|
Manning Monitor Commander William Graner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Graner of Manning, was recently awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his service as Commanding Officer of the USS Newport (LST-1179). |
CDR Graner is a native of Manning, Iowa, and is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Ross Graner.
He graduated with the Manning High School Class of 1964.
He attended the University of Iowa and later entered the Officers Candidate School at
Newport, Rhode Island. He received his commission as an Ensign in the Naval service in
1970. Graner replaced Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Dougherty.
USS Adroit is an oceangoing minesweeper designed to sweep, locate and neutralize sea
mines. The ship measures 173 feet in length, 36 feet abeam, displaces 834 tons and has
a draft of 12 feet. In 1969 USS Adroit underwent modernization and now carries the latest
minehunting sonar equipment. USS Adroit's primary operating mission is the sweeping
and disposing of mines. The ship can also detect and classify minelike objects with a
variable depth sonar. Surfaced or submerged mines detected by the ship can be disposed
of by a specially trained explosive ordinance demolition (EOD) team embarked during
minesweeping operations. In addition, surfaced mines can be destroyed by use of the two
50 caliber machine guns carried aboard. The ship is powered by four Packard V12 engines
which can propel her to a speed of 14 knots.
USS Adroit's crew is composed of a full-time active duty complement of six officers and
49 men and a selected reserve crew of three officers and 23 men. The reserve crew drills
aboard one weekend a month and for two straight weeks once a year. Though USS Adroit
as a reserve training ship does not deploy overseas, she has operated from Canadian
waters to the Caribbean.
Life aboard a minesweeper is different from that found among other Navy ships. The
reduced crew size and close quarters make for a tightly-knit organization. The men spend
much of their time training for minesweeping operations, a specialized skill not found in
other Navy ships. The ship itself is unique. Her size is much smaller than destroyer class
ships and she is made almost entirely of wood. Most of the metals aboard have
non-magnetic properties, with others being very strictly controlled.
Due to her construction, the ship is usually very uncomfortable at sea. The special
conditions found aboard minesweepers truly make USS Adroit's crew members
"Iron Men in Wooden Ships!"