Intrepid (CVS 11) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPTAIN CHARLES S. MINTER, JR. A native Virginian born on January 23, 1915 at POC0l10f1fU!1 the Captain attended Logan High School at Logan, West Virginia, and graduated from Bluefield Junior College in Bluefield, W. Va., before enter- ing the U.S. Naval Academy. He was graduated and commissioned Ensign in 1937. Captain Minter's first sea duty was in the heavy cruiser USS HOUSTON, after which he served for a year on the Staff of Commander Cruiser Scout- ing Force in the USS CHICAGO. Beginning in August 1940, he underwent flight training at Pensacola and received his wings as a naval aviator in April 1941. While he was performing ASW Hights from Iceland with Patrol Squad- ron 73, the United States entered World War Il. During the conhict Captain Minter served as Executive Officer of VP-53, Commanding Officer of HEDRON 9-1, and finally in the carrier USS RANDOLPH CVA-15, in the capacities of Assistant Air Officer, and Air Officer. While he was serving aboard the RANDOLPH off Ulithi, the ship suffered a direct hit by a Jap- anese kamikaze. In December 1945, Captain Minter served as Transport Officer during the RANDOLPH'S first two Magic Carpet cruises between Norfolk and Naples, More than 5,000 bunks were installed on the ship's hangar deck and she brought nearly 6,500 troops home from overseas on each trip. From the end of World War ll until 1950 he was assigned to the Naval Air Test Center at Patuxent River, Maryland. Following this assignment the Captain assumed command of VP-28, engaged in combat operations over Korea. Under his leadership, the squadron conducted flare drop fiights, known as Operation Lamplighter for night air strikes by the First Marine Air Wing on North Korean targets. This marked the first time a VP squadron had been used in combat maneuvers of this nature. For two years beginning in 1953, the Captain served as Executive Officer of the Physical Education Department at the Naval Academy, and in 1955-1956 he attended the National War College. Included among his decorations are: two Bronze Stars with Combat V , two Air Medals, American Defense with A, American-European Theatre, Philippine Liberation, WWII Victory, U.S. and Korean Theatre Medals. Captain Minter is married to the former Mary Margaret Skeehan of Beverly Hills, California. They have three children, Charles, 19, who is now in his second year at the Naval Academy: David M., 16: and Meredith Ann, 11. The Minters currently reside at 102 Burton Lane, Bay Colony, Virginia Beach. I8

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COMMANDER LEROY PASCHAL SMITH, USN Commander Leroy Paschal Smith, USN, was born in Hanna, Oklahoma, on 12 November 1919, He grew up in Coffeyville Kansas and attended Coffeyville Junior CoIIege before entermg the Navy On entermg the Naval servuce m 1941 he was sent to Naval Avsatlon Cadet tralmng at the Naval Arr Stateon Corpus Chnstn Texas Hls f1rst asslgnment after wxnnmg his wmgs was as an Instrument instructor at the same statxon From late 1943 to 1944 he served wnth f1ghter squad ron VF 39 which was land based In the Marshall Islands Then followed an assignment to Fighter Combat Team Tram mg Squadrons VF 98 99 and 100 ln 1945 he was assngned to fighter bomber squadron VBF1 aboard the USS BEN NINGTON LCV 201 operatmg off the Japanese mamland Returning to the Unlted States In January 1946 he spent the next sux months as Personnel Officer at the Naval Auxulrary Anr Statnon Cudclnhy Fueld Corpus Chrnstu Texas In June of that year he attended the Postgraduate School at Monterey Callforma and the Massachusetts Instntute ot Technology where he earned hus Masters degree From there he reported as CVG Stal? Admumstratuve Ofticer of Carner Amr Group CCAG1 11 Durlng the Korean War the then LCDR Smnth served as Executive OfHcer for VF 114 operating from the USS VALLEY FORGE CCV 451 and USS PHILIPPINE SEA LCV-471 He next reported to Washmgton DC where he was assngned as Prolect Officer for development of let engmes lh the Expenmental Jet Engme Sectnon of the Bureau of Aeronautacs From 1953 to 1955 he was Commandmg Officer of VA-42 which saw duty nn the SIXTH FLEET m the Mednter ranean on board the USS RANDOLPH LCV 151 As a member of the Board of Inspection and Survey at the Naval Alr Test Center Patuxent Rwer Maryland he was responsnble for the tnal of new aurcraft In 1958 Commander Smsth reported to the Stat? of Commander Corner Dnvnsuon 17 aboard the USS YORK TOWN CCVS 101 which was deployed with the SEVENTH FLEET nn the Western Pacufic He was Assnstant Operatnons and Plans Ofticer for Aer and ASW Operatuons EXECUTIVE OFFICER In 1960 he was detached from COMCARDIV I7 Staff and on 9 .Iune he reported to the USS INTREPID ICVA111 for lndoctnnatuon preparatory to becommg the Executive Officer Commander Smith holds the Dlstmgutshed Flynng Cross and Alr Medal wlth f1ve Gold Stars Vlctory Medal Amer: can Defense Medal American Theater Medal Aslatnc Paclfnc Medal wath three Stars Navy Occupatnon Medal and Korean Campaign Medal with three Stars He IS marned to the former Luclle Bruton of Lovelady Texas and has one son Robert Benlamun born 16 Septem ber 1947 I Ie I I I I I . I I 1 1 I I , . . ' , s . . I D . . I - - I . I 1 1 1 - I I - 1 , . . . 1 ' ' .' n u I o I . . . . . , I . . . . I . 1 ' ' . . . . 5 1 1 1 5 f . 1 . 7 . 3 1 ' 7 o 0 1 I ' 1 , 1 0 1 u I 1 . , , . . WWW' V 5 1 ,ll e 1 n a n WI' . ii A 1 I 1 1 I: 1 1 ' I I I ' 1 . . . 1 '- 1 1 1 . L. 1 1 1 ' '