I retired on November 19, 2010! Still enjoying the stand-down time and looking forward to new adventures ahead. Living in north San Diego county and serving in Rock Church North County as part of the security team. I completed CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training in 2011 and am currently with the California Highway Patrol Senior Volunteer program.
Any old shipmates out there? Shoot me an e-mail and would love to see you if you are in the San Diego area!
Other Comments:
In memory of my dad
C.B. Ross, CDR USN (Ret) (Deceased)
Born 1911, Died 1973
Paul S. Schatzle, LCDR USN (Ret) (Deceased)
Born 1909, Died 2001
Harry C. Schrader, Jr., VADM, USN (Ret) (Deceased)
"A sailor's sailor" and a great skipper!
Hull number AD-15 Dixie Class Destroyer Tender:
Laid down, 7 December 1938, at New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J.
Launched, 9 December 1939
Commissioned USS Prairie (AD-15), 5 August 1940, CAPT. John B. W. Waller in command
During World War II Prairie was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
During the Vietnam War Prairie participated in the following campaign:
Vietnam War Campaign
Campaign and Dates
Vietnam Ceasefire Campaign, 16 t o17 March 1973
Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 26 March 1993
Transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
Title transfer to MARAD, 1 April 1993
Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 2 April 2 1993 (some sources indicate 6 April 1993) to "Nishant Import & Export" of the United Arab Emirates for $960,000. Towed to India in April 1993 and scrapped
USS Prairie earned one campaign star for Vietnam War service
Specifications: Displacement 18,000 t. (lim) Length 530' 6" Beam 73' 4" Draft 24' 5" Speed 19.6 kts (trial) Complement
officer 123
enlisted 1,576 Armament
four single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts
four single 40mm AA gun mounts
two 3pdr gun mounts
Aft two 5"/38 mounts and all 40mm gun mounts later removed, and helicopter platform added Largest boom capacity 20 t. Ship's Service Generators four 750Kw 450V A.C. Fuel Capacity
NFSO 24,555 Bbls.
Diesel 2,705 Bbls. Propulsion
two New York Shipbuilding Parsons-design steam turbines
four Babcock & Wilcox "A" (three drum expansion type) boilers 485psi 720°.
double De Laval Main Reduction Gear two propellers, 11,000shp