Kearsarge (CVA 33) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE EXE To the men that came aboard me while l was in the dry dock at Bremerton during my big conversion, I did not even resemble a ship. With scattolding surrounding me, work- men's shocks cluttering my flight deck, and high pressure air hoses streamed throughout my interior, l seemed more like a building in the last stages of construction than a man-of-war. Captain lthen Commanderl Gerald H. Duffy was my Executive Officer during that crucial period. Captain Duffy, working closely with the shipyard officials, was the overseer of the conversion. But even as he was supervising the general nature of the alteration, he had to think ahead and plan forthe time when I would return to sea. For it would be his job as Captain Shields' right hand man to set up and administer the training program that would make me ready for operations. The high score l attained for myself on my Operational Readiness lnspec- tion and the fine reputation I won while in the Far East are testimonials to the ability and foresight ot the Executive Officer that served aboard me during the early phase of my WesPac cruise. 19

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.ff I I Vit 'L .f.' f .Q PTAIN When I came out of Bremerton inthe beginning of l957, my legs were a bit shaky. l had undergone a maior face-lifting , and l hadn't been out to sea for quite a while. I was anxious to test my new additions...a hurricane bow, angled deck, and a deck edge elevator. But even more I was anxious for my men to get acquainted with the new me, to iron out the kinks accumulated during my long stay in dry dock, and to form the best training habits. l knew that in the summer I would be sent on a long cruise to the Far East and there was much to be done before deploy- ment. The man who guided me out ofthe U. S. Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wasington was Captain Ward Thornton Shields. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, class of l932, Captain Shields had 25 years experience in land, sea, and air billets. Training and more training was the watchword during the months prior to my departure for WesPac. Every week Capt. Shields took me out to sea, oft the coast of California, to work my men into shape. lt was hard work requiring long and hard hours, but my sea legs were returning and I was feeling more confident. l was begining to qualify pilots on my new deck, and later there were important operations. PACTRAEX and Operation HOMERUN were the culmi- nation of the training period that was turning me back into an efficient, combat-ready ship. ln August when I reached Hawaii, l knew that Captain Shields had put me into the best shape possible. For after three days of grueling work the ORI was over and I had passed with Hying colors.

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The Executive Officer is truly the right hand man of my Captain. Although the Commanding Officer is responsible for everything that trans- pires aboard me, he does not have the time to devote to overseeing the minute details. Instead, he gives the orders and the Exec sees to it that the commands are carried out properly. But the Executive Ofhcer, in turn, cannot allow himself to become entangled in the mountains of paper- work that are a part of administering G sea-going air base. To assist him in the task is the Administrative Staff. They are the ones who process the paperwork, handle the administration of law and order, supervise the various training programs, and look after the religious welfare of the crew. ADMINISTRATION Top raw ilelt to rgh I: Plce, JL, Hadley IFA M clfinley, CR., lcclr VJ. Mahcney Cdr R C M C TCMCI DC! Eotmm UWHQH to Mgmt Hinton, RXAM mum KAL' r MC Fm K .. wc cmas, Bensmiller, D,A., Dennis, f I , Ad . s . . is . WGN! ig' Gm' ' CII-1 W-Hr, lseauchaine, CF., Titufar, LS., Cain