Salem (CA 139) - Naval Cruise Book

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' ll -if TY af' Y U. S. S. SALEM - CA 139 FLAGSHIP 0F THE SIXTH FLEET 1

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11 S S SALEM - GA 139 I I I The fight for The Salem began on March 2T, 1934 when Congressman George Bates rose before Congress and asked for appropriation of funds for the construction of a new vessel for the nationis naval forces. It was it be named for the historically rich New England city of Salem. Massachu- SCHS. The work on the new vessel was slow, but on July 4. 1945 the keel was laid at the Bethlehem Steel Company s Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts. This was to be the last major warship to be built in that yard during World War Il. ln four years of war many things were learned on how to improve the efficiency of naval vessels. All these improve- ments were compounded into The Salem. The Salem was launched in 1947. but it wasnit until two years later on May 14. 1949 that she was commissioned at the South Boston Naval Shipyard. Un board for the great occasion were many dignitaries such as. :Xrliniral l,ouis li. Denfield. Congressman George Bates who had won his battle for appropriations for The Salemis completion. also on lmartl was joseph B. Harrington. then mayor of Salem. Captain john C. Daniels, the first commanding otlif-er. took his ship on her maiden voyage from Boston In Salem over 1ndependence Day of 1949. Un July 12, 1949 The Salem was ployy ing her yy ay south in the windy Atlantic hound for Guantanamo Bay. Cuba and her first Shakedown cruise. 1.'pon termination of her three K ..5:.. , mam p 5 1 mmm f ir .., g-..-7. -, 'la -kg ' months training period in the Caribbean where ports in Haiti, Jamaica, and the Canal Zone were visited, The Salem returned to Boston. her home port. She was then a highly trained unit of the American Naval Force. Post-shakedown maintenance work. speed trials for the ships of The Salem class were held: these other ships of this class are The New- port News and The Des 1Vloines. On May 3. 1950 the day came that this new ship and her newly well-trained crew had been waiting for, The Salem got underway for the European area to relieve her sister ship the Newport News and take over as flagship of the Sixth Fleet. 1'pon crossing the Atlantic The Salem found herself in Lisbon. Portugal to take on board the Flag of Vice Ad- miral ,lohn J, Ballentine. then in command of the Sixth Fleet. Since that year The Salem has returned to the Mediter- ranean each summer to be Flagship of the Sixth Fleet and visit the ports of France, Italy, Yugoslavia, Greece. Turkey. North Africa. Lebanon, Spain and Portugal. The Salem tCA-1391 is the second ship to carry the name of this famous old New England town. The first Salem fCL-31 was launched in .luly 1907 at the same Bethlehem shipyard in Quincy. Massachusetts and served her nation well from April 16. 1917 to November 11, 1913. In November 1929 she was flecommissioned having served in the fleet for twenty-two consecutive years. So as The Salem served her country the new will do the same and each time amidst farewells of families and friends of her crew the gangways are taken away. and the lilies cast off. the man-of-war Salem will get underway again to make history for herself, and the United States Navy. U.S.S. Salem KCA-1391 fC0mmissionerl May 14. 19492 Corrznzrimlirzg Omcers-John C. Daniel. CAPT, USN. 14 May 1949- 2 Feb. 1950: Edmund B. Taylor, CAPT. USN. 2 lfeb. 1950- 2 ,lan. 19511 Donald C. Varian, CAPT. USN. 2 Jan. 1951- 9 Nov. 1951: William K. Bomoscr, CAPT, USN, 9 Nov. 1951- 9 Oct. 1952: Brooke Schumn. tgAPt'. USN. 9 Oct. 1952- 28 Oct. 1953g Liles W, Creighton. CAPT, USN, 28 Oct. 1953- 14 Jan, 1955g ,lack Maginnis. CAPT, USN. 14 Jan. 1955- Executive Oficers-Edward L. Robertson. CDR. USN, 14 lV1ay 1949- 1 Aug. 1950: Edwin S. Miller, CDR. USN. 1 Aug. 1950- 11 Sept. 19513 Benjamin L. E. Talman. CDR. USN. 11 Sept. 1951- T Feb. 1953g James L. P. McCallum, CDR. USN, 7 Feb. 1953- 9 Jan. 19543 Donald W. Wilson, CDR, USN, 9 jan. 1954- 14 1V1ar. 1955g Edward M, Luby, CDR, USN, 14 Mar. 1955-