Oriskany (CV 34) - Naval Cruise Book

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Collecting firsts is fast becoming a habit of the USS ORISKANY. This claim is even more evident in the fact that the ORISKANY was the first aircraft carrier in the world to go Around the l-lorn. The ORISKANY was also the first naval vessel to navigate around the stormy cape since the submarine, USS SEA ROBIN, made the trip June l, IQ47, while on war training patrols. 'Rounding Cape l-lorn has always been a must on every sailor's list: for the old adage goes: A sailor isn't a 'salt' until he rounds the l-lorn . . . Assuming this to be true, the ORISKANY is manned by a salty crew. Never was a cruise so eagerly awaited as was the South American cruise by the officers and enlisted men of the ORISKANY. To most of the crew, the cruise provided a seldom offered opportunity to witness personally the fascinating and beautiful South American cities that most people become acquainted with only through movies and tourist advertisements. For the men of the ORISKANY three South American cities were no longer mean- ingless dots on a map in school geography books. The names Brazil, Chile, and Peru, took on a new significance . . . strange but friendly people, different traditions and customs, Old World beauty, and a chance for each member of the crew to strengthen good neighborly relationships with the Latin American people. The language was no barrier. What couldn't be said with words was easily dis- regarded, and a general understanding between the sailors and Latin Americans was attained by the trade-mark of Americans . . . a hearty handshalce and a ready grin. What other two facto-rs could do more to promote good-will between North and South America? The growing importance of unity binding the two continents of the Western Hem- isphere is obviously a must in view of the international strife which exists in the world today. The proximity of our two continents to each other also emphasizes the neces- sity of worlcing together in the common cause of Freedom. As in the past, when Teddy Roosevelt's Great White Fleet was given the taslc of cementing brotherhood between the United States and the rest of the world, the ORISKANY was selected to do a similar job in South America. That this taslc was completed successfully is evident from official and unofficial statements of the three countries which we visited. The ORISKANYS diplomats, minus sillc hats and lengthy oratory, accomplished this good-will mission with a minimum o-f formality. The Brazilians, Chileans, and Peruvians guided, advised, and befriended the ORISKANVS Ambassadors in Blue, creating acquaintances and memories that will last despite the dulling effects of Time and Distance.

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TI-IIS CRUISE BOOK IS DEDICATED TO TI-IE UNOFFICIAL DIPLO- MATS, TI-IE BI. EJACKETS OF T vU.S.S ORISK NY, WI-IO SUP- ' 0 QPORTED TI-IE N TED STATES C S OF FRIEND I ESS TOWARD D ALL NATION ND II.I.UIvIINA I- DEMOCRA ITS FULLES SENSE. DEIJIIIATIIIN

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O Courtney Stands Captahn USN At IOZOO, July 23, l9S2, under ti warm sunny Califorriia sly, Captain Courtney Shands took command of the U.S.S. ORISKANY, mit-.r:-at member of the Pacific Fleet, which had just arrived in San Diego after her unprecedented trip around Cape Horn. Captain Shands was born on Dec. I, l905, in Ferguson, Missouri. He attended public schools in both Webstttr Groves and Kirltwood, Missouri. On July 2, l923, he entered the U. S, Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, as a midshipman, graduating and being commissioned as Ensign, June 2, l927. The next two years were spent capably performing his duties as line officer on bath battlcships and destroyers. ln l929 he entered Flight Training at Pensacola, Fla., and in Decem- ber of that year was designated as a qualified Naval Aviator. Subse- quently he served in the Pacific and Asiatic Fleets in aircraft carriers and cruisers, and as a flight instructor at Pensacola, Fla. During World War ll, Captain Shands was the commanding officer of thc Fighting Squadron 7, Fighting Squadron 7l, Fighting Squadron 72, and also served as Commander Air Group 7. During the relief of Malta and thc historic battle of the Solomons, he served aboard the carrier Wasp. ln the latter action hc was forced to iump into the sea, later being piclced up by a destroyer, as the mortally wounded carrier sanlc. He put in distinguished duty with the Ranger and Yorktown, also serving with the lst Marines at Guadalcanal. ln I944, Captain Shands became a member of the staff of Com- mander Air Force, Atlantic Fleet, and later Commander, Fleet Air Ouonset Point, Rhode Island. He was then transferred baclc to sea duty as the Commanding Officer of thc U.S.S. Talcanis Bay lCVE-89l in the Pacific Fleet. Following this duty he was appointed a member of the United States Strategic Bomb Survey in Japan, where he served until becoming a member of the Staff of the Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet. ln I948 he was appointed Chief of Staff, Carrier Division 3, in the Pacific Fleet. The U.S,S. Boxer was the flagship. ln I949, he was as- signed to duty as Fleet Air Operations Officer in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. He attended the National War College prior to taking command of the U.S.S. ORISKANY. Captain Shands is married, his wife residing at 507 N, Taylor Ave., Kirkwood, Mo. He has two children: a daughter, Mrs. Richard King Lane of Jacksonville, Illinois, and a son, Courtney Jr., who is attending Harvard University. He was awarded the Navy Cross in the battle of Guadalcanal where he shot down four enemy fighters and two bombers in 23 minutgg, HQ also has the following awards and citations: Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with Star, American Defense Service Medal with American Area Cam. paign Medal, European4African-Middle Eastern Area Campaign Medal with Two Stars, Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal with Three Stars World War Il Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal, I . U. lambrecht Captahu USN Commanding Officer Captain John Osgood Lambrecht, USN, came to the ORISKANY from the National War College in Washing- ton. Previously, he had had wide experience in highly responsible naval assignments. A member of the Annapolis Class' of l925, he first served in engineering and gunnery on the battleship Pennsylvania in Asiatic waters. ln l93O he toolc flight instruction at San Diego and Pensacola. By I934, Captain Lambrecht served as an instructor at Pensacola. After that he spent more than three years as an air officer in Asiatic waters. Just before Pearl Harbor, he went to Corpus Christi as Operations Officer. Leaving that assignment just after he made Captain in July, l943, he became Chief of Staff, ComCarDiv l l, Pacific Fleet. Then he was ordered to NAB Manus as Commandant. ln July, I945, he toolc command of the aircraft carrier MAKASSAR STRAIT. The next year he was assigned to OpNaV as Assistant Chief, Committees lAviationl, General Planning Group. ln February, l948, Captain Lambrecht joined the Staff, Commander in Chief, U. S. Atlantic Fleet, staying until August I95O. l-le was Assistant Chief for Plans and Assistant to the U. S. Representative to the North At- lantic Ocean Regional Group. From there he moved to the National War College before coming to the ORIS- KANY. Captain Lambrecht was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation while serving in the USS ESSEX as Chief of Staff for Commander Carrier Division ll, Pacific Fleet, the Bronze Star and commendation Ribbon while serving as Commander, Naval Air Base, Manus Island. Captain John O. Lambreeht malces his home at Clarlcs Valley, Dauphin, Pennsylvania.