Renville (APA 227) - Naval Cruise Book

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.i ' is . --' -,, Q 4 I' 1.-it wo: .. J- . .. This vessel was constructed under the au iiority of the Maritime Commission at the Vancouver, Washington. shipyard of the Kaiser Company. l.aunched on 25 October 1944, the ship was completed and accepted by the U. S. Navy on a loan basis from the Maritime Commission and commissioned the U.S.S. RENVILLE QAPA-2271. She is named for Renville County in both Min- nesota and North Dakota and is the first Navy ship to carry the name RENVILLE. Present for the last bloody invasion of the VVorld War I1-the assualt on Dkinawa-the U. S. S. REN- VILLE saw extensive service with the occupation forces in Japan and along the Chinese coasts during the mainland battles between the nation- alists and Communist forces. The title for the RENVILLE was transferred from the Maritime Commission to the Navy Department on 26 January 1946, when the vessel became a permanent part of the Navy. The attack transport was assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet in March 1949, and on 30 June 1949 was decommissioned. The Korean Conflict brought the RENVILLE back to active duty, however on 5 Ianuary 1952. When she was recommissioned she was assigned to San Diego, California. Since the termination of hostilities in Korea, the RENVILLE has transported troops between the United States and the Far East. 'We on the RENVILLE are proud to display the following awards and medals she has ac- quired: American Area Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal with 1 Bronze Star 'World VVar 11 Victory Medal Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars Navy Occupation Service Medal China Service Medal lfnited Nations Service Medal National Defense Medal Assault Boat Coxswain Award liven now as the Cruise Hook comes off the Dress, the RfiNVl1,l,lf has made more history for herself in many ways. Future personnel, we feel, will continue to carry on lier proud history and traditions.

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VV1ll13.1T1 lee Savidfe was born 25 April 191 lacorna Washington. 'Xf e College of t Sou nd then cnt Naval Acadern' wfei f graduated 1' 969. His nrst assignment was aboard the cruiser Savannah and it was on this type ship that Ensign Savidge served throughout the war Following the Savannah Lieutenant Savidge was assigned to the Columbia. Lieutenant Commander Savidge spent the remainder of the war aboard the Little Rock. . Q 1 ' f 1 1 ,if v r 1 If tux' 4 ,J 7 , . . - v ' nn M , ' 1 - r 1 . graduation from Stadiur I-Ixgh Schcol in 1 1' bfudlfff fOr OHS Yfidf Ci the D 4 r . ' ' ' ' IC . p - , v - . ' 7 n ' ' . X ' , After the war, in 1945, LCDR Savidge returned to the Naval Academy for two years, this time for postgraduate study. In 1947 he moved to White Sands, New g Mexico, where he became the first executive officer assigned to the Naval unit at the White Sands Pro- ving Grounds. His second executive officer billet came in 1948 on the Pacinc coast when he reported to the USS Hamner CDD 7181. Later Commander Savidge assumed command of the Hamner. In 1950 he attended the Guided Missle School at Fort Bliss, Texas, and then was assigned to the Bureau of Ordnance in Washington, D. C. for a two year tour of duty. CDR Savidgeis next command came during the Korean War when in 1952 he became Commanding Officer of the USS Stock- ham CDD 6835. Although Captain William L. Savidge the Stockham was home- Commanding Officer, USS Renville ported On the EaSt Coast, she was sent to Korea for duty and returned home around the world. From 1954 to 1956 he served on the staff of Com- mander Destroyer Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet assistant Readiness Officer. Following this he attended the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island for one year. In 1957 Captain Savidge was assigned to the office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D. C. where he ultimately became the head of the Cruiser- Destroyer Readiness Branch. It was here that he remained until October 1960, when. he left to take command of the USS RENVILLE. CaptainMSavidge married his wife, Anne Robinson in 1944 and they have three children, Robin, born in 1945, William L. Jr., born in 195Og and Dwight, born in 1954.