Shreveport (LPD 12) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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sacrifice...The USS SHREVEPORT is her crew..H Fast cruises were conducted 12-15 January 1971, and on 18 January, after 0415 Revei11e, the ship was underway to test the fathometer, radio transmitter systems, anchor wind1ass, and to receive her first safe he1o Tanding as -Lt. R. L. KALBER, USNR, of NAS whidby Is1and 1anded. The remainder of the week saw the ship steaming in a circ1e in a channe1 fu11 of ships, around a buoy at EDIZ HO0K, to ca1ibrate ECM gear. sf, .1 0n 22 January, the ship was underway 0420 for NAD, Bangor, Washington, to 1oad ammunition. Just as the ship was about to depart, HTi11yH arrived, having trave11ed across country. She was 1oaded and the ship was underway for her voyage to home port, some 8,000 mi1es distant. Setting out on a course of 1800 she trave11ed 692.7 mi1es to her first port of ca11, San Francisco. The ship passed under the 0ak1and Bay Bridge at 0929 and moored port side to Pier 1, Hunter's Point Navy Station at 1005, 27 January 1971. The day was warm and p1easant, compared with the foggy, disma1 Washington winter, and SHREVEPORTers took advantage of the opportunity to visit the most beautifu1 1arge city of America with its Chinatown, fisherman's wharf, cab1e cars, and cosmopo1itan atmosphere of being a1ive. i Ha. an--e ,als JZ ' . F 1 1 3. e v - 3 'Q ff