USS Cabildo (LSD-16)
Ships log - Summary of activities from 1944 through 1970
Danang 1966
24th. - Keel laid at Newport News Shipbuilding Company, Newport News, VA.
22nd. - Ship launched with a small contingent of key officers and crew reporting directly to the ship
Initial crew members assembeled in Newport Rhode Island for pre commissioning training.
Remainder of the plank owners were assembled for training in Norfolk, Virginia.
14th. - Majority of officers and crew were brought from Newport, RI by troop train.
15th. - The ship was commissioned with Commander E.B. Holdorff, USNR, in command.
31st. - Shakedown commenced with Navy camera men aboard to film moving pictures of an LSD in action. LCI’s and LCT’s were taken in and our of the well deck, and tanks were transferred to LSM’s and LST’s “married” to the stern.
26th. - Following shakedown, proceeded to NYC and took on a full cargo of boats and a dredge.
6th. - Left New York in convoy but defective pumps forced the ship to drop out at Norfolk where she remained for repairs.
12th. - Underway for Guantanamo, Cuba.
22nd. - After testing proved the problem corrected, departed Cuba. Proceeded through the Panama Canal en route to Pearl Harbor, remaining in Balboa, Canal Zone for two days.
8th. - Arrived Pearl Harbor. A boat division of five officers and 104 men were assigned to the ship.
18th.- Departed for Guam where the dredge was promptly put to work.
9th. - Departed Guam for Okinawa via Saipan and Ulithi
15th, - Departed Ulithi in convoy
21st. - Arrived Okinawa in convoy.
23rd. - At 0240 received "Flah Red, Control Yellow" warning. 0245 went to General Quarters. LCVPs #1 and #2 took station 200 yards on port and starboard bow and commenced making smoke. At 0335 the air raid welcome to the pacific was over and the ship secured from General Quarters.
4th. - While underway in a rough sea, an emergency signal was received from the SS Soter Ortynsky, a merchant vessel, that they had a man seriously ill. Following a dangerous transfer, the patient, a member of the ship’s armed guard crew, was successfully operated on for appendicitis complicated by peritonitis.
10th. - arrived in Eniwetok. The ship rid herself of the LCT’s and engaged in a week of intensive, 24-hour-a-day landing craft repair.
14th. - Received the glorious news that Japan had agreed to surrender.
21st. - while entering Peliliu Bay a floating mine was sighted and subsequently destroyed by gun fire. A cargo of small boats was loaded for Leyte.
24th. - Discharged the cargo of small boats at Leyte.
30th. - Arrived Buckney Bay, Okinawa and commenced operstion the boat pool and repairing landing craft.
9th. - In company with the Montpelier, Lunga Point, Sanctuary and Consolation, proceeded to Japan. The ship sailed with lights on, it was a strange feeling.
11th.- Made the initial occupational landings at Wakanoura Wan, Honshu, Japan. Entry was diffucult through mines laid by US B29's that the Japaneese pilot had little knowledge about.
15 th. - loaded with 248 Javanese, Dutch and Australian former prisoners of war, departed in convoy which included the hospital ship USS Sanctuary for Okinawa where for three days were in throes of a typhoon.
The POW's were disembarked at Haguchi Bay, Okinawa after several miserable days including two days when the ship headed due east trying to aviod the worst of the storm.
Departed 27 September for Subic Bay, PI and then Manila, PI arriving 2 October.
17th. - Arrived Sasebo while at anchorage many crew members were able to get as
close as authorities would allow, to view the immense destruction of Nagasaki, the second city to be hit with an atomic bomb.
14th. - Cmdr. Holdoff, eligible for release, received orders for immediate
departure. Command was temporarily turned over to senior line officer, Lt. Maurice
N. White.
22nd. - Permanent change of command with Cmdr. Wallace E. Gregg, USN taking command.
Continued repair and boat pool functions working out of Wakanoura Wan with short trips
to Nagoya, Shimizu and Kure.
4th. - Set sail for Yokohama arriving the following day.
20th. - Ddeparted Yokosuka arriving Pearl Harbor 2 May.
2nd. - Arrived Pear Harbor.
4th. - Depart Pearl Harbor for San Diego.
12th. - Arrived San Diego
Note - The ship logged 38,882 miles in 1945-46 (1 yr 10 mo)
15th. - Decommissioned and transfered to Reserve Fleet in San Diego, California.
7th. - Re-commissioned for the Korean hostilities.
Shakedown cruise. Proceeded to Mare Island Naval Station in Vallejo, California.
6th - Left Vallejo, California under sealed orders.
13th. - Arrived Pearl Harbor.
Arrived at Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands to participate in Operation Greenhouse, an Atomic Energy Commission project. During this operation, Cabildo was one of the first ships to become radio-active and required extensive decontamination prior to return to the United States
Departed Yokosuka, Japan and proceeded to Inchon, Korea; Otaru, Hokido, Japan transporting the California 40th and 45th National Guard Division.
Deployed in the Western Pacific, Cabildo operated in Korean Theater of Operations. Operations were varied and the ship's duty ranged from lifting Army and Marine elements to acting as flagship and tender for the Ships of Mine Squadron Three.
26th.While in Wonson Harbor, North Korea that the Cabildo was hit by enemy fire from shore batteries. After repairs the Cabildo continued various operations from Japan to Korea over the next four months
While on the ‘53 cruise the Cabildo visited Pearl Harbor, Bikini Atoll, Eniwetok, Guam, Yokosuka, Yokohama, Sasebo, Kobe, Tokyo, Okinawa, Inchon, Pusan and Hong Kong. Christmas in ‘53 was celebrated in Hong Kong as was the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II with special napkins from the Skyroom Lounge!
During this cruise Cabildo was in some pretty illustrious company including the USS Quincy, Helena, Oriskany, Los Angeles, Wasp, St. Paul, Fort Marion, Gunston Hall and USS Wisconsin
Departed San Diego in late January for Mare Island, arriving in early February to go into drydock.
Returned to San Diego to engage in operations through June
3rd. Departed San Diego for Pearl Harbor. Plan of the day for 8 July warned crew of overexposure to the tropical sun. Arrived Pearl on 10 July, moored at berth King 10, Naval Supply Depot. The movie for the 9th was “Meet Danny Wilson”.
Departed Pearl for Bikini Atol on 18 July. Bikini to Eniwetok on July 19 and Eniwetok to Guam on 24 July. Departed Guam for Yokosuka, Japan on 29 July.
On 6 August departed Yokosuka for Inchon, Orea and departed Inchon for Pusan on 8 August. Operations carried out during this time included extensive mine sweeping. Cabildo participated in Operation Marlex while in waters off Korea. Cabildo was in this area through October.
6th. Departed Yokosuka for Inchon, Orea and departed Inchon for Pusan on 8 August. Operations carried out during this time included extensive mine sweeping. Cabildo participated in Operation Marlex while in waters off Korea. Cabildo was in this area through October.
Off Otaru, Japan Cabildo was blanketed with snow and it’s cold! Movie for the night of 4 November was “Sea Devil” starring Yvonne DeCarlo and Rock Hudson.
Fired for Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI) off Japan. All 20mm, twin 40mm and quad 40mm batteries take part.
1st to 23 April the Cabildo visited the following ports in Japan: Sasebo, Yokosuka, Yokohama, Sucami Wan-Numaru, Camp McGill and in Korea: To Jan Po, Paegn Yong Do, the Islands: Okinawa, HaHa Jima and Iwo Jima leaving Pearl Harbor 16 April and arriving San Diego 23 April.
16th. Departed Pearl Harbor
23rd. Arriced San Diego
12th. Departed San Diego
14th. Departed Treasure Island for Nome, Alaska
23rd. Embarked Marine troops at Nome for transportation to Seattle, Washington. No liberty parties due to hight winds.
8th. Departed for Portland, Oregon to pick up dredge for Army post in Whittier, Alaska for use in constructing new dock.
16th. Arrived Whittier, Alaska ship missed anchoring off a ledge and subsequently dropped 36 fathoms of chain before being able to stop. Capstan brake in chain locker so hot it required use of fire extinguishers to cool.
18th. Departed Whittier, Alaska
26th. Arrived San Diego
Made second Alaska cruise.
Home port changed to Long Beach, California.
Operated in Far Eastern Waters for third tour since re-commissioned.
10th. Returned to Long Beach
Operated in US home waters.
17th. Departed for Wespac
1958 was a very busy time for the Cabildo. We spent most of our time on patrol as China and Formosa were having difficult times. We entered Kaohsiung, Formosa and loaded gun powder tubes similar to the type we used in our semi-fixed 5" gun on the bow and some Matador missiles for the Air Force. We were watched going in to the harbor by a submarine. We were there about three days while the loading went on. We could hear the Chinese big guns firing on Matsu and Quamoy (not sure about the spelling) and the dock we were tied up at had many armed soldiers moving to and fro. On the way out of the harbor (I was in the starboard fire room) we received a fully back down. Some one, don't know who, us or them, made a mistake and the mines stretched across the channel had not been pulled back so we could go out. It was a close encounter. We had very little liberty time on this cruise as compared to our other cruises. Our fuel, mail and food was brought out to us while on station.
At one point we pulled into Yokosuka just long enough to drop about 10 men off that were in need of hospital care and took on mail I would say we were along side the dock for 15 minutes. On another occasion we ruptured a water tube in the starboard boiler and had to go into the yard for about two weeks. It was a busy time, but I enjoyed all the "steaming" we had to do.
4th. While enroute home the ship celibrated the 4th of July with a holiday routine and then crossed the international date line and enjoyed another day of holiday routine.
During this time period Commander Philip Kelsey was relieved by Commander McCaughey.
During this period the ship loaded Army personnel from Fort Lewis Washington and participated in a landing exercise near San Simeon with hearst Castle in full view.
(Wade H. Combs)
(Wade H. Combs)
Deployed to the Western Pacific from Feb. 10, 1959 until returning on June 5, 1959.
Todd Shipyard overhall Seattle Washington. Stuck there during the steel strike. "We had been in the yards long enough to be inoperable and when the strike started so we had to stay until the strike was over."
(Wade H. Combs)
(Wade H. Combs)
Operated in Far East participating in Amphibious Operations with Nationalist Chinese and Koreans.
Attended the "Pacific Festival" in San Francisco and participated in Operation Pack Mule in Southern California.
Made an operational visit to Fort Lewis and Tacoma, Washington and good will visit to Vancouver, British Columbia
Participated in support operations to preserve the peace in the Far East. this included emergency deployment to Okinawa with USMC units embarked.
Participated in operation Green Light off the coast of Southern California.
FRAM Mark II overhaul at Todd Shipyard, Alameda, California. Ship was extensively modernized. INSURV Inspection
Amphibious Refresher Training.
The last U.S. atomic test series. The ship was used to take the natives off their island for their own protection during the test. We delivered and set up targets for the tests. Ship had one occasion of having to avoid a hot cloud. CIC got a well done.
First crossed the Equator March 6th at Longitude 00000 and Latitude 157 48 W.
The skipper was Captain Gray. We were to cross over two more times.
Participated in operation Dominic as a unit of Joint Task Force 8, operating in support of nuclear testing in the Pacific Ocean area.
Cuban Missile crisis. The Cabildo loaded Marines and equipment at Camp Pendelton and transited through the Panama Canal and was steaming in the Gulf of Mexico available had force been necessary.
Interim overhaul at AAA Shipyard San Francisco.
Departed Long Beach for Hawaii taking two Norwegian PT Boats to Pearl Harbor en route to Vietnam. There were being evaluated as prototypes for what became the Swift Boats. Participated in a landing exercise with Marines from Kaneohe Bay on Molokai.
Departed Pearl Harbor for Wespac refueling at Kwajalein Atoll and stopping briefly in Guam. We continued on Subic Bay Philippines via the straights of San Bernardino.
Station Ship Hong Kong. Operated both the Shore Patrol and Air Port Liaison for the American presence in Hong Kong
Made two round trips between Okinawa and Yokosuka Japan. Spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Kobe Japan.
Our Captain, Commander Charles M. Itte, was relieved by Commander Warren D. Dietrichson in Yokosuka Japan.
The USS Merrick (AKA-97) collided with the USS Cabildo during transfer of an injured man in the Japanese Sea. The ship returned to Yokosuka repairs.
Participated in Operation Firehouse off the Korean East Coast operation with a UDT Team aboard.
Participated in a large joint amphibious exercise with the relieving amphibious squadron and Marines from Okinawa on the West Coast of Taiwan.
After returning the Marines to Okinawa our Phibron 7 squadron started for our home port of Long Beach. After three days three ships in the squadron were diverted to support activities in Vietnam.
Transported AIR Boats to Vietnam. Numerous shuttle trips including swift boats.
1st. Departed Cam Ranh Bay for Keelung
6th. Arrived Keelung. We are the only US Navy ship in port (one Coast Guard vessel and various Merchant vessels). Cabildo is paid a visit by a Nationalist Chinese Admiral.
9th. Departed Keelung for Buckner Bay. Went through rough seas (up to 48 degrr rolls) on way to Okinawa.
11th. Arrived Buckner Bay. Ensign Dick Saylor reports aboard.
13th. Departed Buckner Bay for Kure. Onloaded Admiral’s gig and dog and had a very interesting cruise throug the Inland Sea.
15th. Arrived Kure. Departed for Yokosuka.
17th. Arrived Yokosuka. Underwent upkeep repairs. Turbine blade comes loose and chews up rotor.
23rd. Amphibious Squadron SEVEN, minus USS Cabildo (turbine repair) sails for home. We say goodbye to USS Carter Hall (LSD-50) and USS Okanogan (APA-220) as they set sail to join with USS Merick (AKA-97) on their way home. Needless to say, morale is at an all-time low as the crew contemplates not making it back for Christmas. But the Yokosuka Ship Repair Facility takes full responsibility for turbine damage and works around the clock to have it repaired. Sea trials are conducted and turbine test out ok. We’re on our way home.
26th. Departed Yokosuka for Pearl Harbor.
6 th. Arrived Pearl Harbor.
7th. Departed Pearl Harbor for Long Beach. This is on Pearl Harbor Day and everyone is suffering from “channel fever” but very glad that we are heading for CONUS.
14th. Arrived Long Beach. The USS Cabildo (LSD-16) ends her illustrious overseas career
Year of duty in readiness training, “Operation Bellflower” with Mine Warefare Command and participates in the Centennial 4th of July Celebration in Tacoma, Washington.
Decommissioned
In
the mid-1980’s the EX USS Cabildo was acquired from Naval Civil Engineering
Lab (NCEL) at Port Hueneme by Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division. In December
1983 the ship was environmentally cleaned and utilized as a Fleet target.
The Ship Today
After one of her target exercises a tug was unable successfully connect a tow line to the former USS Cabildo and she grounded and sank on San Nicolas Island, one of the California Channel Islands. We are fortunate to have from Brad Mongeau some wonderful pictures taken taken about the ship as she rests beneath the sea today.
Webmaster note: I for one am peased that she was not cut up for scrap and that she resides peacefully in such a beautiful place. weg
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Last Revision April 20, 2010
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