Salem (CA 139) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 79 text:

WELCUIVIE ABOARD SIXTH FLEET , Qs- xx ,. X wx ti N QQ -'T 55 H, s 5 . Q A . -ur A m X K wx xx xi A ix fglkw X jx X 'X 'xi fr, X?,fQ1 xx m v J,gK3ZlQixxX A f X Q.. - V! 1' 5 'lr P , f A ,Q QM lv ' V -Q gif? ,ui4v6f '4l3 .K-V wwf 13:31 W 'MHS uv 4:3 A A-'NES1 ADIC y annul Z quam: . must - -Q' Nur AI A41 ,QD ...,,,, ,, , .,.,,...,.,..,-,..-,.-,,.w. y, W df A .. f .., A...-4-n-,fvm..M ,, ,. f, f 1 ,. , .....nm,,.v,.,.M.,.,, ,,,,f . ,,.,.,. . , .,,,

Page 78 text:

MISSIUN 0F THE SHIP For six consecutive years the USS Salem has served in Mediterranean waters as Hagship for Commander Sixth Fleet, doing its share in the recognized responsibility of the United States in maintaining world peace. The mission of the Salem in the Mediterranean may be summed up as follows: training, good will and morale. The months spent there offer a splendid opportunity to train the ofiicers and men of the Salem in fleet maneuvers, as well as conducting independent drills and exercises. Furthermore, it affords an opportunity for Salemites to create good will and better understanding through a knowledge of the culture, customs and traditions of the people with whom they come in contact. And in addition the Salem in the Mediterranean builds morale for its oliicers and bluejackets who still have the traditional urge to join the Navy and see the worldfi As part of the U. S. Sixth Fleet, the Salem is a strong arm of the NATO forces as well as a rallying point for the navies of other nations allied with us. Fleet or type exercises in which the Salem participates may include anti-submarine exercises, air intercept exercises, anti- aircraft tracking and firing, surface gunnerv training and. occasionally, shore bombardment exercises. Since good will and reassurance among peoples of the Mediterranean is of utmost importance, every Salemite is a roving American ambassador who has been familiarized with the history and landmarks of the port visited as well as the customs and traditions of the inhabitants. As flagship for the U. S. Sixth Fleet, the Salem has the all-important duty of bearing the fieet commander and his staff of approximately 30 officers and 200 enlisted men from port to port. Commander Sixth Fleet must be an exemplary representative of the United States and his guest book in- cludes the names of kings, queens, presidents, and local offi- cials. From the Salem he receives and returns official calls and attends functions ashore and the Hagship itself is often the scene of receptions to repay local courtesies. Th 1 ' I cc - 77 e Sa em is truly the Pride of the Fleet during its serv- ice as flagship from May to September each year. A powerful c'Diplomat in Grayf' its presence in the Mediterranean, with other ships of the fleet, brings security and hope to peoples in that area and serves to maintain the policies and prestige of the United States in the Mediterranean.

Page 80 text:

COMMANDER SIXTH FLEET Vice Admiral Ofstie, a battle-tested Naval aviator for thirty-three years, is a modest man. To learn something about him, we took a look at his official record. As a result of his service in World War II and in the Korean war, he has been publicly cited for 'cconspicuous gallantry and intrepidityff as ucourageous and aggressive, for usuperb skill, uextra- ordinary heroism, leadership,H 'fforesightn and Hexcep- tionally meritorious servicefi To Turkish newsmen who queried him about his Navy Cross, he explained with em- barrassment, I just happened to be there at the timefj Upon graduation from the U. S. Naval Academy, his standing tenth in a class of 199 portended his brilliant fu- ture. lnitially serving in the Whipple during World War l E he was a destroyer ofhcer for three years before he earned his uwingsn of gold. ln 1925 he was a member of the Ameri- can team in the famous Schneider Cup Race, piloting an R3C-1, a Navy racing seaplane. Early in his career, he headed a flight test division, com- manded Fight-Squadron Six aboard the Saratoga, served Naval Attache duties in Tokyo and London and became aviation officer on the staff of Commander-in-Chief, U, S. Pacific Fleet, six months after Pearl Harbor. Under his command, the Essex took part in aerial attacks on Rabaul in 1943, scoring one of the great Naval Air vic- tories of the war. On the heels of this assault, Japanese in the Gilberts, Kwajalein, Truk, Tinian, Sipan, Guam, the Marsh- alls and in the first battle of the Philippine Sea, felt the wrath of his courageous aviators. Command of Carrier Division Twenty-Six, Anguar, Peleliu Command of Carrier Division Twenty-Two and the battle for Leyte Gulf followed in quick succession. After Hiroshima he became Senior Naval Member, U. S. Strategic Bombing Sur- vey and Navy Member on the Joint Chiefs of Staff Evalua- tion Board for the Atomic Bomb Test. Completing duty as Naval Member. Military Liaison Committee to the Atomic Energy Committee in 1950, he returned to sea as Command- er Carrier Division Five and Commander Task Force Seventy- Seven in the Korean Wfar. Before becoming COMSIXTHFLT he was Commander First Fleet and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations tAIRJ . Admiral Ofstie is married to the former Captain Joy Bright Hancock, USN lBet,l, formerly director of the VVAVES. . ,, , . . 'A . , x 0- W s im' ,' ,pri - ,,f,f1. it