Thomaston (LSD 28) - Naval Cruise Book

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A MESSAGE FROM TI-IE CAPTAIN i 1 1 i , I, ..... ., CAPT. BLAKE S. FORREST, U.S. NAVY, COMIVIANDING As our cruise comes to an end, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for the fine spirit, cooperation and high degree of professional competence which you have displayed in WestPac serving with the 7th Fleet. We have had our hardships and our glories, as well as much time spent in play. I hope this book will not only remind you of these feelings and events, but the fact that you have played a vital role in our nation's defense and the world's fight for freedom, The THOM- ASTON has represented itself in an excellent manner both ashore and at sea, and I am proud to be your shipmate.

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- . ,,,. . M... - ,,,, .. ,... ' W U.S.S. THOMASTCN LSD-28 The USS THOMASTON is the first of the NAVY'S newest class of Landing Ships, Dock. ln keeping with the tradition of naming LSD's after famous places, the THONIASTON was named for Thomaston, Maine, possibly best known as the home of Major General Henry Knox. General Knox was the Chief of Artillery during the entire Revolutionary War and accepted the surrender of Lord General Cornwallis at Yorktown. Later he served as the nation's first civilian head of the Navy. The ship was authorized by the Secretary of Navy on 28 February 1952 and built by the Ingalls Ship- building Corporation at Pascagoula, Mississippi. The keel was laid on 3 March 1953 and the ship was launched on 9 February 1954. After commissioning, the THOMASTON partici- pated in amphibious and underway training in Guan- tanamo Bay, Cuba, and then proceeded to join the Pacific Fleet Amphibious Force. The THOMASTON was one of the many ships participating in the Arctic Resupply Project of the DEW Line July through Oc- tober 1955. Later she returned to the Arctic to take A lf- .la . V,,f 1, ' , T'!fZ,1,y Q., 'I part in the Cold Weather Landing Exercise during January and February 1956. The Tl'lOMASTON,S first deployment to WestPac with the 7th Fleet was in August 1957. She returned again in April of 1959, when she participated in sev- eral large scale amphibious exercises in the Borneo and Korean areas. Returning to San Diego on the 19th of November 1959, the THOMASTON enjoyed the holidays at home prior to a busy spring of exercises and inspec- tions before her third deployment to WestPac in J une of 1960. The TOMCAT arrived home in San Diego Decem- ber 22nd 1960. Several weeks later found her in the yards in San Francisco for a long awaited overhaul. She then was worked to death in refresher and am- phibious training, plus several operations. This brings her up to date, as once again we find ourselves in the ullealm of the Golden Dragon. The story of this cruise will be found on the following pages, so good reading as once again we go to sea on the THOMASTON. . .a,,, W1

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i CDR. ALTON P. ADAMS, U.S.N., EXECUTIVE OFFICER This has been a very successful cruise for the THOMASTON. It has been successful because every man did his job with that fine competitive spirit which is so vital to a fighting ship. As a result, the THOMASTON stands high in the competition ,forthe Squadron HE for this year. Personal develop- ment has not been neglected. During this cruise 17 high school level and one college level GED certificates have been delivered to members of the crew. Good conduct medals have been awarded to 23 members of the crew and 61 men passed the February exams for advancement. There has been a minimum of personal problems involving dependents during this cruise, and for this every Thomaston wife deserves a hearty '6Well Done g their job has not been easy I know. I am proud to have been your executive officer during this cruise. '- q 'AWK