Mount Katmai (AE 16) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 7 text:

the USS MOUNT KATMAI is named for a semi-active volcano located approximately 100 miles north of kodiak, alaska, in the valley of ten thousand smokes. in iune of 1912, the earth was shattered by an eruption which lasted for sixty continuous hours, sending smoke and ash 25 miles into the strato- sphere. the explosion was heard 750 miles away in iuneau and covered kodiak in 12 feet of volcanic ash. the ship was built by the north carolina shipbuilding company, wilmington, north carolina, with the keel laid in november of 1944. she was launched less than two months later in ianuary 1945. the ship has been in continuous active service since her commissioning on iuly 21, 1945--a span of nearly 24 years. from 1950 to 1953 the MOUNT KATMAI supported united nations forces off korea with only short periods in the united states. for approximately three months in the summer of 1950, she was the only ammunition ship engaged in re- plenishment operations with the combatant forces of the united nations. for her exceptional per- formance of duty during that time, the MOUNT KATMAI was awarded the navy unit commendation. in the 12 years between korea and vietnam, the MOUNT KATMAI participated in training exercises off the west coast as a unit of the first fleet with overhaul and maintenance- periods in the san francisco bay area. nine deploy- ments to the western pacific for operations with the seventh fleet were also experienced. with the conflict in vietnam, the MOUNT KATMAI again, as in the korean conflict, is showing her professionalism in munition trans- fers. although an old ship, she still ranks as one of the best, thanks to an outstanding crew. several records have been set during her deployments that will stand for years to come.

Page 6 text:

4' X N 1 W -. . -- , x , , N f xx.. ...rx XY .,x,,,Mx ,K A 6 M., V ,. Q x, V -7 Kwai- M AX , 'S ' xmxw-+ AY A .xx ,nf X .. A k - , , wwf-K x ' , ww -- - . - - ,F-MW nf ,Q .. .K ' tw vw N. 4-fr ,x ,www Q fy ,aux N. ,. .. ..........f . -X 2 -... .- , ..- -,. ...M f ww x f' 'WkN vxrmwy hwy'-:gi I N .7 X ww ,,a,rgS.gL ,T ...NW WM, A ,Q-sum .W Xxixx K,.,N 'm ff'f9 M' M, M WU X-fvmassw x W qwx A Q-7 W f A-W we XX .X-x Q. ,t ,L W QM in Q x k ,wi ' W -'ff N . H 'V M mf ' ww ' W' . 0' f . QW v vin-rf W

Page 8 text:

W ' r ,,.,.....,., -,,,,, , A . E H W .., CURTIS LOYAL TARBELL was born December 26, 1919 in Worcester, Massachusettsf He began his Naval Career in the enlisted ranks as a fireman in .Ianuary of 1942, and advanced to Chief Machinest Mate be- fore taking a temporary commission as an Ensign in July of 1944. He spent World War ll aboard a destroyer, motorftorpedo boat, transport, and a land- ing craft infantry rocket. Before assuming commmand of the MOUNT KATMAI, CAPTAIN Tarbell commanded two amphibious type ships, an amphibious division, and a squadron. He also was assigned to operations in Service Squadron Three in Sasebo, Qlapan. His shore duty assignments were command of Naval Reserve Training Centers, in New Rochelle, New York, Springfield,,Massachusetts, and Los, Angeles, California. CAPTAIN Tarbell and his- wife make their home in La Mesa, California where he is expected to retire in .lune of 1969. His two daughters live in Massachusetts.