Shenandoah (AD 26) - Naval Cruise Book

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History of U.S.S. SHENANDOAH CAD-267 The keel of U.S.S. SHENANDOAH was laid on 15 September 1944, in the Todd Shipyard in Tacoma, Washington. She was launched on 29 March 1945, and was christened by Mrs, Daniel Hunt, wife of RADM Hunt fMCJ USN, the 12th Naval District 'Vledical Officer. Shenandoah, the first ship of her class, was commissioned on 13 August 19-15. The first Commanding Officer was Captain Albert C. Burrows, USN, and the first Executive Officer was Comm ' 1 , .-. L SHENANDOAH was selected by the Navy Depart- ment and was the first United States Ship to bear the name, Previously only the dirigible, SHENAN- DOAH, had been so named. i andei Ham Jton NI Fricsson USN The n-une 1 1 0 i . --W' 4-BW'1b?7 '7'fi ,L,-,qp-- Upon completion of SHENANDO.-Xllis fitting out in December 1945, the destroyer tender pro- ceeded to the East Coast via the Panama Canal. On 12 January 1946 she reported for duty to COM- MANDER, DESTROYER FORCE, U. S. ATLAN- TIC FLEET. Her home port and scene of her normal duties is Norfolk, Virginia. Since joining the Destroyer Force in 19-16, SHENANDOAH has deployed to the SIXTH Fleet in the Mediterranean eight times: initially in 1.9173 twice in 19485 again in 1951, 1958 -and 1961. During three of her deployments, SHENANDOAH acted as flagship for COMMANDER, SERVICE FORCE, SIXTH Fleet. On her tours with the SIXTH Fleet she has visited most of the important ports in the Mediterranean including Gibraltar, Sfax in Tunisia, Argostoli and Pireaus in Greece and the major ports of southern France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and North Africa. Following her first deployment to the SIXTH Fleet, in October 1947, SHENANDOAH was over- hauled in Boston Naval Shipyard and again in 1949 in the same yard. Since that time she has been over- hauled in Norfolk Naval Shipyard in 1951, 1954, 1957 and in 1960. Twice during SHENANDOAH's service life, in 1952 and 1956, she was awarded the Battle Effic- iency Pennant for her competence in tending de- stroyers and for performance of her battle duties. In 1958 she won the Engineering E. During SHENANDOAH's fifth deployment to the SIXTH Fleet, in the year 1952, she participated in international exercises with ships of the United Kingdom. France and Italy. At that time she was flagship for COMMANDER SERVICE FORCE, SIXTH Fleet. In April 1953. SHENANDOAH made a recrea- tional and training cruise to Newport, Rhode Island, Boston, Mass., and Quebec, Canada.. In October of the same year SHENANDOAH embarked the staff of the COMMANDER FLEET TRAINING GROUP, Narragansett Bay, and acted as flagship for the Training Group on its Carribbean Cruise. During the following summer she engaged in operations off the Virginia Capes in preparation for her 1954 deploy- ment. Following her return from the Mediterranean in 1955 she visited San Juan, Puerto Rico, New York City and several other ports when her duties per- mitted. She departed for duty in October 1956 with the SIXTH Fleet and remained in the Mediterranean until her return to Norfolk in April of the following year. Soon after her return she entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for her regular overhaul period. This was followed by a trip to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for refresher training. In September and October of 1957 she participated in the NATO Fall Exercises. SHENANDOAH again joined the SIXTH Fleet in the Mediterranean in April of 1958 and returned to Norfolk in September of that year. SHENANDOAH became the flagship for COM- MANDER DESTROYER FLOTILLA FOUR in March 1959, and was designated as such for nine and one half months. The can-do tender participated in Independent Ship Exercises in May 1959, Decem- ber 1959, and June 1960 during which she was con- sistently successful in the various exercises con- ducted. On 20 June 1960, SHENANDOAH wel- comed 134 guests aboard for a highly successful dependent's cruise off the Virgi.nia Capes. Until September 1960 SHENANDOAH re- mained in Norfolk performing tender duties. Then she entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for an ex- tensive overhaul, including the installation of ASROC Facilities, and the addition of a DASH flight deck on the fantail. SHENANDOAH left the shipyard on December 16th 1960 and underwent underway training off the Virginia Capes and a highly successful administrative inspection prior to sailing for a seven month Mediterranean Deploy- ment.

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COMMANDING OFFICER CAPTAIN C. A. BURCH, USN C t ' Ch -l s A. Burch, born in Baltimore, Maryland on O t b 1913, tlild sonmof? Louis Claude Burch of St. Mary's County, Maifylgndraggi Constance Boucher Burch of Baltimore. After completing a normal grammar and high school education he entered the Naval Academy in the summer of 1933.5 was graduated and commissioned an Ensign, U. S. Navy in June 1937. His first tour of commissioned duty was served aboard USS PENNSYLVANIA, then the flagship of the United States Fleet, a tour which lasted slightly over eight years. 'Captain Burch was a member of the ship's company during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, at which time he participated in repelling the attack. He remained With the ship.until wars end, combatting Japanese naval and military forces in twelve amphibious operations throughout the Pacific theatre. iFrom August 1945 until September 1948 Burch served ashore, first in the Bureau of Ordnance and later in a Bureau of Personnel field activity, In September 1948 he was ordered to the staff of Admiral Forrest Sherman, Commander Sixth Task Fleet in the Mediterranean and remained in that billet until December of 1949. The following six months were spent as a student at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia, and from July 1950 until August 1952 Burch served as Associate Professor of Naval Science and Executive Officer of the NROTC Unit at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, From Charlottes- ville,dCaptain Burch was ordered to the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Islan . Upon completion of the Naval War College senior course in June 1953 Burch assumed command of USS COWELL IDD-5475 and served in that ca- pacity until March 1955 at which time he became Commander Destroyer Divis- ion 42, based at Norfolk, Virginia. He was promoted to his present rank.1n July 1955 and continued service in the destroyer force until July 1956 at which time he returned ashore for a three year tour in the Bureau of Naval Personnel. Upon detachment from BuPers, in August 1959, Burch spent the neid: ten months as a student at the National War College, Fort LL J. McNair, Washington, D. C. Upon completion of the NWC course he reported aga1r1t0 the Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet assuming command of the destroyer tender SHENANDOAH CAD-265 in July 1960 until April 1961. His old ship, USS PENNSYLVANIA, was awarded the Navy Unit Citatlfw for action against the enemy in the Pacific during Wo1'1d War II. Cantagl Burch wears the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star, both with Combat V- His wife, the former Elaine Taylor Galloway was born and raised in Baltlmofe- Captalh and Mrs.. Burch were married in 1947 and are the Parents of four daughters: Elaine, Linda, Cynthia and Marcia,