Roanoke (CL 145) - Naval Cruise Book

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Captain E. E. Yeomans, USN Commanding Officer

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-cfs! 75 ff an V, 'S pf 1 Rear Admiral John H. Carson, USN Cruiser Division Two, composed of the Light Cruiser Roanoke and the Heavy Cruiser Newport News, left the United States on 6 january 1950 to join the SIXTH FLEET in the Mediterranean Sea. As Commander of the Cruiser Division, Rear Admiral Carson, with the Roanoke as his flagship, received and translated decisions from higher authority into orders for his own command, and assumed tactical command of the operations of his part of the Fleet. Rear Admiral Carson graduated from the US. Naval Academy with the Class of 1916, and during a considerable part of his naval career has specialized in the held of ordnance. Cn 1 july 1931 Rear Admiral Carson, then Lieutenant Commander, Was executive officer at the commissioning of the USS. Constitution, Old lronsitlcsfy which had been restored at the Boston Navy Yard With funds provided largely by the school children of the United States. As Operations Officer of Cruisers Battle Force Rear Admiral Carson served on board the U.S.S. Honolulu during the attack 017 December 1941 on Pearl Harbor, and during the early part of World War 11 his organization and super' vision of the convoy system in the Southwest Pacific contributed materially to the success of our forces. Later in the War he had command of the USS. Boston, and in 1944 assumed command of the Naval Torpedo Station at Newport, R.1. just prior to assuming command of Cruiser Division Two, Rear Admiral Carson was Navy Secretary of the Research and Development Board in Washington, D.C.

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1 ,1- .az -wx.. . ,, am-.ap 'E ii Q 1 A J. A si R i' Af E 'I-his informal record of the Roanolcefs first year in commission and 1950 Mediterranean Cruise was compiled for our pleasure and with the hope that it will help preserve the many friendships which sprang from experiences shared by men sailing the historic ancient seas. It was created by our talented shipmates under the guidance of Charles Conner Hartung, Lieutenant Commander, Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy, one of the finest upadresn any ship ever had. We are all very grateful to them for this lasting record of our days together. Behind the informality of the record we are aware of the serious and important task that was ours-the Navy's task of giving lastmg evidence of our country's desire for peace and friendship with the world. It is with pleasure that I set in the record one of the messages from Vice Admiral John Jennings Ballentine, U.S. Navy, our Fleet Commander during the Mediterranean cruise, concerning the accomplishment of our task. I am deeply gratified to be the recipient of the following message from the United States Ambassador. 'On your departure I should like to convey to you, and to the officers and men under your command, my warmest appreciation of the perfect manner in which the largest and most powerful Naval visit ever made to this port has been conducted. The magnificent appearance of the vessels and the Splendid bearing of all personnel have not only filled every American here with pride in the Navy but have notably strengthened the growing bonds of international understanding and confidence so necessary in the world today.'-Well done. Such fine tributes were earned by the ofiicers and men of the Roanoke and will be the source of great pride in years to come. We