Back - Next

TOPEKA began preparing for her first visit to the Far East since 1949 wondering if she be recognized in her new coating.  On February  27, 1961, after participating  in Operation TOE HOLD, her first major fleet exercise, this new but seasoned warship departed. She was under the command of Captain Frederick E. Janney, USN who who had relieved Captain Pinney in November. Returning once again to Japan on March 17, TOPEKA was welcomed by Vice Admiral C. W. Griffin, USN  to the place where her legend of efficiency had begun.

During the seven month deployment TOPEKA  proudly entered many ports of past memory. Visits were made to Chinhae, Korea; Yokosuka, Sasebo, Berppu, Nagasaki, Kobe and Shimoda, Japan; Buckner Day, Okinawa; Manila and Subic Bay in the Philippines; and Hong Kong, British Crown Colony. During her visits to Nagasaki and Shimoda, TOPEKA personnel participated in major festivals then being celebrated. With maybe a bit more excitement  than usual at the conclusion of the first cruise on a new ship, TOPEKA returned to her homeport on September 28, 1961.

On November 18, with 40 other ships of the U.S. Fleet, TOPEKA, now under the command of Captain Roger W. Paine, USN, participated in a day of special fleet exercises for President Kennedy. Due to the untimely death of House Speaker Sam Rayburn, Admiral George W. Anderson, Chief of Naval Operations, represented the President. For her part in the fleet, exercise TOPEKA received her second "E" of the fiscal year in missilery.

TOPEKA steamed for San Francisco in February of 1962. On board she carried two special visitors representing that city whose name she shared. Mayor of Topeka, Kansas, Edward J. Camp, and President of the Fidelity State Bank of Topeka, Anderson C. Chandler, were the guest of the Secretary of the Navy. This marked the first of several visits from mayors of Topeka, all of who were proud to be represented by such a fine ship. TOPEKA had been designated Flagship of Rear Admiral D. L. Kauffman, USN, COMCRUDESFLOT 3, on January 11 1962, bore her honor well.


The TOPEKA  deployed again in June of 1962 for a six and a half month cruise with the SEVENTH Fleet. Enjoying the same ports of her previous cruise, she also visited Iwakuni, Kagoshima and Osaka in Japan.  She returned before Christmas under the command of  Captain Jack E. Mansfield, USN, who had relieved Captain Paine.

A Major overhaul in San Francisco and refresher training preceded the next deployment, this time to Pearl Harbor, where in September 1963 TOPEKA hosted the change of command of Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet.  Admiral U.S.S. Sharp, USN, relieved retiring Admiral J. M. Sides, USN.

MAYOR OF TOPEKA, KANSAS -- E. J. Camp embarked in the ship of his city's namesake and went to San Francisco as a Secretary of the Navy guest. While on board, the mayor talked to two men from his city, GS2 J. L. Stunn and HMSN J. L. Bellsworth. At San Francisco the ship went into the yards (below) at Hunter's Point.

Back - Next