Newport News (CA 148) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPTAIN WALTER HAROLD PRICE UNITED STATES NAVY SKIPPER THE MAN strapon asHELBYv1g1,1,E Captain Walter Harold Price, 49-year,old ,Navyman of years' experience, assumed command of the USS NEWPORILNEWS 27' Junel 1952 to become fifth commanding officer of a heavy cruiser considered' to be one of the slickest, most modern warships on- the high seas todayf He Cam., to the ,NEWPORT NEWS from the U. S. Naval, Academy, where he was head of the Department of Mathematics. Q . 4 A native of Shelbyville, Indiana, almost all his previous sea dufy, was in destroyers. ' V '. Born 21 December 1903, Captain Price graduated from the Naval Academy and was commissioned ensign 2 June 1927, He advanced to captain 20 March 1945. . , A I -K During World War ll, Captain Price led the USS WILSON IDD-408J, USS MORRISON QDD-5609, Destroyer Division 110 and Destroyer, Squadron 54, through numerous Pacific operations, . I In addition to many battle stars, the British Palm and the prewar Yangtze Campaign and Second Nicaraguan Campaign medals, the skipper wears the Silver Star - for maneuvering the USS MORRISON alongside the burning USS PRINCETON in an attempt to save the Japanese- bombed carrier during the Philippine invasion of 1944. He was twice awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat V. While in the Philippine Islands in December 1932, Captain Price married Clarice Yates, daughter of Captain. L. I. Yates, USN it-et.l. His children are Clarice, 18, and Lawrence, 14. The Prices reside 'at 5911 Powhatan.Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia. E 1 - CAPTAIN PRICE IS FOND OF THE MED . Captain Price made this statement for The Roving Ambassador: The fourth Mediterranean Cruise of the NEWPORT- NEWS -has been one we- will all want to remember, For many, like myselfjit- has been the first time we have cruised in this most famous of seas, and to learn something of its countries and seaports has been a wonderful experience. To others who are old Med hands , it has.meant' the opportunity to renew old acquaintances and 'discover new places of' interest, We have 'learned that throughout the countries bordering the Med, the population in general are pretty good people, and weiarc very glad to have them on our side: All of us have gained a more thorough understanding of the mission of the SIXTH Fleet, and have seen how it can operate with no home port, and yetbe ready at all times to back up our country's interests. We. have seen how well the navies of the NATO nations can work together in preparation for the defense of the policies of the free world. ' , ' , , . Our thanks are due those who worked so hard to organize,-and produce The Roving Ambassador, a pictorial review of the cruise. I know il will be pa lasting pleasure to us, bring fond memories, of 'grand shipmates, and help us to relive the days of thc Mediterranean Cruise in the NEWPORT NEWS. ' . '

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ous couase WAS DUE mst AN INTRODUCTION HORTLY after midnight, 16 January 1953, with her bridge shivering from a strong gale that they came in contact. The ship helped in the recog- nized historic responsibility of the United States - buffeted her starboard quarter, the U. S. S. . that of aiding to assure peace among mankind. NEWPORT NEWS, under command of 1 Captain Walter Harold Price, steamed through the Straits of Gibraltar. With this entry, the NEWPORT NEWS began her fourth cruise in what has been called the 4' lovliest of all seas 9' - the Mediterranean. In the months ahead, some in- teresting ports laid in store' for the proud NEWPORT NEWS, which on 18 January 1953, at Algiers, became flagship of the Sixth Fleet for the fourth time. Sixth Fleet Commander this time has been Vice Admiral .lohn Howard Cassady, USN.'Both he and Captain Price were born in lndiana. While in the Med on this latest cruise, the 75 officers and 1615 men in the NEWPORT NEWS' ship7s company received valuable training in independent fleet operations, they became familiar not only with the Waters in' which they cruised, but also with the customs and traditions of the people of countries they visited. 1 5 Along with other personnel in the Sixth Fleet, our shipis company served to create good will and better understanding with the people with whom The NEWPORT NEWS sailor who joined the Navy to see the world did a good job of seeing some of it. And each bluejacket served as a roving Amer- ican ambassador in his distinctively cut uniform. V The Sixth Fleet operates in ex- cess of 30 ships manned by more than 20,000 officers and men and a reinforced battalion of Marines. Duty in the Mediterranean with the Sixth Fleet, referred to 'as H the friendly fleet , is considered the H best sea duty in the Navy . This fleet is one of the Navy's largest continuous operational fleets on the high seas, second only to the Sev- enth Fleet now operating in Far Eastern waters. Beginning with the War with Tripoli in 1802 and almost continuously since 1886, American sea power has op- erated in this 4' Helen among oceans 77, which encom- passes an area of more than one million square miles. Today it is a far cry from those early days of wooden ships and iron men when the sheer boldness and dar- ing of a young lieutenant named Stephen Decatur made' history in these waters and set the pattern for what is more easily felt than defined as H Navy tradition .

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DI3P.AIlTlMl3BIT IIFIAIJS COMMANDER WILLIAM R. BARNES UNITED STATES NAVY . EXECUTIVE OFFICER Department heads, in upper right picture, from left to right, are LCDR Claud L. Corhus, Engineering Oliicerg LT Rodney W. Wilson, Navigator, CDR William R. Barnes, Executive Officer, LCDR Frank W. Smith, Jr., Supply Officer, LCDR Joseph M. Schick, Gunnery Of- ficer, LCDR Philip J. Grace, Aviation Officer, and LT Thomas E. Jackson, First Lieutenant. In lowerright picture, from left to right, are CDR Clyde H. Walsworth, Dental Officer, LT Cyril J. Honsik, Medical Officer, 'CDR Raymond Berthrong, Operations Officer, and CDR Barnes. In Conference