Leonard Mason (DD 852) - Naval Cruise Book

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-qv IN THE BEGININNG Exhibiting the same zeal and devotion as her namesake, the MASON, as a ship, has a colorful and memorious past. Built by the Bethlehem Steel Company of Quincy, Mass., she was launched December 15, 1945, and was christened by Mrs. Hillery Mason, mother of Leonard F. Mason. Following her shakedown cruise in the Caribbean, MASON joined the Pacific Fleet in 1947, and has served ever since under the Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Force, Pacific Fleet. Her first war action came in December of 1950. , , ., ,, l

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OUR NAMESAKE On the 22nd of July, 1944, Leonard F. Mason found himself face down in the dirt. He was under fire from two enemy machine guns not more than 15 yards away from the narrow gully where he lie. He was an automatic rifleman in the United States Marine Corps. Attached to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division, his platoon was fighting on Guam during World War ll. Alone and entirely on his own initiative, PFC Mason hurled himself out of the gully and ran parallel to it toward the rear of the enemy position. Although fired upon immediately by hostile riflemen from a higher position and repeatedly wounded in the arm and shoulder, Mason grimly pressed forward and had just reached his objective when hit by a burst of machine gun fire. With valiant disregard for his own peril, he persevered, clearing the hostile position, killing five Japa- nese, wounding another and then rejoined his platoon to report the results of his action. He was immediately evacuated and later succumbed to his wounds. For action above and beyond the call of duty, PFC Mason was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously.

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, Official United Sta-tes Navy Photograph Throughoutfthe Korean Campaign, MASON served with distinction. She parti- cipated in the seige of Wonsan, the Taiwan Defense Patrol, Task Force 77 operations off Korea, and in many special missions for bombardment and recon- naissance. With similar distinction and results, MASON has taken part in the Vietnam struggle. Altogether, MASON has made twelve tours in the Far East, five of these in war conditions. As a result of her service, the MASON was awarded the Navy Oc- cupation Service Medal on three occasions, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.