The following biographies are part of the original Natoma Bay BIOGRAPHY Logbook Project created in the 1970s and 1980s by John J. CAPTAIN HAROLD LETCHER MEADOW UNITED STATES NAVY Sassano, historian and Bob Wall, editor. The current document attempts to recreate, in electronic form, that original LOGBOOK of the Natoma Bay Association. I have tried to retain the exact formatting of the original paper version. Minor modifications were made when the modern word processor refused to reproduce the original typewritten format. Large print and online versions of the logbook are available at: http://natomabaycve62.org/logbook/LBindex.html Lucinda DeWitt (daughter of John W. DeWitt, Jr.) June 2009 Minneapolis, MN 55407 Please send any comments/corrections/updates to: DeWitt DeConstruction 2021 East 34th Street Minneapolis, MN 55407 [email protected] Captain Harold Letcher Meadow was born in Danielsville, Georgia, on February 16, 1901 He prepared for the Naval Academy at the Columbian Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. He entered from Georgia in 1917 and graduated with the class of 1921. The first five years after his graduation he had duty on the U.S.S. OKLAHOMA, U.S.S. STEWART, and the U.S.S. MEREDITH and in the Asiatic Station on the U.S.S. BORIE and the U.S.S. NEW MEXICO. He was attached to Flagship Division Four, Atlantic Fleet. Bio #1. Page #1. He completed flight training at Pensacola, Florida, in February 1926, and served on the cruiser, U.S.S. CONCORD, until October 1927, when he was assigned to recruiting duty in Richmond, Virginia. He returned to Pensacola in August, 1929 and was designated Naval Aviator in March 1930. He had duty in Scouting Squadron Five attached first to the U.S.S. MARBLEHEAD, later to the U.S.S. MEMPHIS In July 1932 he was ordered to duty in the Naval Air Station, Hampton Roads, Virginia, and in June 1935, he returned to sea with duty as Aide and Flag Secretary, on Staff Commander, Aircraft Battle Force. He served as Executive Officer of Fighting Squadron 2B based on the U.S.S. RANGER from June 1936 until June 1937 when he assumed command of bombing Squadron Two, based on the carrier U.S.S. LEXINGTON. He served at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola from June 1938 until October 1940, when he was ordered to the New York Shipbuilding Co. Camden, New Jersey, to assist with outfitting a vessel. He went aboard when she was commissioned and served consecutively as Navigator, Executive Officer and in Command. Captain Meadow was assigned to Command the U.S.S. NATOMA BAY- CVE-62 which was commissioned October 14, 1943. He served as Commanding Officer on board the U.S.S. NATOMA BAY during campaigns in the Marshall Island, Kavieng, Emirau, Hollandia and Saipan. Captain Meadow was relieved of duty aboard the U.S.S. NATOMA BAY by Captain Albert K. Morehouse on August 7, 1944. Further duties and awards given Captain Meadows were not available to complete this biography Bio. #1 Page #2. AUTOBIOGRAPHY REAR ADMIRAL ALBERT K. MOREHOUSE UNITED STATES NAVY Albert Kellogg Morehouse was born in Brooklyn, New York, on April 29, 1900. He served during World War I with the New York (Federal) Nation- al Guard, May 1917 - June 1918, when he was honorably discharge to accept an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, from the Fifth District of his native State. Graduated and commissioned Ensign on Auto-bio. #2 Page #1. June 2, 1922, he subsequently advanced In June 1937 he assumed command of the in rank, attaining that of Rear Admiral seaplane tender SANDPIPER and from June March 1, 1950. of 1939 until June 1940 was in command of Fighting Squadron FOUR, based on the Following graduation from the Naval USS RANGER. That squadron, under his Academy in 1922, he served on board the command, participated in the exhibitions USS MARYLAND until July 1924, inter- at the National Air Races in Cleveland, spersed with six months' instruction in Ohio, in September 1939. torpedoes, January-June 1923, at the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode After an assignment at the Naval Island. Ordered to the Naval Air Station Air Station, San Diego, California, Pensacola, Florida, he had flight train- which extended to March 1941, he had ing and on March 16, 1925 was designated brief duty in the Office of the Chief Naval Aviator. of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washington, D.C. , prior to reporting He was assigned to Aircraft Squad- in August as Assistant Naval Attache rons, Battle Fleet in July 1925 and in and Assistant Naval Attache for Air at October of that year joined Observation the American Embassy, London, England. Squadron ONE, based first on the air- His designation was changed to Special craft carrier LANGLEY and later served Naval Observer on September 9, 1941, as aviation unit of the USS WEST VIRGINIA. and he was detached on December 2l, In July 1927 he, was transferred to shortly after the United States entered Fighting Squadron ONE, based on the World War II, to return to the Office LANGLEY. During that period, he was award- of the Chief of Naval Operations. ed the Silver Life Saving Medal by the United States Treasury Department and He served in the Bureau of received a Letter of Commendation from Aeronautics, Navy Department, from the Secretary of Navy for the attempted February 1942 until April 20, 1943, when rescue of a pilot and the rescue of a he was detached for sea duty. He proceeded radio operator after a plane crash in to the Twelfth Naval District, San Hawaiian waters in 1928. Returning to Francisco, California, reporting to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, he Headquarters on May 18, and assumed was an Instructor there from July 1928 until command of the seaplane tender CHANDELEUR May 1931. on May 21, 1943. In November of that year he was detached and assigned to He next served with Fighting the staff of Commander Aircraft, South Squadron FIVE-B, based on the aircraft Pacific Force, as Plans Officer. carrier LEXINGTON, and in July 1932 transferred to Scouting Squadron TWO-B, For meritorious service in the based on the USS SARATOGA. The three above assignment, which extended to succeedings years, June 1934-May 1937 he May 1944, he was awarded the Bronze was in command of the Naval Reserve Star Medal and cited in part as follows: Aviation Base, Opa Locka (Miami), Florida. During this period (November 20, 1943 to May 1, 1944) he supervised and directed Auto-Bio #2 Page #2. Auto-Bio #2 Page #3 the preparation of the master plans for the Presidential Unit Citation awarded air operations in the occupation and the USS SANGAMON. In October 1945 he development of bases on the strategically became Commanding Officer of the Naval located Green and Emirau Islands. On Air Station, Miami, Florida, and in several occasions he served as Chief of January 1947 reported as Chief of staff Staff, performing these duties in a high- and Aide to the Chief of Naval Air ly efficient manner ... " Advanced Training, Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida. He assumed Following temporary duty with Fleet command of the USS MIDWAY in August 1947 Air, West Coast, San Diego, California, he and while under his command that aircraft commanded the USS NATOMA BAY CVE-62, carrier operated in the Atlantic and August 7, 1944 to March 1, 1945, during later in the Pacific. which period that carrier escort engaged in the Marianas operations. He was award- In April 1948 he reported as Chief ed the Navy Cross for "distinguishing of Staff to the Commander Air Force, himself by extraordinary heroism as U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and continued to Commanding Officer of the USS NATOMA BAY ... serve in that assignment until May 1950, in the Battle of Samar Island between when he became Chief of Staff and Aide to the three groups of escort aircraft carriers Commander Naval Forces, Far East. and major units of the Japanese Fleet, "For exceptionally meritorious service ... consisting of battleships, cruisers and (in the latter capacity) from June 25, destroyers on October 25, 1944. He 1950 to January1,1951 . ." he was awarded handled his ship at all times in a highly a Gold Star in lieu of the Second Legion expert and seamanlike manner ... " of Merit with Combat "V". The citation further states in part: He was also awarded a Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and is entitled to "Discharging his many responsibil- the Ribbon for, and a facsimile of the ities with great diligence and ability, Presidential Unit Citation awarded the Rear Admiral Morehouse directed USS NATOMA BAY. The citation for the coordination of the naval effort from the Legion of Merit is quoted in part as commencement of hostilities in Korea. follows: "For exceptionally meritorious laboring tirelessly to effect liason conduct as Commanding Officer of the USS between all organizations involved during NATOMA BAY in action against enemy Japan- a crucial period when his efforts were ese forces during the landing of our vital to organizing the tremendously ex- troops at Leyte, Mindoro, Lingayen Gulf panded Naval Force in the Far East. As and Zambales, from October 12, 1944 to personal representative of his Commander, February 5, 1945 ... " he made frequent visits to combatant elements in Korea and adjacent waters to On March 4, 1945, he reported as give first hand knowledge of their cir- Chief of Staff and Aide to the Commander cumstances and requirements. His unusual of Carrier Division FOUR. He is entitled professional ability and application to to the Ribbon for, and a facsimile of Auto-Bio.