Cruise Book USS Yorktown CVS-10 1969
![]() Cover watercolor by PH1 Jim Taylor |
I must go down to the sea again, in the lonely sea and sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by, And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and white sail's shaking, And a gray mist on the sea's face and a gray down breaking. I must go down to the sea again, for the call of the running tide I must go down to the sea again to the vagrant gypsy life,
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Commanding Officer: W.F. Chaires, CAPT, USN
Executive Officer: O.A. Kidd, CDR, USN
Public Affairs Officer: J.E. Nourie, LCDR, USN
Assistant Public Affairs Officers: Dale G. Potts, LTJG, USNR
Editors: W. Hamilton Rousseau III, JO2
Assistant Editor: Robert A. Winberg, SN
Contributing Journalist: Daniel J. Deitemeyer, JO2
Staff: Lynn R. Cleland, SN
James Taylor, PH1
John Rose PHSN
Manuel Casado, SA
Gerald Balastock, PH3
Steve Barnet, JO3
David Rubenstein, CS3
Petty Officer in Charge in putting this Cruise book on the internet for all sailors to enjoy from 2007 forward for free and photographer of Captain Chaires, Commander Kidd and Admiral Abbott: Daniel Alan Bernath, Chief Petty Officer (Hon.) PH2
(If you have a Yorktown cruise book on CD or the real thing, contact Dan so he can put it up on the website for the world to see. )
Introduction
Maintaining the sea lanes of the world open to the free passage of allied vessels is the traditional role of the US Navy. Should the sea lanes be closed, our forces abroad and our economy at home would both suffer. The raw materials necessary to maintain our nation are economically transported by a single world-wide route-the sea. This is as true today as in the days of sailing ships, the atomic age notwithstanding.
Antisubmarine support carriers such as YORKTOWN play a vital role in executing the overall mission of the Navy. Incorporating the advantages of mobility and versatility, YORKTOWN is a completely equipped floating air base. Rather than acting as a fixed target easily plotted on any map, YORKTOWN roams the oceans of the world. Capable of changing her position hundreds of miles in a single day, YORKTOWN peacefully protects herself from attack whether it be political or military.
YORKTOWN and her sisters serve as the nucleus of a concentrated, professional team of ships, aircraft and associated weapons systems. Such a team exerts continuous political pressure against a potential enemy, and protects our sea lanes. this we accomplish while remaining free from the political temperament of a fixed locale.
Versatile and mobile, YORKTOWN serves as a base for patrol, search and localization as well as attack, if the need arises, against a potential submarine threat. YORKTOWN can protect a convoy, evacuate civilians, search for downed aircraft or ships in distress, defend an amphibious landing site against submarines or serve as aid disaster control center. Such versatility enables YORKTOWN to be used in any potentially dangerous situation where she can apply discrete but continuous pressure in order to cool the brushfire. Her mobility and versatility enable YORKTOWN to provide confident strength to our allies and somber reflection to a potential enemy, are used in support of our national policy and serve as powerful deterrents to war and a force for peace around the world...
The single most important factor in the successful undertaking of her role is the men who operate USS YORKTOWN. This cruise book is dedicated to the men of the "Fighting Lady" on this her twilight cruise.
Welcome Speech: COMNAVAIRLANT
I know that the welcome home you are really waiting for is ready at pier seven right now. But speaking for all NAVAIRLANT, and these gentlemen with me representing the city of Norfolk, I want to express our appreciation for your accomplishments and your sacrifices.....to give you an official welcome home and an official "Well Done," before you families, friends and loved ones give you the more personal welcome that only a sailor home from a long voyage can appreciate.
Since you left Norfolk on the second of September, you have steamed thousands of miles, many of them through stormy seas. You have stood watches through the long nights of the cold North Atlantic, you have worked hard, and you have served our nation well at both sea and in port.
Your cruise has been an active one....the hardships have been many....your schedule has been uncertain. But now you can be justifiably proud of the achievements of this fine fighting ship.
Those achievements have not come without hard work on the part of many people. Each one of you, whether in the heat of the fire room, the bustle of the flight deck, the clatter of the comm center, the red lights of the hangar deck at night, or wherever you performed your duty in this ship...each one of you has contributed to the record of the ship. And the planes that flew from her deck during exercise PEACEKEEPER have helped strengthen America's bond with our NATO allies. Since that exercise, your long patrols and successful port visits have enhanced the readiness and prestige of our Navy and our nation.
All during your deployment, we have followed your progress from a distance, so I can not pass up the opportunity to come here today to welcome you home firsthand.
You are retiring to an America that is in the midst of preparations for the holiday season. Many of you will be going on leave as a part of your holiday celebration. I hope that each of you will have a safe and joyful reunion with your relatives and friends. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with peace and happiness.
Closing Thoughts
from W.F. Chaires
Captain, US Navy
Commanding Officer
This book depicts YORKTOWN during her first and probably last North Atlantic deployment. After 26 years asa Pacific Fleet carrier, YORKTOWN returned to the Atlantic's blue waters in early 1969. After a busy period shaking down an almost new crew, YORKTOWN took part in NATO exercise 'SPARK PLUG" and several inspections before setting sail 2 September for this, her EASTLANT deployment.
The deployment was a meaningful one for all of us. Though provided with the opportunity to visit many historical and beautiful attractions, we spent most of our time at sea perfecting the anti-submarine capabilities of the ship, air group and escort team.
The man of YORKTOWN worked long, difficult hours. Around the clock performance was not uncommon to many of us. As professionals in a professional Navy, Yorktown's crew gave of themselves tirelessly and without complaint. Selfless performance was commonplace and served as a firm tribute to the devotion of duty existing aboard this fine ship.
The preceding pages show that our cruise was not all glamour. The heat of the engine rooms, the backbreaking toil of replenishment gangs, the laundry, the mess decks, the magazines, the bridge, the flight deck and the hangar bays all saw men working long hours. Fatigue, exaltation, boredom, relief; all are shown by faces of her crew. YORKTOWN, "The Fighting Lady", experienced all these emotions.
For all of us the deployment brought periods of loneliness and thoughts of home. Despite our feelings we were always ready to do what had to be done. We are well aware that those we left behind also underwent the stresses and tensions of separation. With this in mind, it is my honor and pleasure to present this cruise book to the families, sweethearts and loved ones who also serve and without whom we can not endure. Our loved ones make our tasks easier and our days brighter simply by letting us know they care. Mail call is and always will be the happiest moment aboard ship.