USS LaSalle (LPD-3): Capt. Winslow and RADM Bob Rogers - Reminiscences of a Plank Owner.
Introduction
Good evening. I am Cameron Carey – used to be Lt. Carey USNR: Intelligence Officer, CIC Officer and Navigator. Thank you for being here. And “thank you to Marolyn Rogers, Bobs’ daughter Katie and plank owner Wright Truesdell for keeping the circle of communication together all these years.
I worked directly for both Captain Winslow and Bob Rogers. And spent some liberty time with Bob.
By way of dedicating this part of our reunion to them, I’d like to tell you about a bit about those experiences. There are a couple of “sea stories”, which show what kind of men both Winslow and Rogers were, which you deserve to hear.
But first, let’s talk about two traits of the men we honor tonight: Duty and character.
They were our leaders, they established a culture of excellence aboard the young LaSalle. And we absorbed those traits through discipline, example the expectations.
Now we are examples of the best our nation has to offer: A question of duty and character.
Our presence here is testimony to DUTY and CHARACTER.
We believe in duty because we believe in a mission beyond ourselves that was important to the nation and the world – fostering freedom for individuals.
Captain Winslow
Captain Winslow is a good example.
The Navy needed a tried and true, reliable captain to take over LaSalle from the construction dry docks in the Brooklyn Navy Yard – The “Can Do” yard – bring together a bunch of youngsters, a few in their 40s, and make a that was designed to go close to enemies and accomplish a complex series of maneuvers and tasks.
The Navy chose Captain Winslow. A wise move.
He was born in Dallas TX. He attended the Naval War College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and got a Master's Degree from George Washington University.
Capt Winslow served:
1. On the USS Robinson in the Pacific during WWII
2. On the USS Leary during the Korean War
3. As Commanding office of the USS Des Moines,
4. As Captain of the USS LASALLE LPD3 at her commissioning.
How many of you here tonight served under Captain Winslow?
How many of you know how he saved the ship one night in the Caribbean when we almost were rammed?
Winslow’s STORY
We were steaming north in company of 4 other ships. One ship was leading the group – out ahead – off our starboard bow about a thousand yards. It was night time – 2:00 am – I was on the bridge, and Lt. JG Curry had the con. The captain was asleep in his sea cabin 15 steps from the bridge.
1. Suddenly Lt Curry saw the position of the running lights on the lead ship change – she was turning left into our path. Curry wisely ran into the captain’s cabin and waked him -- the lead ship was turning into us.
2. Winslow sprang out of bed and in skivvies and bare feet, bounded to the bridge, looked at the situation, grabbed the engine order telegraph and rang all ahead emergency full, and left full rudder.
3. As the other ship, now with both running lights visible, got closer, he ordered Curry to tell them to continue their turn over PRITAC.
4. They were in a turn, but at that moment headed directly into LaSalle about 2 points off the starboard bow – right into the crew’s sleeping quarters.
5. At the same time he brought our rudder right in order to kick our stern away from the other bow.
6. That bow and ship did continue their turn, and sped down our starboard side what seemed like a few feet away – more like 50 yards.
A miss may be as good as a mile, but it sure makes a lot of white hair.
Afterward, back in formation, we reasoned that the other helmsman had watched the compass too intently and gotten confused. And the deck officer had not caught being off course until too late to correct.
I was struck by the enormity of the event and how young we young officers depend on Captains. Saving a ship and dozens of lives is important work. Winslow did it as though it was second nature. He knew how to handle that ship.
I’m glad to have this chance to share this story. Out of a deep sleep, in a matter of 2 minutes, Captain Winslow saved us – duty and character saved us that night.
Winslow went on to serve…. as a vice president of Stanwick International Corp, in Iran
In addition to this life of service, he still managed a family life. His late wife, Barbara, had a combination of grace and practicality, which was passed on to their daughter Mary.
Captain Edward H. Winslow at age 89, died June 5, 2007 at his home.
Admiral Rogers
Bob’s widow, Marolyn, wanted me to thank you all for honoring Bob this weekend and would have enjoyed being here, if she’d been able.
Bob was a great Navy man, partly because he had a secret strength -- Bob’s father was a Chief who understood the Navy and helped Bob get to Annapolis. Bob did well at the Naval Academy and made friends foreshadowing leadership talents.
His career highlights are impressive. Here are a few:
1) His naval service spanned more than thirty years – during the time of the Cold War, war in Vietnam, and transition in the Navy.
2) Submarine school and USS Sablefish SS303,
3) Commanding Officer USS Cahokia ATA 186,
4) USS LaSalle LPD 3 – Ops Officer: An inspiration for officers and crew and he designed the ship's emblem – even spoke enough Latin, I guess to create “Facilitas ad Marem”.
5) Commissioning, and Commanding Officer of the USS Lamoure Cty LST 1194.
6) US Naval Academy Instructor,
7) Staff U.S. Military Advisory Command, Vietnam
8) Naval War College,
9) Naval Aide to the Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps
10) Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Amphibious Group Three.
11) Master of Science Degree from George Washington University
12) As a Captain he became the Fleet Intelligence Officer working with Admiral Bobby R. Inman
13) Assistant to The Commander-in-Chief U.S. Pacific Fleet, Admiral Maurice Weisner
14) 1977 Commanding officer of USS Austin (LPD 4), lead ship of Amphibious Transport Dock class.
15) Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations for the Naval Surface Force, Atlantic Fleet, and
16) then in 1980 became the Commander Destroyer Squadron Eight at Mayport Naval Station, Florida.
17) In 1981, he married Marolyn Templeton Fierro and was selected as Rear Admiral, USN.
18) Commander Amphibious Group Two at Norfolk, Virginia, in 1983. became the modern day leader in amphibious warfare
Devoted to Marines – as he liked to describe them – “the main battery of his amphibious ships” – was equal in every respect and affection bestowed on his sailors.
All this official professionalism didn’t make him a stuffed shirt. He was also a good companion on liberty.
Bob’s Story
Let me tell you a story about Bob and Me.
After commissioning and sea trials in LaSalle, we had one last night on the beach.
Bob and I hosted a visiting Brazilian Navy ship Costodio de Mello, on NY’s west side, It was a party. We started back to the Brooklyn Navy yard late.
We were scheduled to leave for GTMO at 7:00 am the next morning and it was already 2:00 am.
On the way to the ship, we had an accident. I hit the curb on the FDR drive and flipped the car 360 degrees to land on its wheels. The windshield popped out. The police arrived, called a tow truck and by 5:00 am the car was dumped in the Navy yard.
Captain Winslow knew what happened and made Bob prepare to get underway then con the ship – for the first cruise – through NY Harbor, down Ambrose Channel and on her way to Norfolk for supplies. No sleep. We were both tired – and maybe a bit hung over.
So again - Duty and character. Bob for carrying out the day’s work well in spite of no sleep and auto accident.
Curiously Bob was never again had occasion to drive with me again.
I miss Bob every day. I get up early to do the same exercises he taught the CIC men each morning.
More than daily exercise his enthusiasm, empathy, caring and professionalism set him apart.
These two men maintained the Navy legacy of which we are a part, and with which we have benefitted ourselves and our country.
If they were with us tonight, and they may be, they would urge us to continue our service to America.
So, let us practice this ethic we share – duty and character.
Bob Rogers Ed Winslow LaSalle Oct 02.docx