John McCain (DL 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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E Zicmgz of Qmmmwl t As the second Skipper of the MCCAIN, CDR. George A. Cowen had a proud record. He had been the first Commanding Officer of a fri- gate type ship that had really be- come operational. Under his able guidance, the MCCAIN had made her way to Hong Kong, via Pearl Harbor, Pago Pago, Australia, and Subic Bay. lt was in Hong Kong on 9 luly l957 that he formally turned over the reins of the MCCAIN to CDR. William D. Owen. Capt. Gowen was presented with a silver, engraved cigarette box by the officers of the Wardroom, immediately following his relief. Capt. Owen in the short time that he has been aboard, has gained the respect of the entire crew, as the McCAlN successfully completed its WestPac cruiseunder his guidance. We now look forward to two more successful years under Capt. Owen.

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CDR GEORGE A. GOWEN USN entered the Navy in October 1940 via the Pennsylvania Nautical School. ln November 1940 he reported 1 I I I 1 I I CDR VVILLIAM D. OWEN, IR. graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1941. During World War ll he participated in most of the major naval engagements both in Europe and in Asia. After the war ended, CDR. Owen attended the Post Graduate School at Annapolis and served on the staff, Battleship-Cruiser Eorce, Pacific Fleet, and on the staff loint American Military Advisory Group, Europe, London. During the Korean War, he commanded the U.S.S. GATLING CDD671l. Prior to assuming command of the McCAlN, CDR. Owen served as Officer in Charge of the Northern California and Nevada District recruit- ing and Officer Procurement program. to the U.S.S. SANTEE CAO-291 as Ass t Engineer- ing Officer. ln April 1942 he reported to the U.S.S. C1-IEVALIER, where he served as both Assistant Engineering Officer and as Engineering Officer. From December 1943 until February 1945 he was Engineering Officer of the U.S.S. HEN- LEY, after which he became an instructor in steam engineering at Cornell University. ln luly 1945 he began a 26 month tour of duty as Officer-in-Charge, Steam Engineering School, Newport, Rl. Following this he was a student at Cornell, and attended the General Line School, Newport, Rl. ln luly 1950 he became Executive Officer of the U.S.S. KEPPLER, and in April 1951 became Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. 1N- GERSOLL. From October 1952 until lune 1955 he served in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations. ln luly 1955 CDR. Gowen became Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. lOl-lN S. McCA1N CDL-31, in which capacity he served until relieved on 9 luly 1957 in 1-long Kong, B.C.C.

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COMMODORE C. A. IOHNSON, USN COM DES RON 21 Capt. Clifford A. lohnson, USN, was graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and commissioned an Ensign on 2 lune 1932. He then served succes- sively on the following ships: U.S.S. TEXAS CBB-351, U.S.S. NEW MEXICO CBB-401, U.S.S. STEWART IDD-2241, U.S.S. AUGUSTA CCA-311, U.S.S. SOMERS CDD-3317 and U.S.S. PHILIP CDD- 76l. When the United States entered World War II, he was serving in Communications on the Staff of CNO. He participated in the invasion of Sicily as X.O. of the U.S.S. GLENNON CDD-6201. In August 1943 he took command of the GLEN- NON, and participated in the invasion of Nor- mandy, before the ship struck a mine which anchored the stern in 36 feet of water, where the German offshore batteries finished off the job. After returning to the U.S., Capt. lohnson com- missioned the U.S.S. TOLMAN CDM-231, which proceeded to the Pacific in time to participate in the invasion of Okinawa. After the war he served aboard the U.S.S. LEARY CDDB-8791, as Inspector Instructor Naval Reserve at Baltimore, Md., and attended the Naval War College in Newport in 1950. He was returned to sea again in 1951 as ComDesDiv 102. In Washington in 1952, he served on the staff of the loint Chiefs of Staff. Prior to assuming com- mand of Destroyer Squadron 21 in March 1957, he was Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. OLM- STEAD CAPA-1881, and Chief of Staff of Cruiser Division 6. EXECUTIVE OFFICER CDR HOFFMAN was commisioned 5 March 1943 and served in both theatres during World War II. Immediately following the war, he com- manded an experimental PCECRD out of New Lon- don, Conn. This was followed by duty as Execu- tive Officer on the U.S.S. BURDO for 3 years. ln 1950 he went to the 10 month General Line course at Monterey, California. Late 1950 he was assigned duty with the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, Albuquerque, N.M., and in 1954 and 1955 he served with COMSERVPAC as the Pacific Special Weapons Logistics Officer. Upon completion of this tour he reported to the Naval War College in Newport for a 1 year course. He came aboard the McCAlN in Norfolk, Va. in 1956 as Executive Officer, and was pro- moted to Commander during the McCAIN's WestPac Cruise.