Shadwell (LSD 15) - Naval Cruise Book

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L in 1959, became' the first LSD to carry helicopters. So successful was the deployment with helos, that the vertical envelopment concept has become an integral part of the Amphibious Task Force in the Mediterra- neon. During the early 60's SHADWELL toured the Mediterranean and Caribbean setting records for other helo carriers to match, such as: 4,000 Landings on board, the logging of 660 flight hours in one month, and initiating 26 Marine pilots into SHADWELL's Centurion Club l100 or more landings on SHADWELL's flight deckl. She also answered the nation's call to arms for the Cuban crisis of 1962, and put to sea for the entire operation. The first half of 1963 was a relatively quiet one for LSD-15. She completed training assignments and spent two months in the New York City area for overhaul. SHADWELL made another trip to the Caribbean for more training, and then, on September 20, 1963, set sail for the Mediterranean Sea. lt is the purpose of this bookto record, in pictures, the most recent addition to the history of SHADWELL -- Med Cruise 1963-64. MISSION To carry to an obiective area landing craftand amphibious vehicles or trucks which can be discharg- ed rapidly from the flooded well deck. To accommodate, support and operate troop and cargo-carrying helicopters. To drydock and effect repairs to landing craft and small vessels. To transport and deliver any type of cargo to any port or beach in the world.

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Q. .. Q .1 fl, The keel was laid in NewportNews,Virginia,during February 1944. On May 24, Hull 407 was christen- ed USS SHADWELL, Landing Ship Dock 15, and on June 24, SHADWELL was commissioned in the U. S. Navy in the Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia. Her design was conceived by the British, and SHADWELL was originally contracted for delivery to the United Kingdom, but she has never sailed under any flag but ours. SHADWELL is the first ship to bear the name, which commemorated the birthplace and early home our third president, Thomas Jefferson. The ship's first assignment was to ioin Task Force 78 in the South Pacific. In December 1944, after em- barking units of an Army Engineering Battalion, SHADWELL participated in the invasion of Lingayen Gulf, Luzon. Her guns remained silent during the entire voyage to the obiective area due to the extreme effec- tiveness of the screening units. However,onD-Day,January 9, 1945, after unloading her troops and cargo, SHADWELL bagged a Japanese Zero fighter. Later in January 1945, SHADWELL, in company with Task Group 78.8, was torpedoedby enemy air- craft. The fish tore a gaping, 60 foot hole in her starboard side, lust forward of amidships. The crew, x 'thiI7OUgh'alm'osf miraculous effort, had her steaming under her own power shortly after sunrise the follow- ing morning, with no fatalities and only three iniuries. After brief stops for temporary repairs, SHADWELL returned to Bremerton Navy Yard in Washington for required permanent repairs. She had only been in commission one year, and she had little time at sea, but SHADWELL received much praise from Fleet Ad- miral NIMITZ. After two months in Bremerton, SHADWELL sailed to join Admiral HALSEY's Third Fleet in July 1945. ln August of the same year she was among the first units to enter Tokyo Bay, where she remained until May 1946 to perform occupational duties. SHADWELL ioined the Reserve Fleet in July 1947, but on September 20, 1950, was called upon once again to serve, this time as an active unit of the Atlantic Fleet Amphibious Force. The decade of the 50's was very eventful for SHADWELL. She took part in full scale exercises off the Atlantic Coast and in the Caribbean, participated in Arctic operations, had a maior overhaul in 1952 which added the superdeck and flag quarters, was introduced to the Sixth Fleet in the Med in 1956p and finally

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COMMANDING OFFICER JACK F. HEARD INSLN 'A' J N -'f ',' ,V . , ' , .,.,,.L --.-.,...:,,gg-,MMgxgi. A14 ,,' 1: Commander Jack F. HEARD, USN, assumed com- mand of the USS SHADWELLQLSD-15lon19ApriI 1963 after completing a 20 month tour of duty as Executive Officer on the USS MULIPHEN QAKA-611. The SHAD- WELL is his fourth command in a career which began with Reserve Training at Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama in May 1942: He entered Midshipman school on board Prairie State, New York in February 1943 and was commissioned Ensign 4 months later. Upon graduation from Submarine School at New London, Conn. in September 1943, he reported to the USS R-2 ISS-791 as Communications Officer. One Year later he had earned the dolphins of a qualified submariner and promotion to LTJG. After a brief tour on the USS GUARDFISH lSS-2171 early in 1945, he reportedto the USSICEFISH lSS-3671 in time to participate in the Okinawa Campaign and the Balikpapan Operations. From May 1946 until his assignment to the Electronics School, Treasure Island in October, he served on USS TOLLBERG lAPD-1031 and USS FOGG lDE-571. In March, 1947 he became Engineering Officer of the USS C. S. SPERRYlDD-6971. Three years of command followed Destroyer duty for LT. HEARD. In November 1947 he assumed com- mand ofthe Patrol Vessel USS PGM-25. FromJanuary 1948 until November 1950 he commanded the USS BLACKBIRD QAMCU-1 ll, a mine warfare vessel. After a 7 month tour as special Proiect Officer on the .Staff of Mine Force, U. S.Atlantic Fleet, LT. HEARD returned to submarines in June 1951 as Executive Of- ficer: of the Radar Picket Submarine USS BURRFISH QSSR-3121. During this tour he qualified for command ofsubmarines, and in January 1954, hewas promoted to Lieutenant Commander. His next duty was Subma- rine Reserve Program Coordinator for Commandant SIXTH Naval District. In July 1956 he assumed com- mand of the Guppy Il Submarine USS CLAMAGORE QSS-3431 and while in that ship was promoted to Com- mander in July 1958. The next tour ashore saw Commander HEARD at the Naval Academy from 1958-1960as an instructor in the Engineering Department and then as a student in the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base until June of 1961. In July of that year he reported as Executive Officer of the USS MULIPHEN QAKA-611. Commander HEARD holds the degree of Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering and wears the following campaign and service medals:American Theater, Asia- tic-Pacific with 3 stars, Victory lWorld War Ill, Navy Occupation Service iEuropeanl, National Defense and Philippine Liberation. Commander HEARD is a native ofAlabama, claim- ing Camp Hill, Alabama as his home town. He pre- sently resides in Norfolk, Va. with his wife, the former Mary Maxine Rockwell of Birmingham, Alabama, and their two daughters, Dana and Jacqueline.