Roanoke (CL 145) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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..- , H-vs, s..,, 9 ..f.Ma......,,N.N ,,,,, , V , 4-may ' Ul'7 S-...W The ROANOKE, the last Word in her class, goes to join the greatest fleet We have ever maintained in a With these words, Secretary of Defense Louis A. johnson, in his first public speech after joining Presi' dent Truman's cabinet, opened the ofhcial commis' sioning ceremony of the USS. Roanoke CXCL'l45D, on Monday afternoon, 4 April 1949, at the Phila' delphia Naval Shipyard. With his personal flag broken out above for the First time over a US. military installation, Secretary johnson dedicated 7 791 time of supposed peace. this new vessel, one of the most powerful cruisers in the world, to carry our flag on friendly visits to all quarters of the world. The ship was then turned over oihcially to its hrst skipper, Captain D. Kelsey, USN, after which the Executive Qfiicer, in time honored manner, inaugurated the ceremony of setting the watch' '-a ceremony in which the crew of 922 men was run aboard while the ship's 51