Hollandia (CVE 97) - Naval Cruise Book

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OLD 9 7M THE STORY OF THE U.S.S. HOLLANDIA BY LIEUT. ARTHUR C. WALSH , ILLUSTRATED BY LT. CDR. PHILIP L. CHENEY HIS is THE STORY of Old 97, U.S.S. HOLLANDIA QCVE 975, its ofiicers and men, and its work as a wartime ship of the U. S. Navy. It is not a tale of a glamour ship. The HOLLANDIA made no headlines, yet it did all-important work, work that made it pos- sible for others to make Page One, as they drove the enemy back and back and finally to complete defeat. We carried planes and fighting men to the Far Pacific. We flew off Marine pilots to Okinawa airstrips. We replenished Admiral Halsey's big carriers for those last big strikes at Honshu. We did much we will want to remem- ber in years to come. It is hoped that this book will help keep those things fresh in our minds. It all started 18 June 1942, when the 97 was authorized to be built by Kaiser Co., Inc., Van- couver, Washington, under direction of the United States Maritime Commission. The keel was laid 12 February 1944, the ship was launched 28 April of that year. Sponsor was Mrs. W. H. Wheat, widow of a one-time Illinois congressman, who smashed a bottle of champagne Qdomesticj across the bow and christened the ship U.S.S. A.rir0labe Bay. But the Navy changed its mind, as often it does. So on 51 May the name was changed to U.S.S. HOLLANDIA, for the Battle of Hollandia Air Base, New Guinea, which had been fought 22 and 23 April. The following day, 1 june 1944, she was commissioned at Astoria, Oregon, with Captain Charles Loomis Lee, USN, taking command. Commander john Thompson Brown, USN, posted the first watch as executive ofiicer. U.S.S. HOLLANDIA was a Navy ship. Captain Lee, a native of Swissvale, Pa., was graduated from the Naval Academy in 1924, took his Hight training at Pensacola in the class of 1926. He served aboard U.S.S. Lexington, U.S.S. Portlfmd, U.S.S. Alifex, U.S.S. Honolzzlu, U.S.S. Ranger, and U.S.S. Charger before taking command of U.S.S. W0!ve1'i1ze in 1943. From the Wolverine he came to Old 97. Chink married Thelma Collins in 1927. They have one child, Charles Loomis Lee, jr., now 13 years old. Commander Brown is a native of Virginia. He was graduated from the Naval Academy in 1927 and received his wings at Pensacola three years later. He had a tour of duty in cruiser aviation and six tours of carrier duty before re- porting to the HOLLANDIA from U.S.S. Kalinifz Bay, CVE 68. He was married to Cary Hanckel of Norfolk, Va., in 1929. QUR WORK had started long before commis- sioning and it continued with no abating. Organization of departments started at the CVE Pre-Commissioning School at Bremerton, Wash- ington, weeks before commissioning. Officers came along in driblets as the weeks passed, and before long there was a large group of HOLLANDIA officers mustering each morning, then dispersing to enjoy the country club life of the Seattle area. But when our enlisted personnel arrived, the play ended and the work started. Men were interviewed by officers and placed in the depart- ments in which they would be of most value. There was very little departmental work done until we boarded ship, but the organization task wasn't easy and kept everyone well occupied. ff yin l