Shreveport (LPD 12) - Naval Cruise Book

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as GUKL f Guckel J. P005 frequently were not promulgated until 0300, and were perhaps ten or twelve pages long. The Executive Officer held reveille on all officers. There was no messing on board since galley equipment was not on board and neither was there an food. It was necessary I Y for everyone to be bussed to old, far-away mess halls or eat from the Hgalloping gedunk.H In the midst of all the supplies being brought aboard, em- phasis was also placed on cleaning the ship for com- missioning day and rehersals for the ceremony itself. The ceremony took place in the Nell Deck, decorated with signal flags and bunting. There was a band and sai- lors in white leg- gings and three ad- mirals, and every- one wore large med- als, officers wore white gloves, and there were about 700 present. The senior officer pre- sent was Vice Admi- ral Heinz, COMPHIB- LANT. The band played, the digni- taries were seated, the - chaplain pronounced the 12- invocation, and various people made their addresses The Mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, a Navy reserve Captain who had served dur- ing World War II in the Normandy Invasion, gave the principle address, stres- sing the importance of sea power. The Commandant of the l3th Naval District directed the new Command- ing Officer to put the ship in commission. The Execu- tive Officer said, HBand, Sound 0ff,H and they played

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The days prior to commissioning USS S REVEPORT C PD will be remembered by those who re there as so excruc ng hat ne thing cou y become l ss h ti t e days ahead They never did The beginning merely set e pace for al t at fo ow The SHREVEP R er is a man of action N le he a ance crew assemb ed in Norfolk to atten various schools and training programs ie nucleus cr w s already in Sup TGS P outfitting the ship to deve op the skeletal organization administration and o sup vise th finishing touc o the ui er ckheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company k ger as r nt r during this period SHREVEP RT was actual y five years o d er e was a October l966 The balance crew about 300 strong was flown from Norfolk SEATAC Airport nd arked the ne ' a rainsto at suddenly turned into a bl' zard o n 'sibili became almost zero D ember s ip was towe fr m Sea to Pu Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton Washington was d day an the conc ete urfaces o the shipyard we e ' ed with merous puddles om e r in of washington winter e ship arrived around T000 and wi h large at-bed trucks of gear began arrivi x ling the who pier. First came the mattresses each his own bu Then came damage con man carrying one trol gear e flat-bed ruc a W1 ar were hoisted by a r ne flight geci whe e s ip for if re oved the al ts and Carr1ed t through the mess decks where they were lowered by eleva- tors to upper vehicle stowage for each de artm nt t t ke t eir gear For those who have never beenpthrogqh sgchaan o ution N , w really carries rk continued until past midnight on to begin again very early the next mornin . D sft, work from 0530 past midnight, as truckgloadagfieretrug load was brought on board Several months' . 1 - sumables for each department was also broughtuggoirgfkhgan

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the National Anthem while quartermasters in white leg- gings raised the Colors inside the Well Deck and a small commission pennant. Outside, the Colors, commission pen- nant, and Jack were also hoisted. The Executive Office said, HMan the Rail,H and all the sailors along the side of the Well Deck ran up ramps and fell into a formation in front of everyone while others ran out of openings in the side, along a catwalk on the wall of the Well Deck. Then the Commanding Officer reported that the ship was in com- mission. The time was l505. The Captain asked permission to Hbreak the Admiral's personal flag.H The commission pennant was lowered and a small blue flag with three white stars raised while the band played HRuffles and flourishes and the short Admiral's March. A large set of silverware was presented by the people of Shreveport. A large cake, about five feet by three feet, was brought down on a large plywood platter and the Cap- tain's wife cut a piece with the XO's sword. But she had troubles, she put the sword under the tin-foil under the cake. Captain Pehr H. Pehrsson, the new commanding officer, made a few comments: H..without a crew, this ship is merely l3,000 tons of metal--spirit- less, motionless and passive. The quality that separates the for- med metal in this ship from the raw materials still in the ground is not bulk, not a 22 knot speed capability, not the flight deck above for helicopter operae tions, not the vast Well Deck wherein we now sit and which nor- mally carries huge as- sault boats. It is not the ship's capacity to carry a thousand combat loaded troops anywhere in the world. Those are mere potentials. what gives the SHREVEPORT life what makes her an instrument of national defense is the men that man her...the life of a sailor often means akamped living iquarters, long hours of work, protracted family igggrigignigigngifrequent nhysiaai aangar..ta breathe iife VGQUTVG 25 hour ddys and much personal