New Jersey (BB 62) - Naval Cruise Book

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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!!

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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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CAPTAIN RICHARD ROCKWELL PRATT Executive Officer I August I954-I8 August I955 Graduating from the Naval Academy in 1936, Captai.n Pratt was assigned to the cruiser USS Cheste-r, and later to the cruiser USS Augusta until the outbreak of World War II. During the war, he participated in the Naval battles of the Solomons, Bou- ganville, Bismarks, Marianas, lst Philippine Sea, Dalau, Iwo lima and Okinawa aboard the destroyers USS Lansdowne and USS Hudson. Among Captain Pratt's decorations are the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, two Navy Crosses, Commendation, Atlantic and Pacific Theaters, and China Service. Captain Pratt assumed his duty as Executive Officer of the New Iersey on 2 August 1954, before which he was assigned to the Chief, Navy Section, Military Assistance Advisory Group in Spain. Following his departure from the- New Iersey, Captain Pratt assumed duty as Commander, Destroyer Division 222. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO COMMANDER CHARLES CONWAY HARTIGAN, JR. Executive Officer ' Commander Hartigan graduated from the United States Naval Academy, Class of 1938, and subsequently progressed in grade to that of Commander, to rank from 5 November 1945. ln Tune, 1938, Commander Hartigan was assigned to duty on the USS ldaho, After a years service in that battleship, he be- came Communication Officer of the USS Hammann, and later while serving as Gunnery Officer of the Hammann, he was awarded the Silver Star Medal for outstanding services. Commander 1-lartigan's next assignment was that of Gunnery Officer aboard the USS Conway, during which time he received the gold star in lieu of a second Silver Star Medal, He then served on board the USS Benham from her commissioning in December, 1943, until May of 1944, when she reported at Pearl' Harbor and he assumed command of the USS Farragut. Com- mander 1-lartigan received a letter of commendation, with authori- I ty to wear the commendation ribbon, and the Bronze Star Medal for services as Commanding Officer of the Farragut from Tune, 1944 until September, 1945. ln October, 1945, Commander Har- tigan reported for duty in the Bureau of Naval Personnel, serving as Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Chief of Naval Per- sonnel tOperationsJ until Ianuary, 1948, when he left to attend the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia. ln August, 1948, Commander 1-lartigan was ordered to the United States Naval Mission in Caracas, Venezuela until May, 1951, when he was directed as Commanding Officer of the USS Cushing upon her commissioning in August, 1951, until 1952, when he assumed a position on the staff of Commander, Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet. Commander I-lartigan assumed the duties of Executive Officer of the USS New Iersey in August of 1955. ln addition to the Silver Star Medal with Gold Star in lieu of a second Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, and the 'Commendation Ribbon, Commander Hartigan is entitled to the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp A , the European-African-Middle Eastern Area Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal, the American Area Campaign Medal, the Philippines Liberation Ribbon, and the. World War ll Victory Medal. .-N..-. .mm ..... 4. -.,-..,.i.-. e'i::i :r:'f::ff.2'f-51-,,,,-0-x A