|
 U.S.S.
STEPHEN POTTER (DD538)
C/O FLEET POST OFFICE
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
1956
LITTLE BEAVERS
Destroyer Squadron 23‑the famed "LITTLE BEAVER" squadron
of WORLD WAR II‑is back from duty in the Pacific for the first time
since being inactivated at the end of WORLD WAR II. The squadron, then
composed of DesDiv 45 and 46, fought its way to fame while under
command of the present Chief at Naval Operations, ADM A. A.
("Thirty-one Knot") BURKE, USN. Composing today’s "Little Beavers"
DesRon 23; are DesDiv 231‑USS STEPHEN POTTER (DD558), USS PlCKING
(DD685) USS IRWIN (DD794) and USS PRESTON (795)‑all recently reassigned
to Pacific Fleet from
Atlantic.
DESTROYER
DIVISION 231 ANSWERS SOS.
While steaming 1000 miles west of Midway Island about 2200 on 5
November 1956 enroute Long Beach California from a five and one-half
month tour of duty in Western
 Pacific,
Destroyer Division 231, of the Little Beavers Squadron of world War II
fame was notified by Commander Hawaiian Sea frontier of
a medical emergency on board the SS SEA MONITOR, 200 miles to the
north east.
Immediately the USS Fechteler (DDR970) and the USS Stephen Potter
(DD538) were detached, chopped to operational control of Commander
Hawaiian Sea Frontier, and proceeded at 23 knots to a prearranged 0600
rendezvous with the SS SEA MONITOR. At the rendezvous Point 900 miles
northwest of Midway Island, The
seas were very choppy and the transfer of the patient OILER FLOYD
DOMINSKI of NEW YORK CITY was made by motor whaleboat to the USS
STEPHEN POTTER (DD558) where LT. DONALD KAPLAN(MC) US NAVY diagnosed
the trouble as kidney stones. In a matter of hours following the
transfer the patient was resting comfortably and an operation was not
considered necessary. On Wednesday, 7 November 1956, the patient was
transferred to Sick Bay 'a Midway Island far further medical treatment
and the "Little Beavers "once more rejoined, continued on their way
for Pearl Harbor Hawaiian Islands and Long Beach California, another
example of that "Can Do" spirit so marked among destroyermen.
EIGHT WARSHIPS
BACK FROM FAR EAST
Two thousand sailors will swarm ashore for a weekend liberty in
Honolulu today with the arrival at Pearl Harbor of eight ships
comprising Destroyer Division 253 and Destroyer Squadron 23
All eight ships are returning from the Far EAST. Squadron 23 will
steam into Pearl Harbor about 9 AM, Division 253 about noon. It will
be a homecoming for the men of the division, Their escort destroyers
-the JENKINS, TAYLOR, WALKER and SPROSTON are based at Pearl Harbor,
During their six-month cruise in Western Pacific, these ships visited
Hong king, Okinawa, the Philippines. Japan, and Formosa The vessels
making up, Destroyer Squadron 23 are the PICKING, PRESTON, STEPHEN
POTTER and FECHTELER. They stopped here last June for a week on their
way to the Far East. CAPT. JOHN PACE commands the division. CAPT. E,
K. WAKETIELD is commander of the squadron. Skippers of the individual
ships are JENKINS, Cmdr. R. G. Redmond; TAYLOR, Cmdr. Carl Carmichael;
WALKER, Cmdr. C. H. Smith, SPROSTON; Cmdr. P, M. McGann, PICKING;
Cmdr, J.L Raidy,; PRESTON; Cmdr. W. R, Robins, STEPHEN POTTER; Cmdr.
E. L. Edwards, and FECHTELER, Cmdr. W. L. Talbot.
THESE ABOVE ARTICLES WERE TAKEN FROM THE HONOLULU ADVERTISER
HAWAIIAN TERRITORIAL NEWSPAPER - SATURDAY NOVEMBER. 10. 1956
|
