United States Naval Institute

Ward, Norvell, RADM, USN, 1912. Reminiscences covering Ward's naval career from the mid-1930s to the early 1970s. USNA, 1935; During WWII, he served in submarines, as CO of the USS Guardfish and Assistant to the CO of the PACFLT submarine force. Postwar assignments included the staff, USNA; CO USSYarnall during the Korean War; Second Fleet staff; and CO, Submarine Squadron Five during the Regu­ lus missile tests. Ward was CO of first squadron of Polaris submarines and planned for their em­ ployment. He planned for a NATO multilateral nuclear force that did not materialize. From 1965-1967, he seived as CO, Naval Advisory Group and CO, U.S. Naval Forces, Vietnam. Later as­ signments include CO, Service Group Three, Assistant CNO (Safety) and CO, Third Naval Dis­ trict, PR. He retired in 1973.

Osborn, Oakley E., RADM, USN (Ret.) 1933-. Youth in Nebraska; Attended University of Nebraska and Colorado State University; Joined the Navy in 1955; Flight training, 1957; Flight instructor, 1961-1965; Staff, Patrol Force, Seventh Fleet, 1965-1966; Postgraduate School and Army Command & Staff College, 1970-1971; CO, Pa­ trol Squadron 40, 1972-1973; ASW training and Readiness officer, 1974-1976; Executive Assis­ tant, Director ASW and Ocean Swveillance, 1976-1978; CO, Patrol Wing 5, 1978-1980; Deputy Director 7 Director, Navy Personnel Distribution, 1981-1982; Director of Training, CNO, 1982; CO, Patrol Wings, U.S. Fleet, 1984-1986; Deputy Director, Defense Mapping Agency, 1986-1988; Retired, 1988.

Waters, Odale, RADM, USN, 1910-1986. Reminiscences of RADM Waters, including growing up in Manassas, Va.; USNA education, 1928--1932; Service in USS Augusta on the Asiatic Fleet, Assistant Naval Attache, London, Eng­ land, 1940; Established U.S. Navy Mine Disposal School, 1941 and headed it through 1943; Ser­ vice in USSMemphis and USSGuam, 1943-1945; CO, USS Laffey, 1945; Staff, U.S. Atlantic fleet; Operation Crossroads, 1946; Technical Liaison Naval Ordnance Laboratory, 1946-1950; Armed Forces Staff College 1950; Staff, Operational Development Force, 1950-1952; CO, USS Glynn, 1952-1953;SACI..ANT, 1953-1956 Sixth Fleet Squadron, 1956-1957; CO, Destroyer Flotilla One, 1960-1962; Inspector General, BUNAV Weapons, 1962-1964; CO, Naval Base, Los Angeles, and CO, Mine Force, PACFLT; Oceanographer of the Navy, 1965-1970; Advisor NOAA, 1970-1971.

Backus, Paul H., CDR, USN, 1917-1984. Reminiscences with a focus on the period 1956-1961, when he was on the OPNAV Staff dur­ ing the development of the Polaris Missile. Special emphasis is on the Ballistic Missile Section and their contributions to the project. Also, accounts of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942, his service as a Gunnery Officer in USS Mississippi, CO, USS Isherwood and Assistant Naval Attache in London.

Beshany, Philip A., VADM, USN, 1914-. Education, USNA, 1938; USS Philadelphia, 1938-1940; Submarine Base, New London, Conn.; USS S-14; XO, USS Scamp, which participated in numerous war patrols, 1942-1944; XO, USS Quillback, which saw action at Okinawa and took part in landings injapan andJapanese sur­ render, 1944-1945; CO, USS Billfish, 1945-1946; CO, USS Bwrlish and USS Amberjack; CO, prospective Submarine Commanding Officers School; CO, USSSalamonie, with operations with the Sixth Fleet and UN action in the Congo, 1960-1961.

Bucklew, Philip H., CAPT, USN, 1914-. Education, Xavier University; Professional football coach and star; Entered USNA, 1942; WWII experiences, including participation and reconnaissance activities in landings in North Af­ rica, Sicily, Salerno and Normandy, 1942-1945; Scouting and smveillance along China coast, SACO and ADM M. E. Miles; Graduate study and football coach, Columbia University; Amphibi­ ous Training Unit, Little Creek, Va., 1951-1956; Staff, CO, Naval Forces, Far East; Intelligence work, Korea, 1956-1958; Amphibious Training Command, 1958-1961; Staff, CO, Amphibious Group 1, 1961-1963; XO, Amphibious Base, Coronado, 1963; Vietnam study group to examine infiltration of Vietnam by Viet Cong, 1963-1964; SEALS, Vietnam; Head, Special Warfare and Operations Division 1967-1969.

POW Interviews. Interviews with CDR J. H. Fellowes and CDR R. A Stratton recounting their experiences as prisoners of war in North Vietnam. Discussion of their mission, capture, torture, prison life, en­ counters with fellow prisoners and North Vietnamese guards, and the faith that sustained them.

POW Interviews. Interviews with RADMJ. Denton and CDR E.Alvarez, Jr.; Denton discusses U.S. commitment in Vietnam and subsequent events; Experiences as a POW, torture, command structure within prison camp, Vietnamese strategy to make prisoners talk, personal religious development and re­ turning home; Alvarez describes his being shot down, days in prison and prisoner organization.

James, Ralph K., RADM, USN, 1906-1994. Education, USNA; Commissioned 1928; USS New York, 1928-1930; Courses in Naval Con­ struction, Postgraduate School and M.S., MIT, 1930-1933; Construction Corps Officer, Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, 1933-1937; USSWhitney, 1937-1939; U.S. Military Mission to French West Africa, 1942-1943; Staff, CO, Service Squadron 30 and 10 Squadron 1943-1945; XO and CO, Ships Parts Control Center, 1945-1948; Naval War College, 1948-1949; CO, Naval Ship­ building Scheduling Activity, Philadelphia, Pa., 1951-1953; CO, Long Beach Naval Shipyard, 1955--1958 Chief, BuShips, and Coordinator of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repairs, DOD, 1959--1963. Retired, 1963.

Peet, Raymond E., VADM, USN 1921-. Education, USNA, 1943; XO, USS Converse, 1942-1944; Gunnery Officer, USS AULICK, 1945; Student, Naval Post-Graduate School and MIT, 1945-1948; Operations Officer, Destroyer 16 Squadron 1948-1949; Ordnance Electronics Officer, Operational Division Force, 1949-1951; Plans and Progress Officer, Naval Proving Ground, 1951-1954; Gunnery Officer, USS NewJersey, 1954-1956; Staff, CO, Destroyer Force Atlantic, 1956; CO, USS Barton, 1956-1957; Aide, CNO, 1957-1959; Assistant Engineer Officer, USS Independence, 1959; Student, Naval Reactors Divi­ sion, 1959-1962; CO, USS Bainbridge, 1962-1964; Student, National War College, 1964-1965; Director, Naval Ship Acquisition and Support Study Group, Naval Materiel Command, 1966- 1967; CO, Amphibious Group 2,1967- 1968; CO, Amphibious Training Command, 1968--1969; CO, First Fleet, 1970-1972; Deputy Assistant SECDEF; Director, Defense Security Agency, 1972- 1974; Retired, 1974; Comments on Admirals Burke, Zumwalt and Rickover, Paul Nitze, and Jo­ seph Califano; Sale of military hardware to foreign governments, and destroyer service.