Gary Luerding was aboard Lipan from 1956 to 1959, directly from high school, and in 1999 hailed from O'Brien, Oregon. He left the navy "after growing up there", as he says, and joined the U.S. Army where he retired in 1976.

	Official U.S. Navy Photo taken while underway to Enewietok for Operation Redwing in 1956.
	Lipan tied up at Pearl Harbor sometime around 1956/1957 probably Alpha Piers.
	Towing ARD29 to the Aleutians in 1959.
	Brand new USS Ranger CVA 61 in January 1959.
	Going up the Columbia River with ARD29 in tow for the Aleutians in 1959.
	Photo of Gary sitting on the gunwhale at age 18 "waiting for a Boatswainmate to chew my butt for not turning-to", as he says.
	Standing Messenger of the Watch With Bennet (who was a QM striker). Notice the .45 caliber held to Gary's head? In background is possibly the ATF Tawakoni or Ute.
	Gary as a Phone-Talker during a damage control drill.
	Gary sitting on the Eels Anchor about 1959.
	Gary says this is the "Mess Hall". Must be Army-talk for the Mess Decks. The guy on the right is named Chulin.
	Gary at the helm.
	Early 1959 just before Gary left Lipan. "The Old Gang" on the Forecastle. 1st row is Hicks & Stafford. 2nd row is Hendrix & Gonzalez. 3rd row is Gary & Farkas.
	Crew swinging the launch over the side to assist an injured crewman aboard the SS Ocean Seaman.  His leg injury had become gangrene and they had no medic aboard.
	Basso BM1 with his hand on the lanyard to the Pelican Hook as he directs the operation.
	The launch is over the side and being lowered.
	Whaleboat tied-off at the gunwhale and preparing to make trip to the merchant vessel.
	Merritt Gonzalez ready to release the Pelican Hook.
	The motor whaleboat in the water with the Ocean Seaman awaiting in the background.
	The crew reaches the Ocean Seaman and the injured sailor is lowered over the side to them.
	Closeup of Lipan's motor whaleboat alongside the SS Ocean Seaman, showing the stretcher being lowered.
	The whaleboat is hauled up with the injured seaman aboard.  Gary notes that the corpsman checked him out and the guy was placed in the Mess Decks until he was moved to the fantail under a tarp.
	Lieutenant  Donald L. Fitzgerald Commanding Officer USS Lipan from 1955-1957.  Circa 1956.
	Donald L. Fitzgerald Commanding Officer USS Lipan as he appeared as an Enlisted man.
	Donald L. Fitzgerald Commanding Officer USS Lipan from 1955-1957 and Mrs. Fitzgerald.  Circa 1999.