This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Douglas Siemonsma, LCDR
to remember
Brooks, Roger, PNCS USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Alliance
Last Address 117 S. Country Club Ave Brandon, SD 57005
Date of Passing Oct 07, 2023
Location of Interment Hills of Rest Memorial Park - Sioux Falls, South Dakota
USS GEORGETOWN begain her career as Robert W. Hart a Liberty ship build by New England Shipbuilding Corp., South Portland Maine. Launched 10 July 1945 the Hart was sponsored by the late Mrs. Fred W. Woolsey, Milton , New York. In 1962 the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Corp. commenced converting the Hart into a technical research vessel under the new name GEORGETOWN. The name was selected to honor all the cities in the United States named GEORGETOWN of which there are twenty two in the following states: Maine, Arkansas, Delaware, Marland, California, Florida, Mississipps, Colorado, Georgia, New York, Connecticut, Idaho, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Kentucky, South Carolina (Largest pop. 12,261), Minnesota, Texas, Tennessee. Here is some data of interest: Length Overall 441' 6"; Draft (full load) 22' 9"; Height of Mainmast afove waterline 128; 0 1/4 "; Boats 26' Motor whaleboat - capacity 22; 33' Personnel Boat - capacity 45; 33' Utility Boat - capacity 45; CO2 inflatable lifeboats - capacity 15'.
The Mission and purpose of the USS GEORGETOWN 9AG-165) will be to conduct technical research operations in support of U. S. Navy electronic research projects which include electromagnetic propagation studies and advanced communications systems such as satellite communications.
Best Moment PRE-COMMISSIONING DETAIL NEWPORT NEWS VA. PLANK OWNER ON RECOMMISSIONING I was assigned to the USS Georgetown AG-165 recommissioning detail as a PN3. This was where I say my Navy career really got started. This was the time of the so-called "Cold War Era". We were constantly practicing for the possibility of Atomic, Biological, and Chemical Warfare. While I was assigned to the USS Georgetown, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 23, 1963, and those of us who were on shore leave or liberty were called back to the ship; she got underway because there was a fear of attack on the Norfolk Naval Base. We stayed underway a few days and then returned to port.
Chain of Command COMMANDER WESLEY A. GLEASON COMMANDING OFFICER
LCDR ALLAN W. ROBBINS EXECUTIVE OFFICER
R.H. BLASS, LCDR, USN OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT
ENS T.F. PROCTOR, JR. USNR DIVISION OFFICER
B.A. GUPTON YN1 LEADING PETTY OFFICER
Other Memories After USS Georgetown was re-commissioned, she had to go for Shake Down Guantanamo Bay Cuba (January 1964). Known to the Navy as just plain "Gitmo"; this base is the fleet training center for the Atlantic Fleet. Here ships from the Atlantic Fleet and the Caribbean Fleet came every two years for training in fire fighting, damage control, high line transfer, replenishment and refueling at sea, tactical exercises and any other situation with which a ship might come to grips. The USS GEORGETOWN was no exception.
