Naval Training Center - Rudder Yearbook (Orlando, FL)

Page 24 text:

20 by the Fleet. And the war in Vietnam added new pages to the Navy: book of courageous exploits. The planning, the sacri we, the devotion to duty of generations past and present constitute the heritage on which we contlnue to bulld The Little Beaverstt-Destroyer Squadron 23-November 1943 and improve our Navy. We are bound to the past only by the good loun- dation and traditions of valor our torebears in the naval service have handed down to us. We are linked to the future by our responsibility to deliver to it the best we have received and the best we can produce.

Page 23 text:

USS onstltutlon vs ' ' 8V8- ' 'Oc1-1 The exploits 01 our nsilent service , the men who fought under the sea in our submarines, were nothing short oi spectacular. Ranging throughout the Pacific and into the very harbors of Japan itself our lighting submarines sank 214 Japanese naval vessels $77,626 tonst end 1178 merchant vessels 5,053,491 tonst, a monument to the greatest submarine torce in history. During this period the Atlantic Fleet was rapidly breaking the back 01 the German Navy by sweeping from the sea the greatest submarine menace ever to threaten this nation. Our convoys were supplying the Allied armies in Europe and our ships were conducting landing: in Sicily, Italy, and finally Normandy. The greatest 11two ocean Navy in the world had played a large part in bringing vlctory to America and her allies. Under the illustrious leadershlp 01 such men as Klng, Nlmitz, Halsey, Mitcher, McCain, Spruance, Lockwood, and Fletcher, over three million other otticers and men served. And this war, like all wars, led to the development of new devices, techniques, and weapons conceived by American genius and perfected by men of vision. While industry was being welded Into a mlghty supply force, our Seabees, underwater demolition teams, amphibious sailors, marines, and supporting army divisions were being welded into a team that spelled victory at see. But the victory warranted little relaxation of the vigil, as world ten- sion continued in what became known as the cold war? Hostllltles In Korea demanded a return to war posture by the Navy, and a reattlrma- tion 01 the American sailor's dedication. Crises such as at Lebanon, Cube, and the Dominican Republic proved anew the need for readiness 19

Page 25 text:

MW a- mm Immwdlld 21