Lexington (CVA 16) - Naval Cruise Book

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 8 text:

S K 1 Alexander Salley Heyward, Jr. was born in Columbia, South Carolina, on April 22, 1908. He entered the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis on June 15, 1926 as a midshipman from his native state. He was graduated and commissioned Ensign on June 5, 1930, and through subsequent promotions attained the rank of Captin, to date from September 1, 1948, having served in that rank CtemporaryD from February 1946 to January 1948. His Hrst duty station was on board the battleship USS CALIFORNIA After being designated a naval aviator in 1932 he served succeeding tours with Observation ONE B Fighter Squadron 3 the latter embarked on the USS LANGLEY and later on the USS RANGER During the early period of World War II after extensive duty with various patrol squadrons he was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat V for exceptionally meritorious conduct as Commanding Officer of Patrol Commanding Officer ALEXANDER . HEY ARD,JL, Captain, USN Squadron 73. In 1944 he became Chief of Staff for Fleet Air Wing ONE where he participated in the Okinawa campaign for which he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of the second Legion of Merit. Captain Heyward later served as Exec of the USS ANTIETAM, instructor at the Naval War College, Assistant Chief of Staff with ComAir Pac, and CO of the USS TIMALIER, a seaplane tender. In October, 1952 he was sent to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations where he later became Assistant Director Fleet Operations. It was from this post that he came to the LEX. Married to the former Miss Virginia Nicholson of Camden SC the skipper has three children and a grand- daughter He was relieved as Commanding Officer by Captin John W Gannon on Oct 4 1956 . ' 7 5 J 7 J 7 2 ' -7 , . ' ' ' ct 77 ez - ' - ' ' an ' - THE SKIPPER with his men at a YMCA party in Bremerton. Not an unusual occasion, he visited men often. W.. ....-aww--my-qv ...NW S Q 2 ls 1 is l n 1: ER S1 I f 1 li .L

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.