The Bremerton Sun

Friday, May 3, 1968

Barracks Ship Nueces To Transport
American GIs up Vietnamese Rivers
Lt. Cmdr. Lewis D. Turner is responsible for the greenest ship in the Navy.

That may be taken two ways.Although the brew has not taken the barracks ship Nueces to sea and probable lacks experience in this respect, the real reason she is green ship is because Pu get Sound Shipyard painted her that way.

The Nueces is bound for duty in Vietnam and will be carrying an Army battalion up Vietnamese rivers. During the operations she will be acting as a

 forward supply base and field hospital.

Because she will be practically in the middle of the jungle fights the Army wants her painted a camouflage green and green is what PSNS is making her.

Cmdr. Turner, 40, born in Mountain Grove, MO., enlisted in the Navy in Boise, Idaho, Jan. 3 1946. He served on various types of ships until 1954 when he reported to the University of Mississippi as an instructor in Naval Science.

Following that, he reported to the heavy cruiser Bremerton (CA-130) and in July, 1948 was commissioned an ensign under the Limited Duty Officer Program.

From October 1958 he served on the store ship USS Pictor as navigator followed by tour ashore in 1960 with Harbor Defense Unit One, San Francisco.

From October 1962 to December 1965, he served on the ammunition ship USS Paricutin as operation officer.

 After two years ashore at the Naval Supply Center, Oakland, Calif., Cmdr. Turner reported here as perspective commanding officer of the Nueces.

The executive officer for the Nueces is Lt. David A. Vetter, Omaha, Neb., a 1963 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy He has had tours of duty aboard the destroyer USS James E. Kyes, the guided missle destroyer USS Goldsborough, and has eaned a Navy Commendation Medal with a Combat "V" for operations off of Vietnam while serving aboard the USS Goldsborough.




The Bremerton Sun

 Friday, May 4, 1968

Nueces Recommissioned

By Jerry Holiday
Sun Military writer
The green barracks ship USS Nueces, Bedecked in red and white skirts, was recommissioned yesterday at Pu get Sound Naval Shipyard.

The recommissioning represents another Army-Navy effort -- A "marriage," if you will -- said Maj. Gen. william W. Beverley, commanding general of Fort Lewis, who spoke at the ceremony.

The Nueces, slated to join two other barracks ships in Vietnam, will carry an Army battalion of more than 800. Her mission is to be a mobile operating base for river patrol squadrons and act as the command ship for her Army troops.

For armament she carries two quad 40 mm gun mounts, eight .50 caliber machine guns and 10 7.62 mm machine guns.

At 328 feet in length she has a displacement of 3,930 tons and is built from the hull of a landing ship tank(LST).

She was originally built in 1945, deccommisioned in 1946, and after five months modernization and re-outfitting at PSNS was recommissioned yesterday. Her Vietnam sailing date is classified.

Gen.. Beverly, yesterday reviewed the Nueces capabilities and characteristics, saying that she will join the ranks of an ever growing Navy fleet.

He said he was aware of the potency of sea power and the Nueces exists to carry on this power. She will carry this power, he said , up the enemy rivers into his strongholds.

She is a craft that is tailored to fit river warfare and therefore represents another joint Army-Navy effort, he said.