New Jersey (BB 62) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPTAIN JOHN CONNE-R ATKESON Commanding Officer 24 October I953-I8 March I955 Captain lohn C. Atkeson graduated from Houston County High School, Columbia, Alabama and the United States Naval Academy, Class of 1927. Early in his Naval career, he served aboard the USS Arkansas, the coal burning cruiser USS Denver, the USS Wyoming, and the USS Leary. Captain Atkeson attended the Postgraduate School at the Naval Academy prior to serving as Executive Officer of the USS Barry and the USS Gilmer. He then served at the United States Naval Training Station, Norfolk, Virginia. At the beginning of World War ll, Captain Atkeson reported as Commanding Officer of the USS Leary, the USS Bailey, where he received the Navy Unit Citation: and the USS Healy. I-le then served as Commander, Destroyer Division Twenty, in the Pacific, Upon cessation of hostilities, he reported to Norfolk, Virginia, as Senior Member, Sub Board of Inspection and Survey: as Chief Staff Officer to Commander, Destroyer Flotilla Two, and later as Com- mander, Destroyer Squadron Sixteen, in the Mediterranean and Atlantic. - For his services, Captain Atkeson wears the Navy Cross, Bronze Star Medal 'with Combat V , three Commendation Ribbons with Combat American Defense, American Theater, European Theater, Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine- Liberation and the World War ll Victory Medal. 'Prior to assuming command of the New lersey on 24 October l953, he serv.ed in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C. A fix,-if-r ,

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L .1'1 ?P' 2 ' ' ' ' ' -QLZ:.LLr'.g'.1L...i REAR ADMIRAL EDWARD NELSON PARKER Commander, Cruiser Division Six Rear Admiral Parker graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1925, and subsequently served aboard the USS Utah, USS Mahan, USS Pensacola, and USS Dob- bin. From 1932 to 1934, he had consecutive instruction in general line, ordnance, and gunnery at the Postgraduate School in Annapolis. Following duty aboard the USS California, Admiral Parker reported to the USS Perkins for fitting out and to serve' as Gunnery Officer until 1938, when he was as- signed to the Naval Proving Ground, Dahlgreen, Virginia. In December, 1939, Admiral Parker assumed command of the USS Parrot and received his first Navy Cross for meritorious conduct while commanding his ship during battle off the Netherlands East Indies. Detached from the Parrot in 1942, Admiral Parker reported as Commander, Destroyer Division Fifty-nine, and received the Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Cross, and the Silver Star Medal for distinguished service in this command. He transferred from this position to Commander, Destroyer Division Fifty-eight, where he remained until October, 1942, when he assumed command of the USS Cushing until she was sunk off Guadalcanal. Admiral Parker returned to the States for duty with the Bureau of Ordnance in 'Washington and with the Naval Technical Mission in Europe. Following the cessation of hostilities in World Vifar ll, he served as Commander, Surface Patrol Group, Ioint Task Force One, during the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll. ln March, 1947, he joined the staff of Commander, Marianas Islands, and in October, 1948, went to the office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Admiral Parker remained in Washington until 1950, when he assumed command of the USS Newport News. I-le served there as Captain until August, 1951, when he reported to Washington, as Chief of the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, where he served until Novem- ber, 1954, when he was designated Commander, Cruiser Division Six. Admiral Parker's flag moved aboard the USS New Iersey on 6 September 1955, and remained until he left on 30 November 1955. I-le was replaced by Rear Admiral lohn Harold Sides, who reported aboard the New lersey on 1 lanuary 1956. A -1-r.v-gg1a.'!l'5.hLK. - 1 I 4 3 'I 4. 1 1 l

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'LQ HYfa.,. t.'4,...' :J.5.' '..Q,L - ,f.LLk'lLJ'f:.'Q.1.f' CAPTAIN EDWARD JOSEPH O'DONNELL Commanding Officer Captain Edward I. O'Donnell graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1929, after at' tending schools in his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts. Early in his Naval career he served aboard the USS Florida, USS Ford, USS Houston and the USS San Francisco, in addition to doing postgraduate work in ordnance engineering, The beginning of World War Il found Captain O'Donnell serving on the USS Lexington. He was Gunnery Officer of that ship when it was lost during the battle of the Coral Sea. Assigned to the USS Birmingham, Captain O'Donnell continued his duty as Gunnery Officer throughout the many raids and invasions that followed in both theaters. During the post-war years, Captain O'Donnell served as Commander, Destroyer Division Thirty-Two and on the staffs of the Bureau of Ordnance and Commander of Naval Forces in Germany. He then commanded the USS George Clymer in operations off Korea and Iapan during 1952 and 1953. For his services he wears the Bronze Star with a V and gold star, the Commendation ribbon with a V and gold star, the Pacific C4 starsl, the European fone starl, Korean tone starl, American Defense and Nicaraguan ribbons. Prior to assuming command of the New Iersey on 18 March 1955, Captain O'Donnell was Assistant Superintendent of the Naval Gun Factory in Washington, D.C. - Yi!!