USS William H. Standley (DLG/CG-32)
Decommissioning Ceremony Program


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DECOMMISSIONING CEREMONY


Each unit of the Navy holds unique ceremonies during the course of its existence. The commissioning ceremony bears the promise for a bright future, and the decommissioning ceremony, signifying the end of an era, honors all of the men and women who have given their time, their energy, for some, their lives, to fulfill and surpass the aspirations held by those who stood in the commissioning ceremony. The ceremony is not prescribed the Naval Regulations, but is instead an honored product of Naval tradition. Custom has established that this ceremony be formal and impressive -- a solemn occasion on which we pause to reflect upon the rich heritage of this ship and the United States Navy.




COMMISSIONING PENNANT


The moment the commissioning pennant was broken at the masthead, USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY (CG-32) became a Naval ship of war, ready to server her country in all aspects.

The commissioning pennant dates back to the 17th century war between Holland and England. The Dutch Admiral Tromp, hoisted a broom at his masthead, indicating his intention to sweep the British from the sea. This gesture was answered by the British admiral who hoisted a horsewhip, indicating the british intention to chastise the Dutch. The British carried out their boast and ever since, the narrow, coachwhip pennant (symbolizing the original horsewhip) has been the distinctive mark of a ship of war, and has been adopted by all nations.

The modern U.S. Navy commissioning pennant is blue at the hoist, with a union of seven white stars, and a red and white stripe at the fly, in two horizontal stripes. In lieu of a commissioning pennant, flag ships fly commodores' or admirals' personal flags.






The United States Guided Missile Cruiser

WILLIAM H. STANDLEY
(CG-32)





Built by


Bath Iron Works Corporation


Bath, Maine








Keel Laid - - - 29 July 1963


Christened - - - 5 December 1964


Launched - - - 19 December 1964


Commissioned - - - 9 July 1966


Decommissioned - - - 11 February 1994






USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY (CG-32)



WILLIAM H. STANDLEY (CG-32) is one of a class of guided missile cruisers built during the 1960's and the first ship named in honor of one of the great American patriots of modern times. Admiral William H. Standley, United States Navy (1872-1963), served his country for over 50 years as a naval officer, statesman, and diplomat.

The primary mission of WILLIAM H. STANDLEY was to provide anti-air (AAW) and anti-surface (ASUW) defense for aircraft carrier task force. Her secondary missions were to provide defense against submarines (ASW) and to conduct shore bombardment (NGFS) in support of amphibious operations.

Designed to operate at high speed for extended periods of time in support of long range Battle Group operations, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY was fitted with air search radars and a weapons direction system that uses digital computers. This system processes data on air targets and feeds it to the missile fire control and launching systems in order to aim and fire extended range standard missiles at any attacking aircraft or missile.

WILLIAM H. STANDLEY was equipped with long range sonar which provided data to the underwater battery fire control system. Her ASW armament included Anti-Submarine Rockets, Light Airborne Multi-Purpose helicopters, and torpedoes. She was also equipped with a single dual-purpose rapid fire five-inch 54 caliber gun for defense against air and surface attacks as well as for NGFS. Other armament included two 20mm Gatling guns (CIWS) for close-in air defense, the HARPOON surface-to-surface missile system for use against enemy ships over the horizon, and the Super Rapid Blooming Offboard Chaff (SRBOC) for use as a decoy.

WILLIAM H. STANDLEY was commissioned in 1966, is 547 feet in length with a maximum beam of 55 feet and when loaded had a navigational draft of 29 feet. She is equipped with twin six-blad screws and a single centerline rudder. Although WILLIAM H. STANDLEY's full load displacement was 8,500 tons about the size of a WWII light cruiser, she retained destroyer acceleration and maneuverability. Her engineering plant of four 1200 PSI steam boilers was capable of delivering 85,000 shaft horsepower for main propulsion, 6,000 kilowatts of electrical power, and 24,000 gallons of fresh water daily.

WILLIAM H. STANDLEY underwent a comprehensive New Threat Upgrade (NTU) overhaul from June 1990 to August 1991, at Northwest Marine Iron Works, Portland, Oregon. During this overhaul, all spaces were renovated, berthing and food service areas were refurbished, the engineering plant was fully overhauled, and combat system capabilities were enhanced by improvements to the ships Air Search Radars (SPS-48E and SPS-49), Fire Control Radars (SPG-55B), and Combat Direction System (CDS). These improvements provided an accurate means of coordinating the engagment of multiple air targets with SM-2 Extended Range missiles. They kept her on the cutting edge of technology and provided a capability second to none for countering any possible air threat.







ADMIRAL WILLIAM HARRISON STANDLEY

United States Navy


William Harrison Standley was born in Ukiah, California. He entered the Naval Academy in 1891, graduating with the class of 1895. His early career in warships was distinguished by a heroic action during the Phillippine insurrection of 1899. He was commended for bravery in connection with the reconnnoitering expedition in hostile territory. In the years before World War I, he served at sea in nearly every type of combatant ship from monitor to battleship and ashore in stations ranging from San Francisco to Samoa. From 1916 to 1919, he returned to the Naval Academny as assistant to the Superintendent. While there, he supervised a major expansion of the Academy and for eleven months was Commandant of Midshipmen.

In the post war years his duties at sea included tours as Commanding Officer of the battleships VIRGINIA and CALIFORNIA, Commander Destroyers, U.S. Fleet and culminated in his appointment as Commander Battle Force, U.S. Fleet on June 8, 1933 when he was appointed Chief of Naval Operations, with the rank Of Admiral, for the period of four years. During his period of office, Secretary of the Navy Swanson was frequently absent due to illness, and Admiral Standley performed the duties of acting Secretary of the Navy and a member of FDR's cabinet. He was a United Nations delegate to the London Naval Conference held in London, England during the period of December 7, 1935 to March 25, 1936, and signed the London Naval Treaty on behalf of the United States. Before his retirement on January 1, 1937, he also initiated the Vinson Trammel Bill, which provided for establishing, building and maintaining the U.S. Navy at treaty strength.

Recalled to active duty in February 13, 1941, he served for eleven months as the naval representative on the Planning Board of the Office of Production Management. In the fall of 1941, he served as the U.S. Naval member of the Beaverbrook-Harrison Special War Supply Mission to the U.S.S.R. After his return from the Soviet Union, he was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of the Navy Department as a member of the Roberts Commission appointed by the President on December 18, 1941 to investigate and report the facts relating to the attack made by the Japanese in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941.

In February 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Admiral Standley U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union, and on March 18 the same year, awarded him the Distinguished Service Medal with the following citation: "For exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in duties of great responsibility during his career as an officer of the Navy." He remained Ambassador until October 1943.

Again recalled on active duty in March 1944, Admiral Standley served in the Office of Strategic Service, Navy Department throughout the remaining period of hostilities, being relieved of all active duty on August 31, 1945. He died in San Diego, California on October 25, 1973 at the age of 91.

The best summation of the principals for which Admiral Standley stood can be found in his own words: "Finally, we must each of us know, honor, and frequently recall the eternal values of beliefs which we hold, for which we struggle, for which we work, for which we have commited to fight, by which, in the long course, we must live or die."





MUSICAL SELECTION

San Diego Navy Band




ARRIVAL OF THE OFFICIAL PARTY



NATIONAL ANTHEM

San Diego Navy Band




INVOCATION

Lieutenant Rondall Brown, CHC, USN




INTRODUCTION OF THE PRINCIPAL SPEAKER

Commander Brian G. Shires, USN

Commanding Officer




PRINCIPAL SPEAKER'S REMARKS

Captain Gary L. Bier, USN

Commander Destroyer Squadron Thirty Three




COMMANDING OFFICER'S REMARKS

Commander Brian G. Shires, USN

Commanding Officer




DECOMMISSIONING

Commander Brian G. Shires, USN

Commanding Officer




SECURING THE WATCH




BENEDICTION

Lieutenant Rondall Brown, CHC, USN




DEPARTURE OF THE OFFICIAL PARTY







USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY (CG 32)
COMMANDING OFFICERS

NAME___________________________________FROM_____________TO__________
Capt. Cornelius F. Moul, III           Jul  9, 1966     Sep 29, 1967
Capt. Chandler E. Swallow, Jr.         Sep 29, 1967     Dec 24, 1968
Capt. William M. A. Greene             Dec 24, 1968     May 16, 1970
Capt. Alva L. Blanks                   May 16, 1970     Oct 29, 1971
Capt. Richard M. Palkovic              Oct 29, 1971     Jul  7, 1973
Capt. Douglas A. Stewart               Jul  7, 1973     Apr 11, 1975
Capt. Robert E. Miale                  Apr 11, 1975     Mar 14, 1977
Capt. Morton E. Toole                  Mar 14, 1977     Apr 21, 1979
Capt. Ned C. Roberts                   Apr 12, 1979     Jan  5, 1981
Capt. Timothy R. O'Keefe               Jan  4, 1981     Jan 21, 1983
Capt. Albert L. Kaiss                  Jan 21, 1983     Dec 28, 1984
Capt. Robert N. Giuffreda              Dec 28, 1984     Dec  3, 1986
Capt. John W. McHenry                  Dec  3, 1986     Nov  9, 1988
Capt. Andrew W. Fahy                   Nov  9, 1988     Jan 12, 1991
Capt. Daniel Salinas                   Jan 12, 1991     Jan 11, 1993
Cdr. Brian G. Shires                   Jan 11, 1993     Feb 11, 1994


Command At Sea
THE PRESTIGE, PRIVILEGE AND
BURDEN OF COMMAND

from Joseph Conrad


"Only a seaman realizes to what extent an entire ship reflects the personality and ability of one individual, her Commanding Officer. To a landsman this is not understandable and at times, it is even difficult for us to understand. But it is so!

A ship at sea is a distinct world in herself and in consideration of the protracted and distant operations of the fleet units, the Navy must place great power, responsibility, and trust in the hands of those leaders chosen for command.

In each ship there is one man who, in the hour of emergency or peril at sea, can turn to no other man. There is one alone who is ultimately responsible for the safe navigation, engineering performance, accurate gunfire and morale of his ship. He is the Commanding Officer. He is the ship.

His is the most difficult and demanding assignment in the Navy. There is not an instance during his tour as Commanding Officer that he can excape the grasp of command responsibility. His privileges in view of his obligations are almost ludicrously small; nevertheless, command is the spur which has given the Navy its great leaders.

It is a duty which most richly deserves the highest, time-honored title of the seafaring world . . . CAPTAIN."





Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep,
O hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea!


And when at length her course is run,
Her work for home and country done,
Of all the souls that in her sailed
Let not one life in thee have failed;
But hear from heaven our Sailor's cry,
And grant eternal life on high!

Navy Hymn






















"Finally, we must each of us know, honor, and frequently recall the eternal values of beliefs which we hold, for which we struggle, for which we work, for which we have committed to fight, by which, in the long course, we must live or die"


Admiral William Harrison Standley, USN



Courtesy Pete Starr and Sara Standley





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