Monongahela (AO 178) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 6 text:

MONONGAHELA ' s History World ' s Finest Oiler AO 178 is the third ship to bear the name USS MONON- GAHELA. She earned her name from the river that winds its way through Pennsylvania and West Virginia, one of the famous Three Rivers that merge near Pittsburgh. The first MONONGAHELA, a wooden sailing ship, saw duty during the Civil War and made travels as far reaching as the Orient. At one time, she was the flagship of Admiral David G. Farragut. In the end, this MONONGAHELA burned in a terrible fire at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 1908. The second MONONGAHELA also saw much war action. After being commissioned in 1942, she earned 10 Battle Stars providing life-giving supplies in such places as Guadalcanal, the Marshall Islands, the Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The second MONONGAHELA was decommissioned in 1969. Today, USS MONONGAHELA stands ever ready to sup- port the ships of the fleet. In May 1986, she returned from a seven and a half month deployment to the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, and Western Pacific, completing over 220 underway re- plenishment and travelling over 40.000 miles. In the first five months of 1989, AO-178 completed over 150 underway replen- ishments in three major fleet exercises including a Middle East Force Exercise where she refueled ships from Germany, Britain, Canada and the U.S. In May 1989, MONONGAHELA began her transit back to the Mediterranean with the USS Coral Sea Battle Group. Her service to the fleet will certainly not stop with this deployment, and MONONGAHELA will undoubtedly be in the spot light many times again.

Page 5 text:

This cruisebook is dedicated to the officers and crew of USS MONONGAHELA and to the contributions they made during MONONGAHELA ' s deployment to the Mediterranean. Leaving port on 31 May 1989, no one knew what the next six months would bring. No one was sure where MONONGAHELA would go, which customers she would be called upon to service, or what challenges she and her crew would face. When the deployment was all over and MONONGAHELA returned to Norfolk on 1 1 November 1989, everyone took pride in the fact it was a very successful deployment. The pages which follow are a collage of the events in which MONONGAHELA participated MONONGAHELA travelled to many countries including; Spain, France, Italy, and Greece. She participated in various fleet exercises, showed the flag in many different ports, and spent numerous hours transiting the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. When the ship was in port, MONONGAHELA men and women found many ways to entertain themselves. They attented receptions, BBQ ' s, and music events, toured host countries, and relaxed on the beach. No matter what activity they participated In, they conducted themselves with dignity and honor. Pictures alone cannot recreate the events, but the memories collected within these pages are an attempt to capture the high points, the hard hours of work, and the times on the beach. May the memories collected here be the ones we retain the longest.

Page 7 text:

USS MONONGAHELA Construction and Christening The origin of the christening ceremony for sea-going ships goes far back into antiquity, and the practice has now become so widespread as to represent an almost inviolable tradition. The christening of ships and boats by a special person is practiced today by all nations in one form or another. The first U.S. Navy ship to be christened by a woman was the frigate USS CONCORD, launched in 1828. This young lady of Portsmouth founded a powerful tradition, for during the past seventy years, there have been only two known male sponsors. The sponsor holds a special place in the hearts of the men and women who sail the ship she christens, because the spirit of the sponsor is said to enter the ship at christening and remain with her forever. The below photos feature MONONGAHELA during her construction and her christening ceremony. Christening ceremo- nies for MONONGAHELA took place at Avondale Shipyards, Inc. on Saturday, 4 August 1979.