Neches (AO 47) - Naval Cruise Book

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LCDR Nelson reported aboard NECHES on 17 January, 1965, two days after depart' ing from his previous assignment as WeaP ons Officer aboard the heavy cruiser USS SAINT PAUL QCA 735 . LCDR Nelson's other duty assignments have included the USS WRIGHT fCVL 49D, USS WASP QCVA 185, and Director of Ad- ministration on the staff of COMSTSFEAREA. A graduate of the University of Houston, Texas, LCDR Nelson received his com- mission in 1953. He is married to the former Jeanne Arnold and they have three boys: Mark, 10, David, 8, and Joshua Jr., 7. LCDR R. J. O'DONNELL Executive Officer Aug 66 to Present I l LCDR J. J. NELSON Executive Officer Jan 65 to Sept 66 Lieutenant Commander Richard J. O' Donnell reported from two and a half years of duty as Assistant Planning and Estimate Superintendent QCarriers and Auxiliariesj, San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard at Hunt- er's Point. Sea tours include duty as: First Lieu- tenant of the USS VIGOR QMSO-4731, En- gineer Officer of the USS TOLOVANA QAO-645, and Electrical Officer then Damage Control Assistant of the CORAL SEA QCVA- 433. Mr. O'Donnell is a graduate ofGonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. He is married to the former Miss Margaret J. Mathews of Niagra Falls, New York, and is the father of Richard 4111, Mathews 4105, Mary QS! , John 163, Michael 441, Elizabeth Q23 and Francis Q2 mosh. X i F A

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Captain Millar reported from' duty as Chief of Staff, Navy Section, Joint United States Military Mission for Aid to Turkey. For his services in Turkey, from January 1964 to August 1966, he was awarded the Joint Services Commendation Medal. Sea tours include duty as: Torpedo and Catapult Officer, USS DETROIT QCL- 85, Communications and Assistant Engineer Officer, USS MERO QSS-37833 Stores and Gunnery Officer, USS BUMPER CSS-3335, First Lieutenant and Engineer Officer, USS SEA FOX QSS-4023, Executive Officer and Navigator, USS CUBERA QSS-3475 g Com- manding Officer , USS THREADFIN QSS-41053 Executive Officer, USS FULTON QAS-115 and Commanding Officer, USS REMEY QDD- 6883. Tours ashore include duty as: NROTC Instructor in Naval Gunnery at the Univer- sity of Kansas, Marine Engineering Instructor at the United States Naval Academy, and Oceanographic Project Of- ficer at the Navy Oceanographic Office. Captain Millar is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy fClass of '44J and the Command and Staff Course at the Naval War College. He is married to the former Miss Eileen Benson of Genoa, Illinois, and the father of Melinda, Lorna, and Donald, who reside in Pacific Grove, California. Captain . . ILLAR OCT. 1966 TO PRE E

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EC H TORIC . y ' 9' -1 5 j 'Q I1 , lf r in -, s MA ii The second oiler to bear the name of the Texas river, NECHES was originally constructed as a merchant tanker named the SS AEKAY. After the Navy acquired her in 1942, the NECHES soon appeared in forward areas in the South Pacific. On a return trip to the United States, she struck a mine off the California coast that left a hole 22 feet by 15 feet in her port side. But she was soon back in operation for the occupation of Palau, Battle of Leyte Gulf, and operations in the China Sea. She was the first oiler to arrive in Iwo Jima and the first oiler to put into Tokyo Bay, four days prior to the signing of the sur- render. NECHES earned six World War Il ribbons including the Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon with nine stars. ' After several years under control of MSTS as a point-to-point tanker, the NECHES was placed in reserve in July, 19503 She was recommissioned in January, 1951, and assigned to MSTS for service in the Sixth Fleet until June, 1955 when she was again inactivated. Her third period of active duty lasted from December, 1956 to September, 1957. After extensive alterations to electronic and deck equipment, she began her present assignment to the Pacific fleet in November, 1961 as a fleet oiler. Since that date, NECHES has made four cruises to the Western Pacific. '