... the next command up when I was assigned to COMCRUDESGRULBEACH after returning to California in 1968. By then, however, COMCRUDESPAC was a three star and the group commander a two star. COMCRUDESGRU7THFLT was the group command for cruisers and destroyers in WESTPAC. I was assigned TAD to the group staff the last eight months I was over there. Pretty good duty, actually, as I was on the flagship (in turn, heavy cruisers Newport News, St. Paul and Canberra). The groups came over for 6 month tours, so I caught the end of one, a full tour with the second and the beginning of a third.

The battleship New Jersey was assigned to our group when she was recommissioned and came on the gunline in 1968. I was lucky enough to get one of their cruise books as a thank you from the ship's PAO for assistance provided with the publicity surrounding her arrival in Vietnam. I still have it.

Ah, reminiscing about Vietnam! Who'da thunk it back then. ----- jim o\-S