Ranger (CV 61) - Naval Cruise Book

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,XL a saast RANGER IN SEA uary 28, Ranger steams toward Sea of Japan. SS PUEBLU STOLEN WASHINGTON QUPIQ-The USS Pueblo, a Navy telligence collection ship, was surrounded by North orean patrol boats, backed up by MIG jets, and board- by an armed party in international waters in the Sea Japan Monday night. When boarded, the Pueblo was approximately 25 iles from the mainland of North Korea. According to an official Department of Defense mmunique, the ship's compliment consists of 83 men, cluding six officers and two civilians. 'LAt approximately 10 p.m. the Pueblo was ap- roached by the North Korean boat. Using inter- .ational signals it requestion the Pueblois nationality. The Pueblo identified itself as a U.S. ship. Continuing to use flag signals, the patrol boat said. Heave to or I will open firef NThe Pueblo replied, 'I am in international watersf g'The patrol boat began to circle the Pueblo. About .n hour later the boat was joined by three other patrol Taft. 4'One of them ordered, 5Follow immediately in my I have a pilot aboardf according to the Secretary of State Rusk commented on the seizure a speech to the Senate Youth Forum, a group of school seniors visiting Washingtort. He said to secure release of both ship and men was USS pueblo RUWAN COLLIDES WITH VISLUBUKUV VVASHINCTON QUPIJ -The Defense Depart- ment disclosed Friday that a U.S. destroyer and a Soviet freighter collided in the Sea of Japan-the fourth such incident in 19 months in the same waters where the USS Pueblo was seized by North Korea. U.S. officials claimed the earlier eollisions were de- liberate harassment by the Soviets, but Navy officers indicated the latest inci- dent appeared to be an ac- cident. But the Soviet Union did not share that view and delivered a pro- test to the U.S. embassy in Moscow. There were no casualties and only minor damage when the two ships brushed in the Sea of Japan early Wlednesday, the Defense Department said. Involved were the USS Rowan and the merchant ship Vislobokov. The Rowan reported a three foot hole was torn in its hull above the water- line. In response to queries from the U.S. ship, the Vislobokov signalled there was udamage to my stern two meters fabout two yardsl in lengthl' but added no assistance required. The protest from the Soviet Foreign Ministry was delivered Thursday night to the U.S. embassy in Mos- cow and forwarded to the State Department, a spokes L man said. 0F JAPAN ABOARD THE USS RANGER-At 14-4-5 January 27, the boatswain's mate on watch piped attention for a message from the Captain. But the announcement that fol- lowed was far from Captain William E. Don- nelly'S frequent well dones or bringing you up to date comments. This time, Ame- rican History was in the making and Ranger was to become an all-important part of it. This is the Captain speaking. After our next recovery, flight ops will be seeured for the day. And shortly thereafter, Admiral We-inel and his staff will be transported to the USS Tieonderoga. We're going to utilize all available helicopters in the area in hopes to eomplete the move in about two hours time. after which we will leave Yankee Station and proceed to the Sea of Japan to join with the lfinterprise oil' the Korean CUZISI. That was the beginning. Mixed emotions and speculation simultaneously struck the erew. Wt-'re gonna lose our combat pay. one sailor said. The North Koreans haxe more MlC's and better pilots than the N lt'lIlillIlt'St'.u asserted a pilot. XM-'ll need more stamps. thought a postal clerk as he considered the loss of fri-ei' mailing privileges. lt'll be eold up there. surmised an airdale. I better dig up some long johns. llowexer. no one figured the lfnterprise would give Ranger lit-ar Admiral llor- aee ll. lfpes and Carrier lilixision Une, pull out of the Sea of Japan and head for Yankee Stationwat least no one figured it would happen as fast as it did. The trip from the Tonkin Gulf to Korean waters took about 4 days. Adjusting to the change in climate took a little longer. L'Our personal habits had to change a good dealf' Commander George E.R. Kinnear, Commander Attack Carrier Air Wing Two, told newsmen at a Ranger press conference. HPilots wear emersion suits in these cold waters, to increase the probability of staying alive long enough to be picked up...should they go down. Frost- bite and exposure on the flight deck cause problems...but the fine young sailors made the adjustment well. Something else no one figured on was spending over 60 days at sea without liberty. But it happened. Ranger had pulled out of Subic Bay, P.I., January 5 and was scheduled to return there February 7 for 6 days. The inport period in Subic was to be immediately followed by a trip to Hong Kong and a week of liberty in that world capitol. Both port calls were automatically cancelled. But suspence and adventure coupled with the importance of their new Captain W'illiam F.. Donnelly, Jr. mission, filled the momentary gap in morale caused by the loss of coveted liberty. '6After 60 days at sea, you almost forget what it's like- liberty that is,,, said one Ranger sailor. Your daily routine is carved so well that it's hard to tell one day from the next. But you're used to it. Itis the way of life for sea-going sailors. Most of the time youive got so much to keep you busy you don't have time to worry about what you havenlt got. t

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93954 lgviilvkfm L6 97 A cold weather face mask allows this airdale to button his lip in order to keep his words from freezing. Yeah...See. I lost a left-handed glove. '4Are those white-caps or chunks of ice?,' it