Lexington (CVA 16) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 10 text:

Captain Gannon Was born on April 10, 1909 in Ashley, North Dakota and entered the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, with the class of 1931 and was subsequently commissioned an Ensign and assigned his first duty on board the USS TEXAS. He served on board the carrier USS SARATOGA and in 1943 was Com- manding Officer of Patrol Squadron 203 which fought in the North Atlantic campaigns. Highlighting this wartime duty was a tour as navigator on the present LEX which was then fiagship for the famous Task Force 58. After leaving the LEX, the skipper became Executive Officer of the USS CAPE GLOUCESTOR and remained on board throughthe end of the war. In 1952 Captain Gannon received his first sea command when he took over as Commanding Officer of the USS FLOYDS BAY. Later, he joined NATO,s SACLANT staff as Operations Officer. Captain Gannon came to the LEX from the Military Application Division of the Atomic Energy Commission. He relieved Captain A. S. Heyvvard, Jr. as Commanding Officer on October 4, 1954. Commanding Officer J OH W. GAN N ON Captain, USN INFORMAL portrait of the skipper in his in-port cabin.

Page 9 text:

Executive Officer GEORGE H. CARTER, Commander, USN l CDR Carter with Senator Jackson of Washington. Executive Officer Cdr. Carter Was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota on July 24, 1913. He attended the University of North Dakota, entered the Navy in 1936 and had served aboard eight carriers including the ESSEX, YORKTOWN, RANGER and SARA- TOGA prior to the LEX. He is the father of seven children. He Was relieved as Exec of the LEX on June 15, 1956, to begin duty at the Industrial College in Washington, D. C. ED RD H. EILER, Jr., Commander, USN X 6751 1 fs! , .,.. ,,..Q3 .1 CDR Seiler giving an order in civies. Born in New Orleans, still his home, on Aug. 13, 1918, Cdr. Seiler graduat- ed from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1939, began career on old LEX QCV-25, became naval aviator in 1942, later skippered Patrol Bomber Squadron 207, progressed to Exec of NAS, Norfolk, then assumed present duty on June 15, 1956. He has tour children and tvvo nicknames.

Page 11 text:

Commander Carrier Division One ILLIAM L. ERDMANN, Rear Admiral, USN Rear Admiral William L. Erdmann Was born on Novem- ber 18, 1902, in Greensburg, Indiana, and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1924. After being designated naval aviator in 1928 and serving aboard cruiser USS CINCINNATI, battleship USS OKLA- HOMA, carrier USS SARATOGA, cruiser USS LOUISVILLE, he was attached to various air patrol squadrons until 1942 when he joined the staff of Commander Third Fleet. He took command of the escort carrier USS MATANIKAU in 1944 and at War's end Was Commander Air Sea Rescue. More recently, Admiral Erdmann was Commanding Officer of the carrier USS LEYTE and NAS San Diego. In 1952 he was named Commander of Carrier Division 14. Admiral Erdman became Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics and Administration at NATO's Southern Europe headquarters in 1953. On April 21, 1956, he took command of Carrier Division One. He is married and has a daughter, Patricia Ann. Chief of Staff Carrier Division One WILLIA L KABLER Captain, USN Born September 24 1908 1n Roanoke Virginia Captain William L Kabler graduated from the Naval Academy in 1929 was designated naval aviator in 1931 served with squadrons on the LEXINGTON OKLAHOMA and LANGLEY Won Navy Cross as skipper of seaplane tender HERON from 1940-1942 for aiding the defense of the Philippines and the Netherlands East Indies. After Washington duty, he Was navigator aboard the TICONDEROGA during the Leyte invasion, same year became Exec of the ENTERPRISE and took part in the South China Sea, Ivvo Jima and Okinawa operations. He has also been Naval Attache at Ankara, Turkey and Aide to the Asst. Secretary of the Navy for Air. He was Commanding Officer of the RENDOVA and the KEARSARGE.