LSM Division (21) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 56 of the 1952 volume:

LSM DIVISION 21 LSM 297 LSM 397 LSM 398 LSM 399 LITTLE CREEK, VIRGINIA All Rights Reserved ALBERT LOVE ENTERPRISES 1090 Capitol Avenue, S.E. Atlanta, Georgia LCDR F. L. O ' LEARY Commanding Officer LSM DIV 21 LSM DIV 21 STAFF First row: Stan W. W yehulis, Wallace Fleming. . . . Second R. Baker. . . . Third row: Charles B. Laskowski, Gale L. row: George F. Wright, LCDR Frazier L. O ' Leary, Lt. Glwynn Cheney, Fred A. Schonert. I % PICTORIAL REVIEW Working day — Fried chicken (Top left) . . . Mess cook (Top right) . . . Chipping (Above). Embarkation. Embarkation. Embarkation. | VTZW| r i jP 9 Rr SS C w 4| m n.M l if Continue ships -work — B ■5k ■ - m ■■■■ tiiu. Wm ik A.1 p 5 ■ ' 1 • 3 Chow. J Recreation. Personnel Inspection. n 1 1 1 ■ 1 w ?P A b W % % : ' Mud £■1 it- • _ 4Jt.S W -«« i_ fcfc LT DELBERT D. GRANTHAM Commanding Officer History Of LSM 297 THE USS LSM 297 is the flagship of LSM Division Twenty-one, U. S. Atlantic Fleet, and was commissioned on December 18, 1944. Following her commission and through 1945, the 297 was stationed at her home port, U. S. Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Virginia. While there, the ship was used to train future LSM crews prior to their reporting to other LSM ' s in every war theater. ' In 1946, the ship was chosen to participate in the first of the now famous annual CAMID operations held every summer for and by the cadets and midship- men of the service academies. Shortly afterward, in October, the ship made a trip to Chester, Pennsylvania, for recreational purposes. During February and March of 1947, the 297 was engaged with various other units of the Atlantic Fleet in maneuvers in the Caribbean off Puerto Rico. After a summer in Little Creek, the ship participated in cold weather operations during October and November in the Argentia, Newfoundland oparea. Upon completion of these operations, the ship ' s complement was reduced to 16 the 297 was placed in a semi-active status. Upon return to active status in January 1948, the ship was assigned Ice-breaking duty in the James River for a little over one week. During July, August, and September, the ship was assigned to afloat training of personnel participating in Camid III. During the latter part of 1948, the ship enjoyed visits to Washington, D. C, and one month later, to New York City. During the first quarter of 1949, the 297 took part in her second Caribbean operation. In July, August, and September, she engaged in Camid IV. In the early part of 1950, the 297 once again steamed south, this time on operation PORTREX , with a large part of the Atlantic Fleet. The Fourth of July was spent at Colonial Beach, Virginia. In June of 1951, with two other ships of the Di- vision, the 297 left for Operation Blue Jay at Thule, Greenland. While there, the ship was used to ferry workers from barracks transports to the beach. Upon completion of the work, all hands were given a letter of commendation from Rear Admiral T. B. Brittain, Commander Task Force 118. Two weeks after her return to her home port, the ship left for maneuvers on Lantflex 51 , again in Car- ibbean waters. During 1952, the ship spent most of her time at the Bloodsworth Island shore bombardment range. A short trip was made in the latter part of October to Nassau, Bahamas, B. W. I. The commanding officer of the LSM 297 is LT. Del- bert D. Grantham, USN LSM 297 First rou: Allan B. Sondrol, Robert L. Morgans, Robert Lee Fohner, Charles L. Ferner. . . . Second row: R. G. Ledoux, Edward S. Hagenson, A. L. George, LTJG Richard E. Ody, Clarence A. Culbertson, Nuel Lee Merritt, Everette Freeman Stephens. . . . Third rou:- David Kirkland, Frank W. Haight, Francis C. Griffin, Max Sheffield, James E. Fleeman, Harvey J. Marts. First rou : H. V. Verity, John Raab Ohliger, John G. Lavallee, Frank Camillierc. . . . Second row: Raymond A. Rodino, Willie Houston Gwyn, Clyde N. Stevens, Sam Johnson Laync, LTJG Harold F. Wiley, David E. Wooldridge, Ernest Joseph Amiro. . Third rou: Edgar Van Buskirk, Frank W. Liszka, C. A. Latona, Louis Christian Thomas, Joseph Salvatore Capone, Frank John Ostrowski. First rou: Sam S. Harari, Albert Andrew Sontag, William R. Lord. . . . Second rou Robert Lee McKinley, John William Marshall, Fred W. Stover, LTJG John-H. Sullivan, Wayne Bailey, Angelo Chamochin. . . . Third rou:- Bernard A. Dool, Richard L. Sharp, John W. Kennedy, William Fred Nation, Hans F. A. Hoffman. V v V V First row: Charles L. Moore, William F. Warner, Bernard J. Sunday, Jay Burr, George P. Deering, Donald G. Muller. . . . Second rou:- James C. Matolek, Joseph Maiberger, Jr., Vernon Demar Strebeck, Rodney B. Richardson, Don Stevens, Larry Costilow. LSM 297 ROSTER SN Ernest J. Amiro QM 1 Wayne Bailey HM1 Jay J. Burr SN Frank Camillere SN An.uelo Chamochin SN Joseph S. Capone ETSN Larry Costilow ENC Clarence A. Culbertson ET3 George P. Deering QM3 Bernard A. Dool ENDFA Charles L. Derner DCW2 James E. Fleeman SA Robert L. Fohner ENC A . L . George EN3 Francis C. Griffin GM3 Willie H. Gwyn ENFN Edward S. Hagenson ENFN Frank W. Haight RMSN Sara S. Harari QMSN Hans F. Hoffman CS1 Roy R. Jullian YN3 John W. Kennedy TN Samuel Kinston EN2 David O. Kirkland CSSN Raymond C. Larson SN Anthony C. Latona SN John G. Lavallee BMC Sam J. Layne FN Richard G. Ledoux EM FN Raymond T. Leger SN William C. Lindsey SN Frank W. Liszka SN William R. Lord QMSN Joseph Maiberger CS3 John W. Marshall EN1 Harvey J. Marts YNSN Robert L. McKinley ENFN James C Matolek ENFN Nuel L. Merritt EM2 Charles L. Moore EN3 Robert L. Morgans EN3 Donald G. Muller SKSN William F. Nation SN John R. Ohliger SN Frank J. Ostrowski SN Joseph T. Polites EMFN Rodney B. Richardson SN Raymond A. Rodino RMSN Richard L. Sharp ENDFN Max Sheffield EMFN Allen B. Sondrol CS3 Albert A. Sontag EM3 Everette F. Stephens BM2 Clyde Stevens ENFN Donald F. Stevens SK3 Fred W. Stover SKSN Vernon D. Strebeck SN Louis C. Thomas SN Harold V. Verity RM2 William F. Warner ENDFN William F. Whitman QMQSN James A. Wilson BM2 David E. Wooldridge SA Edgar Vanbuskirk TAD YNSN Walter R. Malinowski END1 Bernard J. Sunday SN Frank R. Yurechsko DCFN Eldon D. Beck SN Eugene E. Raimondo Collum LT USN Delbert D. Grantham LTJG USN John H. Sullivan LTJG USN Harold F. Wiley LTJG USNR Richard E. Ody i LT W. J. FLYNN Commanding Officer History Of LSM 397 THE USS LANDING Ship Medium 397 was built in Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, S. C. and was com- missioned on 30 July 1945 just 14 days before the end of the war. The ship is 203 ' 6 long and is driven by two 1800 h.p. General Motors diesel engines. It has a maximum speed of 14 knots with a cruising speed of 10 knots. The com- plement assigned to the ship consists of three officers and thirty-eight enlisted men. The LSM is designed primarily for transporting medium and heavy Army tanks, their personnel and equipment and landing them under their own power on beaches. This vessel has a carrying capacity of five medium or three heavy Army tanks or a pay load maximum of 165 tons. All types of motorized vehicles and artillery can also be carried and unloaded under their own power. Since commissioning the ship has been assigned to the U. S. Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Va. as home port. In October 1945 she made a voyage up the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to Cincinnati, Ohio where the ship was opened to the public on Navy Day 1945. New York City was visited on Navy Day 1946. The LSM 397 has engaged in two Cadet-Midshipman Training Operations during the summer of 1946 and 1947. During February-March 1947 in Atlantic Fleet Maneuvers a detachment of marines and marine mecha- nized equipment was transported from Camp Lejuene, N. C. and landed in an attack of Culebra Island in the Caribbean. The USS Landing Ship Medium 397 is a unit of the Amphibious Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet. Designed for participation in the amphibious assault of enemy held territory, her primary mission is to land tanks and other vehicles fully equipped and manned. She participated in Amphibious Operations off Cuba in January 1946; off Puerto Rico, February 1947. In July 1947 she partici- pated in Operation CAMID off Virginia Beach, Virginia, an amphibious operation conducted for training of Cadets and Midshipmen. In October of 1947 she participated in Operation SEMINOLE off the west coast of Florida. In February 1948, she participated in SECOND TASK Fleet Exercises at Vieques, P. R. The LSM 397 has visited the following major ports: New York City; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Hamilton, Bermuda; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Fredriksted, St. Croix, V. I.; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. She has steamed a total of approximately 60,000 miles. LT William J. Flynn is the Commanding Officer. LTJG H. L. Hillhouse is Executive Officer, LTJG G. L. Mittler is Engineering Officer and ENS R. R. Kauffman is First Lieutenant. LSM 397 First row: Joseph C. Cavaluzzi, George W. Krider, Ervin T. Wahlic, Fred P. White, ENS Gerald L. Mittler, Lawrence J. Mognoni, Long, J. S. Condurso. . . . Second row: Albert D. Patterson, Jack Daugherty, Bernard E. Davis, J. N. Campbell, Owen Marvin Miller, Harold K. Miller, John Franklin Zuber, Robert Stanley Mazurek, Patsy L. Maiorano, Harvey Edward Hawkhurst, Phillip James Randier. First row: Robert William Walker, Anthony S. Dil Donald K. Bannett, Edward J. Szymoorski, ENS Bruce Robert Kauffman, Albert E. Welchman, Earl A. Tillotson, Asa Cray- ton Paschal, Jr., James V. Veloski. . . . Second row: Rodney A. Cleveland, Linwood R. Kelley, John Freijomil, James Thomas O ' Neill, Anthony T. Giordano, John M. Maroney, Hdison Walker, Jr., John J. McGecver, John P. Drat- wick, John E. Joseph, Carl D. Smith, Lewis Wilson. LSM 397 ' 9. V $ j ri.r : t. ' ,w A i rw row: Michael Thomas Defazio, Victor Lee Wilson, Wil- lard J. Deiger, LTJG H. L. Hillhouse, Clark Dennis Jones, Roy Stuart Johnson, Patrick Reagan. . . . Second row: Joseph Petrauskis, Carlyle J. Scott, Paul J. Kubiak, Jack F. Peck, Millard E. Francis, Loren R. Newman, Samuel M. Anderson, Richard J. Reardon. LT J. A. EDWARDS Commanding Officer SAf 3ff The U.S.S. LSM 398 was built at the United States Naval Shipyard, Charleston, North Carolina. Her keel was laid 13 October 1944. The ship was launched 6 January 1945, and placed in commission on 6 August 1945. Upon completing her building trials, and shakedown cruise, she joined the fleet at the United States Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Vir- ginia. This base has become her home port. Since being placed in service, the U.S.S. LSM 398 has been an active unit of the Amphibious Forces, U. S. Atlantic Fleet taking part in numerous amphibious training operations in the following areas: Vieques, Puerto Rico; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Onslow Beach, North Carolina; and Camp Pendleton, Virginia. During the summer of 1951 this ship participated in the publicized Operation Blue Jay at Thule, Greenland. The extent of her participation is shown by the fact that she made in excess of 120 be achings and at one time transported 1277 soldiers and civilian workers. When the 398 wasn ' t involved in amphibious training, she History Of LSM 398 could be found at Bloodsworth Island, Maryland, assisting the gunfire support school. Among the liberty ports visited by the ship are St. Croix and St. Thomas, Virgin Island; New York; Philadelphia; Jacksonville, and Panama City, Florida; Baltimore; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Bermuda; Basseterre, St. Kitts; and St. Johrfs, Antigua. Lt. L. L. Walters, USNR, became the ship ' s first Command- ing Officer. Others were LTJG J. T. McBride, USNR, April 1946 to July 1946; Lt. J. W. Mercer, USN, July 1946 to November 1947; Lt. R. N. Moss, USN, November 1947 to January 1950; Lt. J. F. Roohan, Jr., USN, January 1950 to June 1951; Lt. E. C. Cortez, Jr., USNR, June 1951 to May 1952. The present Commanding Officer, Lt. J. A. Edwards, Jr., USN, assumed command of the 398 in May 1952. Other officers presently on board are: Lt. J. J. Summerill, 3rd, USNR, Woodbury, N. J.; LTJG W. F. Easterlin, USN, Amencus, Ga.; LTJG W. N. List, USNR. Chicago, 111.; ENS. P. S. Cushman, USNR, Glens Falls, N. Y. LSM 398 First row: Andrew V. Madonia, Robert Higgins, Arthur L. Clawson, Robert G. Cronin, Gerald J. Hotchkiss. . . . Second row: Beauford Clark Johnson, Charles L. Sellers, Junior Brooks Dengler, John R. Biunno, Guy Oliver Fisher, Donald Edward Moscoe, Robert Foster Sports. . . . Third row: George H. Ford, Russell William Read, Willie J. Lewis, Joseph J. Sum- merville, Robert J. Hughes, Richard H. Thiemeyer, Regis A. Houllion. ■ t ' ■or? v_„ t f fl if Fm( row. ' Joseph B. Dearie, Orin L. McDonald, Edward B. Redd, ENS W. N. List, Gaines Hensley, Lawrence A. Scola, Leonard Wohl. . . . Second row: John Joseph DiTulho, Leonard Huskey, Richard B. Ozment, Gerald H. Trapp, Kevin G. Lawless, James W. Hunt, Ray P. Turhyfill, Ignatius Frank Modica. 4 € f ber, Gilbert G. er, Russell F.d -axd Mills. Thomas vhuta, Richard Ber- 15 Paul S Cushmin, John M. Kirk, Bernar - B O ' Brien. Clare Gene RurTner. . . . Third roa Bernard Grcdecky, Nick A. Jergovich, Paul E Nichols N T ed Former, Frank J. McGole, Jr.. Edward F. Haines, Roy F. Blackburn, R. G. Mataicovich. LT JOSEPH D. WEED Commanding Officer History Of LSM 399 THE USS LSM 399 was built at the U. S. Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina. The keel was laid October 13, 1944 and the ship was launched January 6, 1945. Commissioning ceremonies were held on August 13, 1945 — at which time the USS LSM 399 became a unit of the Naval Amphibious Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet with LT E. BROUGHTON, JR., USN as its first Com- manding Officer. Immediately after commissioning she proceeded to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where she com- pleted her building trials and shakedown cruise. She was then sent to the U. S. Naval Amphibious Base, West Annex, Little Creek, Virginia, which became her home port. She has been an active unit of the U. S. Atlantic Fleet, participating in most Amphibious Training Op- erations. In carrying out her assigned mission she has sailed from Labrador and Iceland in the north to Cuba and Puerto Rico in the south. January 1949 found her in the Caribbean Sea par- ticipating in the first PORTREX operation off Vieques Island. In this operation she was a unit of the aggressor forces and for this exercise she received a well done from the Commander Amphibious Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet. The remainder of 1949 was devoted to regular shipyard overhaul, refresher training under Chesapeake- Bay Training Command, independent ship exercises and other competitive amphibious exercises. The USS LSM 399 was awarded the Battle Efficiency pennant for year of 1950. She was the first to wear the E plaque for the LSM ' s in the LSM Division 21. NORAMEX, PACARD, CROSSOVER, CAMID V and CONVEX I operations carried her through the year 1951. In addition to their active schedule, she partici- pated in numerous operations off Bloodsworth Island, Maryland. She spent Armed Forces Day 1951 at Wilmington, Delaware where she was host of approximately 1200 guests. More recently the USS LSM 399 participated in the first post war amphibious exercises in Iceland for ap- proximately 3 months. On her return voyage she en- countered Hurricane B and was buffeted by tempes- tuous seas with winds of 90 knots. This period was followed by regular shipyard overhaul, refresher train ing, and local operations under COMPHIBTRALNT and OPDEVFOR. Her current Commanding Officer is Lieutenant Joseph D. Weed of Jacksonville, Florida. LT Weed who as- sumed command on November 1 1, 1952 graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland in 1946. LSM399 First row: Max A. Cole, Francis I. Allen, Ellsworth K. Eisleben, Paul Minnick, ]r.. Raymond Stubber. . . . Second row: Robert R. Muhl, Hewett F. Coe, ENS Robert Gerald Chamberlian, Robert Harold Olsen, Warren D. Case, Andrew J. Gill. . . . Third row: David Renshaw, Engene Fusco, Nicholas P. Liz- anov, William J. Wusterhausen, Gerald Paul Reihm, Robert Earl George, Henry B. Buss. I wl Firtt row: Charles P. Hanke, William Henry Rookus, Kervin Jonathan, Nicholas Joseph Gallo, Clifford Thomas Parm. . . . Second row: Howard Van Brunt. Jnhn J Srarace, ENS N Eoloff, Philip J. Gryga, William A. Ash, John E. Hoerner. Third row: Samuel H. Southerland. Eugene Dockery, Walter V. Zienkiewicz. Charles F. Rollins, Joseph F. Slattery. Robert Lee Rothwell, John Kuzmich. LSM399 First row: Robert J. Boston, Robert Martin Heim, D. E. Fletcher, Jr., LT Joseph C. Hickson, Jesse L. Prestridge, David J. Young, James R. Cummings. . . . Second row: Daniel J. Farrell, Roland R. Veronneau, James F. Anderson, James H. Scott, Mack Quinn. ra