Indra (ARL 37) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 56 of the 1968 volume:

£7 f |C OcsM On December 4th 1968, we closed the books on the initial chapters of the history of a resurrected INDRA. What hectic, trying, traumatic, and proud chapters they are. They were written by boots who became true sailors, and by salts who have long rolled with the sea. These chapters are portrayed here by you who wrote them. You are the men who weathered the storm- -who faced the ultimate challenge in Vietnam -and who earned the plaudits of admiral and seaman alike. As your Commanding Officer, I am proud to have shared these months with you, for never have I served with such dedicated men. By your industry, imagination, and spirit you have earned for your ship a fine reputation. WELL DONE to you all. D. D BOERNER - i - USS INDRA (ARL-37), a Landing Craft Repair Ship, bears the name of the great national god of the Indo-Aryans. In the Vedic Hindu mythology, INDRA represents the greatest and best of the dieties, and is thus the god of sky and storms and of all forces lying in atmospheric phenomena. INDRA was originally authorized for construction as USS LST-1 147, but while undergoing construction by Chicago Bridge and Iron Company in Seneca, Illinois, she was reclassified as ARL-37. She was launched in August, 1945, under the sponsorship of Mrs. Regina K. Hlubek. Following the launching, INDRA was ' placed in reduced commission and brought to Beth- lehem-Key Highway Shipyard in Baltimore, Maryland, for further conversion, and on October 2, 1945, was commissioned under the command of Lieutenant Commander R. J. Siegelman. After her commissioning, INDRA sailed from Baltimore to Hampton Roads area of the Chesapeake Bay where her acceptance trials and shakedown cruise were conducted. After assignment to COMSERVLANT, INDRA sailed to Green Cove Springs, Florida, where she assumed the capacity of repair ship for the Sixth Fleet Commander. On May 6, 1946, she departed Green Cove Springs and steamed through the Panama Canal and into San Diego, arriving on June 4, 1946. At San Diego INDRA was assigned duty as a tender and repair ship under COMPHIBPAC. On the seventh of January, 1947, she left San Diego for similar duty in Tsingtao, China. While supporting the U.S. Marines during this tour in the Far East, INDRA was instrumental in stabilizing the volatile Chinese situation and thus in protecting American lives and property. On August 30, 1947, INDRA departed China and returned to San Diego, arriving on 25 September. Deactivation procedures followed her arrival in San Diego, and on October 6, 1947, only two years after she was commissioned, INDRA was decommissioned and placed in the San Diego Group of the Pacific Reserve Fleet. There she remained in mothballs until April 25, 1967, when under tow by the USS CAHOKIA (ATA-186), she departed Pier 13 of the San Diego Naval Station and headed for San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard, arriving at Mare Island one week later. On June 1, 1967, INDRA entered drydock for extensive overhaul. Recommissioning ceremonies were held on December 16, 1967, and the USS INDRA, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Delbert D. Boerner, once again became an active member of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. ' J 7 • After conducting successful dock, bay, sea, and INSURV trials in the San Francisco Bay area, INDRA departed Mare Island on February 7, 1968, enroute to her designated home port of San Diego, arriving trfere on February 10. On March 15, after completion of three weeks of shakedown training exercises, INDRA was determined to be combat ready Although it was originally intended that INDRA remain in the San Diego area as an Amphibious Force repair facility afloat, a requirement arose in March, 1968, for the services of an additional Landing Craft Repair Ship in Southeast Asia. On April 1, 1968, INDRA deployed to the Republic of Vietnam to fulfill this requirement, arriving May 8 at the Port of Vung Tau. The following day INDRA made a ten mile transit up the narrow Song Dinh River and took up a four-point moor offshore of the Naval Support Activity Detachment at Cat Lo, where she immediately began the execution of her unique assigned mission, the activation of river assault craft for the expanding Mobile Riverine Force. INDRA remained at Cat Lo until June 1 1, when she transited the Long Tau River to Naval Support Detachment at Nha Be to meet an urgent Mobile Riverine Force requirement for a ship to support riverine combat operations in the area of the Rung Sat Special Zone. Relieved of this task on June 17 by the USS WINDHAM COUNTY, INDRA returned once more to her four-point moor at Cat Lo and reassumed her primary mission. On October 15, 1968, after having activated and sent into combat over seventy Armored Troop Carriers, Monitors, Assault Support Patrol Boats, and Communication Command Boats, and after having provided Mobile Riverine Force ships and craft with numerous battle damage repairs and other miscellaneous repair services, INDRA completed her mission in RVN and departed Cat Lo for her return trip to CONUS. After making port calls at Hong Kong, Yokosuka, and Pearl Harbor, INDRA arrived in San Diego on December 4, marking the end of an eight-month deploy USS INDRA is presently under the operational control of Comma ' U.S. Pacific Fleet, and the administrative control of Co ' jadron ONE. The fourth ship of her type to be placed .-,ion, INDf- Craft Repair Ship in the Amphibious Force, and while m CONUS she provid- support services for landing craft and small boats of PHIBPAC LCDR LOREN H. COBE EXECUTIVE OFFICER f IJ LT. FLETCHER L. BLACKSTOCK REPAIR Ct 9 LT. BERT R. WEBSTER SUPPLY LT. RONALD A. VALLEE ENGINEERING LTJG. ROGER W. ECK OPERATIONS LTJG. FRANK G. SCHUSTER FIRST LIEUTENANT LTJG. ROBERT M JOHNSTON COMMUNICATIONS y LTJG PATRICK J McCORMICK DAMAGE CONTROL 1 V LTJG. GEOf DISBURSING f CWO-2 DAVID J. LITTLE MACHINERY REPAIR i lt f , J— .. WOT JAMES M COOLEY HULL REPAIR COMMISSIONING THE CULMINATION OF SIX MONTHS WORK!! AFTER SIX MONTHS OF 24 HOUR-A-DAY WORK BY BOTH CIVILIAN AND NAVAL PERSONNEL, THE U.S.S. INDRA ONCE AGAIN BECAME AN ACTIVE SHIP OF THE U.S. NAVY AT MARE ISLAND, VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA, ON DECEMBER 16, 1967. ALONG WITH THE GUESTS OF THE OFFICERS AND CREW OF THE INDRA, THE CEREMONY WAS ATTENDED BY CAPT. CHARLES JOHNSON. CO. NIOTC, VALLEJO, CALIF- ORNIA, CAPT. D. A. CAMPBELL, 12th NAVAL DISTRICT INSPECTOR GENERAL, CAPT. H. R. ADRIANSE, REPRESENTING COMMANDER SANFRANBAYNAVSHIPYD. LCDR A. S. KIRLAND, CHC, GAVE THE BENEDICTION. BUT WE WEREN T THROUGH YET! THE FOLLOWING MONDAY IT WAS BACK TO WORK AGAIN, FOR THERE WERE STORES TO BRING ABOARD, MORE OUTFITTING TO BE DONE, AND MANY, MANY TESTS TO BE RUN BEFORE THE INDRA WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO HER HOMEPORT OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, FOR DUTY WITH LANDING SHIP SQUADRON ONE. J . - t it The welded doors of an ex-LST AND MORE TESTS!!! LCDR. A. S. Kirkland delivering the benediciion f 1 1 1H v DECK GUNNERY left to right J. CAMPBELL SN, C. MARTIN SN, P. RANKIN BM3, M. HRYCYK BM2, R. SPROUSE SN, G. WILSON SN, J, JORDAN SN, J. MASSERANO SN, J. HYDE SN, D. HOWARD SN, A. DELACY BM2, W. WILCOX BM1 , J. KLOSTERMAN SN, M. SIMPSON SN, J. GAIA SN, R. JENKINS SN, W. KEITH SN, G. PITZEL FTG2. Not Pictured: D. REESE BM1, C. AUSTIN GMG3, M BURKHART SN, B. COCHRAN SN, B. AMONETT SN, M. SWISHER SN, H. SIMPLER SN. i HS i 9 Ktrtttz ENGINEERING (Si I to r : T. CROSS, FN; J. WILSON, FN; B. OWENS, FN; T. MACIAZ, FN; L PANAREES A. NANNANI, EN2; J. GADJESKI, FN; J. NOLAND, FN; R. GUTER, MM1 ; M. BOIVIN, EN2 YOUNG, FN; R. CARAWAY SFP2; P. GAHAN, MM2; R. NICHOLS, SFP2; HADLEY, ENC H. RYDER, DC1; W. FOLSOM, FN; M. TAM, FN; HENRY, EN3; L. VANN, EN3; F. PIOTROWSKI SF1; G. BEBIERITZ, FN; J. PECK, FN; T. GEIST, EN3; DAWES, FN; R. CUMMINGS, EN2; LT. VALLEE, DEPT. HEAD p. rr k - i u - ' . OPERATIONS left to right: FENTON SMI, D. HOWELL RM3, L. SEELEY RM3, G.MAY PC3, B. HARTY PC3, C. WELCH RM3, D. ZELLERS RM3, M. PAYNE HM2, F, HAMLIN RD1, J. POST YN1, SCHESTKO RM1 , S. BUTLER RD3, E. CROWELL RD2, E. SATELE PN2, K. KLOSTERMAN SM3, R. PFIESTER QM2, R. RILEY QM1 , J. JOHNSON ETR2, R. RYAN SM3, T. WISCHMAN QM3, LT. R. JOHNSTON. Not Pictured; K. KUNERT RD2, W. BERTINO RMC, J. MULLEN HMC, ANDERSON QMC, M. FREESE YN2, L. OLSEN YN2, BERG RM2.. V .V i f L rv 4ft i $i SUPPLY I. to r .: D. SGUEGLIA, SHL3; FROST, CS3; H. SUAREZ, SD2; ME, CT2; G. McCALL, SHR3; L. PETERS, CS1; P. GRAY, SK3; L. DEVERA DK1; M. LUBAG, SD3; R. DANIELSON, SHB; R. MEDLIN, SK3; C. STOTTLEMEYER, SKQ LT. (jg| ARLEDGE, DIV OFFICER- LT WEBSTER DEPT HEAD 7 14 TaU XSl Jl ■ REPAIR I W. ALLEN, SFC; M. JONES, SFP3; H. McCOLLUM; H. PAUL, SFM2 : APPOLONIO, DC3; T. HUGHES, DC3; J. HAM, SFP3; S. SCROGGINS, SFP3; P. GROVER, SFP2; B. KAMMERER, SFP3; J. GRAY, SF1 j B. SMITH, SF1 ; J. LEE, SFP3; R. HRYCYK, BM2; A. MILLER, FN; R. RACHAL, SFP3; L. SPRAY, SF1; WOl COOLEY. 16 REPAIR II 1 v 1 X !i x 1 - •• 1 4 rvkl II I. to r : J. SAIN, MR2; R. COOK. FN; YOU. EN2; T. PEREZ. EN3; A. MRAZ. EN2; I SMITH, MR2; T. SMITH, ICC; R. ALLRED, EN3; D FLAKE. FN; E BUNCH, EN1; G. CHILDRESS, FN; BRINDAMOUR, EN3; F GRIFFIN, MR3; J. CONTRERAS, EN1 ; R. STICKNEY, EN2; R. LOD RIGUE, EN3; LT. BLACKSTOCK, DEPT HEAD REPAIR III I. to r.: C. MARLING EM2, R. FOUNTAIN FN, K. FUCHSLOCHER ETN1, R. BOGNER EM2, W. GOODIN FN, T. SMITH ICC, SCHLEICH EM3, R. HAYES ETN2, E. HARRINGTON FN, 8. STEVENS ERT2, J. PETERSON FN, LT. BLACKSTOCK — DEPARTMENT HEAD. - € , HAWAII 20 ■ o u R )  • A I 7 W O R , ' «= ON 8 MAY, ]8 DAYS AFTER WE DEPARTED SAN DIEGO, WE AR- RIVED IS VIETNAM, MOORED IS THE SONG DISH RIVER, AND AWAITED THE BOA ' I HIES THE BOATS (AWE. ASD OCR WORK OFFICIALLY BEGAN I ' m — F fe I _ 22 I - ■ . 1 H - liJfc tit?t REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM 24 Anchored offshore NAVSUPPACTDET Cat Lo. Repul Vietnam, in the SONG DINH River, INDRA, in a six month period, activated over seventy River Assault Craft of River Assault Squadrons 13 and 15. In addition, Indra accomplished battle damage repairs for YF-866 and other ships of the Mobile River- ine Force, and made general repairs to APL ' s 26 and 30. Indra ' s repair shops and other facilities made her an important support activity for this area of Vietnam. r 1 26 C= l SlB y t ?N-TR y fc m ... ■ f . — m . fcjfc, ■ - .? « ■ fflMr T ' V ' ' _ . ■ _ te — k: _ = JBB ' n v ; -. rJH -«-.- -- 4 . | ,4fc ftfi DAY MARKET DAY iftgc ' CAT-LO  f r,, - 32 13 It THE OLD . . . AND THE NE W! COMMUNITY RELATIONS The public schoolhouse in the village of Cat Lo, Republic of Vietnam, has recently taken on a new look, thanks to the efforts of officers and men of the Indra. Indra, moored at the Naval Support Activity Detachment, Cat Lo, undertook the civic action project when it was discovered that the schoolhouse, in which 500 children are taught in daily, was in need of many repairs. The project consisted of laying cement, repairing windows, painting the entire inside and outside of the five room school, repairing playground eq previously been unusable, and building tables and benches to Opening day ceremonies, at which Indra ' s Commanding Off ic representatives of the many volunteers were guests of honor, were m of songs by the children and followed by refreshments of Vietnamese which had 36 « p N  N G EHu. 1 v ? n i ii J9- ' r t : ml N tiiwk. v I i V J T -H — — — - « . I J UNCLASSIFIED . 2 H9 « ' - UNCLASSIFIED i.i, ■mm - - ... ... . • 96 Ml 825 OCT 68 ■ ' «H1[ ■111111 . I ' - coyse  [ ic coypni9i  c ■ u COUOfBVlC ' ■ l DK CCP1PTUBE U I ATIOX ' ' ' . i i 1. till DOUC i • v • . «. M UNCLASSIFIED a UNCLASSIFIED UWI  ESS«« c . „.,„,,_ INCOMING n T 68 |l545Z 512 75S6 CW 1s! OCT 63 — 1— — — —• -■ - ■ ■ « 9)2 160158Z OCT 68 -; f, INC 05 DEC UING 68 |062SZ 43 929 JH ...,.=.... 0401 42 Z DEC 66 PPPFP 043 FU: COMNAVFCRV TO: USS INDHA INFO: C0MPHI9PAC BT CCMPH13PAC USS INDRA 1. YOUR EXPEDITIOUS AND PROFESSIONALLY COMPETENT PERFORMANCE HAS .MATERIALLY ENHANCED YOUR IN COUNTRY EFFORT. 2. IT IS PLEASANT INDEED TO PASS ALONG A RICHLY DESERVED «ELL DONE WITH I 5HES FOR SMOOTH SAILING ON YOUR TRIP HOME. VADM ZUMW BT PRTT NR 7536 SB ( , 0. IK -lfO ' COF, 512 UNCLASSIFIED ° ' 601SBz oCT HOUECOUIN.G WELCOME HOME MESSAGE 1 AS YOU RETURN HOME FOLLOWING YOUR FIRST EIGHT MONTH DEPLOYMENT TO THE WESTERN PACIFIC SINCE REACTIVATION YOU BRING WIT- ■ OUTSTANDING RECORD OF SUCCESSFUL ACCOyPLISHMENTS. WHILE SERVING UNDER OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF COMMANDER RIVER FLOTI.LA DUE AS LANDING CRAFT REPAIR SHIP FOR MORE THAN 7J RIVER ASSAULT PATROL CRAFT IN Tie MEKONG DELTA, YOUR CONTRIBUTION IN MAINTAINING THE CONTINUING HIGH LEVEL OF OPERATIONAL RELIABILITY OF THESE CRAFT IS A GREAT CREDIT TO YOUR COMMAND. IN ADDITION YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE SPECIALIZED MISSION AS TACTICAL OPERATIONS CENTER AND SUPPORT SHIP FOR RIVERINE ASSAULT OPERATIONS IN THE RUNG SAT SPECIAL ZONE SHOWED A HIGHLY DEVELOPED SENSE OF PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION AND SHOWED YOU TO BE A VERY SIGNIFICANT ASSET TO U.S. na.al FE-ATI0N5 IN VIETNAM. IN A COMBAT SITUATION MARKED 8Y ,j ' l SUAL AND CHANGING REQUIREMENTS, YCU HAVE DEMCNSTRATED EXEVPLARY VERSATILITY. WELL DONE AND BEST WISHES. VADM J.V. SMITH FALD NR 929 UH KAVAl ■ESUIC if|[|rn|M| INCOMING 04 DEC 68 [20lFz S6 ll54 J 04 d)eC 68 .«wc« ™— ■— « ■ ' ; ' , .„ |.«.„. cZSTl — ■■ 1 — -- 041 721 Z DEC 68 tcno. ! 1 , , ... -- CRUISE BOOK COMMITTEE R 011721Z DEC 63 FM: COMLANSHIPRON ONE TO: USS INDRA INFO: COMPHI3PAC COULANSHIPFLOT ONE BT HOMECOMING 1 UPON YOUR RETURN TO CONUS, YOU CAN LOOK BACK WITH PRIDE AT A DIFFICULT JOB WELL DONE. INDRA ' S PERFORMANCE AS THE ONLY PHI3PAC ARL HAS BROUGHT NEW HONORS TO THE AMPHIBIOUS FORCE. I AM PROUD TO HAVE YOU AS A MEMBER OF LANSHIPRON ONE. 3. WELCOME HOME. m  Ms ic,_k__ irr £%— co L - ' 56 UNCLASSIFIED , 041 721 Z DEC 68 ADVISOR.- LT R. M. JOHNSTON EDITORS: RD2 K. J. KUNERT CT2 C. A. LANGHANS ARTIST: EN2 A. MRAZ LAYOUT: RD2 E. J. CROWELL RD2 B. W. DAVIS EM3 L. M. PANAREES ET2 B. E. STEVENS MM3 M. J. TAAA SN G. L. WILSON SN H. H. SIMPLER COVER: SMI L. D. FENTON PHOTOS: FTG2G. D. PITZEL and those submitted by the crew members TAYLOR PUBLISHING COMPANY 48 I . J