REEVES Survives Accidental Bombing REEVES

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

REEVES Survives Accidental Bombing REEVES U S S R E E V E S (DLG-24/CG-24) A SSOCIATION Winter 20122012----20132013 Volume 5, Issue 4 The Ironman—A Double Ender’s Newsletter Membership Scorebox REEVES Survives Accidental Bombing Current 61 This story has been deliberately This is the official news release: Past Due 98 avoided by the Newsletter editorial The pilot of a Navy F/A-18 Hornet Snail Mail Ad- board (that would be me) for several that dropped a 500-pound bomb on the 264 dresses Only years. It’s not that there is something cruiser USS Reeves in the Indian Email Address 458 shameful about the bombing of a capi- Ocean "mistook the Reeves for his in- tal ship, it’s the simple fact that there tended target" during night weapons Total Shipmates 2,350 are shipmates in the here and now that practice, the Navy said Tuesday. were shipmates back then, like there Dues Notice! when the world went to hell. Please be sure to check your mailing label or email nota- We have to consider how it must tion. have felt to someone standing in a If it doesn’t say Current bombed space within minutes of find- above your name at the top ing an injured shipmate. Many of us of the label, you should re- new your annual dues. To often walked into the areas near the reach the greatest number of chain lockers, paint lockers and other shipmates, we will publish the complete Association utility areas in the forward bow. newsletter to any valid email or snail mail address. Your dues payments make this possible. But it was still not clear how the Inside this issue: pilot became so confused that he could bomb an American warship, Lt. Cmdr. President’s Message 2 Craig Quigley said, adding that the Shipmates’ Deck Log 3 cruiser was not towing a target during USNCSA Membership Assist 4 the weapons practice."Clearly he mis- Consider Portland 5 took the Reeves for his intended tar- Financials/Objectives 6 get," Quigley said. "The best we have View from the forward MG sets. Bow is that there was a floating target about About When We Were Born 6 anchor chain and port lifelines are missing. Gulf War Syndrome 7 5 miles away" from the cruiser. The Navy jet pilot was being de- Agent Orange Exposed Ships 9 We can see the area is opened like The Volunteers 11 briefed Tuesday aboard the aircraft a beer can. That’s what the official carrier USS Midway, where he re- Membership Application photos show. This was pretty far for- 12 turned after Monday night's bombing. ward from the forward missile house. The Midway's battle group was 32 There is a problem with letting a miles from Diego Garcia in the Indian guy who served on board back in the Ocean when the accident occurred at early 70’s reconstruct the forward sec- 9:06 p.m. Monday local time (1:06 tion of the ship in his addlepated mind (Continued on page 8) in the 2012’s. PageP a g e 222 The IronmanIronman————AA Double Ender’s Newsletter The President’s Page Happy Winter & not include a Presidential election, Sailor Association has been instru- Season’s Greet- and that alone should represent a mental in adding 166 confirmed ings to the considerable reduction in back- snail mail addresses to our mem- Reeves Associa- ground noise. ber database. This provides us tion Family Now that we’ve summarily with another method to reach po- avoided the most recent cataclys- tential members to see if they may By the time this mic threat to the universe, we can be interested in joining our ranks. edition of the move right along into matters con- You would think that a world Reeves Association Newsletter is cerning the Reeves Association. filled with internet and Facebook printed and delivered to everyone, We have a few new items in the links to us would no longer require we can rightly assume that the de- Ship’s Store that may interest you. snail-mail addresses to find ship- cision to end the Mayan Calendar The first is the new Reeves Asso- mates. However, it is proven to be on 12/21/12 was more a matter of ciation Challenge Coins, which a prime method for our recruit- Mayan convenience than a note to were recently un-veiled at the ment efforts, so we’ll get newslet- predict the destruction of the plan- 2012 reunion in Charleston. These ters mailed out to them. et. Most academics and Maya very impressive mementos are You can also be of assistance scholars acknowledge that while available for $12.00 a copy (plus to the effort by contacting old the Mayan Long Count Calendar shipping) and can be ordered by shipmates that you may not have does indeed have an end-date that contacting Mike Robertson. They seen for years. If nothing else, tell correlates to December 21, the make greats gifts for you to give them about the challenge coins and Maya never mentioned an apoca- yourself, and for anyone who was send them a copy of the newslet- lypse associated with the date. proud to have been associated with ter. We’d be happy to add them to Picture a cartoon with a Mayan a Reeves Sailor. There’s more in- our mailings and provide them scribe, chisel in hand, who runs formation and pictures of the chal- with an opportunity to re-join a out of space on the tablet and says, lenge coins on the website. piece of their past. We are also "That'll freak somebody out some Mike has also recently had our trying to bolster member interest day." reunion ball cap logo (ships sil- in the organization by adding Given the fact that we are all houette) converted for embroidery member articles and stories to the still here to read the newsletter, onto t-shirts and polo shirts. The newsletter. While we’re not all we’ll also advance the assumption pictures are posted on the web-site writers, we all have favorite stories that we all have lived through a along with instructions on how to from our time aboard the Reeves. very Merry Christmas and are order one of these fine articles. They can be historic, informative, looking forward to a Happy and Keep in mind that we do not nor- sad, or just plain funny. We don’t Prosperous New Year in 2013. I mally maintain an inventory of care, as there are plenty of ship- hope all of our extended Reeves sizes and colors, so we would be mates out there who would love to Family had a great opportunity to assembling orders for a limited hear and relate to your stories. spend time with family and friends production run. Don’t let the “I’m not much of a over the holidays, and that 2013 We have also recently had writer” complex slow you down. looks to be more promising than some assistance with our ever- Scratch out the story and we’ll be the year we just completed. If ongoing effort to find and contact happy to re-write it into something nothing else, the New Year does Reeves Shipmates. The Cruiser printable for you – and even give you the credit. Your shipmates would like to hear those stories, so give it a try. Here’s wishing you a mild winter, fair winds, and following seas //tom Volume 5, Issue 4 PageP a g e 333 Mail/eMail/Decklog From Our Shipmates ——— Hi Mr Robertson, reserves - with a BMU-2 DET after a you how much all your hard work is I am sad to report that Billy M. seabee tour with NMCB-74 as S1 appreciated. You and your sweet wife Jones went to be with the Lord on which took me to 2MEF and the first have been the spark plug that made August 27, 2012. He had kidney can- gulf war on the kuwait border. the reunions so enjoyable. Our hats cer. After a very successful surgery, Dang cold war ending made me are off to both of you! My bride of sloppy nursing care allowed him to be leave the navy and have a successful over 62 years joins me wholehearted- found on the floor by his bed not IT career in business intelligence. I ly in these words of thanks. breathing, no heartbeat at can help with some website stuff as Unfortunately, we were unable to 0100. Mind you Bill was on Fall that’s’ my business...if you ever need attend the Charleston reunion and I watch restrictions. It is sad when a hand. somehow doubt that we will be able someone dies, but worse when they Life is complex enough...I think I to attend in the future. Our thoughts died from nursing neglect. He was a still have my old Reeves cap...proud and affection for the Reeves remains fighter and ready to go all the way of my time there even if I wasn’t the full strength however. I suppose that with the kidney cancer treatment. I greatest JO...sometimes you just have some slowing down might be ex- have read that kidney cancer can be to learn later. pected by the age of 85. I suspect that directly linked to service in Viet Regards, the ranks of the original (DLG-24) Nam. HIs widow should be able to Dave Samuels (1986-1989) plank owners is thinning considera- get disability or back disabil- bly.
Recommended publications
  • The Good Frigate Reeves
    U S S R EEVES (DLG - 2 4 / C G - 2 4 ) A SSOCIATION May 2009 Volume 2, Issue 3 The Ironman—A Double Ender’s Newsletter Membership Scorebox The Good Frigate Reeves Current 57 Many of us, especially in the early was the USS Chesapeake from the War of years of Reeves life, have heard her de- 1812, shown here before capture by HMS Past Due 30 scribed as a frigate. Indeed, that was a Leopold. The most famous frigate from characterization of her relative size and this era was the USS Constitution. Snail Mail Ad- 227 significance to the fleet. She was a really dresses I had the privilege in 1974 of escort- either big destroyer or a small cruiser. Of ing my father and mother onboard Reeves Email Address 258 course, it all depended upon where you when she was starboard side to Bravo Only stood on the pier when you looked up at Piers. My father‘s first observation from her. the pier, looking bow on, was ―she‘s a Now in the olden days, frigates con- pocket cruiser.‖ Of course, he was a jured up the image of medium-sized sail- WWII veteran and cruisers were a skochie Dues Notice! ing ships. They were somewhere between bit smaller than our ―modern‖ destroy- Please be sure to check ers—although Reeves was a whole lot your mailing label. bigger than my first Fletcher. If it doesn’t say Current It turns out that a modern ―pocket‖ (plus year) above your cruiser is really a light cruiser, of the name at the top of the Brooklyn Class.
    [Show full text]
  • By Samuel J. Cox RADM, USN (Retired) Director of Naval History Curator for the Navy Director, Naval History and Heritage Command
    Tribute to the Life of Rear Admiral William Albert “Bill” Walsh, USN(Ret) By Samuel J. Cox RADM, USN (retired) Director of Naval History Curator for the Navy Director, Naval History and Heritage Command It is with deep regret I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral William Albert “Bill” Walsh, U.S. Navy (Retired) on 14 April 2020 at age 86. Bill entered the Naval Reserve Officer Training program at the University of Notre Dame in September 1952 and served as a Surface Line Officer until his retirement in late 1985 as the Director of the Surface Warfare Division (OP-32) on the OPNAV Staff. His tours included multiple amphibious ship assignments, three Vietnam deployments (on USS REEVES (DLG-24,) as Executive Officer of USS COCHRANE (DDG-21) and Commanding Officer of USS TOWERS (DDG-9) during which he earned a Bronze Star,) as well as command of USS JUNEAU (LPD-10,) Amphibious Squadron THREE, and Amphibious Group Eastern Pacific. While attending the University of Notre Dame, Bill received a draft notice from the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Displaying sound judgment, he promptly applied and was accepted in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Program on 18 September 1952. Midshipman Walsh graduated from Notre Dame in June 1955 with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce/Accounting and was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Following a couple months at Naval Amphibious Training Unit, Little Creek, VA, in July 1955 he reported to his first ship, the Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) flagship-configured fast transport HOLLIS (APD-86,) which conducted local operations and a Midshipman Cruise before being decommissioned in October 1956.
    [Show full text]
  • The American Legion [Volume 141, No. 5 (November 1996)]
    A trusted member of the American Legion family. Why is Buick LeSabre the Official Car of American Legion Baseball? Because LeSabre delivers peace of mind on the road. And it delivers peace of mind through its financial support of youth baseball. To date, Buick has contributed over $3 million to the American Legion Baseball program. Support which helps The American Legion's local posts in the development of young people across the country. That's peace of mind. Buick and The American Legion — a winning team. Visit our Web site at http://www.buick.com or call 1-800-4A-BU1CK. Vol. 141, No. 5 The Magazine for a Strong America OUT OF THE ASHES By Steve Salerno The art of the flag: Out of inspiration but into nihilism. GIVE GIS A NOBEL PRIZE ByN.J. Kressel They've saved the world more than once. WAR OF WORDS By Johanna Neuman A (Persian) Gulf between media and military. HEALTHY RETURNS Why the Gl Bill of Health broadens the VHA system. UNCLE SAM'S MIKE FORCE By Ken Cauthern Training those who are on duty on the air DEEP TROUBLE BylVliles l. Epstein Sunken Russian subs are still a danger 1 D STILL SERVING AMERICA Report from the Salt Lake City National Convention. RESOLUTIONS For the good of the nation, The American Legion resolves. HIGHLIGHTS Guests, bands, meetings and speakers; Legionnaires tend to their business. NATIONAL OFFICERS Introducing the 1996-97 American Legion leaders. BIG ISSUES Should Congress Cease Funding National Endowment for Arts? VETVOICE I ON DUTY II VETS 11 COMMANDER'S MESSAGE P YOUR AMERICAN LEGION PARTING SHOTS WASHINGTON WATCH VETERANS UPDATE ii COVER Americans in uniform are the guarantors of our freedom and the general peace.
    [Show full text]
  • Historical Handbook of NGA Leaders
    Contents Introduction . i Leader Biographies . ii Tables National Imagery and Mapping Agency and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Directors . 58 National Imagery and Mapping Agency and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Deputy Directors . 59 Defense Mapping Agency Directors . 60 Defense Mapping Agency Deputy Directors . 61 Defense Mapping Agency Directors, Management and Technology . 62 National Photographic Interpretation Center Directors . 63 Central Imagery Office Directors . 64 Defense Dissemination Program Office Directors . 65 List of Acronyms . 66 Index . 68 • ii • Introduction Wisdom has it that you cannot tell the players without a program. You now have a program. We designed this Historical Handbook of National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Leaders as a useful reference work for anyone who needs fundamental information on the leaders of the NGA. We have included those colleagues over the years who directed the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) and the component agencies and services that came together to initiate NGA-NIMA history in 1996. The NGA History Program Staff did not celebrate these individuals in this setting, although in reading any of these short biographies you will quickly realize that we have much to celebrate. Rather, this practical book is designed to permit anyone to reach back for leadership information to satisfy any personal or professional requirement from analysis, to heritage, to speechwriting, to retirement ceremonies, to report composition, and on into an endless array of possible tasks that need support in this way. We also intend to use this book to inform the public, especially young people and students, about the nature of the people who brought NGA to its present state of expertise.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ironman—A Double Ender's Newsletter
    U S S R E E V E S (DLG-24/CG-24) A SSOCIATION Spring 2011 Volume 4, Issue 1 The Ironman—A Double Ender’s Newsletter Membership Scorebox Deck Log Histories Current 48 From the summary deck log of USS Chevalier (DD-805), USS Decatur (DDG- Past Due 84 Leonard F. Mason (DD-852) : 31), USS Orleck (DD-886), USS O'Calla- han (DE-1051), USS Ramsey (DEG-2), Snail Mail Ad- 95 June of 1972 found Mason embarking and USS Bronstein (DE-1037). dresses Only midshipmen for the Midshipmen's Cruise. Email Address 423 She deployed on the 21st of June. After From the 1973 Command History of some exercises in the SoCal OpArea, Ma- USS BROOKE (DEG-1): Total Shipmates 1,146 son began the transit to Pearl Harbor on Orders were received 27 February to June 24 in company with USS Fox (DLG- proceed to the Northern Search and Res- Dues Notice! 33), USS Horne (DLG-30), USS Decatur cue station (NSAR), the northern-most Please be sure to check your (DDG-31), and USS Orleck (DD-886). station in the Gulf of Tonkin. Enroute to mailing label or email nota- The ships arrived at Pearl Harbor on June station, BROOKE took an opportunity to tion. 30. The Mason got underway again on top off her fuel tanks from USNS TALU- If it doesn’t say Current July 5 in company with USS Horne GA. Early evening found BROOKE on above your name at the top (DLG-30), USS Decatur (DDG-31), USS of the label, you should re- station as escort for USS REEVES (DLG Orleck (DD-886), and USS Reeves (DLG- new your annual dues.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ironman—A Double Ender's Newsletter
    U S S R E E V E S (DLG-24/CG-24) A SSOCIATION Spring 2013 Volume 6, Issue 1 The Ironman—A Double Ender’s Newsletter Membership Scorebox Reeves 19661966----19681968 Cruise With DESRON 9 Current 34 USS REEVES (DLG-24) departed supply management. Past Due 126 Long Beach, California, on 26 May On 1 July 1968, REEVES departed Snail Mail Ad- 248 1966, for a two year tour with the U.S. Yokosuka, Japan, for her new dresses Only Seventh Fleet. The ship, a unit of De- homeport of Long Beach, California. Email Address 473 stroyer Squadron Nine, was homeport- Leaving Japan was a sad occasion for ed in Yokosuka, Japan, and operated Total Shipmates 2,968 many, but there was a happiness in the in the Gulf of Tonkin as an anti-air thought of “going home.” warfare Dues Notice! The trip picket and Please be sure to check your home was search and mailing label or email nota- eventful tion. rescue and enjoya- If it doesn’t say Current unit, with ble for the above your name at the top three pa- of the label, you should re- entire crew. trols as an new your annual dues. To REEVES reach the greatest number of escort to crossed the shipmates, we will publish Aircraft the complete Association Equator, Carriers. newsletter to any valid email where King or snail mail address. Your REEVES Neptune dues payments make this spent 720 USS REEVES (DLG-24) in the Hawaiian Op Area, enroute to Long Beach on 6 August 1968.
    [Show full text]
  • NOVEMBER 1977 9 Four of the U.S
    NOVEMBER 1977 9 Four of the U.S. Navy’s active duty astronauts meet with Secretary of the Navy W. Graham Claytor, Jr. (center), during their mid- September visit to Washington. From left:CDR Robert L. Crippen, Capt. Joseph P. Kenvin, CDR Bruce McCandless, and CDR Thomas K. Mattingly, 11. The astronauts also visited the Chief of Naval Operations, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, the Naval Research Laboratory and the Chiefof Naval Material while in the area. (Photo by David Wilson) MAGAZINE OF THE U.S. NAVY - 55th YEAR OF PUBLICATION N O V E M B E R 1977 NUMBER 730 NUMBER 1977 NOVEMBER Features He dedicated himself to care of those less fortunate 9 FEMALEFLIGHT SURGEON A new world opens up for LTSherry Henderson 12 BOY SCOUTS' 1977NATIONAL JAMBOREE Thousands of youngsters gather in Pennsylvania Page 9 16 WHEREVER THEWINDS BLOW . and the Navy joined theScouts 19 USS SMITHSONIAN (CVM 76) A taste of carrier ops on dry land 23 USS TEXAS (CGN39) COMMISSIOFllNG The Lone Star State greets her new namesake 26 NAVY POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL Pursuing arduous study toward a master's 32 HISPANIC HERITAGE I A proud people celebrate their week 38 USS MT. BAKER (AE 34) CRUISE Fathers, sons and brothers work side by side 46 ROSE FESTIVALAT PORTLAND, OREGON The Navy has been attending since 1912 Departments 2 Currents 18 Information Exchange 28 Bearings 44 Grains of Salt Covers Front: The Navy's hot-air balloon at the Boy Scout Jamboree this past August. Photo by JOI Pete Sundberg. See story on page 16.
    [Show full text]
  • Jiln--J; Tl,? .:L7 ~9,3
    A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: WORLD WAR II VETERANS AS VETERANS OF WORLD WAR IT, YOU ARE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE BY SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES IN TIlE ARMED SERVICES, AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF A STUDY, NOW UNDERWAY BY THE WILSON COUNTY mSTORICAL SOCIETY. YOUR RECOLLECTION AND STORIES OF YOUR EXPERIENCES ARE NEEDED AND mGHLY SOLICITED. Please Provide Information As Follows: Nam~hot' ) Y( JbtuLJIL,)lranchofService:r ~0 - Service Date(s):1! - U -¥Jl. DiscbargeDate: 142-% pIaceAdll~, n,e. Entered Service: M ~c< Date: //-.21' L£.L Wilson Etc. Do . Forelgn . SefV1ce:~r . flew d~ ~ mesnc SeIVlce . __ Countries States Honorably Discharged: / - ()7-'-I~ Place: fhJ.-~) 'ICc. Present Address: 703 ~d.4t)~ Jiln--J; tl,? .:l7 ~9,3 Tel. # (.:lS'2) .{lL/3 - 3S70 Go To Page 2. OVER MLB17 120/06 Page 2. WWII Veterans List Awards, Medals, Commendations: < tk4l<-d) ~~ t zt,LL t:l4«uui ~~d k«;.u~ ~ ~ - .../ fl . ~ A ~/l.. -d ./ -,/I zrK. - fht~6 4kaLtd/ ,41«"'0/- ~ ~<L:~'~ e::n-~ cC~-c7 ~~ What do you remember most about your service in the armed forces: % Ol«nlkn !J.u < J4 ~M#~ %al<nCHltvl+&? ~ b rfh/A. A/I/'Phry, .-' 4k tUCk 01en.&.J~4 ml)4( ~ kkJ, - Where did you spend most of your time? Who were your role models, if any? What were your most memorable experience(s)? What organizations are you a member of? 1k'(U..G~au.;rL4U Are you familiar with the Wilson County Historical Society? Yes/ / No/v( . ~ "' ~udC!cI~~ r ~-/f~ /dQ -- -~ tre! 1~ ~ ~ - - ~ ~~ -r~~~/946 ~ /l .- ~~~- /:i2kfl ~~£--=----~ _ ~~ to< </~~- ~U~ /./.r~ 4ifF ,- ~~~ ;;2 awxJ - ~~ - --- djtiv ~ -~ ~ 7f;2aJ~ _ ilM~~ c (Pc.
    [Show full text]
  • Newsletter 7 Number 1
    U S S R E E V E S (DLG-24/CG-24) A SSOCIATION Spring 2014 Volume 7, Issue 1 The Ironman—A Double Ender’s Newsletter Membership Scorebox Sailors Leaving Navy Over Stress On Social Issues Current 38 By Rowan Scarborough but got only 36 percent. Past Due 134 A Navy F-18 fighter pilot and for- "Unfortunately," Cmdr. Snodgrass Snail Mail Ad- mer Top Gun instructor is publicly warn- says in his 24-page study, "the fact that a dresses Only 268 ing admirals that retention is beginning growing number of quality officers have to suffer from the military's relentless already left the service or are planning to Email Address 463 social conditioning programs. head for the doors seems to be going un- Total Shipmates 3,223 Cmdr. Guy Snodgrass, until recently detected by senior leadership." a Pentagon speech writer for the chief of He lists long wartime deployments Dues Notice! naval operations, Adm. Jonathan Green- as a leading retention negative. Please be sure to check your ert, said sailors are becoming fed-up with He also tackles a touchier issue, what mailing label or email nota- the constant emphasis on social issues — some sailors have referred to as "political tion. an apparent reference to gays in the mili- correctness," such as the banning of uni- If it doesn’t say Current tary, women in combat and ending sexu- form patches that might offend someone. above your name at the top al harassment. of the label, you should re- Cmdr. Snodgrass writes of "a recent new your annual dues.
    [Show full text]
  • I Participated in the Evacuation of Saigon, South Vietnam, in April And
    Remembrances by Richard Dale Gano of a U.S. Navy career 1965-1989 USNA Years 1965-69 Being an avid reader of U.S. Navy history since I was in about the seventh grade, I probably had some idea of what it meant to be a part of the organization – at least I understood it could get you killed. Stories of PT-boat and destroyer warfare in World War II (especially the exploits of Commodore Arleigh Burke and his Little Beaver squadron, DESRON 23) and expeditions to the far corners of the earth captured my imagination and made me want to be a part of something bigger than myself. At one point in my ensuing twenty-four years in the U.S. Navy, I would actually be assigned to a destroyer, the “greyhounds” of the sea, in the descendent DESRON 23. Being aboard a hard-steaming destroyer must surely rank right up there with the camaraderie ands esprit de corps one got aboard a charging cavalry horse in the Old West. While cruising in every major and numerous minor oceans and seas of the world from the southern tip of South America to the seas off Petropavlosk on the Kamchatka Peninsula and through both the Suez and Panama Canals I would go on to shell enemy positions; conn destroyers racing to assigned stations at flank speed with black smoke pouring from the funnels and forced draft blowers whining like banshees to feed the boilers; shoot the biggest guns in the world at world-record accuracy; challenge Soviet ships and aircraft face to face; meet European royalty and heads of state as well as to converse with island chiefs on grass mats on palm-fringed Pacific atolls; dodge icebergs and see the Aurora Borealis; transit some of the rarest and most beautiful parts of the earth including the Chilean Waterway and the Straits of Magellan; roll from beam to beam in raging typhoons; rescue thousands of refugees in the chaos of the fall of Saigon; stand endless watches in calm and storm witnessing unforgettable sunrises and sunsets; and have the honor and awesome responsibility of command at sea.
    [Show full text]
  • USS California (BB44)
    27.12.2015 USS California (BB­44) ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia USS California (BB­44) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia USS California (BB­44), one of two Tennessee­class battleships completed shortly after World War I, was the fifth ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 31st state.[3] She was the last American battleship built on the West Coast, and the only one to be a dreadnought type.[4] She served in the Pacific her entire career, and for twenty years was the flagship of the Pacific Fleet. She was sunk in the USS California at sea, mid­1930s attack on Pearl Harbor at her moorings in Battleship History Row, but was salvaged and reconstructed. She served again for the remainder of World War II before being United States decommissioned in 1947. She was sold for scrap in Name: USS California 1959. Namesake: State of California Ordered: 28 December 1915 Contents Builder: Mare Island Naval Shipyard Laid down: 25 October 1916 Launched: 20 November 1919 1 Construction and early service years Sponsored by: Barbara Stephens Zane 2 World War II Commissioned: 10 August 1921 Decommissioned: 14 February 1947 3 Awards Struck: 1 March 1959 4 In fiction Nickname(s): "The Prune Barge" Honors and 7 Battle Stars 5 Notes awards: 6 References Fate: Sold for scrap, 10 July 1959 7 Further reading General characteristics [1] Class & type: Tennessee­class battleship 8 External links Displacement: 32,300 tons (40,950 after refit) Length: 624.5 ft (190.3 m) Construction and early service Beam: 97.3 ft (29.7 m) (original) years 114 ft (35 m) (rebuilt) Draft: 30.3 ft (9.2 m) Her keel was laid down on 25 October 1916 by the Speed: 21 kn (24 mph; 39 km/h) Mare Island Naval Shipyard at Vallejo, California.
    [Show full text]
  • Retirement Ceremony Honoring Members of the USNA Class of 1979 Celebrating 30 Years of Service in the Navy & Marine Corps
    Retirement Ceremony Honoring Members of the USNA Class of 1979 Celebrating 30 Years of Service in the Navy & Marine Corps Friday, 19 June 2009 Mitscher Hall United States Naval Academy Annapolis, Maryland US Naval Academy Class of 1979 Retirement Ceremony Arrival of the Official Party and Retirees National Anthem Invocation CDR Roger VanDerWerken CHC USN USNA Class of 1979 Welcome Rear Admiral Jeffrey Lemmons USN USNA Class of 1979 Class President Remarks LCDR Sean Cate USN (Ret) USNA Class of 1979 Presentation of Letters, Certificates and Flags Retirement Remarks Rear Admiral Jeffrey Lemmons USN USNA Class of 1979 Letter from the Commander-in-Chief Reading of Retirement Orders Benediction CDR Roger VanDerWerken CHC USN USNA Class of 1979 Piping Ashore of Retirees & Spouses Following the ceremony everyone is cordially invited to attend a reception for the retirees and their families. Rear Admiral Jeffrey Lemmons USN Rear Adm. Lemmons, originally from Brownwood, Texas, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1979 and was designated a Naval Aviator in November of 1980. He spent his early sea duty years with Patrol Squadron (VP) 23 homeported in Brunswick, Maine, and forward deployed to the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. He later reported to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, DC, as a Naval intern developing Joint service personnel policy. Lemmons received a Reserve commission (RC) and reported to Naval Air Facility, Washington, DC, where he became the commanding officer of VP-68 in February 1996. His subsequent RC unit commands were in support of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71); Naval Air Station (NAS) Keflavik, Iceland, and the Navy Command Center, supporting Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) N3/N5.
    [Show full text]