Page 68 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2022 - Online Magazine
P. 68
Teddy Assiter Floydada Boy on the
U.S.S. Princeton
by Larry Williams
trained in the legal the latest electronic equipment
and communications for locating submarines) and
office and assigned HO4S Helicopters.” At 888 feet
to the 3rd Battalion long, the ship could carry 90-100
because I could aircraft. The eight-month cruise
type fast. One of the gave Ted the opportunity to see
officers there, Lt. much of the Far East – a far cry
Cameron Standish, from the dusty fields of West
wanted seagoing Texas.
duty and needed a
supply sergeant. I was In the latter months of 1955, the
promoted to corporal, Princeton was used for filming
and we were assigned the WWII naval movie, Battle
to the carrier U.S.S. Stations, starring Richard Boone
Princeton, CVS-37 and William Bendix. It sailed
of the 5th Carrier out of San Diego on January 5,
Division.” The ship, 1956. “We sailed to Pearl Harbor,
built in 1945, had not Hawaii, and from there we went
seen any action in to Yokosuka, Japan. They let us
WWII, but she was (the Marines) go up on the bridge
re-commissioned in and watch the Navy planes land
August 1950. Pilots on deck. We were in charge of the
from the Princeton brig (a holding cell for offenders)
flew the last mission and manned the (Bofors) 40mm
against North Korea gun. Our detachment was called
before the truce on upon many times for honor
July 27, 1953. guard duty. I even witnessed
and-loving Teddy Assiter When Corp. Assiter joined the one burial at sea; it was very
moving. There were only 54
was born in Crosby
LCounty, Texas on August Princeton as part of the Seventh Marines on board, and I was one
of only three sergeants; I was the
Division Marine Detachment, the
27, 1933, to Thomas and Anne ship had been converted to an supply sergeant. The Navy had
Margaret Assiter. Thomas, a anti-submarine warfare carrier. around 3500 men on board. We
WWI veteran and farmer, died “The ship was
when Ted was only 12 years old. the flagship
He attended school in Floydada of Carrier
where he played football and Division 17
baseball. He graduated in May under Rear
1950 and spent some time at Admiral Lester
Wayland Baptist University in Rice, part of
Plainview and McMurry College a large force
in Abilene.
known as a
Like many young men, Ted Hunter-Killer
wanted to see the world. He (HUK) Task
joined the Marine Corps on Force and
January 17, 1954. “I was sent to carried SF2
Camp Pendleton near San Diego Sentinel planes
for basic training. I was then (which carried
68 Lubbock Senior Link
