Mount Hood (AE 29) - Naval Cruise Book

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N- --' he-4-an ' I' f f fffiff' f N If 1 , X Q ff ,, K., . Little can be added to the many good things which have been said about Mount Hood from her com- missioning to the end of the period covered by this Crew's Book. Mount Hood has established an un- beatable reputation during her short but eventful lifeg she is off to a flying start in what is sure to be a long and productive life of distinction in providing service to the fleet. As we put the Crew's Bookw to press and review the many pages of effort, achievements and fun too, we can hope and pledge that the next volume will be written and read with the same well earned sense of accomplishment as is this one. With the dedication to ex- cellence which has become the hallmark of the crew of Mount Hood, we can have every assurance that this pledge will become a reality. R. L. RASMUSSEN CAPT USN

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I ,,,.z..1w..-sw-if ww: fm r .',, c. 1-1- ., My first glimpse of Mount Hood was in November 1970 at Bethlehem Steel Corporation located at Sparrows Point, Maryland. The construction of the ship was approximately eighty per cent completed. As l gazed at the massive silhouette, the myriad of problems and hard work associated with preparing a newly con- structed ship for commissioning and service became readily apparent. There would be innumerable trials and inspections, and prior to our departure for the Western Pacific, extensive refresher training. I am proud to say, throughout all of these highly demanding evolutions, all hands met the challenge and performed spendidly- When Mount Hood was called upon to deploy two and one-half months early, again everyone responded ad- mirably as they had in the past. The manner in which we carried out our missions during our long deployment and reputation established is well known and noted by all echelons of command. Professionalism in delivering ammunition both by the alongside method and helicopter - that was our trade mark. This top performance required dedication and self-sacrifice from everyone. To this end, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and deep appreciation to the officers and men of Mount Hood, Helicopter Detachment 101, and EOD Team 13 for your loyality, trust, and dedication and for a job well done. L. A. TAYLOR CAPT USN ,,.,,v i o l 4 l l l 1 i ..-

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,...-.........-unasn..-M ...UM .Y .. 4- A 1 i. W. . , .4 .- -A A ,MMF LCDR FRANK R. FORD, JR. USN, was born in San Diego, California, on 19 July 1935. As a Navy Junior , he attended schools throughout the COUDUY before graduating from Anchorage High School in Anchorage, Alaska in 1953. H9 then entered the U.S. Naval Academy, as a member Of the C1335 Of 1957- Upon graduation, his first sea duty was on the USS NAVARRO tAPA 2153. From there he went to submarine school in New London, Connecticut.. Upon graduation, he was assigned to USS CHARR QSS-3283 earning his Dolphins in 1960. He next served as Engineer Officer in USS ARCHERFISH QAGSS-311, a hydrographic submarine that took part in the scientific expedition f'Operation Sea Scan . Two years as Officer in charge of USS PARCHE CAGSS-3843, a reserve training ship, followed commencing in 1963. USS POMFRET CSS-3915 was his next duty station, where he served as Navigator and Operations Officer and qualified for command of a submarine. In July 1967, he reported to the Staff of the Submarine School in New Lon- don where he was Tactics Instructor and Weapons Division Director. In March 1969 he became Executive Officer of USS SPINAX QSS-4895 and served in that capacity until decomissioning. In November 1969, he then became Executive Of- ficer, USS MEDREGAL QSS-4801. In July 1970, LCDR FORD attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia, subsequently joining the precommissioning detail of MOUNT HOOD as prospective Executive officer. LCDR FORD,s permanent address is Torrance, California, but he and his wife, the former Beverly L. Brewer, and family call the San Francisco Bay Area their home. LCDR. JOHN ALAN SMITH, USN, enlisted in the Navy upon completion of graduation from Fort Lauderdale High School in Florida in 1955. He com- pleted tours of duty at Submarine School, served on board the USS NAUTILUS CSSN-5717 and completed schooling at the NAVAL ACADEMY PREP School at Bainbridge, Maryland. He then entered the U. S. Naval Academy in Annapolis as a member of the class of 1961. i Upon graduation, he attended ASW School in Ke West, F1015 onboard the USS NEW CDD-8183 as ASW Officer. Hg attended thceiaUanSi lslifveatl Destroyer School in Newport, Rhode Island in 1963 and Subsequentlyseived as Weapons Officer on the USS A. M. SUMNER QDD-6921 and as Operatigns Qf- ficer on COMMANDER DESTROYER DIVISION 82 Staff. In 1968 he completed two years of post- raduate edu ' ' - Marine Science, Miami, Florida where he wgs awarded a clViIlSCinDaeCgi'12:i3 iiislfgiugiecgl Oceanography. He then returned to the Naval Academy for a three year tg an instructor of ocean sciences, and upon completion attended the NavaluWZi College at Newport, Rhode Island. Upon graduat' h MOUNT HOOD in August of 1972 for duty as Exeiigtivee Oiffijsfified on board LCDR Smith is married to the former Jaki T Font ' ' . . . . - f Cl Hampshire and resides with his wife and son Peter at the allllaizsl W aremonti New in Concord. eapons Station wr . M H - -- . i. ' . -, , .YH -fig , I V ' ' 'A-.nr---- ff ' ' Q. fig s, ffi . M .. is if. I s .X X s