Lubbock Avalanche Journal in Lubbock, Texas

Navy Carrier Constellation Supports Gulf Action

Two Lubbock seamen, John E. Story Sr and James A. Smerud, serve aboard the USS Constellation, an attack carrier aiding retaliatory measures in the Gulf of Tonkin. The ship, a floating air base off Southeast Asia, houses over 80 aircraft and a crew exceeding 4,000, capable of more than 600 miles daily at speeds up to 4 kn. It is joined by AFROTC cadets in summer camp at Webb, while 2nd Lt Gene L. Stephens, 23, completes armor officer training at Ft. Knox and returns to Radford High in Hawaii.