Renville (APA 227) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPTAIN F. W. AULT COMMANDI G OFFI ER Born 26 August 1921, Bellaire, Ohio. Parenis, Mr. 8 Mrs. Ralph AULT who are presently residing in Baltimore, Maryland. Attended grammar school at Glencoe, Ohio and highschool at Bellaire, Ohio. Graduated from U. S. Naval Academy in june 1942, member of Class of 1943. Went aboard USS ASTORIA as j.O. , Gunnery Department, june 1942 to August 1942. Became Fire Control Officer on USS TUSCALOOSA, November 1942 to November 1944. Entered Flight Training in November 1944 and was designated a Naval Aviator in October 1945. Remained in this program until April 1946. From May 1946 to November 1947 was Operations Officer and Executive Officer of Torpedo lAttack Squadron 75 fVA4B on board the USS F. D. ROOSEVELT. Served in Special Weapons Training with Field Command AFSWP from December 1947 to September 1948. While at Albuquerque, New Mexico, during this period, was enrolled as a student in advanced nucleonics at the University of New Mexico. Served as Intelligence and Operations Officer of Heavy Attack Squadron 5 from September 1948 until March 1951. Assigned to Office of the Chief of Naval Operations QOp-365 in March 1951 and served as,ASsistant for Air Applications, Weapons Branch, Division of Atomic Energy until july 1953. In August 1953 became Executive Officer of Attack Squadron 55 on board the USS ESSEX until June 1954. joined the Staff, Commander Fleet Air Alameda in June 1954 as Commanding Officer, Flag Administrative Unit and Personnel Officer. Leaving the Staff in March 1955 to become Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron 216 on board the USS YORKTOWN until October 1956. Went to BuOrd as Military Assistant for Nuclear Weapons, Research Division, a.nd Director of Research for Astronautics until August 1958. Becoming a student once again, went to Industrial College of the Armed Forces from August 1958 to june 1959. Following school, joined the Staff of Carrier Air Group Four in july 1959 to March 1960. 18 March 1960 assumed command of Carrier Air Group 10 on board the USS SHANGRI LA, In June 1961 returned again to Washington, D. C. , for duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Qop- 76j as Head, Space Programs Branch, Astronautics Development Division. In February 1962 assumed duties as Military Assist- ant to the Deputy Director for Space, Office of the Director, Defense Research and Engineering. Awarded the joint Service Commendation Medal for meritorious service in connection with this assignment. On 9 Ivlay 1964 assmned command of USS RENVILLE QAPA 227Q. World War II actions fall in heavy cruisersj include: Invasion of Guadalcanal Q1942j. First Battle of Savo Island Q1942j. Invasion of North Africa Q1942j, Raid on Bodo Harbor, Norway Q1943y, Normandy Invasion H9445 and Invasion of Southern France Q1944j. Survived the sinking of USS ASTORIA in 1942. Was Bomb Commander in the Navy's first Atomic Delivery Squadron, Heavy Attack Squadron 5, flying P2V and Aj aircraft from Midway class aircraft carriers. Married in 1946 to the former Helen Blake HAMMER of jacksonville, Florida. Is the father of five children: jeffrey U-37, Laurel 1161, jon Q15j, Jerald U25 and jan Q9j. Current address: 1263 Willow Street, San Diego, California. Is a former member of the Armed Forces - National Research Cotmcil Committee on Bio -Astronautics and a current member of the American Asuonautical Society and the U. S. Naval Institute. 4 'hgh

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' at ls f ii Wi iff: , Okinawa must be awarded the Blue Ribbon for providing the wildest liberty. Almost all had the op- porttmity to visit Koza Qalthough a few were lost in villages 1, 2, or 31. The Okinawans have wisely named their thirst quenching establishments after American towns. The St. Louis Club, along with other such honorable establishments as the Koko, Butterfly, Blue Moon, New York Club, Bar Canadian, Playboy, and the Club Champion all received their fair share of RENVILLE business. After a total of almost three months in the South China Sea, there isn 't anyone who would deny our crew the few liber- ties it was afforded . . . and made the most of. There was not a more interesting place in WesPac than japan, as those who visited Kamaktua, Toky Yokohama, and other small villages will testify. A nation quickly back on its feet after the War, Japan has made miraculous strides with its economy and no wonder. After watching the steady stream of china and Sony taperecorders that crossed the Quarterdeck during those brief nine days, it is obvious how this amazing nation recovered so quickly. As expected the Ship 's Party was one of the highlights of the cruise. It certainly provided many laughs. fmornings after were not so enjoyablej. The food was good, the drink better, and the whole- some entertainers managed to give some a substantial earful . After six months everyone was anxious to lay eyes on the shores of the good ole U. S. , to see famil- rw on iar sights, and lavish in the comforts of the homeland. Many had loved ones waiting and everyone long- ed for home. Each of us will remember this cruise in retrospect, for the hard work and numerous hours contributed into making RENVILLE the best APA in the Squadron . . . and probably all of PHIBPAC. We won't soon forget the many hours on watch, and the many hours spent wondering about our families. We won't for- get the Viet Namese Coast and die flares exploding over the distant jungle fighting. We won't forget the Marines methodically chanting Jody , or the times when combat reported unknown contacts ap- proaching at high speeds. We won't forget the Sixty-Seven days which gave RENVILLE a new peace- time cruising record. Each one of us feels pride in what we did, pride in having been a part, no matter how small, of the Viet Namese Campaign. Our job was done outstandingly. To some the cruise may have seemed mediocre, and probably many were disappointed, but our crew built RENVILLE into a superb amphib and above all she stood ready to fulfill the purpose. She was ready then. She is ready now. I8 DECEMBER I964 3

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rf- . .5 4' 'I' F? EXECLITI E OFFI ER Commander Zinsler graduated from the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy in May 1945. Serving during World War II with the Merchant Marine service, he was a survivor of the SS JAMES R, LOWELL, which was torpedoed and sunk in October 1943 in the Mediterranean. In June 1946, he served for one year on the U. S.S, BOXER CCVA-21j in the Engineer- ing and Gunnery Divisions. Commander Zinsler served for two years Q195O-1952i aboard the U. S. S, ORISKANY QCVA- 343 in Gunnery. Following his sea tour, he spent the follow- ing twvo years as C. O. of the Naval Control of Shipping Office in Baltimore. In 1954 he served as X.O. aboard the U,S. S. ALDEBRAN QAF-101, and in 1955 was C,O. of the U.S.S. MATTABASSET QADG-525 until 1957. In 1958 he served as X,O, aboard the U. S,S. SIGOURNEY CDD-6435 until August of 1959. Commander Zinsler then spent two years at the U. S. Naval Intelligence School in Washington, D. C. In February of 1961 he was the Assistant U. S. Naval Attache and Assist- COMMANDER F. G. ZINSLER ant U. S, Naval Attache for Air in Rabat, Morocco. In Aug- ust 1964 he came to RENVILLE on which he presently serves. Commander Zinsler was married to the former Miss Elisa- beth I. Brown of Baltimore, Maryland, in 1947 and they have 3 children, james age 13, Elizabeth A, age 16, Patricia A. , age 6. Commander Zinsler holds the following decorations: U. S. Maritime Commission Combat Award Q1 Starj, U. S. Maritime Commission Atlantic War Zone Award, U. S. Maritime Com mission Pacific War Zone Award, U. S. Maritime Commission European -Middle ,East War Zone Award, U. S. Maritime Com mission Victory Medal, U. S. Naval Reserve Medal, U. S. Navy Occupation Medal QEurope and Asiaj, and the National De fense Service Medal. Commander Hansen entered the Navy as an enlisted man, serving in the Pacific. Promoted to Warrant Boatswain in 1942 and served with the Amphibious Forces in the South Pacific Lmtil 1943. During 1944 Cdr. Hansen was promoted to CWO and also commissioned two new 180 foot minesweepers, U. S. S. CLIMAX QAM161j and U. S. S. FACILITY QAM 233j. Under the LDO program he was made an Ensign in july 1944, and was ordered as CO, USS YMS 422, later renamed U.S.S. OSPREY QAMS 281. In 1946 he was promoted to LT Qjgj and spent the following two years clearing mines in japanese waters. After being promoted to Lieutenant in 1951, he took command of the U.S.S. SALISH QATA-187j and in 1954 the U. S. S. MOLALA QATF- 1065. While serving on the MOLALA Mr. Hansen was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. In 1956 Commander Hansen served as secu- ! rity officer at the U,S, Naval Station, Guam. In November 1958, he was detached and ordered to Stocton, California, as Commanding Officer, U. S. Naval Reserve Training Center. In 1960, Commander Hansen was ordered to the U, S, S, SURFBIRD QADG-3831, stationed in Sasebo, japan, as its Commanding Officer. In August 1961, he was promoted to Commander. Commander Hansen reported to the RENVILLE as its Executive Officer in October 1962, and served until August 1964 when he reported to Treasure Island, San Francisco. It was a pleasure serving under such a fine Officer. Commander Hansen married the former Lois M. Nicol of Seattle, Washington in August of 1941. 5