Yosemite (AD 19) - Naval Cruise Book

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I sHlPsiHlsToRv For more than 35 years the USS Yosemite has served proudly as one of the best destroyer tenders in the United States Navy. I I A HDixieH class destroyer tender, the Yosemite had its keel laid on January 19, 1942. After receiving its commission on May 25, 1944, the Yosemite was assigned to Pearl Harbor where it worked for six months repairing war-damaged destroyers of the Pacific campaign. Upon completion of this mission the Yosemite moved on to the Caroline Islands, where it was tasked with preparing destroyer forces for their part in the assault on Okinawa. Dur- ing one twenty-day period the Yosemite provisioned 60 destroyers and escorts and had to be completely reloaded three times. Following the war Yosemite proceeded to Portland, Maine, where it became the flagship of Commander, DESTROYER FORCE, U.S, ATLANTIC FLEET on June 17, 1945. In December, 1947 the Yosemite was moved to Newport,Rhode Island,where it began nearly 23 years of distinguished tender service and flagship duty in the New England area. . In October, 1969 Yosemite proceeded to its present homeport of Mayport, Florida. Its duty includes providing tender services for ships in Mayport, Gulf Coast ports, Norfolk, and Charleston. It also deploys to the Mediterranean periodically to service ships of the Sixth Fleet. The Yosemite, with a crew of approximately 9OO officers and enlisted personnel, is 531 feet long, 73 feet wide, and displaces 15,735 tons. Its engineering plant of four boilers and two main engines gives it a cruising speed of up to 17 knots. 'tluqm

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CAPT A. Velazquez-Suarez Commanding Officer CDR J. Lindsay Executive Officer Captain F.A. Velazquez-Suarez was born in Penueles, Puerto Ricog He attended the University of Puerto Rico untilhis appointmentto the U.S. Naval Academy in 1949. Commissioned in 1953,Captain Velazquez-Suarez spent his next years at seaon the USS Cavalier CAPA 371, the USS Beale CDDE 4711. In 1959, Captain Velazquez-Suarez reported for duty as ASW Exchange Instructor and Liason Officer with the Royal British Navy at HMS Vernon, Portsmouth, England, Then spent a tour as the COMDESRON THIRTY-SIX Opera- tions Officer. Next, Captain Velazquez-Suarez was Exe- cutive Officer of the USS Leary CDD 8791. . In the summer of 1964, Captain Velazquez-Suarez re- ported to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations as a member of the Technical Appraisals Division. This assignment was followed by command of the USS Hooper CDE 10261. He attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia and then served as Operations and PlansOfficer,Commander,SouthAtlanticForce,Atlantic. Captain Velazquez-Suarez had command of the USS Reasoner CDE 10631 from 1971 to 1973 before duty with Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Next, Captain Velazquez-Suarez received orders to the staff, Commander Carrier Group THREE in Alameda, Cal- ifornia. Captain Velazquez-Suarez was the Director of the Tactical Training Department, ASW Training Center, from July 1974 to 1975 before selection as the Chief, U.S. Navy Mission, Argentina. In April, 1979, Captain Velazquez-Suarez took command of Yosemite. Commander James H. Lindsay,Jr.,wasbornin Chester, South Carolina. He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1958 and received his commission as Ensign upon graduation in 1962. Commander Lindsay initially served aboard the USS Dyess CDDR 8801 as Communications Officer from July, 1962 to December, 1963. Other ships he has served on include the USS Perry CDD 8841 and USS Little Rock CCG 41. He served as Weapons Officer on both of them. Commander Lindsay attended the Navy Destroyers School in 1964. He also attended the Navy Post Gradu- ate College at Monterey from August, 1966 to December, 1969 and the Defense System Management School from January to June, 1972. Commander Lindsay's other duties have included a year as staff assistant of the Commander, Cruiser Des- troyer Flotilla Eight in 1971, a tour as a member of the Combat Systems Advisory group of the Navy Ordnance System Command Headquarters from July, 1972 to August, 19743 and a tour as a DDO-2 Upgrade Combat Systems engineer with the Navy Sea System Command Headquarters in Washington from October, 1976 to February, 1978. He reported for his present duty as Executive Offi- cer of the USS Yosemite in June, 1978. '-