Helena (CA 75) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 10 text:

' ■ ' ■ ' ■- -■■ COMMANDING OFFICER Born in Laconic, New Hampshire, on Christmas Day in 1908, Captain Arthur F. SPRING, Commanding Officer, attended public schools there. He received appointment to the United States Naval Academy in 1926 and was graduated and commissioned as Ensign in the Class of 1930. An outstanding midshipman, he played varsity football and basketball and was a member of the Ail-American LaCrosse Team for three years. Among other positions of leadership. Captain SPRING served as Executive Officer aboard the USS MISSOURI and as Commanding Officer of the USS MOUNT KATMAI before promotion to the rank of Captain in July, 1949. He then served under the Joint Chiefs of Staff before assuming command of the transport ship USS RENVILLE in 1954. For fourteen months before reporting to his present duty. Captain SPRING served as Chief of Staff for Commander of Training Command, U. S. Pacific Fleet. In October, 1956, he assumed command of the HELENA, now Flagship for the United States Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific. Captain SPRING is married to the former Clare Murphy of San Fran- cisco, California. They have one son, Arthur Thomas, who graduated from the United States Naval Academy, Class of 1957, and who is presently beginning his Naval career as an Ensign serving in the Pacific Fleet.

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THE TALE OF THE HELENA Within the covers of this book is a tale — the tale of a ship and 1 200 men. You won ' t find its words printed on any page, for this is a tale that lies in the hearts and minds of the men of the HELENA. It is a tale with multitude of variations, all based on a single theme — the Cruise of the U.S. S. HELENA, 1957. To some of the men on board, this was the first experience on foreign shores. To others, it was the finale of a Navy enlistment. To the HELENA herself, it was the ninth tour of duty in the Western Pacific since com- missioned September 4, 1945. This tale almost began unexpectedly in November, 1956, when the tense situation in the Middle East made necessary the emergency deploy- ment of the HELENA to Pearl Harbor. However, the relaxation of the tension permitted the ship to return once more to the familiar waters of Long Beach and her men to the arms of their families and friends. It was on the morning of April 10, 1957, that the HELENA pointed her grey bow westward. Thusly begins the tale. During the six months that followed, HELENA put more than 37,000 sea miles under her keel, slicing the waves in that wide expanse of ocean where, years before, the two previous HELENA ships roamed as well. The pages which follow con offer only glimpses of the tribulations and the triumphs which the HELENA and her men experienced during this cruise. These pages offer but a thread upon which each man ' s own personal experiences, thoughts, and reactions will be strung. It is to these proud men and their faithful ship — and to the tale which will be told and retold in the years to come — that this book is gratefully dedicated. i=? -

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it EXECUTIl E OFFICER CDR. Hugh A. HANNA was born at Rock Island, Illinois, on Sep- tember 10, 1916, attending city sctiools and the Devitt Preparatory School in Washington, D. C. Upon receiving an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, he completed his education there and was commissioned as an Ensign in the Class of 1940. Serving aboard the USS PHOENIX during the Second World War, CDR. HANNA participated in many engagements, including Guadal- canal, New Guinea, Leyte and the initial attack on Pearl Harbor. Duty followed on the staff of the Commander, Operational Development Force. In 1951, he assumed command of the USS MADDOX (DD-731 ), which post he held until December, 1953, when he began a tour of duty with the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, D. C. Soon afterwards, CDR. HANNA was transferred to his present position as Executive Officer of the HELENA. CDR. HANNA holds the Legion of Merit, a second Bronze Star Award, and a Commendation Ribbon. He is married to the former Henriette Von Wickeren of Sydney, Australia. They have three children. John is 1 1, Paul, 6, and Mary Catherine, 3.