In my grandfather’s possession was a 1946 Christmas Dinner menu from the USS Toledo (CA-133) heavy cruiser. The ship was commissioned at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on October 27, 1946. I’m not sure if my grandfather attended the event but most likely acquired the menu as a souvenir somehow.

U.S.S. Toledo (CA-133)

The USS Toledo (CA-133), a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser laid down in 1943 and launched in May 1945, was commissioned on October 27, 1946—over a year after the end of World War II—and thus saw no combat service during the war, though it later supported postwar occupation duties in the Pacific and earned five battle stars in the Korean War.

1946 Christmas Dinner Hosts​

  • Captain A. J. Detzer, USN (Commanding Officer): Captain August J. Detzer, Jr., was the first commanding officer of the USS Toledo (CA-133), taking command upon its commissioning on October 27, 1946, at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. A career Navy officer with service dating back to World War I (as a midshipman on USS Maine), he held various commands during WWII, including destroyers and attack transports, and played a key role in postwar operations like the “Magic Carpet” repatriation of veterans. Links: Wikipedia – USS Toledo, U.S. Navy History – Toledo (CA-133), NHHC Biographical File
  • Commander C. T. Straub, USN (Executive Officer): Limited public information is available on Commander C. T. Straub, who served as the executive officer (second-in-command) during the USS Toledo’s early commissioning period in 1946–1947. No detailed biographical records or further service highlights were found in open Navy archives for this specific officer. Links: (General ship history) NavSource – USS Toledo
  • Lieutenant T. R. Wallace, USN (Supply Officer): Little detailed public information exists on Lieutenant T. R. Wallace, who served as the supply officer responsible for logistics, provisions, and materiel aboard the newly commissioned USS Toledo in late 1946. Supply officers in this era managed critical shipboard resources during the postwar transition. Links: (General Navy personnel research) NHHC Navy Personnel Guide
  • Acting Pay Clerk J. M. Lalley, USN (Commissary Officer): No specific biographical details were located for Acting Pay Clerk J. M. Lalley, who handled commissary (food service and stores) duties on the USS Toledo in 1946. This was a warrant or enlisted specialist role focused on crew provisioning during the holiday menu period. Links: (General ship crew resources) HullNumber – USS Toledo Crew
  • L. A. Gambino, CCS(PA), USN (Commissary Steward): Information on Chief Commissary Steward (Public Address or equivalent rating) L. A. Gambino is scarce in public records; he assisted in commissary operations, helping organize meals like the 1946 Christmas dinner for the crew. Links: (General Navy site for Toledo crew) NavySite.de – USS Toledo Crew List