lbmemories1

Long Beach Shipyard Memories
Pages 1 thru 5

Captain John A. Pickering, United States Navy
Commander,
Long Beach Naval Shipyard

Captain John A. Pickering attended the University of Montana, with a major in forest engineering, and Western Illinois University from which he graduated in 1967. Joining the Navy upon completion of his university work, he attended U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island from which he was commissioned in May of 1968.

A licensed Marine Engineer, Captain Pickering has served as Chief Engineer of USS SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY (LST-1122) and USS BLANDY (DD-943), as Main Propulsion Assistant of USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63) and as Chief Engineer of USS RANGER (CV-61) and USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64). Captain Pickering has served ashore as Dry-docking Officer and Assistant Repair Superintendent of U. S. Naval Ship Repair Facility Subic Bay, R.P.; as Maintenance Budget and Fiscal Officer for Commander Naval Surface Force U.S. Pacific Fleet; as Resident Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Portland Oregon; as Production Officer of the U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility Yokosuka, Japan; as Repair Officer of Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and as Repair Officer and Operations Officer of Norfolk Naval Shipyard. He most recently served as Deputy to the Director of Naval Shipyard Management, Naval Sea Systems Command. He assumed command of the Long Beach Naval Shipyard on 28 July 1994.

His awards include the Navy Achievement Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with combat distinguishing device, the Meritorious Service Medal (four awards) and the Legion of Merit (three awards).

Married to the former Teri Stanley of Longview, Washington, Captain Pickering and his Wife have Four Children, Erik, Shelby, Sara and Joseph.

Page 1

The Honorable
Beverly O'Neill
Mayor, City of Long Beach

Since taking office as the Mayor of Long Beach in June 1994, Beverly O'Neill's vision has been to restore the public's pride in their city. There are many indications of a renewed positive belief in the city among residents, visitors, and leaders across the nation. Mayor O'Neill has worked hard to revitalize the City of Long Beach and is leading the city through a remarkable recovery. Her tireless efforts at the federal level have resulted in significant financial assistance for the city including grant funding for Queensway Bay development and reuse plans for the Naval Hospital, Naval Station, and Naval Shipyard.

In 1993, after a distinguished career, Dr. O'Neill, at the request of a large number of concerned citizens, agreed to enter the race for Mayor of Long Beach. In the April 1994 primary, after a hard-fought campaign, she finished first among a field of 13 candidates for the office and, in June, won a runoff election to become Long Beach's first at-large elected woman Mayor.

Prior to becoming Mayor, Dr. O'Neill spent a 31-year career at Long Beach City College where, in 1962, she was a music instructor and women's adviser. In the succeeding years, she advanced to Campus Dean, Dean of Student Affairs, Vice President of Student Services, and Superintendent-President during her last five years. Since her retirement in 1993, she has held the title of President Emeritus.

Dr. O'Neill is a graduate of local schools, including Long Beach Poly High School, Long Beach City College, and California State University, Long Beach, where she received Bachelor's and Master's degrees. She also pursued post-graduate study at the University of Vienna, and received her doctorate from USC.

Mayor O'Neill has been deeply involved in the Long Beach community throughout her life. Her professional accomplishments are matched by those of her volunteer service to more than 20 community organizations which include Rotary International, the Salvation Army, the YMCA, United Way, AIDS Walk of Long Beach, and the Junior League of Long Beach.

Many local organizations have honored Dr. O'Neill for her devotion to the City of Long Beach. Among them are California 54th Assembly District Woman of the Year (1995), Exchange Club Citizen of the Year (1992), the National Conference of Christians and Jews Humanitarian Award (1991), Assistance League Woman of the Year (1987), the Long Beach City College Hall of Fame, and many others.

Page 2

FORMER COMMANDING OFFICERS

Captain Fred M. Earle
Commodore George T. Paine
Rear Admiral Thomas P. Wynkoop
Captain Dale Quarton
Captain William E. Sullivan
Captain Dale Quarton
Captain Emmett E. Sprung
Rear Admiral George C. Weaver
Rear Admiral Leroy V. Honsinger
Rear Admiral Ralph K. James
Rear Admiral Charles J. Palmer
Rear Admiral John J. Fee
Captain Jamie Adair
Rear Admiral John W. Dolan, Jr.
Rear Admiral C. Monroe Hart
Captain Richard C. Fay
Captain Anthony W. Duacsek
Captain Edmund A. Miller
Captain James E. Kaune
Captain Joseph A. Gildea
Captain George E. Fink
Captain Larry D. Johnson
Captain Bernard Janov
Captain John A. Pickering

February 25, 1943 - August 20, 1945
August 20. 1945 - November 8, 1946
November 8, 1946 - January 26, 1949
January 26, 1949 - July 6, 1949
July 6, 1949 - January I, 1950
January 11, 1950-June 1, 1950
February 1, 1951 - October 1, 1952
October 1, 1952 - September 23, 1954
September 23, 1954 -August 19, 1955
August 19, 1955 - June 27, 1958
June 27, 1958 -January 25, 1961
January 25, 1961 - April 2, 1963
April 2, 1963 - December 22, 1965
December 22, 1965 - September 20, 1967
September 20, 1967 - October 8, 1970
October 8, 1970 - August 14, 1973
August 14, 1973 - August 19, 1975
August 19, 1975 - August 30, 1977
August 30, 1977 - August 29, 1979
August 29, 1979 - January 31, 1983
January 31, 1983 - June 29, 1987
June 29, 1987 - June 27, 1991
June 27, 1991 - July 28, 1994
July 28, 1994- September 30, 1997

Page 3

LETTERS OF THANKS
From:
THE WHITE HOUSE

THE WHITE HOUSE Washington
June 27. 1997
Mr. Alan Swann
Events Committee Chairman
Friends of the Navy
Post Office Box 20310
Long Beach, California 90801 Dear Mr. Swann: Thank you for inviting President Clinton to attend your festivities commemorating the accomplishments of the Long Beach Naval Shipyard. The President has asked me to convey his appreciation for your offer. At this time, I am unable t make a commitment to your request. Please be assured that I will keep your invitation on file and will contact you if the President's schedule allows him to accept. On behalf of the President, thank you again.

Sincerely,
Stephanie S. Streett
Deputy Assistant to the President
Director of Scheduling

From:
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT Washington June 11, 1997 Mr. Alan Swann Events Committee Chairman
Friends of the Navy
P.O. Box 20310
Long Beach, CA 90801 Dear Mr. Swaunn: Thank you for the invitation to Vice President Gore to join you for the Naval festivities in Long Beach California on September 18-20, 1997. The Vice President sincerely appreciates your interest in his attendance, but, unfortunately, other commitments prevent him from accepting your invitation The Vice President is disappointed to miss the opportunity to join you, and he has asked that I convey to you his best wishes for successful event. Thank you again for your letter. Please feel free to contact my office again with future requests or questions. Best wishes.

Sincerely, Kimberly H. Tilley Director of Scheduling

Page 4

LONG BEACH NAVAL SHIPYARD
The Long Beach Naval Shipyard is located on Terminal Island in the city of Long Beach, California. The shipyard was activated in 1943, the Naval Dry Docks provided routine and battle damage repairs to a parade of tankers, cargo ships, troop transports, destroyers and cruisers during World War B.
Contributing to the defense of our country, we reached a peak employment of 16,091 civilian employees in August 1945. The activity's name was changed to the Terminal Island Naval Shipyard in November 1945, and then to Long Beach Naval Shipyard in March 1948.
As an established "full service" west coast ship repair industry leader, our mission was to maintain, modernize and provide emergency repair to U.S. Navy ships. We maintained the largest drydock in California and a state of the art industrial facility compressed within 214 acres. We were always customer-focused and committed to provide quality products and services.
To meet our mission, the shipyard was equipped with three graving docks, five industrial piers, and extensive ship and office complexes. As the Navy's newest shipyard and with it's facilities and associated crafts and skills, the Long Beach Naval Shipyard was capable of performing all structural, sheetmetal, boiler, rigging, electronics, electrical, lagging, ordnance, sandblasting, welding, machining, woodworking, painting, pipefitting, and other work incidental to the overhaul and repair of surface ships. The shipyard possessed complete design, engineering, combat systems, quality assurance, planning, and public works capabilities to support it's industrial work. The shipyard workload consisted primarily of overhaul and maintenance of surface ships while also operating electronic and weapons checkout and evaluation.
In 1990, the Long Beach Naval Shipyard was recognized by the Secretary of the Navy as a leader in the industry. The employees of Long Beach Naval Shipyard were awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for "excelling in the areas of schedule adherence, financial performance, production management, safety, and customer and community service."
On 27 April 1995, the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) visited the shipyard to assess closure and on 23 June 1995, BRAC voted to close the Long Beach Naval Shipyard. BRAC forwarded their recommendations to the President on 13 July 1995, which he endorsed. On 29 September 1995, Congress chose not to override the closure report which became law; therefore the Long Beach Naval Shipyard would close on 30 September 1997.
Based on the BRAC decision, CAPT. John Pickering, Shipyard Commander, directed that a plan be developed for outplacement of employees. The plan registered shipyard employees in the Department of Defense Priority Placement Program (PPP) which has placed more than 1,000 employees in other government jobs.
The German Crane Titan, better known as "Herman the German", left the Long Beach Naval Shipyard for his new home in Balboa, Panama on 22 May 1996. Herman was the shipyard's ICON for over 43 years. He will especially be remembered for the lifting of the Spruce Goose and proudly displaying the Christmas star during the holidays.
In these cost cutting, and ever changing times, we at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard always took pride in our adaptability now "Close With Pride".
Page 5

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