Jimmy Joe Barlar

Converted to a combined operations and communications headquarters ship, the Catoctin was re-commissioned January 24, 1944 (Commander Charles Owen Comp in command) and reported to Atlantic Fleet.

Shakedown complete, on March 5th, 1944 the Catoctin cleared Norfolk for Algiers, where she reported on March 19th as flagship for Commander, 8th Fleet. She remained at Algiers and later Oran until July 8th, when she sailed to Naples, Italy. On July 24th, at Naples, King George VI of England visited on board the ship. For several months, Catoctin had been the headquarters for the planning of the Invasion of Southern France, and on August 13th, she sailed from Naples for the assault, carrying Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal, and the commanders of the 7th Army, VI Corps, 12th Air Force, and French Naval Forces.

At early dawn of August 15, 1944, the Catoctin arrived in position off the assault beaches, and began her historic role as the heart of one of the most painstakingly planned, carefully coordinated, and magnificently executed amphibious assaults of the war-Operation Dragoon. From her antennas flashed the commands which controlled the activities of thousands of men, in ships, landing craft, and airplanes, ashore, afloat, and aloft. On August 18th, 6 of her crew were killed and 31 wounded by exploding shrapnel during a German air raid. Arriving at Toulon, France on September 9th, Catoctin greeted the return to France of the French fleet and General Charles de Gaulle on September15th. On September 25th, she cleared Toulon for Naples, her base for the remainder of the year.

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