San Diego (AFS 6) - Naval Cruise Book

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.. USS SAN DIEGO has a Df9SfiQiOUS background. AFS-6 is the third ship to bear the name ofthe southem Califomia city. The first SAN DIEGO, CACR-65, an OITTWO r d ' ' ' ' ' . u e cruiser, was commissioned in 1907. Dunng World War I, she escorted convoys across the Atlantic Ocean. She was sunk by a German mine laid off the coast of Fire Island N.Y Juty19. 1918 Succeeding her was the light cruiser SAN DIEGO QCL-535, commissioned January 10, 1942i After eamin a 9 distinguished record in the Pacific Theatre in World War ll, she was decommissioned in August 1945 The current SAN DIEGO, built by the National Steel and Shipping Co., San Diego, Califomia, was commissioned in May 1969 amid the celebrations of San Diego's, bicentennial anniversary, and shifted to her current Norfolk, Va. homeport ln early 1970. Sixth ofthe MARS class combat stores ships, SAN DIEGO has reaped hershare ofhonors in her short life, including Ship ofthe Year' by Commander Service Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet in 1970, honors from the National Defense Transportation Association as the best transportation unit in the Navyf' in 1976, twice received Meritorious Unit Commendatlons from the Chief of Naval Operations and was awarded the 1980 Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award. Before departing on her 1982-83 Mediterranean Cruise, SAN DIEGO captured the coveted Battle Efficiency the Communications C and golden excellency awards in Damage Control, Combat Information, Deck Seamanshlp, Engineering and Gunnery...all which strengthened her nickname as The Best . The 581-foot ship is designed as a 'floating supermarket , with a mission to resupply U.S. Sixth Fleet ships whlle underway by connected replenishment, vertical replenishment or both. In port, the combat stores ship has used barge, boat, helicopter and sometimes even tractor trailers to deliver her cargo. SAN DlEGO's tive cargo holds arethe spacial equivalent of 160 railroad boxcars. Within them are everything from nuts and bolts to candy bars. She stocks enough fresh and frozen foods and provisions to feed 25,000 men for six weeks. and she also refuels ships, too, thus providing a one-stop shopping capability. sl- A :f I-Ll. , . k'iw., ri C. i

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Comnussicned amid the braentennlvar celeoatvans ol S-an Diego, Cam. LN San Drago Coptured the hearts or her UGNTGSOKG city. In tum, the combat stores ship U rCOl'DO!'Of6d the city's Zilih birthday svrnbol h the ships seal. the shios crest shows SAN DIEGO tmnsbrring sup-pi-es by highline sirnukanecus-'y 'o an aircraft carrier and a destroyer. as al three shbs ste-am toward an unknown One ol SAN DlEGO's two cargo helicopters NOVBTS overhead, while a third customer ship awaits her tum in the background. The citys gold and brown anniversary embtem depicts a Spanish conquistador with halberd, and a priest carrying a cross. The three spires emanating from the bottom at the cttys crest are in commemoration of the three U.S. Navy ships named for the city of San Diego,

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151' X qcbovey The captain addresses a group of dignitaries onthe San Diego, durtng a ceremony in Barcelona. Captain JOHN BEECHER DOOLITTLE United States Naval Reserve CAPTAIN JOHN BEECHER DOOLITTLE was commissioned an Ensign, U.S. Naval Reserve through the NROTC Contract program upon receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University in June 1958. He served as Deck Division Officeraboard USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT CCNA-425 from July 1958 until June 1960, when he was released from active duty. He was recalled to active duty in April 1961, and served In the Bureau ot Naval Personnel until September 1963. Captain DooIlttte's next duty was in the Office ofthe Chief of Naval Operations qOt1ice of Naval lntelligencej, where he served from October 1963 to February 1966. He then attended the Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School at Quantlco, Wrginia from March 1966 through Jury ofthat year. Captain Doolittte then served as Operations Officer ofthe USS UVALDE CLKA-883 until September 1968, and from October 196810 November 1 970 he was Command- ing Ofticer ofthe Naval Reserve Center, Binghamton, New York. His next duty was as Executive Officer of USS WACCAMAW CAO-1093 from January 1971 to April 1972. He served in the Bureau of Naval Personnel from June 1972 to July 1974, and in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations from August 1974 to November 1975. From January 1976 until April 1976, Captain Doolittle served as Commanding Officer of USS DENEBOIA CAF-563 and from July 1976 to August 1978 he served as Commanding Officer of USS NITRO CAE-235. From September 1978 to September 1981 Captain DOOIWWG' served in the Office ofthe Chief of Naval ODGTGWOUSJ Gnd was promoted to his present rank on 1 June 1980. He assumed command ofUSS SAN DIEGO on 25 March 1982. A native of Hamden, Connecticut, he is married to the fomwer Katherine Ann Hill of Hyde Park, New York. The Doolittles have an eighteen-year-old daughter, Ann and a twetve-year-old son, Scott.