Shangri La (CVA 38) - Naval Cruise Book

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REAR ADMIRAL ED R. KING U. . Navy Ed Reuben King was born in Memphis, Tenn., on January 2, 1913. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1932 and was commissioned Ensign on June 4, 1936. Following graduation, he served on the USS WEST VIRGINIA QBB-485 for 51!2 years as a junior officer, watch and division officer, and main battery assistant. The WEST VIRGINIA was sunk at Pearl Harbor. During World War II, he was gunnery officer of the USS BANCROFT CDD-5985 operating in the Atlantic and Aleutian theaters, then executive officer of the USS BLACK CDD-6669 in the Pa- cific. In March 1944 he became commanding of- ficer of the BLACK until the Japanese surren- dered. For seven operations he was awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and Gold Star in lieu of a second Bronze Star. Detached from the BLACK in November 1945, he was Main Battery Officer at the Naval Proving Ground, Dahlgren, Va., until February 1948. He next served as Operations Officer on the USS HUNTINGTON fCL-1075. In May 1949 he as- sumed command of the USS MASSEY CDD-7785. He was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of the Third Bronze Star for outstanding services in Korean hostilities. The MASSEY won the battle efficiency E both years under his command. From Aug- 'NX k Sfm .L sl' gr ,. ffgxi ust 1951 until March 1953 he was Operations Ad- visor in the Bureau of Ships, Washington, D.C., and in May 1953 reported as Prospective Com- manding Officer of the USS JOHN S. MCCAIN. He assumed command of that destroyer leader when she was commissioned in October. In July 1955 he reported to the National War College. Upon graduation in June 1956 he was assigned to the Joint Plans Branch, Logistic Plans Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department. In August 1958 he assumed command of the USS TRUCKEE. Under his command, the TRUCKEE won the first of her five E s consti- tuting her Gold E status. In July 1959, he was detached to command Destroyer Squadron TWENTY-TWO, and served with the Second and Sixth Fleets as screen commander. He was as- signed April 1960 to the faculty of the National War College, and in August 1962 was ordered to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, where he served as Head of the Plans Branch, Develop- ment Planning Division, and Deputy Director of the Development Programs Division. He assumed command of Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla EIGHT on June 18, 1964. On January 3, 1965, he assumed command of Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla TWELVE.

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hw T Robert I.ee 'Ihtsnseml nas horn tn f'E.er'lzr-srillr-. Ark.. on .-Xngnst 2. 1911 Ile t'Illi'i't -Il the 1'S Naval .-Xctnleiny at .-Xnnapolis in 1930 and was connnissioneil Ensign in 1934 After two years as ,innior offifer on the ISS 'l'RI'IN'l'ON. he went to Pensacola. Fla. for flight training. Ile was designated Naval .-Xviator in 1937 and joined Itonihing Squadron 2 on the ISS LEX- INGTON for three years. Returning to .-Xnnapolis. he studied aeronaut- ical engineering. In .Tune 1943 he received a Master of Science front the T-Iasachusetts Insti- tute of Technology. During World War II, he exerutsve officer of the newly coininisioned ISS TRIPOLI until 1946. in hunter-killer submarine warfare. De- tached. he served in the Plans Coordination Di- vision of the Bureau of Aeronautics until April 19-18. Ile then served three years with air station squadrons at Moffett Field. California. and Patux- ent River. Maryland. In September 1951. he became Head. Weap- ons Branch. in the Atoznic Energy Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. He was Special Weapons and Plans Officer on the staff of the Coniniander-in-Chief. US. Atlantic Fleet with headquarters at Norfolk until July 1955. He REAR ADMIRAL ROBERT L. TOWNSEND, U. S. NAVY attended National War College in Washington, DC. After completion, he was Assistant Head of Research and Development Division, Bureau of Ordnance, in June 1956. June 1959 he assumed command of the USS KEARSARGE ICVS-333 which participated in rescue operations at Nagoya, Japan, after Ty- phoon Vera. A year later, he became Chief of Staff and Aide to Commander, Carrier Division THREE. His selection for the rank of Rear Ad- miral was approved by the President in July 1960, after which he became Commander Carrier Di- vision SEVENTEEN. ln December 1961, he became Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Naval Weapons for Financial Management 1 Comptrollerj, Navy Department. Q Rear Admiral Townsend became Commander Carrier Division SIX in March 1964, and has par- ticipated as -Officer in Tactical Command of the Carrier Striking Force in large-scale NATO operation. Rear Admiral Townsend has the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign MQC12113 European-African-Middle Eastern Cam- Pfillgfl Medalg Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Xl orld War Il Victory Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

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're Vaiptziiii Ralph l, Werner, li S Nix'-'i-f uma horn in liaiytoii. Ohio on 1'ehrii.zrf-' 12, 1913 11 ro ccivcii his RA. Degree from the l':waf-'ters-itjv of Dziytoii. llc hcggin his :military rarer-r as an .-'irnijv Second ldeutciiaiit .it 1-'t ilaj-cs. Ohm. '-ilierc he served from 1938 to 19:19 lie entered Xa'-'jc Flight 'l'raining in 19229 and was designated Naval .-Xviaitor and coiiiiuissioned an Fnszin in 19-if! ile served as .in instructor at NAS l'ensacola and N.-XS .liiclxsouville from 1941 to 1942 and was Executive Officer of YS-411 at San .lniian Cuba, during 1942. During the rezzzaznder of 'World Vfgr 7 II. he was Operations Officer at YS-131. in Africa. Flight Officer on Nl-'Tl'l,.rXNT. served as Op- erations and Executive Officer of various Night Fighter Squadrons and N.-XLNTL'L.XXT. From 19-17 to 1950 Captain Werner v.-gg 513- tioned at the Naval .-Xir Test Center. Patuxent River. Maryland as head of the All-1Yeatlier Sec- tion. He next assuinecl the duties of Coinznanding Officer. YF-11 at NAS. Jacksonviile. Fla.. from 19:30 to 1952. He was in charge of Plans and Op- erations at the Advanced Training Command. Corpus Christi. Texas. from 1952 to 1953. He served as Operations Officer of Composite Squad- CAPTAIN RALPH L. WERNER, US U.S. NAVY COMMANDING OFFICER USS SHANGRI-LA CVA 38 February 5, 1965- August 21, 1965 ron FOUR from 1954 to 1955. During 1955 to 1957 he was Air Group Commander of Air Task Group 181, and from 1957 to 1958 he was a senior student at the Navy War College, Newport, R.I. During 1958 to 1959 Captain Werner served aboard the USS SARATOGA QCVA-605, first as Operations Officer, later as Executive Officer. He served at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as Air Officer of the Fleet Training Group from 1959 to 1961. From July 1961 to June 1963, Captain Werner served as Commander Carrier Air Group FOUR and Commander Fleet Air Detachment, Cecil Field. Fla. Q On August 4, 1963 Captain Werner became Commanding Officer, USS SABINE CAO-253, homeported in Mayport, Fla. On February 5, 1965 he became Commanding Officer, USS SHANGRI- LA 1 CVA-381, homeported in Mayport. I Captain Werner has been awarded the follow- lllgi Air Medal, National Defense Service Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Navy Occupa- tion Medal 1 European Claspj, World War II Vic- gfggiaiiledal, and American Campaign Service