Kearsarge (CVS 33) - Naval Cruise Book

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DEDICATION Lord guard and guide the men who fly through the great spaces in the sky. Be with them always in the air. in darkening storm or sunlight fair. Hear us when we lift our prayer for those in peril in the air . . . This book depicts KEARSARGE during her third western Pacific cruise in support of our coun- try ' s efforts in the Far East. The period is 1967-1968, that period which saw the abortive Communist attacks in Vietnam: Con Thien, Saigon, Hue, Khe Sanh, and the PUEBLO incident off North Korea. The pictures that follow display KEARSARGE as a capital ship -a fighting ship -of the Line. Shown is an exceptional combination of equipment and men. Although extended and long, the deployment was a meaningful experience for all of us. Though we were provided with an opportunity to visit many new and interesting places, each of us was aware continually of the contribution we were making toward national policy. The tasks assigned were not easy ones; some died in their execution. TRACKER and TRACER aircraft spotted naval gunfire, destroyed and disrupted scalane traffic with guided missiles, and constantly surveyed vast expanses of ocean. Helicopters transported tons of mail and hundreds of personnel to and from accompanying ships and provided, most importantly, heroic rescue service to downed aviators and distressed sailors. Throughout, a taut anti-submarine warfare posture was maintained. Operational commanders frequently proclaimed that all tasks were accomplished magnificently. Making the Air Group performance possible, and giving substance to the directives of Com- mander Antisubmarine Warfare Group FIVE, embarked, was the exceptional performance of KEAR- SARGE ' S ship ' s company, which was required to work long hours, difficult hours. For many crew members around the clock performance was not uncommon. As true professionals in the world ' s greatest Navy, all members of the KEARSARGE team gave of themselves in a tireless manne r with- out complaint. Selfiess performance was without parallel and serves as a sterling example of dedica- tion to duty which exists aboard this fine ship. The following pages show that all was not glamor aboard. Those involved in continuing, pressing damage control requii ' ements, those below decks in the firerooms, the laundry, the mess decks, the magazines, those involved on the fiight deck and in the hangar bays, those performing the back breaking underway replenishment tasks, all can attest to this. Yet each crew member deserves an equal share of the glory that was KEARSARGE during 70,000 miles of steaming. I, as Commanding Officer, am thankful for and proud of the ship and the spirit we call KEAR- SARGE. My association with you who have made it so will remain one of my most endurable memo- ries. KEARSARGE will always symbolize for me the highest standards of Naval Service to our great and wonderful country. For most of us the deployment contained periods of loneliness and thoughts of home. These peri- ods were particularly acute after extension rumors became reality, when Tonkin Gulf gave way to the Sea of Japan, and a planned winter transit home became, instead, a spring transit. But despite our feelings, we were well aware of the stresses and difficulties those we left behind were called upon to endure during the prolonged months of separation. With this in mind then, it is my honor and plea- sure to dedicate this Cruise Book to the families, sweethearts and loved ones who also served by sup- porting us and whose continued support made our tasks easier, our days brighter . . . Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave. Who biddest the mighty ocean deep its own appointed limits keep; hear us when we cry to Thee, for those in peril on the sea! 4j:?C CREIGHTON W. COOK CAPTAIN, U.S. NAVY COMMANDING OFFICER

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TABLE OF CONTENTS DEPARTURE U.S. - - - 12 SHIP ' S MISSION 16 HAWAII - - 37 ENGINEERING DEPT. 43 ATHLETICS 64 OPERATIONS DEPT. - 71 JAPAN 89 SUPPLY DEPT. - 95 CHANGE OF COMMAND 116 ADMINISTRATION DEPT. 123 PHILIPPINES 137 PEOPLE TO PEOPLE 146 WEAPONS DEPT. 149 MARINE DETACHMENT 168 HOLIDAYS IN SASEBO - 177 COMASWGRU FIVE 183 SHIPBOARD ENTERTAINMENT - - 198 SEVENTH FLEET 204 HONG KONG 205 CARRIER AIR GROUP 213 AIR DEPT. - - - - 247 NAVIGATION DEPT. - - 263 COMMUNICATIONS DEPT. 269 MEDICAL DEPT. - - - 279 DENTAL DEPT. - 285 CHURCH IN KEARSARGE - - 290 IN MEMORIAM - - 295

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THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER Oh, say can ijou see, hif the davvn ' s early li ty hatso jrroudly we hailed at the twilights laU tJiecimjn , Whose broad Gripes arid bn r ars, through thepenlaiis fight, o ' er the rampum ht watted wm so gallantly ftreamin ? cAnd the roSkets ' red glare the bombs burflin in air. Gave f rooj throng the night that ourjlazwus ill tliere ; Oh say, does that ars paneled Banner yet wave O er the land of the free and the home of the brave I