Tanner (AGS 15) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPTAIN HAROLD W. GEHMAN COMMANDING OFFICER Born in Philadelphia in 1917, Captain Harold W. Gehman began his military career by entering the U.S.. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1935. Upon his graduation in 1939 he was commissioned as Ensign in the U.S. Navy. In 1941 Captain Gehman married Margaret Claire Sheehan of Norfolk, Virginia. They now have two sons, two daughters, and are presently residing at Chevy Chase, Maryland. Some of Captain Gehman's interesting Naval experiences include the following. While he was aboard the USS TUSCALOOSA during World War II the ship was one of the few to successfully make a round trip between Scapa, Scotland and Murmansk, Russia. He helped to rescue 500 per- sons from the scuttled Nazi ship, COLUMBUS,yoff the Atlantic Coast. He participated in three Presidential CF.D. Rooseveltj cruises. I-Ie was present at the historic Roosevelt-Churchill meet- ing CAtlantic Charterl in Newfoundland. Captain Gehman wears the Navy Unit Cpmmendation Ribbon as a result of duty aboard the USS LANGLEY in connection with that ship's World War II activities. Captain Gehman was Commanding Officer of the USS STRONG for two years, which included two six-month cruises in the Mediterranean as part of the U,S, SIXTHFLT, During the 1957 cruise his ship took an active part in the U.S. action off Gaza in connection with the Egyptian- Israeli conflict. 3

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, 1 . . CAPTAIN GEORGE E. DAWSON - COMMANDING OFFICER Feb.1960u-Feb.l96l Captain G.E. Dawson, Commanding Officer of USS TANNER from February 1960 through Feb- ruary 1961, came to the TANNER with a wide background of Naval service. I-Ie is the holder of the Legion of Merit Cwith Combat VJ, Navy Commendation .Cwith Combat VD, U.S. Army-AirForce Commendation, U.S. Presidential Unit Citation, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation and other area Campaign and Victory Medals for active participationvin combat during World War II and sub- sequent events. Captain Dawson was bom in Oakland, California in 1914, and raised in Wichita, Kansas. He later attended school at Washington University, Rochester University and Mechanics Institute of Rochester, N.Y. He entered the Navy in an active status at the age of 18 from Wichita. His current home is located in Mclean, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C. 2

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COMMANDER WILLIAM G. LEISCHNER EXECUTIVE OFFICER A New Yorker by birth, CDR Leischner is right at home when the TANNER is in home port. After enlisting in the Navy in 1936 our Executive Officer quickly rose through the ranks to become a First Class Quartermaster. Then, in 1943, he attended midshipman school that led to commissioning and a stay at the school as a navigation instructor. For four years after the war, CDR Leischner returned to business and participated actively in the Naval Reserve. In 1950 the Navy had need of men of his abilities and he was recalled. Various assignments followed that involved his navigational specialty. Now a resident of Alexandria, Virginia, CDR Leischner is a dedicated family man and the father of five sons and two daughters. A graduate of the University of Maryland, he has also studied at Manhattan College and St. john's University. 4