MESSAGE FROM THE CAPTAIN

This message is addressed to all members of the Topeka family, a family comprising not only the men who will sail her, but their families and friends, the men who built her, the thousands who designed and built the equipment installed in her, the citizens of the city whose name she bears, and finally, all the citizens of our country who paid for her and to whom we who man her must be ultimately accountable for the discharge of our duties.

It is important, therefore, that within this family of ours we establish a clear understanding of our mutual responsibilities and obligations. I believe that we who are privileged to man the ship are aware of the duties and responsibilities that go with the privilege. We will need the understanding and support of all members of the Topeka family to help us discharge these duties. Sea power has never been more important than it is today, and the military capabilities exemplified in a ship like ours are all indispensable adjunct of our foreign policy.

Topeka's role in preserving the peace we all so earnestly desire--and in its defense if necessary--may carry us to many ports of the world. The members of our family who remain at home can help us by their understanding of the need for our missions and by their prayers for our success.

CAPT F. L. PINNEY, Jr., USN Commanding

HIGH HOPES OR A PIPE DREAM

That this ship will achieve its mission in the fleet we are certain. In the weeks to come the USS TOPEKA will be the scene of constant drills and practice designed to build an effective fighting team. In the months that follow the pressure will continue upon us to maintain the highest possible standard of efficiency in manning. America is at war, although shots are not being fired. We are training in fighting technique, because victory cannot be won against our potential enemies except by being prepared before that first shot is fired in anger. The forces of evil and tyranny arrayed against our nation even now, do not permit of any laxity in our preparations for battle.

The question then is not whether we will be prepared in time, for we shall be prepared. The unknown factor is rather how quickly and painlessly can we attain that standard of effectiveness which will give us the satisfaction and confidence that we are ready. Therein lies the solution to the future high morale of this ship's company, namely tile knowledge and conviction that we can win and that we are better fighters than our opponents. If on the other hand, we slothfully and stumblingly struggle toward that goal of readiness, then this ship will not enjoy good morale. Our lack of spirit will create frustrations and unhappiness, and this cruise will seem unbearably long.

As all old sailors well know, there are also many fringe benefits that accrue to the men of a ship, who constitute a highly efficient crew. Good liberty ports and just good liberty is the reward for the crew that regularly turns out an honest day's work. Beyond that are the hopes of pleasant relaxations and recreation activities we can indulge in, when the job is well done. The size of sightseeing parties in foreign ports will reflect the amount of work accomplished before the first line is secured on the dock. In home port the reunion with family and friends is hastened and prolonged when spaces are clean and equipment is in good operating order.

High hopes can be realized if every member of our organization bears a hand willingly, but if some are afraid of sweat and aching muscles and drag their feet, then many of the hopes will be only pipe-dreams. The TOPEKA will be put into fighting trim because enough dedicated officers and men will struggle to make it a reality. Those who do not participate in this struggle will be sabotaging the liberty and pleasures of their shipmates. The issue is not whether we get the ship ready to fight, which we shall do, but rather shall it be a pleasant task or one plagued with frustrations.

Department Heads

ANOTHER MISSILE EXPERT JOINS
SHIP AS EXECUTIVE OFFICER
CDR L. R. OLSEN.

TOPEKA's Executive Officer is well grounded in missile lore, having participated in early experimentation carried on by the Navy in this future mode of warfare. CDR L. R. OLSEN, who assumed the duties of executive Officer of the USS TOPEKA today, was Technical Officer of the U. S. Guided Missile Unit, 22A, at the Bendix Aviation Corporation, Mishawaka, Indiana. This was the Navy's first TALOS missile unit and the first Navy crew to fire a TALOS missile successfully. Before detachment from this assignment in 1953, CDR OLSEN, prepared the first TALOS missile descriptive and training manual.

During his eighteen years of active duty, CDR OLSEN has served about nine years at sea aboard seven different ships. Upon graduation from the Naval Academy in December 1941, he served aboard the USS PORTER (DD 356), from January 1942 until October 1942, at which time the PORTER wax torpedoed and sunk in the Battle of Santa Cruz. His primary duties aboard the PORTER included AA Control Officer, Asst. First Lieutenant, and Asst. Gunnery Officer. Asst. Personnel Officer, COMSERVRON, South Pacific, in Noumea, New Caledonia, CDR OLSEN was ordered to duty in San Francisco as Navigator, First Lieutenant, and CIC Officer aboard the USS MILLER, DD535, which he helped place in commission during the late summer of 1943. In the months that followed, the MILLER participated in various actions in the Pacific including the assaults on the Gilbert Islands, Marshalls and the Mariannas. He was detached late in 1944 and ordered to Post-graduate school at Annapolis where he was enrolled in the Ordnance Engineering Course.

From September 1945 to June 1946, CDR OLSEN earned a professional degree in Aeronautical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology at Pasadena. He worked in Ordnance Engineering and jet propulsion, specializing' in torpedo propulsion. Upon completion of his studies, he was appointed Bureau of Ordnance and Office of Naval Research Project Officer and also Technical Officer for the Bureau of Aeronautics in Pasadena. In June 1947 he was made the Bureau of Ordnance Technical Liaison Officer of the Southern California. area, serving in that capacity until June 1948.

CDR OLSEN went to his first cruiser assignment aboard the USS FRESNO, CLAA 119, as Gunnery Officer in July 1948, serving aboard her for a year. In August 1949 he was ordered as Prospective Executive Officer to the USS WALKER,DDE-517, to place her back into commission. From October 1949 until April 1951 he served as Executive Officer aboard the USS T. E. CHANDLER DD 717, participating in support actions in the Korean War Zone. Following the two years spent in pioneering the TALOS missile development, he was assigned as Gunnery Officer aboard the USS MISSISSIPPI, EAG 128. During this duty he participated in development of fire control and radar directed guidance systems presently in use in the fleet. The technical evolution of the TERRIER missile, presently installed aboard the TOPEKA, was advanced on the MISSISSIPPI.

CDR OLSEN was given command of the USS JENKINS, DDE-447, in September 1954 and took her into the Western Pacific, where she was deployed with Anti-Submarine Warfare units. In February 1956 he was relieved as Commanding Officer and ordered to the Guided Missile Desk in the Surface Warfare Division of the Office at the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, DC

For a two week period during these three and one-halt years with CNO, he served as Head of the Atomic and Weapons Readiness Branch, Strike Warfare Division. On 1 February 1960 he was ordered to duty as Prospective Executive Officer of the USS TOPEKA.

CDR OLSEN was born November 6, 1919, in Brigham City, Utah. He attended public school at South High School, Salt Lake City, and from 1936 to 1938 he was enrolled at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He received an appointment to the U. S. Naval Academy in 1938. He was married to Cecily E. Petre in July 1942 at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. The Olsens have six children: Leslie Ann, age 15 1/2; Coralie Bea, age 14 1/2 Richard John, age 13; Annalie Marie, age 10 1/2 Christopher Anthony, age 3; and Alexandra Deane, age 18 months. The Olsen's permanent home address is Elko, Nevada.