Since the Korean conflict the Powell has remained an active member of the Cruiser-Destroyer Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. ' By visiting such places as Bangkok, Thailand, Sydney, Australia, Yokosuka, Kure and Sasebo, Iapan, Hong Kong, B.C.C., Manila and Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, Okinawa, Pearl Harbor, T. H., Guam, Midway, and Kaohsiung, Formosa, she main- tains her readiness for emergency action throughout the far-flung expanse of the Pacific.

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vs- Prior to assuming command of the U.S.S. l-IALSEY POWELL fDD6867, Commander F. W. BLOOMER served as Executive Officer of the NEOTC unit, Marquette University. Born in Avon, lllinois, Commander BLOOMER graduated from Monmouth College, Monmouth, lllinois, in l942, and en- tered the midshipman school at Northwestern University. After receiving his commission he saw action in the Atlantic aboard the U.S.S. BARNEGOT CAVP-lOD and in the Pacific Theater while serving aboard the U.S.S. SEEKONK CAOG-205. Following the war he served as ClC officer and first lieutenant on the U.S.S. FARGO CCL-lO6D, Flagship of the Sixth Fleet. The Korean war found him as Executive Officer of the U.S.S. EVANSVILLE CPF-705, from which assignment he graduated to become Executive Officer of the U.S.S. lOl-lN A. BOLE CDD-7553. Following the Korean conflict he reported to the staff Commander-in-Chief U.S. Pacific Fleet for a two-year tour and then on to Marquette University. Along with his degree from fMonmouth, Commander BLOOMEPL has graduated from the Navy's General Line School and Naval lntelligence School, as well as having attended both Marquette and Nebraska University. rt tkwwaxf. 'N M SKF -H3