USS Bremerton (CA 130) was commissioned on April 29, 1945.

The ship’s name was chosen following a bond selling competition between Bremerton’s Puget Sound Navy Yard and Mare Island Navy Yard in California. Bremerton won! As a result, USS Bremerton joined the fleet on April 29, 1945. She was too late to participate in World War II, but served through the Korean War, making multiple Pacific Fleet deployments and earning two battle stars before being decommissioned in 1960.

 While I was serving on the USS Bremerton CA-130, James Cagny and Dennis Weaver filmed scenes for the movie The Gallant Hours aboard the ship.  The film is about Admiral William J. Halsey and the battle of Guadacanal.  The crew of the CA-130 were used as extras during the filming.

In 1957, the USS Bremerton visited Australia and New Zealand, some of my memorable ports of call.  In Australia the crew participated in a parade a to celebrate the Battle of the Coral Sea and in New Zealand we were outnumbered by women, 9 to 1, who were grateful to meet the American sailors. They would not let us pay for anything and were invited into their homes.  Both were beautiful countries and the people were so generous and welcoming, it made our visit there great.

We were ordered to leave Australia and go to Lebanon  to back up 2000 Marines where President Eisenhower had sent them.  After a few days we were called off because we were not needed.

One thing that was not so great was crossing over the equator.  At least a lot of our officers were making their first crossing.

Since I worked in the boiler room, I looked forward to being able to go up on the main deck at night and sleep.

I really enjoyed my time in the Navy!  Got to see a lot of countries and spent most all of my time on the Bremerton.

Paul E Henderson 1957 -Dec 1960