Saint Paul (CA 73) - Naval Cruise Book

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ANDEH cu M SPENCER Ralph G. Spencer, a native of Rush Springs, Oklahoma is a graduate of Rice University, the University of Oklahoma Law School the Armed Forces Staff College. His first sea duty was aboard USS DULUTH CCL-875. In 1949, he reported to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and worked as a linguist. At the start of the Korean Conflict, he was assigned as prospective signal officer for recommissioning the USS WISCONSIN QBB-641 and served in her as a junior officer for twenty-nine months. and Following a tour as Commanding Officer, USS SEA GULL QAMS-551, he reported to USS ARNOLD J. ISBELL CDD-8691 in 19553 successively serving as gunnery, operations and engineering officer. Two years later, he went to USS LE RAY WILSON IDE-4141 as executive officer and stayed on to become commanding officer. 7'v ,,, I ' Q X. 14,13 Gl ' L :rt I v ws-f ,qggasavter While serving in LE RAY WILSON he visited many of the Pacific Islands which became famous in World War II when the ship was involved in the census of the Mariana, Caroline, Marshall and Bonin Islands for the Department of the Interior. As Assistant Placement Officer in the Bureau of Naval Personnel he worked with the Rank Detailers to assign officers to the ships and staffs of the Cruiser-Destroyer Force U.S. Pacific Fleet. Commander Spencer served in USS COONTZ QDLG-93 and commanded USS MCMORRIS KDE-10361 before reporting to the Offices of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for duty in 1963. Once again in 1966 he was associated with commissioning a ship USS SCHOFIELD fDEG-31 as prospective commanding officer. Prior to reporting to USS SAINT PAUL he was Commanding Officer USS SELLERS CDDG-IU. During this past deployment on SAINT PAUL Commander Spencer was selected for promotion to the rank of Captain Commander Spencer and Mrs Spencer the former Betty Ann Chambers of Lawton Oklahoma have two daughters and three sons Ann Sara Victor Ralph and Sterling ll on-ad 5 an X, if , is ' 9 V, E 5 xv, wx A v 9 9 1 .Q - ' ' 'Q gf: -5 X 1 7 y a - - t - ' -Q' t I V' - 9 .hit f , . r F' v. a 9 ' I s a . 9 ' it A

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M, JJ CUMIVIA IVDEH HA LPH Ci SPENCER EXECUTIVE UFFICEH

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21 March .96 p,-.gr a'n A ll Hands to Quarters .V Everyone knew March 21 would come around again. Still. it was a shock when the word was passed-- All hands to quarters for leaving port -and we realized we were off to the Western Pacific. On the pier the band from Naval Air Station, North Island. played Anchors Aweighf' Some 500 relatives and friends had gathered to say goodbye for seven long months. No one was happy to be leaving family and friends, but mingled with the sadness of leaving home was curiosity and excitement in the face of new demands and new adventures in a part of the world few of us had visited before.