Latimer (APA 152) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 5 text:

As Commanding Officer of the LATIMER, Captai11 Charles R. HERMS culminated his year-long tenure in guiding the shipis performance to outstanding attainment. Commissioned as ensign on 5 June 1930, he served on both battleships and cruisers prior to his completion of a two-year communication course at the post-graduate school in Annapolis. Afterwards he became Communications Officer aboard the air- craft carrier, YORKTOWN. Commencement of World War II found him first as the Exe- cutive Officer and then as Commanding Officer of the destroyer, PAUL JONES. He later commanded another destroyer, the COLLETT. In 1948, he headed a Naval Reserve unit in Columbus, Ohio, followed by duty as a mine specialist with the Pacific Fleet. Since then, Captain HERMS served as Chief of Staff of a des- troyer flotilla and as a fleet Operations Officer with the Navy Department. He assumed command of the LATIMER in Sep- tember 1953. On 29 October 1954, Captain J. 1. CONE relieved Captain HERMS as Commanding Officer of the LATIMER. I Captain James 1. Cone serves as the fourth Commanding Officer of the LATIMER since her re-commissioning. Upon graduation from the Naval Academy in 1931, he first served on the light cruiser CONCORD. He later spent two years aboardithe HAN- NIBAL which conducted hydrographic surveys of Central and South American waters. That fateful day -- 7 December 1941 -- found him serving as AA Defense Officer on the SAN FRANCISCO at Pearl Harbor. He subsequently became gunnery officer on the cruiser MOBILE in 1943. In 1947, Captain CONE commanded tl1e re-commissioned des- troyer, LLOYD THOMAS, which made a cruise around the world. In 1950 he reported to the U.S. Naval War College, New- port, Rl. In 1951 he was assigned as Assistant Commander of the Naval Ordnance Laboratory at White Oak, Maryland. Two years later, Captain Cone served as Chief of Staff to Com- mander Cruiser Division TWO. In October 1954, he relieved Captain C.R. HERMS as Commanding Officer of the LATIMER.

Page 4 text:

X SHIP'S HISTORY - In history, authenticity tends to sacrifice completeness. Thus some achievements receive dueprecognition in chronicles, while other efforts go completely ignored. Such disregard for the majority of people seems cruelly unfair, for everyone at least believes he ser- ves a distinct purpose on earth. Analogically, as much can be said about the LATIMER. With other vessels in the Navy's fleets, the LATIMER plays its role in protecting the shipping and shores of the United States as well as representing the nation abroad. Like many stories, the LATIMER's started meagerly. It began in Portland, Oregon where her keel was laid on 19 May 1944. In- dependence Day of that same year saw her commissioned and named after Latimer County, Oklahoma. During World War II, LATIMER participated in campaigns at New Caledonia, New Guinea, Lingayan Gulf,'and Leyte. When war ended, she transported thousands of troops from the Pacific to the West Coast. In 1946, her assignment to the 16th Fleet at Norfolk culminated invher decommissioning. Hostilities in Korea caused the LATIMER to be recommissioned on 23 September 1950. Almost a year later to the day of her .,,. . activation, the LATIMER served withthe 'SIXTH Fleet, operating in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time. U Early 1953 saw the LATIMER operating in the Caribbean Sea where liberty visits included ports in I-Iaiti, Jamaica, and Cuba. In 1954, the LATIMER underwent refresher training near Haiti. A training period preceded her participation in four operations during May and June. Finally, tender availability prelfaced her departure on 7. September 1954 for the Mediterranean Sea. During her second visit to The Med , the LATIMER inevitably Mmadei' history. Whether or not her contribution assumed large or small proportions remains to be determined. Nevertheless, she successfully fulfilled the mission for which she was sent - namely, to help preserve the ideals to which we are dedicated. Conse- quently, the LATIMER proved that she equals, if not surpasses, the better assault transports in the Atlantic Fleet. Even the Commander Amphibious Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet recognized that fact in ,lune 19541 when he awarded the Battle Efficiency Plaque to the LATIMER. At that time, Admiral Fahrion wrote: This achievement reflects a devotion to duty and an attainment of standards which are most creditable to... the naval service. 'lv ea' .

Page 6 text:

No commanding oflicer commands his ship without some dependence upon his execu- tive oflicer and department heads. To them, the C.O. delegates the duties ne- cessary to executethe functions of his ship. Un the LATIMER, Commander James John Macleod serves as the Executive Uffi- cer. He supervises all matters relating to personnel, routine, and discipline of the ship under the direction of the captain. Orders issued by him are considered as originating with the Commanding Oflicer. Naturally, enforcement of orders requires assistance. Such assistance comes from the department heads who are responsible for the training, safety, security, maintenance and conduct of the ofiicers and men assign- ed to them. .. X 'FQ' 'iii ' -Sw ' -li