USS Casa Grande LSD-13 Reunion Association: June 2006

Sunday, June 18, 2006

Roster

New! Jump to a section:
honorary
associate
crew

HONORARY MEMBERS
honorary

*********************************

BIDLOW, Ethel BYRNE, Illene CHACE, Ginger DILLARD, Rick ETKINS, Lydia EKVALL, Suzanne FOTHERBY, Margaret GENTLESS, Linda
HANNA, Lorene HEMPEL, Judith
IVERSON, Marjorie KNELLER, Mrs. Charles MEEHAN, Andree C. OHLER, Mrs. Thomas L.
O'MALLEY,(George Teater)Renae
PARLIER, Betty ROHR, Willis TOFT, Lois VARGA, Pam
WINKEL, Mildred WOODRUFF, Doris

New! Jump to a section:
honorary
associate
crew

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Abbey, Herman
Anderson, Donald P. Baggett, Ronald L.
Baldwin, Jerry & Margaret
Bell, Lori Bottis Jr., Paul EARGLE, Jesse C.
Forrest, Myles J.
Flickinger, Wendy P.
Hambric(Parlier), Gregg &	Helen
Hoopes,Albert C./td>
Kopp, Nancy
Kimmet, Brock Kimmet, Dawn Kimmet, Tyler
Mackecnie, Mark
Neeley, Darrell
Peterson, Bruce E.
Peterson, Craig D. Phillips, Amanda
Pivarnik, Troy W.
Pivarnik, Richard J. Jr. Prince, Andy
Winchester, Dave
Winger, Milton

Spencer, Don
Silva, Jose R.
GRECSEK, Gustave Jr.
HOOPES, Albert C.
LAVALLE, Leo
MILLS, Scott
ROBBINS, Fredrick
STRUMM, Kenneth & Ursula
THEORINE, Lawrence LESLIE, Steve MOMENTELLER, Lynn SMITH, Ken VISCOUNT, Paul WHITNEY, Robert T.

New! Jump to a section:
honorary
associate
crew

54-57	Bartlinski	Anthony	GM-3
	O'Brien	John A.	PC-3
53-54	Black	Roy	EN-3
	Garner	James L.	SD-3
	Hyman	Walter F.	BT-3
51-52	Kirby	William/Dean & Betty	SN

44-46	Mason	Harold & Elenore	SC-3
1969	Page	Carroll S. & Lucy	CMDR
	White	Lester
43-45	Haralson	Warren L. & Mary	GM-3
44-45	Morris	William F.	SN-1
44-45	Moorman	Roy W.	Coxswain
44-45	Pouliot	George D.	BAKER 1-C
44-45	Ranallo	Jack J. & Bernice	SM-1
44-45	Tyzick	Clifford	YN-3
44-45	Ulrich	John P.	MO-1
44-46	Curl	Albert H.	WT-3
44-46	Eaton	Michael V.	SM-3
44-46	Livernois	Donald L. & Iva	SN-1
44-46	Marett	Rayford W. Sr. & Joyce	RM-2
44-46	Noel	Withro H. & Rosetta	YN-3
44-46	Oien	Frank	SN
44-45	Peterson	Walter & Lois	RM-3
44-45	Varnell	William T. & Lula	COXSWAIN
45-46	Beach	Peter	QM
45-46	Crabb	Richard W. & Irene	SKD3
45-46	Edwards	Joe V.	MOMM- 2C
45-46	Heineke	Howard & Mary	RD-3

45-46	Kitchens	Hubert O. & Betty	MM-3
45-46	Mauch	Kendall	MM-3
45-49	Dix	John A.
46	Battle	William M	S1-C
46	Lewis	Earl B.	BM
50-52	Weidner	Ralph J.	SK-3
49-51	Carlson	Norman John	MM-3
50-52	Freeland Sr.	James E. & Virginia	BM-2
50-52	Huhn	John J.	SN

50-53	Gannon	John F.	DC-2
50-54	Blackwell	Claude & Helen	MM-1
50-54	Blankman	Peter J. & Helen	MM-2
50-54	Dagle	Kenneth R. & Pat	MM-3
50-54	Forrest	Philip & Helen	YN-3
50-55	Lines	Ben & June	GM-2
50-54	Mace	William C.	DC-3
50-54	Miller	Donald R.	QM-1
50-54	Murphy	Gerald K.	FN
50-57	Forquer	Ralph R. & Margit	EM-2
50-58	Mills	Cameron M.	SMC

51-52	Faller	Frederick C. & Helen	GM-2

51-52	Elliot	Edward	RM-3
51-53	Croft	O.L. (Jim) & Pat	GM2
51-53	English Jr.	Otis W. & Rosemary	BTFN
51-53	Harty	Charles R.	SN
51-53	Helm	Dallas & Marilyn	YN-3
51-53	Holze Sr.	William P. & Ruth	EM-3
51-54	Daigle	Valmore & Yvette	QM-3
51-54	MacDonald	Stan & Donna	QM-3
51-54	Eichlin	Richard & Joyce	ME-2
51-54	Kiley	John J.	DC-2
51-54	Look	August	MR-1
51-54	Mantia	Cosmo	BT-3
51-54	Powell	James H.	GM-2
51-54	Richardson	Gerald F. & Martha	MM-2
51-54	Roth	Jerry	CS-3
51-54	Skidmore	James & Dorothy	RM-2
51-55	Adams	Lllewellyn	EN-3
51-55	Graham	Ralph
51-55	Harris	Harold	MR-3
51-55	Heck	Sherman W.	GM-1
51-55	Kimmet	John P. & Patsy	MM-3
51-55	Orsini	Henry J.	EN-3
51-55	Pastorius	James M.	MM-2
51-55	Piacine	Robert C.	BT-2
51-55	Straniero	Joseph S.	MM-3
51-55	Streppone	Robert & Eileen	IC-3
51-55	Stubblefield	Robert L.	EM-2
52	Miller	Roger &Ann	FA
52	Green	John C.	QM
52-53	Eddy	Robert L. & Mona	ENFN
52-53	Geiger	Henry L.	FN
52-53	Prince	Ralph E. & June	BMSN
52-53	Saleski	Ron	ENFN
52-53	Suess	Frederick & Urania	IC-3
52-54	Baker	Ralph E.	HM-2
52-54	Fox	Robert M.	EM-2
52-54	Holt	John S.	SSSN
52-54	Millner	Jesse	SN
52-54	Weisbecker	Albert	PNSN
52-55	Little	Charles R.	MM-3

52-55	Duncan	Joseph L.	MM-2
52-55	Hammond	Jim	GM-3
52-55	Hayes	Bruce W.	FP-3
52-55	Lauinger	Jerome & Clara	FP-3
52-55	Melton	Jim & Sandy	MM-2
52-55	Paielli	Dominick & Zoi	RD-1
52-55	Shoemaker	Reynold	FP-3
52-55	Stuart Jr.	Henry L. & Millie	BM-3
52-55	Tesori	Robert R. & Clara	MM-1

52-55	Ullom	Richard & Rebecca	ET-3
52-55	Wetmore	Allison K.	BM-1
52-55	Zipp	William A.	ME-2
52-56	Bartlett	Hal	SM
52-56	Desano	Floyd H.	BT-3
52-56	Greenly	Merle & Betty	MM-2
52-56	McDonald	Edward D.& Barb	LTJG
52-56	Nace Jr.	Ervin W.	BT-1
52-56	Tinnell	Nelson F. & Virginia	GM-3
52-56	Trach	Olen L.	FP-2
53	Klemka	James	BT-3
51-54	Klemka	John	BT-3

53	Mackey	John	BM-3

53	Preble	Halles	SM-2
53	Vivian	John E.	AIRMAN
53-54	Finley Sr.	Jerry	SN
53-54	Fletcher	Daniel M. & Lucy	SN
53-54	Jay	Wilbur T.	SN
53-54	McCandlish	Roland E.	YN-1
53-54	Stirewalt	Audrey	SK-3
53-54 & 58-61	Reece	Jimmy	GM-3
53-55	Beireis	Frank & Vickie	DC-2
52-55	Demaree	Lester A.	RD-1
53-55	Fowler	Peter	LTJG
53-55	Patterson	Henry	Ensign
53-56	Ashley	Carl	EM-3
53-56	Carroll	R. Ross & Irene	RD-2

53-56	Herubin	Charles A.	LTJG
53-56	Kinsella	Bob	EM-3
53-56	Laux	George A. & Dot	GM-2

53-56	Oehrle	Albert J.	MM-2
53-56	Smith	Jesse	MM-2
53-56	Sterner	Warren H. & Joanne	MM-3

54-55	Eckert	Earl & Lydia	HM-2
54-55	Hayes	Jerry	FP-2
54-55	Iannucci	Robert	SN

54-55	Parris	John W.	SN
44-46	Wadland	George W. & Katherine	MM-3
54-56	Breedlove	Bill M. & Vondee	EN-2
54-56	Canady	Linwood N. & Glenda	PN-3
54-56	Dubois	H. Theodore & Joan	LT.JG
54-56	Fleener	Elmo C. & Esther	EM-3
54-56	Lumanog	Claudio & Erlinda	TA
54-55	McClain	Charles A.	EM-3
54-56	Muschlitz	James	SN
54-56	Odiorne	Victor & Griselda	FP-2
54-56	Schaefer	Lyle	EM-3
54-56	Sutherby	Norman & Melinda	SN
54-56	Truhan	Dan	EM-3
54-56 & 58-62	Saylor	Lon R.	BT-1
54-57	Stoddard	Ronald	CS-3
54-57	Tillson	Richard T.	BM-1
54-57	Torok	Don & Ginger	EN-2
54-58	Black	George W.	MM-3
54-58	Terres	Frederick & Carol	DT-2
54-59	Reed	Charles	EM-2
55	Swan	Robert	BT-2
55-56	Hansen	John & Margaret	MM-3
55-56	Olsen	Douglas H. & Patricia	SN
55-56	Smith	Charles R. & Mary Jane	RD-3
55-57	Ashmun	Richard L. & Rosalind	BT-3
55-57	Berendsen	Jim	MM-3
55-57	Clarke	James & Mary	RM3
55-57	Costanzo	Fred S. & Patricia	RD3
55-57	Deangles	Peter	RM-2
55-57	Halton	Jim	LT-JG
55-57	Lane	Charles F. & Joan	MEFN
55-57	Shannon	Warren	SF-2
55-58	Myers	Gerald A. & Nancy	BMSN
55-59	Best	Monty	SN
55-59	Regan	Ernest & Doris	CS
55-59	Krucke	Ron F. & Joan	SM-3
55-61	Muckelvene	James M.	BT-1
56	McAlman	Donald E.	BT-2
56-57	Donahue	John & Barbara	SN
56-57	Roy	John	MM-3
56-58	Emery	William	SN
56-58	Sauer	Roy E. & Kathleen
56-59	Baldree	Jerry F. & Vennie	EM-2
56-59	Clark	Robert & Bonnie	BT3
56-59	Harshman	Robert L. & Ann	CDR
56-58	Jolley	James	SF-1
56-59	Jones	Samuel	BTFN
56-60	Lindsay	William R. &Hattie	QM-1
56-60	Meyers	Fred & Doris	BT-2
56-60	Stoddard	James W. & Janice	CSSN
56-62	Eggerson	Edward E.	SD-2
56-62	Ricard	Lewis	TN
57-58	Elliott	Richard & Lydia	LTJG

57-58	O'Brien Jr.	Joseph E.	LTJG
57-58	Sabia	William V. & Carmella	YNSN
57-59	England	Gary	SN
57-59	Farnum	Jerry & Jeannette	LTJG
57-59	Grace	Edward	SH-2
57-59	Noakes	Ken&Joni	BTFN
57-59	Pivarnik	Richard J. & Linda	SN
57-59	Saunders	Lawerence	BT-1
57-59	Senft	Lamar & Gloria	DC-2
57-59	Van Dyke	David P. & Pat	COOK
57-59	Wyatt	Richard & Donna	DC-3
57-60	Cheney	Harley & Janet	SFP2
57-60	Jordan	James & Charlotte	Cook
57-60	Mahan	John	BT-2
57-61	Dorsey	Howard	SN
57-61	Kelly	Arthur	EM-2
57-62	Davis	Herman	SK-2
57-62	Wergin Sr.	Robert L. & Lorraine	BT-2

58	Allen	Earl	E-4

58-60	McCutchen	Willis	MM-1
58-60	Redner	Eugene S. & Dorothy	ET-2
55-58	Minnig	Herb G. & Joyce	MM-1
58-59	Rodgers	David M.	RM-2
58-61	Kruczek	John & Trudy	MR-2
58-61	Metz	Thomas & Mary	YN-3
58-61	Pride	Robert L. & Lynne	RM-2
58-62	Bates	Joe J.	EM-1
58-62	Dunikowski	Bob & Betty Jane	EN-3

58-62	Hiles	Ronald R. & Arlene	MM-2
58-62	Jones	Harold E.	EM-3
58-62	Nachtrieb	David E.	MM-2
59-60	Beattie	Stanley	ENSIGN
59-60	Carpenter	Alfred R	YN
59-60	Cowell	Nathan E.	YN-2
59-60	Nelson	Harold B. & Marion	EM-3
59-60	Wagner	Edward	SK-2
59-60	Wright	James	BT-C
59-61	Hopwood	Thomas A. & Margo	EN-3
59-61	Kalnasy	John & Patricia	SN
59-61	McGovern	John T. & Beatrice	BT-3
59-61	Patterson	Pat	EN-1
59-61	Pistilli	Ray & Jan	CSSN
59-61	Reichert	Don	BT-2
51-65	Reinhardt	Don & Pat	GM-3
59-61	Rhodes	Rodney & Geraldine	BTFN
59-61	Skora	Walter S.	QM-3
59-61	Unger	Steven	RM-3
59-61	Wallace	Billy G	MM-2
59-62	Gerads	Earl	BT-3
59-62	Packard	Jim	BT-2
59-62	Salsbery	Robert J. & Donna	SN
59-62	Vilt	Dale A.	QM-2
59-63	Kennedy	` Albert	BM-2
59-63	McNeely Sr.	Robert E.	MR-1
59-63	Wickliffe	Horace	BT-2
59-64	Mosier	David	SN
59-64	Fogg	Emery D.	CWO

60	DeCamps	James	SN
60-61	Hinch	Andrew	RM-3
60-61	Nunez-Lopez	Pedro & Carmen	QM-2

60-61	Lyons	Richard T.	LCDR (XO)
60-61	McAtee	Dan & Susan	RD-2
60-61	Meade	Duane	SK-3
60-61	Neitzel	James R.	FN
60-61	Shanteau	Gloyd	SM-3
60-62	Hermann	Joseph	MM-3
60-62	Kurtyan	John	FN
60-62	Scheller	Dick&Mary	FN
60-62	Sears	Thomas F.	FN
60-63	Alter	Kenneth	RM-1
60-63	Carter	Sharrel	EN-3
60-64	La Greca	Joseph F. & Maureen	SN
60-63	Maciejewski	David P. & Marilyn	MR-2
60-63	McFarland	John	BM-3
60-64	Bowden	Orville	SFP-3
60-64	Daskiewich	Benjamin H.	SFP-2
60-65	Bailey	James	BMC
60-65	Lee	Ted	SM-1
61	Sax	Stephen D.& Helen	SN
61-62	Coyle	Joseph & Carol	QM-2
61-63	Altus	Thomas J. & Martha	BMSN
61-63	Carmona	Rafael	SN
61-63	Cortez	Mario & Nora	SN
61-63	Johnson	James	IC-2
61-63	Kapuschansky	Robert T. & Diane	SN
61-63	Kee Jr.	William D.	LTJG
61-63	Kidwell	Dennis & Nancy	MM-3
61-62	Martingano	Anthony & Eileen	SN
61-63	Poglitsch	Alan	SN
61-64	Clore	Gene & Linda	SK-3
61-64	Cornell	James SK-3
61-65	Lenihan	Joseph M.	CSC
61-65	Whartenby	John	SM-2

62-63	Owenson	Tom	LTJG
62-63	Anderson	Gerald & Gloria	SFP-2
62-63	Daskiewich	Stanley	PT-3
62-63	Green	R.L.Dick	SK-3
61-63	St Armour	William	QM-3
62-64	Godfrey	Richard L.	CHIEF(eng)
62-64	Price	Edward P. & Catherine	SH-1
62-65	Cool	Glen	EM2
62-65	Dwyer	James C.	MM-2
62-65	Lafiner	Bill	DK
62-65	Simpson	Rodger W	EM-3
62-65	Torchia	Don	CS-3
62-66	Biringer	Dan	DC-3
62-66	Rathke	Lloyd & Carol	EN-2
63	Caudell	John	YN-1
63	Hatch	Norman D. & Nancy	SF-2
63	Millard	Don	MM-2
63-64	Tillman	Ralph	BM-S
63-65	Pierce	Roy	MM-1
63-65	Raymond	Robert W.	LT
63-66	Capelleo	Bob	BM-3

63-66	Guthrie	Larry & Carolyn	RD-2
63-66	Jackson	Jim & Patricia	IC-1
63-66	Parravano Jr.	Bill	MM-3
63-66	Tueckhardt Jr.	Julius E. & Cindy	EMFA
63-66	Bruce	Richard J.	LT Ret.
63-67	Miller	Albert D.& Elaine	BT
63-69	Panas	Benjamin P.	EM-3
64-65	Benson	Charles	SD
64-65	Foster	Melville	SM
64-65	Johnson	Michael	EN-2
64-65	Warren	Cedric	SPCM
64-66	Broaderick	Charles	IC-3
64-66	Burt	Phil & Colleen	BT-3
64-66	Leik	Terry E. & Mary	BT-3
64-67	Harmon	Lawrence E. & Emeline	MM-1
64-67	Herron Sr.	Rev. James E.	HM-2
64-67	Marvin	Jerry & Linda	SN
64-67	Moore	Harry R. & Catherine	LT
64-67	Yakopec	Joseph & Kathleen	MM-3
65	Davis	Richard	PN-3
65	Wafer	Dan	SM
65-66	Spurrier	William W.& Ruth	LCDR-(XO)
65-67	Dicoskey	Frank A.	E-3
64-67	McCabe	Tom	IC-3
66-67	McCoy	Billy B.	FTG-1
65-67	Wright	John S.	LTJG
65-67	Biagetti	Roger & Marilyn	IC-3
65-68	Dannenbring	Charles & Pamela	EM-3
65-68	Oswald	John & Flo	SFP-3
65-68	Schroeder	Steven	YN-3

66-67	Fitzgerald	Robert	EM-3
66-67	Surratt	Gary P.	SN
66-68	Hubert	Nick & Sandra	PO-3
66-68	Battema	Ronald D.& Patricia	BM-2
66-68	McCune	Kenneth & Dieu	PCSN
66-69	McIntosh	Russell	YN-3
66-68	Mohl Sr	Ronald L.	SN
66-68	Skarupa	James & Linda	EM-3

66-68	Wagoner	Larry	BMSN
66-68	Watson	Eugene & Pat	YN-2
66-68	Williams	Jerry M. & Jeraldine	EM-3
66-69	Hamlet	Edwin & Susan	EM-3
66-69	Moody	Bob & Judy	DC-2
66-69	Smith	Larry	MM-3
66-69	Volpe	Steven	QM-2
66-69	Abbot	Mark J.	YN-3
66-69	McElvain	James & Sherry	EM-2
67	Grandmaison	Gary & Margaret	SN
67-68	Brew	William	LTJG
67-70	Brown	Joseph & Annette	IC-2
67-68	Healy	George	RM-3
67-68	Kennedy	Bill & Linda	LTJG
67-68	Stevens	Walt	SN/E-3
67-69	Lee	Ray & Marlene	BT-2
67-69	Schimansky	Leonard & Winnie	FN
67-69	Simonet	John C.	BM-C
67-69	Thomas	Tom	FT-3
67-71	Dwyer	Thomas E	MM-3
67-68	Jackson	Herbert	EM-3
68	Davis	Robert & Joann	EN-3
68-69	Breazeale	Kenneth	MM-3
68-69	Boyle	Edward	PO-3
68-69	Culshaw	Scott R.	QM-3
68-69	Emerich	David	RMC
68-69	Lavelle	Larry& Eliss	EM-3
68-69	McCormick	Patrick A. & Stella	FN
68-69	Schroeder	Ken & Gail	BT-3
68-70	Moreland	George & Maureen	RM-3
68-70	Oliver	Robert & Kay	QM-2

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Former Captains

Began	Left	Rank	Name
June 1944	Jan 1946	LCDR	Fred Strumm
Jan 1946	Oct 1946	CDR	Benjamin C. Fulghum
Nov 1950	Aug 1952	CDR	Daniel A. Nienstadt
Aug 1952	Aug 1954	CDR	Robert F. Winkel
Nov 1954	Sept 1955	CDR	William O. Spears, JR.
Sept 1955	Nov 1956	CDR	John W. Sullivan
Nov 1956	June 1958	CDR	Robert G. Charles
June 1958	--- 1959	CDR	Albert R. Strow
--- 1959	Dec 1960	CDR	John B. Meehan
Dec 1960	Nov 1962	CDR	Robert M. Junhardt
Nov 1962	July 1964	CDR	Bruce B. Dunning
Nov 1964	Aug 1965	CDR	Andrew J. Mashaw
Aug 1965	Jan 1967	CDR	William H. Austin
Jan 1967	--- ----	CDR	Herbert W. Carr
--- ----	Sept 1969	CDR	George E. Mueller
Sept 1969	Nov 1969	CDR	Carroll S. Page

Secretary of the Navy

Hello Shipmates;
**************

On Friday, 27 October we will VISIT WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. Meeting with him is from 1:00pm to 2:00pm. The appointment came about through personal contact by your President Ben Lines. With the efforts of many and hopefully more, the campaigns to get another ship named Casa Grande is known by The Secretary and others having responsibility for gathering ship naming petitions. Delivery of some will be to him during the meeting for those who have yet to do so.
-----------------------------------------------------
Since 9/11 (SECURITY) has been intensified. Requirements for all visiting have been sent out via our Family Newsletter by publisher Jerry Lauinger and letter by President Ben Lines. It is important to be aware of the conditions described in the Security sections.
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Without documentation or research, it's obvious very few Ship Reunion Associations have had this opportunity. Keep up to-date on 2006 Reunion Activities.

Contact Us

Contact Information

PRIVACY ACT:
Bob Kinsella, Vice President, a founder and creator of the Association Roster, informs us that as originally developed with addresses, phone numbers and email addresses cannot be published. A new format is being developed.

Bob's NEW email address as of 9/18/06 is: wb2tts@frontiernet.net

___________OTHER ASSOCIATION INFORMATION CONTACTS: June & Ben Lines at email BenJuneLines@AOL.Com or phone 1-860-868-0408 for ALL the Association information.

TO ALL: The crew listing is under "Roster" in the Navigation column. 9/6/06

_____________________________________

9/10/06 == ATTENTION/IMPORTANT When viewing the Roster, the listing of Honorary and Associates are first, and you must scroll way down for the complete listing.

Ship's Store

Storekeeper: Ben Lines

Request for orders may be placed through: benjunelines@aol.com

Available Items:

Navy Caps - $15 plus shipping
Cups - $7 plus shipping
Sweatshirts (Navy Blue) - $19.95 plus shipping (XL, XXL, XXXL add $3.50)
Golf Shirts (Navy Blue, Medium Blue, Wine, White) - $18.95 plus shipping (XL, XXL, XXXL add $3.50)
Car Flags - $12.00 plus shipping
Pens - $1 plus shipping
C.G. Note pads - $1.00 plus shipping
C.G. Ship Patches - $4.75 plus shipping

Association

The Reunion Association
"We are family."

Cadets

Information regarding the Cadets of the Association.

Recognitions

Awards and Recognition to Members and Contributors!

Memorials

Memorial Pages and Services

History

History of the USS Casa Grande

The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is located in Coolidge, Arizona 56 miles southeast of Phoenix. It was named Casa Grande by the Jesuit Padre Eusebio Francesco Kino in November 1694. It was designated a national monument by President Woodrow Wilson on 3 August 1918.

Initially named HMS Portway F-144 and then renamed HMS Spear BAPM-5 on assignment to the United Kingdom, LSD-13 was assigned back to the United States and named Casa Grande and is the lead ship of the class. The keel was laid down on 22 November 1943 at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, VA and she was launched on 11 April 1944 sponsored by Mrs. G. Delapalme and commissioned on 5 June 1944.

Sailing form Hampton Roads 19 July 1944, Casa Grande was delayed at Balboa, Canal Zone for repairs en route to Pearl Harbor, where she arrived 21 August. Here she offloaded landing craft brought from the East Coast, and loaded men and equipment for the invasion of Yap. However, upon her arrival at Eniwetok on 25 September, she was ordered to Manus to prepare for the Leyte operation. Assigned to the Southern Attack Force, she entered Leyte Gulf uneventfully, and took part in the initial assault on 20 October and withdrew to Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea on 22 October. During the next month, she made two voyages from New Guinea to Leyte, ferrying reinforcements and evacuating casualties.December 1944 found Casa Grande preparing for the second of the massive operations in the Philippines and on 31 December she sailed in Task Group 79.2 for Lingayen Gulf.

1945 began with Casa Grande and other ships of her group carried out their landing assignments on 9 January. She continued to operate in support of the invasion, plying between Lingayen, Leyte and Morotai until 30 January. Casa Grande next cruised among the Solomons to load Marines, landing craft and tanks for the invasion of Okinawa. She departed for Ulithi on 26 March and arrived off Okinawa on 1 April. After landing equipment and troops she moved to Kerama Retto on 4 April to operate a small boat repair shop until 3 June, when she sailed for Leyte and underwent a tender availability from 8 June to 26 June. On 26 June she departed Leyte enroute to Guam to load LCVP's and troops for transportation to Samar and proceeded back to Leyte, arriving on 6 July. On 8 July she departed Leyte enroute for Eniwetok with 3 LCT's and their crews. After arriving in Eniwetok on 15 July, she sailed for Pearl Harbor and arrived on 22 July. On 23 July she sailed for San Francisco, CA and anchored in the San Francisco Bay on 30 July. On 1 August 1945 she was ordered to Moore's Drydock Company, Oakland, CA for voyage repairs and remained there until 1 September. On 12 September Casa Grande returned to Pearl Harbor and remained there until 25 September when she departed for Eniwetok. She arrived in Eniwetok on 3 October and departed for Guam on 13 October. She arrived in Apia Harbor, Guam on 17 October and departed for Buckner Bay, Okinawa on 18 October. From 23 October through 8 December she made four round trips between Okinawa and Samar transporting 6 PT Boats each trip. On 8 December she departed for Manila Bay and arrived on 11 December. On 16 December she departed for Yokosuka, Japan and arrived on 22 December. She departed for Yokhama, Japan on 23 December and remained there until 26 December. On 26 December she departed Yokohama enroute Taku, China and arrived on 31 December.

1946 began with Casa Grande in Taku, China where she remained until 9 January when she made two trips to Jinsen (Inchon), Korea carrying 3 LCT's each time before returning to Taku on 18 January. On 16 February she departed for Buckner Bay, Okinawa and arrived on 19 February. On 1 March she departed for Kwajalein, Marshall Islands and arrived on 9 March and departed for Guam the same day. She arrived in Apia Harbor, Guam on 14 March and departed for Pearl Harbor the same day. Enroute to pearl Harbor her orders were changed on 21 March and she returned to Guam on 27 March. On 28 March she departed for Attu, Aleutian Islands and arrived in Massacre Bay, Attu on 5 April. From 9 April to 15 April she made stops in Adak, Alaska and Kodiak,Alaska before departing for San Francisco, CA. Casa Grande anchored in San Francisco Bay on 20 April and entered Kaiser Shipyard Richmond,CA on 27 April. On14 May she left San Francisco for Norfolk, VA, where she was decommissioned and placed in reserve on 23 October 1946. In 1949 she was towed to Bayonne, NJ.

The Korean War brought the Casa Grande back to the active fleet. Activation was started at the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard on 13 September and she was placed back in commission on 1 November 1950. She then conducted a shakedown cruise that lasted until 15 March 1951. Casa Grande then participated in PHIBEX 1-51 in March and PHIBTRAEX ABLE in April, both conducted in the Caribbean area. Commencing in May 1951 and continuing through June of 1951 she participated in OPERATION CONVEX 2 in Newfoundland and returned to Norfolk, VA to be winterized. After the completion of winterization she participated in OPERATION BLUEJAY in Thule, Greenland from June through August 1951.

From September 1951 through July 1952, Casa Grande conducted Caribbean maneuvers and operations around Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, participating in LANTFLEX II-52, LEX I-52, TRAEX I - Phase 1 and LEX II-52. From July until October 1952 she underwent an overhaul in Baltimore, MD. Underway refresher training was held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and she returned to Little Creek, VA on 15 December for upkeep through the end of 1952.

From January through February 1953 Casa Grande made two short voyages to the Caribbean participating in LANTPHIBEX II-53. She commenced preparations for overseas deployment from March to April 1953. Casa Grande departed Little Creek in April of 1953 for her first deployment to the Mediterranean with the Sixth Fleet. It was during this deployment, in August, that Casa Grande along with Battery E, 2nd Battalion 10th Marines assisted in providing humanitarian assistance to earthquake victims in Southern Cephalonia, Greek Ionian Islands. She returned to Little Creek on 28 October 1953.

During the early part of 1954 Casa Grande participated in two amphibious operations in the Caribbean, RONEX II-54 and TRAEX II-54. She then entered the Naval Shipyard at Charleston, SC for a month overhaul followed by refresher training in Narragansett Bay, RI. In June 1954 she joined SUNEC 1954, loading small craft at Charleston and then proceeding north to deliver her cargo to ports in Newfoundland and Laborador before returning to Norfolk in July. She made a cruise to New York City in August before reporting back to SUNEC in September 1954. Casa Grande loaded heavy equipment at Port Newark, NJ and then proceeded to Thule, Greenland, arriving in October. During the rest of October and continuing into early November she delivered small craft and personnel between various ports in Newfoundland and Laborador before returning to Little Creek, VA for the remainder of the year.

January 1955 saw Casa Grande participate in TRAEX 2-55 and OPERATION SPRINGBOARD. In February she participated in LANTTRAEX 3-55 in the Caribbean before returning to Little Creek, VA in March. The next two months she conducted local operations along the Eastern seaboard, which included testing of the Army's new amphibius vehicle, the BARC. July found the her in Boston, MA moored next to the USS Constitutiom, the rest of July and August was spent in Little Creek, VA. During September she participated in RONEX 1-55, which included an experimental assault in Maine. In October she participated in LANTPHIBEX-56 returning to Little Creek in November. She remained in homeport for the remainder of the year.

January 1956 saw her particpating in the advance lift phase of TRAEX 56 in the Caribbean. In February 1956 she participated in the main lift phase of TRAEX 56 in the Caribbean returning to Little Creek, VA in June. While attached to the Military Sealift Command, Casa Grande conducted Artic resupply operations from May through June 1956. From June through September 1956 she underwent an overhaul at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and then conducted refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba before returning to Little Creek, VA in November.

After a tender availability, Casa Grande got underway on 4 February 1957 for a short cruise to Florida returning to Little Creek, VA on 14 February. On 27 February she got underway for PHIBEX 1-57 in the Caribbean. On 9 April she again got underway for the Caribbean as part of Task Force 44.1, taking part in landing operations in the Canal Zone before returning to Little Creek, VA on 12 May. Another Caribbean cruise began on 3 June and the ship returned to Little Creek, VA on 22 June. In July she made a cruise to Wilmington, DE before she again left for the Caribbean, returning to Little Creek, VA in August. The ship participated in squadron exercises in the Virginia Capes in November and entered the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in December.

In January 1958 Casa Grande departed with a large segment of amphibious ships for PHIBEX 1958, conducted in the Caribbean, before returning to Little Creek, VA on 28 March. In April she underwent a shipyard availability at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in preparations for upcoming Artic operations. CASA Grande departed on 12 May for yet another cruise to the Caribbean. On 18 June she sailed for Thule, Greenland delivering her cargo on 4 July and returned to Little Creek, VA on 15 July. On 17 July she departed to load Marines at Morehead City, NC as part of a back-up force for the Lebanon crisis but instead of heading to the Mediterranean she again sailed to the Caribbean returning to Little Creek, VA on 8 August. After a brief yard period she departed on 17 September for Thule, Greenland to evacuate the Army BARC unit and returned to Little Creek, VA on 12 October. A week later she sailed to Greenland to provide assistance to the USS Lindenwald (LSD 6), which had been damaged by a storm and to return her cargo to Norfolk, VA. In November she sailed for New York to load civilian cars bound for Goose Bay, Labrador and to retrograde the Army detachment that had spent the summer there. Casa Grande entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on 17 December.

Casa Grande departed the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on 17 March 1959 and proceeded to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for three weeks of refresher training. She underwent a tender availability before departing on 28 July for her second deployment to Sixth Fleet.

Casa Grande returned to Little Creek, VA on 10 February 1960. In June 1960 she was assigned duties as one of the recovery vessels to assist in Project Mercury. A subsequent cruise was made to the Caribbean later in the summer to participate in the recovery of a Mercury Atlas rocket nose cone but unfortunately the firing was aborted. She returned to Little Creek, Va for additional upkeep, preparations for overseas deployment and local operations around Little Creek, VA. On 31 October Casa Grande commenced her third deployent to the Mediterranean.

Casa Grande returned to Little Creek, VA from her deployement on 17 May 1961 and commenced a period of leave and upkeep. On 14 July she commenced a four month FRAM II overhaul at the Charleston Naval Shipyard which was completed on 16 November. On 7 December 1961 she received secret orders to deploy to Venezuela with eight helicopters to support Presidents Kennedy's South American visit. The ship returned to Little Creek, VA on 23 December and commenced a holiday leave period. This marked the first time in three years Casa Grande had been in homeport for Christmas.

On 15 January 1962 Casa Grande got underway for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to conduct refresher training and returned to Little Creek, VA on 13 February. She spent the remainder of the month undergoing amphibious training in the local area.. She departed for Hamilton, Bermuda on 19 March to pick up a Martin P5M “Marlin". After loading the seapalne on her flight deck she returned to Norfolk Naval Base. The month of April was spent preparing for overseas deployment. On 14 May Casa Grande departed Little Creek, VA for her fourth Mediterranean deployment. After being delayed on her return by Hurricane Ella, she finally arrived in Little Creek, Va on 19 October. On 21 October she departed homeport to participate in the Cuban Missile Crisis Blockade. She returned to Little Creek, VA on 5 December and commenced a holiday leave and upkeep period.

From January 1963 until she entered a civilian shipyard in Newport News, Va for a routine overhaul, Casa Grande conducted local amphibious operations around Little Creek, VA. She departed for refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on 12 June. During the refresher training she proceeded to Port au Prince, Haiti to evacuate a helicopter, several small boats and other equipment assigned to the U.S. Military Mission to Haiti. From July to August she completed local refresher training under the control of Amphibious Operations Training Unit. On 20 September 1963 Casa Grande commenced her fifth deployment to the Mediterranean in company with Amphibious Squadron Six.

Casa Grande's return to Little Creek, VA was delayed due to the crisis on the island of Cyprus, finally returning to Little Creek, VA on 20 March 1964. During April she participated in Operation Quick Kick. For the next two months she conducted local operations around Little Creek, Va in preparation for her upcoming deployment. On 20 July she sailed with Amphibious Squadron Six for New York City for a weeks visit to the World's Fair. On 31 August she sailed to Vieques Island, Puerto Rico to onload personnel and equipment and return them to Moreead City. NC. Hurricanes forced her to return to Little Creek, VA, however on 14 September she departed for Morehead City, NC to disembark personnel and equipment. She deployed to the Mediterranean for her sixth deployment on 5 October and participated in Operation Steelpike off the coast of Spain enroute.

Casa Grande returned to Little Creek, VA in March 1965. On 28 April 1965 she deployed to the Dominican Republic and returned to Little Creek, VA on 11 June 1965. From June until December she operated locally off the Virginia Capes with time out for a tender availabilty at Norfolk Naval Base in July. During participation in MEBLEX 2-65 Casa Grande was called upon to make repairs to the USS Perry (DD 883) which had collided with the USS York County (LST 1175). She commenced a holiday leave period on 17 December which continued until the end of the year.

The year of 1966 opened with Casa Grande preparing for deployment to the Meditteranean. On 25 January got underway for her seventh deployment, however on 29 January she and the the rest of Amphibious Squadron Six were ordered to return to their homeports. She sailed for Morehead City, NC on 4 February to unload all troops and equipment and returned to Little Creek, VA on 6 February. On 7 February she departed for the Meditteranean to take the place of the USS Fort Snelling (LSD 30) which was engaged in the recovery of a lost nuclear weapon off the east coast of Spain. She returned to Little Creek, VA on 2 August and underwent a post deployment leave and upkeep period until 29 August followed by a three week overhaul preparation period. On 23 September she sailed for Bethlehem Steel Company, Baltimore, MD for a regular overhaul. On 23 December she returned to Little Creek, VA and spent the rest of the year preparing for refresher training.

On 6 January 1967 Casa Grande got underway for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to conduct refresher training and returned to Little Creek, VA on 9 February. From 20 February to 24 February she conducted loacl amphibious training under the control of Amphibious Operations Training Unit. From 6 March to 10 March she conducted squadron training under the command Commander Amphibious Squadron Six. On 30 March she commenced her eighth deployment to the Mediterranean as a member of Amphibious Squadron Six and returned to Little Creek, VA on 15 September. On 5 October she got underway for Norfolk Naval Base for a two week tender availabilty and returned to Little Creek, VA on 25 October. She remained in Little Creek, VA until the end of the year except for a two day underway period in December.

January and February 1968 saw Casa Grande particpate in Operation Springboard in the Caribbean. In March 1968 she deployed to the Mediterranean for her ninth deployment as a member of Amphibious Squadron Six returning to Little Creek, VA in August 1968.

Casa Grande made her tenth and last Mediterranean deployment in March 1969 and returned to Little Creek, VA in August 1969. It was during this deployment she celebrated the 25th anniversary of her initial commissioning on 5 June. On 15 September she was transferred from Amphibious Squadron Six to the Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility, Portsmouth, VA in preparation for decommissioning on 6 October 1969.

On 21 October 1970 she was transferred to the National Defense Reserve Force located in the James River. Casa Grande was stricken from the Naval Register on 1 November 1976, after her long life and three Battle Stars. She underwent a status change on 1 February 1983 and arrived at the Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility, Portsmouth, VA on 26 March 1983 for stripping and ultimate disposal. On 6 April 1992 she was sold for scrap to Baxter Shipping Inc, Burbank, CA for $270,000.

Article Written by the Association's own Historian Emeritus, Larry Guthrie.

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