The roster detailing individuals who served aboard a specific naval vessel, the USS Newport News (CA-148), during its commission is a valuable historical document. This record provides a comprehensive listing of the personnel assigned to the ship, offering insights into the vessels operational history through the lens of its crew.
These lists are significant for genealogical research, allowing descendants to trace their ancestors’ naval service. Furthermore, they are crucial for historical analyses, aiding in understanding the ship’s activities, deployments, and overall contribution to naval operations during its service period. Such documentation provides a human dimension to the history of a warship, highlighting the experiences of the sailors who lived and worked aboard.
The following sections will delve into accessing these historical records, the types of information typically contained within them, and the resources available for researching the ship’s history and the service of its crew members.
1. Personnel Identification
Personnel identification forms the bedrock of any crew list, including those associated with the USS Newport News (CA-148). Without accurate and comprehensive identification, the entire record loses its utility for historical research, genealogical tracing, and veteran support. The cause-and-effect relationship is clear: proper identification is a prerequisite for effectively utilizing a crew list. The absence of this component renders the list largely unusable.
The accuracy of personnel identification directly impacts the ability to verify an individual’s service record. For instance, a crew list detailing a specific sailor’s name, rank, service number, and dates of service allows researchers to cross-reference this information with official military records, such as the National Archives databases. Discrepancies or incomplete information can hinder this verification process, potentially leading to inaccuracies in historical accounts or complicating claims for veteran benefits. A crew member listed only as “Smith” would provide little actionable data without further identifying information.
In summary, the inclusion of detailed personnel identificationname, rank, service number, and relevant datesis essential for transforming a simple list into a valuable historical resource. This precise identification allows for verification against official archives, enabling researchers, historians, and descendants to accurately trace service records and understand the human element within the USS Newport News (CA-148)’s operational history. The challenges associated with incomplete or inaccurate identification underscore the importance of meticulous record-keeping practices in maintaining the integrity and utility of such crew lists.
2. Service History
The service history of personnel listed on a ship’s crew manifest, such as that for the USS Newport News (CA-148), is intrinsically linked to the vessel’s operational timeline. These records offer valuable insights into the individual experiences of sailors and how their contributions align with the ship’s missions and deployments.
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Operational Deployments
The crew list, when coupled with service records, illuminates the specific deployments in which individuals participated. By cross-referencing a sailor’s dates of service with the USS Newport News (CA-148) with the ship’s documented movements, researchers can determine if a crew member was present during significant events, such as deployments to Vietnam or other areas of operation. These details offer a context for understanding the sailor’s potential exposure to combat or other specific operational environments.
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Training and Specializations
Service history often details specialized training courses and qualifications earned by crew members. A record might show a sailor completed gunnery school, radar training, or damage control courses while assigned to the USS Newport News (CA-148). These specializations are crucial for understanding the functional role each individual played aboard the ship, from maintaining vital systems to contributing to the vessel’s combat readiness. They also provide insights into the Navy’s investment in personnel development during the ship’s service life.
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Awards and Commendations
Individual service histories can reveal awards and commendations received during a sailor’s time on the USS Newport News (CA-148). These distinctions, ranging from campaign medals to personal decorations for valor, acknowledge contributions made during specific operations or periods of service. By correlating awards with operational events, researchers gain a deeper appreciation for the level of participation and the degree of risk crew members faced during their deployments.
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Transfer and Discharge Dates
The crew list, when linked with service history, documents transfer dates and final discharge dates. These details are vital for establishing the complete timeline of an individual’s service aboard the USS Newport News (CA-148). Transfer dates help track a sailor’s movement between different units or ships, while discharge dates signify the end of their active-duty service, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of their naval career arc. This information is crucial for genealogical research and veterans’ benefit claims.
In conclusion, integrating the service history of individuals listed on the USS Newport News (CA-148) crew list provides a comprehensive understanding of the ship’s operational narrative and the human experiences within it. It offers information beyond simple names, enabling historians and researchers to connect individual contributions with the vessel’s broader historical context. These connected details reveal a greater understanding of the US Navy, the ship’s crew, and their roles in the Navy’s operations.
3. Deployment Records
Deployment records constitute a crucial component of any comprehensive crew list, including that of the USS Newport News (CA-148). These records directly reflect the operational tempo and geographical reach of the vessel, shaping the experiences of the individuals listed on the crew roster. The ship’s deployment history dictates where sailors served, the conditions they faced, and the potential for exposure to combat or hazardous environments. For instance, if the USS Newport News (CA-148) saw extensive action off the coast of Vietnam, the deployment records, when correlated with the crew list, indicate which sailors were present during those engagements, affecting their eligibility for certain veteran benefits and shaping their long-term health outcomes.
Access to accurate deployment records allows historians to connect specific names on the crew list with particular events in the ship’s history. This connection enables a more nuanced understanding of the individual sacrifices and contributions made by those who served. For example, by consulting naval archives and correlating them with the crew list, one can determine the precise dates a sailor was onboard during a specific patrol or operation. This data is essential for understanding the context of commendations or awards received by crew members and the overall impact of the ship’s service on those who manned it. The absence of clear deployment records renders the crew list a mere compilation of names, devoid of the vital context needed for meaningful historical interpretation.
In summary, deployment records provide the framework for understanding the operational context within which the crew of the USS Newport News (CA-148) served. They transform a list of names into a powerful historical resource, allowing for a more accurate and complete portrayal of the ship’s legacy and the sacrifices of its crew. Understanding these deployment details also has practical implications for veterans and their families seeking to document service history for benefits or personal research, underscoring the enduring significance of these records.
4. Ship Assignments
Ship assignments, denoting the specific periods sailors were assigned to the USS Newport News (CA-148), are intrinsically linked to the value and utility of any crew list. They provide the temporal framework that contextualizes an individual’s service and experiences aboard the vessel. Without knowledge of when a sailor served on the ship, the crew list remains a collection of names, lacking the crucial dimension needed for historical analysis and genealogical research.
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Precise Dates of Service
Accurate ship assignment records specify the exact dates when a sailor joined and departed the USS Newport News (CA-148). This data is critical for determining whether an individual participated in specific deployments, operations, or historical events. For instance, knowing that a sailor was assigned to the ship from January 1968 to June 1969 allows researchers to confirm their presence during significant periods of the Vietnam War, influencing their eligibility for associated benefits and shaping their personal narrative. The absence of precise dates renders the crew list less useful for verifying service claims or understanding individual experiences.
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Tracking Career Progression
Ship assignment records, when combined with other naval documents, facilitate the tracking of a sailor’s career progression. These records may reveal whether a sailor joined the USS Newport News (CA-148) as a junior enlisted member and later advanced in rank or transferred to another vessel. The career of a Petty Officer, for example, might be illustrated by a series of assignments to different types of vessels. The ship assignment provides one critical anchor point to a larger context about the service member. This information is valuable for genealogical research and understanding the professional trajectory of naval personnel.
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Deployment Validation
Correlating ship assignment dates with the USS Newport News (CA-148)’s deployment schedule enables the validation of a sailor’s participation in specific deployments. Official records, such as deck logs and operational reports, can be cross-referenced with the crew list and assignment dates to confirm an individual’s presence during a particular cruise or operation. This verification process is crucial for supporting claims related to combat exposure, eligibility for awards, and access to veteran services.
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Distinguishing Individuals with Similar Names
Ship assignment records are essential for distinguishing between different individuals with similar or identical names. The Navy contains service members who happen to share first and last names, or are very similar. Assignment records help pinpoint when the service member was aboard the USS Newport News, thus helping to distinguish them apart from one another. The absence of clear assignment dates can lead to confusion and inaccuracies in genealogical research or historical analysis.
In conclusion, ship assignments are a fundamental element of a crew list for the USS Newport News (CA-148), transforming a simple roster into a valuable historical resource. These assignments provide essential context for understanding individual service histories, validating deployment participation, tracking career progression, and distinguishing between individuals with similar names. Without this information, the crew list loses much of its analytical and historical value.
5. Duty Stations
Duty stations, referring to the specific work assignments and locations aboard the USS Newport News (CA-148), offer critical insights when analyzed in conjunction with a crew list. These assignments define individual roles and responsibilities, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the vessel’s operational functionality and the personnel required to maintain it.
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Operational Efficiency
Understanding the duty stations detailed in crew lists allows for an assessment of the USS Newport News (CA-148)’s operational efficiency. For example, if the records indicate a high concentration of personnel assigned to the gunnery division, it suggests a priority placed on firepower. Conversely, a robust engineering division indicates the importance of maintaining the ship’s propulsion and essential systems. Analyzing the distribution of personnel across different duty stations reveals the strategic priorities and functional organization of the vessel during its service life. Real life of it could be to identify if the ship needed repair with electrical engineering and damage control.
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Skill Sets and Expertise
Duty station assignments delineate the specific skill sets and expertise required to operate the USS Newport News (CA-148). The crew list reveals the range of technical proficiency present onboard, from radar operators and sonar technicians to machinists and medical personnel. The nature of these assignments reflects the technological demands of operating a heavy cruiser during the Cold War era, emphasizing the importance of specialized training and expertise. For instance, qualified professionals with expertise with naval warfare capabilities.
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Impact on Individual Experiences
The assigned duty station significantly shaped the experiences of individuals listed on the crew roster. A sailor assigned to the engine room faced different challenges and conditions compared to someone working in the combat information center. Duty station impacted work hours, potential exposure to danger, and the overall quality of life aboard the ship. Understanding these differences adds a human dimension to the historical record, highlighting the diverse experiences of those who served on the USS Newport News (CA-148). For instance, depending on the duty station the individuals had differing levels of exposure and potential dangers.
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Tracing Career Paths
Analysis of duty station assignments over time, as documented in the crew list, allows for the tracing of career paths within the Navy. A sailor might start in a junior role within a specific division and subsequently advance to a more senior position, reflecting their skill development and experience gained. These movements can be identified by comparing crew lists from different periods of the ship’s service, offering insights into the opportunities for advancement available to naval personnel during that time. Career Paths in the US Navy for professionals.
In conclusion, the information concerning duty stations, when integrated with the USS Newport News (CA-148) crew list, offers a multifaceted understanding of the vessel’s operations, the skills of its crew, and the individual experiences of those who served. The inclusion of these assignments is vital for a comprehensive historical analysis of the ship’s service and the human element within it.
6. Rank Attainment
Rank attainment, as documented within the USS Newport News (CA-148) crew list, provides valuable insights into the professional development and career progression of individual sailors. The crew list serves as a historical record of each sailor’s rank at specific points during their assignment to the vessel. Analyzing rank attainment reveals patterns in promotion rates, demonstrates the opportunities for advancement available during the ship’s commission, and reflects the overall quality and experience level of the crew. For example, a review of crew lists from different periods might indicate an increase in the number of petty officers, suggesting enhanced training programs and the ship’s growing operational capabilities. Furthermore, knowing a sailor’s final rank upon leaving the USS Newport News (CA-148) enables researchers to trace their career trajectory within the Navy and understand the impact of their service on subsequent assignments.
The practical significance of understanding rank attainment lies in its ability to inform historical analysis, genealogical research, and veteran support efforts. Genealogists can use rank information to more accurately trace ancestors’ military careers, differentiate between individuals with similar names, and gain a deeper understanding of their service contributions. Veterans’ organizations can utilize rank data to verify service records, support claims for benefits, and provide targeted assistance to former crew members based on their individual needs and experiences. For instance, knowing a sailor achieved a senior enlisted rank may indicate specific skill sets and leadership experience that would be valuable in civilian employment, enabling tailored career counseling and job placement services. Additionally, historians can use rank attainment as a metric for evaluating the overall effectiveness of naval training programs and leadership development strategies during the period the USS Newport News (CA-148) was in service.
In summary, rank attainment is a critical component of the USS Newport News (CA-148) crew list, providing essential context for understanding the ship’s operational history and the professional lives of its sailors. This information is invaluable for historical researchers, genealogists, and veteran support organizations seeking to accurately document service records, verify benefit claims, and understand the individual experiences of those who served aboard the vessel. Challenges in accessing complete and accurate records underscore the need for continued preservation efforts to ensure that these historical documents remain available for future generations.
7. Discharge Details
Discharge details, when linked to the USS Newport News (CA-148) crew list, provide closure to an individual’s service narrative aboard the vessel and offer crucial information for historical analysis and veteran support.
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Type of Discharge
The type of discharge (e.g., honorable, general, dishonorable) documented in conjunction with the crew list, carries significant implications for a sailor’s future. An honorable discharge, the most desirable outcome, signifies satisfactory completion of service and unlocks eligibility for a full range of veteran benefits. Other types of discharge may limit or eliminate access to these benefits. Knowing the type of discharge allows for a more nuanced understanding of a sailor’s overall service record and the potential challenges they may face upon returning to civilian life. For example, a sailor receiving an honorable discharge after serving multiple deployments on the USS Newport News (CA-148) would be entitled to educational assistance, home loan guarantees, and other forms of support. Understanding the type of discharge opens the door for various support needs and pathways.
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Date and Reason for Discharge
The specific date of discharge, when cross-referenced with the crew list, marks the end of a sailor’s active duty aboard the USS Newport News (CA-148). The documented reason for discharge (e.g., end of enlistment, medical reasons, early release) provides context for the departure and may shed light on the sailor’s health status or future career plans. If a sailor was discharged due to a service-related injury sustained while serving on the USS Newport News (CA-148), this would trigger eligibility for disability compensation and medical care. Connecting a medical discharge reason to the ship in particular shows how the individual received their discharge.
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Reenlistment Codes
Reenlistment codes, often included in discharge details, indicate whether a sailor was eligible to reenlist in the Navy. These codes reflect the Navy’s assessment of the sailor’s performance and suitability for continued service. A positive reenlistment code suggests the sailor was a valuable asset and could have pursued a long-term naval career. Conversely, a negative code may indicate performance issues or other factors that made the sailor ineligible for further service. In the context of the USS Newport News (CA-148) crew list, the presence of positive reenlistment codes demonstrates the potential for career naval service.
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Final Rank and Rate
Discharge details often include a sailor’s final rank and rate upon leaving the USS Newport News (CA-148) and the Navy. This information serves as a culmination of their service record, reflecting their level of experience, expertise, and leadership abilities. A sailor who advanced significantly in rank during their time on the vessel demonstrated competence and dedication to duty. The final rank provides researchers with an indication of where the individuals ended their naval career.
In conclusion, discharge details offer a concluding chapter to the service narrative of individuals listed on the USS Newport News (CA-148) crew list. They provide valuable insights into the circumstances surrounding a sailor’s departure from the Navy, their eligibility for veteran benefits, and their potential for future success. These details contribute significantly to a more complete and nuanced understanding of the ship’s legacy and the lives of those who served aboard it.
Frequently Asked Questions
This section addresses common inquiries regarding access, content, and utilization of records pertaining to individuals who served aboard the USS Newport News CA-148.
Question 1: Where can the USS Newport News CA-148 crew list be located?
Official crew lists are generally maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Digital copies may be available on genealogy websites or through historical societies, though accessibility can vary.
Question 2: What information is typically included in the USS Newport News CA-148 crew list?
Crew lists usually contain names, ranks, service numbers, and dates of assignment to the ship. Some records may also include duty stations, awards, and discharge details.
Question 3: How is the USS Newport News CA-148 crew list useful for genealogical research?
It serves as a primary source for verifying an ancestor’s naval service, tracing their career progression, and understanding their potential involvement in specific deployments or historical events.
Question 4: Are there any restrictions on accessing the USS Newport News CA-148 crew list?
Access may be subject to privacy regulations and record availability. Some documents may be restricted or require a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for access.
Question 5: How can discrepancies or incomplete information on the USS Newport News CA-148 crew list be resolved?
Discrepancies can be addressed by cross-referencing the crew list with other official military records, such as service records and muster rolls, available through NARA.
Question 6: What is the significance of the USS Newport News CA-148 crew list for historical research?
It provides a human dimension to the history of the warship, offering insights into the operational activities, deployments, and overall contribution of the vessel through the experiences of its crew.
These answers provide a foundational understanding of the nature, accessibility, and utility of crew lists related to this specific naval vessel. Additional research may be required for specific inquiries.
The next section will address available resources for further research and information on the USS Newport News CA-148 and its crew.
Tips for Researching the USS Newport News CA-148 Crew List
Effective research concerning the USS Newport News CA-148 crew list demands a strategic approach and awareness of available resources. These guidelines will assist in navigating the complexities of historical and genealogical investigation.
Tip 1: Initiate Search with Known Information: Begin by compiling any known details about the individual being researched. This includes full name, approximate dates of service, and any known rank or duty station. This preliminary information aids in narrowing search parameters and distinguishing between individuals with similar names.
Tip 2: Utilize the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA): NARA is the primary repository for official military records, including crew lists and service records. Explore NARA’s online resources or consider visiting a regional facility to access relevant documents.
Tip 3: Explore Online Genealogy Databases: Numerous genealogy websites host digitized military records and crew lists. These platforms often offer search tools and indexing features that can expedite the research process. Verify the credibility of sources before accepting information as fact.
Tip 4: Consult Naval Historical Societies and Museums: Naval historical societies and museums may possess archival materials, photographs, and personal accounts related to the USS Newport News CA-148 and its crew. Contact these organizations for assistance and potential access to unique resources.
Tip 5: Cross-Reference Multiple Sources: To ensure accuracy, cross-reference information obtained from the crew list with other official military records, such as service records, muster rolls, and deck logs. Discrepancies should be carefully investigated and resolved.
Tip 6: Submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request: If access to certain records is restricted, consider submitting a FOIA request to NARA or other relevant government agencies. Provide as much detail as possible to facilitate the processing of the request.
Tip 7: Engage with Veteran Organizations: Veteran organizations may have resources or networks that can assist in locating former crew members or obtaining additional information about their service on the USS Newport News CA-148. These groups often maintain databases and provide support for veterans and their families.
These research tips are valuable for uncovering information related to the USS Newport News CA-148 and its crew. Diligence and persistence are essential to the research process.
The conclusion will summarize key findings and reiterate the importance of these records for historical and genealogical purposes.
Conclusion
The exploration of the USS Newport News CA-148 crew list reveals its multifaceted significance. It serves as a key to unlocking individual service histories, validating operational deployments, understanding career progression within the Navy, and connecting individuals to a shared legacy. Accessing and interpreting this historical record requires diligence, strategic research, and a keen understanding of available resources.
Preservation of the USS Newport News CA-148 crew list, and other similar naval records, is paramount. These records offer tangible links to the past, enabling historians, genealogists, and veterans to reconstruct narratives of service, sacrifice, and commitment. The continued accessibility of these documents ensures that the contributions of those who served are not forgotten, fostering a greater appreciation for naval history and the human element within it. Researchers and veterans are encouraged to utilize available resources and contribute to the ongoing effort to document and preserve this valuable historical record.
