Ashland (LSD 48) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 120 of the 1993 volume:

m , ' ' m. •i i SHEL with til the die deliven liistoric lioiiors MdiiBt CRBl MOTH Heiii ' ( lliesiip istoda. SYMBOLISM SHIELD: Red. white and blue are our National colors. Dark blue and gold are the colors traditionally associated with the Navy and symbolize the sea and excellence. The stars commemorate the seven battle stars awarded for World War II service to the previous ASHLAND. The wavy division of the shield highlights the shoreline while the chevron simulates the prow of a ship, alluding to the LSD ' s theater of operations and amphibious mission of delivering forces ashore. The pale, or vertical bar, .suggests the numeral 1 , honoring the previous ASHLAND s historic role as the first ship in the LSD class. The palm stands for victory and emphasizes LSD 1 ' s service and honors in the Pacific. The Mameluke, together with the gold palm on the red background, suggest the Marine force and underscores cooperation and military preparedness. CREST: The bald eagle upon a fasces symbolizes the distinguished American Statesman, Henry Clay, and his vital magisterial role in the United States Congress and the development of our country. LSD 48 is named in honor of Ashland, the Kentucky estate of Henry Clay. Our national bird embodies the tenets of liberty and freedom with majesty and strength. The wreath of laurel conveys honor and achievement. MOTTO: Deliver Liberty Defend Freedom exemplifies the spirit and the strength of character of the honorable Henry Clay. It clearly illustrates the mission and capabilities of the combined Navy Marine Corps team for which the ship was designed. It epitomizes the strength, drive and courage that has made our country the proud nation it is today. SHIP ' S MISSION ASHLAND (LSD 48) is the eighth and last ship of the WHIDBEY ISLAND (LSD 41) Class ships to be commissioned. The keel was laid down on 4 April 1988 at New Orleans. Louisiana, by Avondale Industries. Incorporated and launched on 1 1 November 1988 by the ship ' s sponsor. Mrs. Kathleen Foley, wife of ADM S. R. Foley Jr. (Ret). The ship takes its name from ASHLAND, the Kentucky home of Henry Clay, one of our nation ' s greatest statesmen. It w as designed by noted architect Benjamin H. Latrobe. Latrobe was appointed surveyor for the United States Government in 1 80. by President Thomas Jefferson. Located in Lexington, KY. ASHLAND, now a historical site was named tor the profusion ot ash trees on the Clay Estate. Landing Ship Dock (LSD 48 ) will be the second ship ever to beiir the name ASHLAND. The lust ship to bear the name of ASHLAND was LSD- 1. built by the Moore Drydock Co. at Oakland. California in 1942, The ship earned seven battle stars during impressive service in World War II. After the war. she was decommissioned in March 144(x recommissioned in December 1950 due to the outbreak of the Korean contlicl and decommissioned again in Non ember 1 4(.g, at which time her name was struck from the Navy ' s list of ships. The mission of ASHLAND (LSD 48) is to transport Marines with their combat equipment lo designated areas the world, and then to launch and support assault landing craft and helicopters during amphibious operations agi shores. ASHLAND carries the new Landing Craft Air Cushion vehicles (LCAC). LCACs are non-displacement ass; craft capable of exceeding 40 knots while carrying a 60 ton pay load. Using this versatile new craft, the ship is able an amphibious assault against a wider range of beaches at distances which before were not operationally leasibk designated a Landing Ship Dock (LSD), ASHLAND accomplishes her mission through the use of a well deck u hic to recover and launch landinu craft. After leaving the ship, the assault craft are directed towards the shore in the slii information Center (CIC). A 440 foot well deck capable of holding four LCACs, a flight deck able lo land and I two CH-S. ' helicopters, the Navy latest diesel propulsion and engineering technology. ad anced communicaiion systems. 20 and 60 ton cranes, expanded repair facilities, complete medical antl denial taciliiics. ami troop ivriiinu dations for over .500 embarked Marines, make ASHLAND the leading edge of amplubions uarfare ni llic nmetie throughinit linst hostile ault landing to caiT out :.Offic ' ially h is Hooded ijVs Combat aunch up to ibai I THE ASHLAND ESTATE ■ This LANDING SHIP DOCK lakes its name from ASHLAND, the Kentueisy home of Henry Clay, one of our nation ' s greatest statesmen. Besides being an historical site, ASHLAND is an architectural gem. It was designed by Benjamin H. Latrobe, a noted architect. Latrobe was appointed surveyor for the United States Government in 1 803 by President Thomas Jefferson. He rebuilt our capitol at Washington after it was burnt by the British during the War of 1 8 1 2. His works are monumental such as Statutory Hall, the Senate Chamber and the Supreme Court Building. ASHLAND is one of the grand homes he designed and named for the profusion of ash trees on the Clay Estate. Set back from the road among the trees planted by Henry Clay, the two-story mass of this great brick house is flanged by one-story wings. The main entrance projects in a form of a bay; the single doorway has a half-circle fanlight and plain molded architrave and cornice. The Paladin window above is accentuated by a small eaves pediment that relieves the straight cornice line of the roof. Beside the house is a thick grove of pine trees and the path Henry Clay liked to pace as he composed his speeches. The glory of ASHLAND is its parklike grounds, the grove of ash and locust trees, the green lawn, the carefully placed dogwood, rosebud and other flowering trees and shnibs. and the fomial garden behind the mansion. It makes the entire scene inviting to the visitor. Clay entertained the Marquis de Lafayette and virtually all prominent politicians of his time. Noted travelers from abroad were frequent guests at ASHLAND. The furnishings of the mansion as described by a visitor combined comfort and simple elegance. There were gold brocaded silk draperies, sofas and china brought from Lyon, France after Clay signed the Treaty of Ghent which ended the War of 1812. There is a huge canopied bed in which Clay slept. It was covered with a silk quilt made by the admiring Ladies of Philadelphia . Portraits of Clay by Kentucky artist Matthew Harris Jouett and G. P. A. Healy and a marble bust sculptured by Joel T. Hart are treasured items. Today, most of the furniture used by the Clays remains in the mansion. Clay stocked his farm with horses. Hereford cattle. Durham bulls and cows from England. From Malta, Spain and France he imported donkeys and sheep and made ASHLAND one of the finest farms of its day. The name ASHLAND and Clay are synonymous with determination. The creation of this magnificent estate where there was once a wilderness is an enduring monument to American enterprise and perseverance during a period when our nation was expanding westward. LSD 48, like LSD- 1 , bears a name rich and indelible in American history. Appropriately it is a proud name for an equally proud ship of our United States Navy. (J -« USS ASHLAND (LSD 1) ASHLAND (LSD-I) had her keel laid on 22 June 1942 at Oakland. Calif., by the Moore Drydock Company, was launched on 21 December 1942 and finally commissioned on 5 June 1943. Following two months of sea trials, the dock landing ship loaded amphibious craft and personnel at San Diego. CA. and then headed out to sea. Over the course of the next two and a half years, from 1 1 August. 1943 until January. 1946. USS ASHLAND took part in several amphibious exercises and assaults throughout the Western Pacific serving as a troop transport and small boat repair ship. On 23 January. 1944. she sortied with Task Force 52 for the assault on the Marshall Islands. ASHLAND was directly involved in the assaults on Kwajalein Island and Eniwetok and several of the other small islands which would soon become major supply and fuel depots for friendly forces. After a period of availability in Pearl Harbor and several training exercises in Hawaiian waters, the ship sailed away on 29 May for the initial assault on the Marianas. She launched boats for the invasion on Saipan on 15 June and then assumed duties as a repair ship. On 24 July. ASHLAND took part in the invasion of Tinian. In the fall of 1 944. ASHLAND was assigned to Task Force 79 and prepared for the invasion of the Philippines where she took pan in the assaults against Leyte and Luzon. The following year, she launched her boats against Iwo Jima on 1 9 l-ebruar . Despite continuing air attacks. ASHLAND ' s crew carried out repair work on schedule until she finally withdrew to Hniwelok on 31 March. Throughout the rest of the war. she continued transporting troops and supplies to other locations like Kcrama Retto and Okinawa. After the end oi the war on 1 5 August. ASHLAND conluiued her duly of carrying ami lending landing craft in the Far Fast until January 1946. Shortly thereafter she returned to the United States and was placed out of commission, in reser e. in March 1946 at San Diego. ASHLAND earned seven battle stars for services rendered during World War II. Throughout her initial years of service, she proved the versatility and nexibilily of the dock landing ship concept. mm. i ' ASHLAND was recommissioned on 27 December 1950 and completed her shakedown training in February 1951. In April, she sailed for the east coast where her first assignment was Operation Bluejay, held in conjunction with the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS). The next several years consisted of a number of major underway periods including a deployment to Greenland and several lengthy operations in the Caribbean as well as the North Atlantic. A notable highlight occurred in September, 1953, when she took two French submarines and seven French naval personnel on board for transpor- tation to the west coast. The vessel transited the Panama Canal on 10 October, deposited her cargo and passengers at San Diego and then returned to Norfolk in October to resume service along the east coast. On 1 November, 1956, ASHLAND was transferred to the control of Commander, Naval Air Forces, Atlantic, for alter- ations enabling the ship to tend aircraft. By July 1957, she was configured to handle six P5M2 aircraft. At the conclusion of a deployment to the Caribbean, she was decommissioned for a second time on 14 September 1957 and placed in the Norfolk Group of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. On 29 November 1961, ASHLAND was recommissioned. Assigned to Amphibious Squadron 4. she began a routine of alternating between local east coast operations and 6th Fleet deployments to the Mediterranean and Caribbean. In October 1964, she participated in Operation Steel Pike, the largest amphibious assault staged in peacetime up to that point, where she served as a primary control vessel and boat repair ship. In March, 1966. she conducted numerous amphibious landings in the Caribbean, including Operation Beachtime , a landing which involved over 40 ships of the 2nd Fleet. Then in Januar ' 1968, she deployed to the Mediterranean where she took part in the NATO Exercise Dawn Patrol which involved naval forces of France and Greece. On 12 November 1968, ASHLAND weighed anchor for what proved to be her last Mediterranean tour. During the deployment, she repeated her routine of amphibious landing exercises and port visits before returning to the United States in mid- 1969. There, it was found that the repairs she needed to continue efficient operation would be prohibitively expensive. Therefore, ASHLAND was decommissioned on 22 November 1969. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 25 November 1969, and she was sold to N. W. Kennedy, Ltd., of Vancouver, British Columbia in May 1970. CAPTAIN DOUGLAS W. KEITH, U.S. NAVY COMMANDING OFFICER USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) I i ' T Captain Douglas Wayne Keith was J| born in Los Angeles, California, and m hB_% grew up in Southern California. He H| | _|_|| graduated and received his commission B BH through the NROTC program at the , m. University of Southern California. Upon commissioning, he reported to USS ORIS KAN Y (CVA 34) as a CIC Watch Officer and Ship ' s Weapons Coordinator. In July of 1974 he was ordered to USS SCHOFIELD ( FFG 3 ) as CIC officer, remaining there until Spring of 1976. From SCHOFIELD, Captain Keith was ordered to an Exchange Officer billet as an instruc- tor at the Canadian Forces Fleet School in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. That tour was followed by the Department Head curriculum at Surface Warfare Schools Command in Newport. Rhode Island. Upon graduation he served as Operations Officer on USS RICHARD E. BYRD (DDG 23) from February 1979 to December 1980. From December 1980 to September 1982, he served as First Lieutenant on USS PORTLAND (LSD 37). In September 1982, Captain Keith was assigned to the Naval Military Personnel Command for duty as the Surface Warfare Officer LCDR Detailer He entered the surface command pipeline in Jul ' 1984 and assumed command of USS ARIES (PHM 5), homeported in Key West. Florida. He served as Commanding Officer until November 1986. Upon relief he reported to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations for duty as a program analyst for Space and Command and Control (C3) programs in the Program Resource Appraisal Branch (OP 81). In August 1988, Captain Keith attended the National Defense University ' s Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF) and participated in a cooperative degree program with George Washington University, receiving his masters degree in Public Administration in the field of National Resource Management. Upon completion of ICAF, Captain Keith entered the command pipeline once again to report on site during construction and fitting out of ASHLAND (LSD 48). She was placed in commission May 9, 1992 in New Orleans and Captain Keith assumed command as the ship ' s first Commanding Officer Shortly after commissioning, the ship participated in Hurricane Andrew relief operations as part of Joint Task Force Andrew in both the Bahamas and Southern Florida. Captain Keith ' s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal witii gold slar. tlie Navy ( ' onuiiendalion Modal w illi goki star, the Navy Meritorious Unit Citation and various other campaign and seivicc awartls. Captain Keith is married to the former Diana Lee Caulfield of West Covina. C ' aliloinia. riie and iheir llnvc children - Christopher, Scott, and Carly Anne — reside in Northern Virginia. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JOHN CHRISTOPHER LEGG, U.S. NAVY EXECUTIVE OFFICER USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) Lieutenant Commander Legg was born in Syracuse. New York, on 15 October 1958. He graduated from Skaneateles Central High School in 1976 and was accepted at the University of Rochester and the Navy ROTC program. Lieutenant Commander Legg graduated with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Psychology and was commissioned in May 1980. He was assigned to the Surface Warfare Officer School Command, Newport, Rhode Island. After graduating from the Surface Warfare Officer School Basic course in October 1980. Lieutenant Commander Legg attended Damage Control Assistant School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before reporting to USS HARLAN COUNTY (LST 1196) homeported in Little Creek, Virginia, where he served as Damage Control Assistant and Electrical Auxiliaries Officer. During this tour he qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer. Lieutenant Commander Legg transferred in August 1983 to the Surface Warfare Officer School Command as an instructor and Division Head at the Division Officer School, serving there until December 1986. Lieutenant Commander Legg graduated from the Department Head course in August 1987. He was assigned to L SS CONNOLE ( FF 1 056 ) as Chief Engineer until March 1 990, completing his Command-at-Sea qualifications. He then reported to the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, completing the ten-month resident course at the College of Naval Command and Staff earning its Master of Arts Degree in National Security Policy and a Master of Science Degree in Management at Salva Regina College. Lieutenant Commander Legg then attended the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk. Virginia, prior to reporting in July 1991 as Joint Duty Officer, United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission, Advance Secretariat, Panmunjom, Korea. He served in this billet until July 1992, when he reported to Surface Warfare Officers School Command. Newport. Rhode Island, for the Prospective Executive Officer course of instruction. Lieutenant Commander Legg has been assigned as Executive Officer. USS ASHLAND (LSD 48). since December 1992. Lieutenant Commander Legg is authorized to wear the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, and various other campaign and service awards. Lieutenant Commander Legg is married to Nancy J. Thomas. They reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with their daughter, Courtney and son, Brendan. COMMAND MASTER CHIEF KEITH L. ROHNERT MASTER CHIEF MACHINERY REPAIRMAN (SURFACE WARFARE) UNITED STATES NAVY Master Chief Machinery Repairman (Surface Warfare) Rohnert was raised in Whittier, California, and joined the Navy after graduating from Whittier High School in 1965. After completing Machinery Repairman A school he served a one year tour at Naval Station. Midway Island. He next served in the Inside Machine Shop on USS HECTOR (AR 7) until he separated at his expiration of active obligated service in 1968. After returning to active duty in 1969, Master Chief Rohnert served on board USS CADMUS ( AR 14) until 1971 This was followed with a tour on board USS SIMON LAKE ( AR 33) working m both the Inside and Outside Machme Shops. In 1 976 he received orders to the Navy ' s Nuclear Power Unit at Ballston Spa. New York, and was assigned to the Maintenance Group as an Instructor Machinist. In 1979 he s. --. f J J to COMPETENT ( AFDM 6) and served as Repair Officer, Dock Master and Command Senior Chief. In 1983 he reported to Navy Recruiting District. Louisville. Kentucky, and served as the Western Zone Supervisor in EvansvUle Indiana. In Ma 1986 Master Chief Rohnert reported aboard USS SPRUANCE (DD 963) as Command Master Chief. He completed the Enlisted Tactical Action Course (ETAC) in 1987 and the Senior Enlisted Academy in 1991. In January 1991 he reported to Precom Det ASHLAND (LSD 48) tor duty as Command Master Chief. His awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (gold star) a nd the Navy achievement Medal (gold star). Master Chief Rohnert is mamed to the former Kathenne Ann Schuster of Bergenfield. New Jersey. The ' ha e two daughters. Elizabeth and Amy. and one son. Curtis. EDWIN D. ANDERSON MASTER CHIEF ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN (SURFACE WARFARE) UNITED STATES NAVY Master Chief Electronic Technician (Surface Warfare) Edwin D. Anderson was bom in Slocomb. Alabama. After graduating from Slocomb High School, he joined the United States Navy in September. 1965. He attended recruit training at Great Lakes Recruit Training Center. Illinois. After completing recruit training, he reported aboard USS STODDARD (DD 566). homeported in San Diego, CA. After leaving STODDARD, he attended Electronics Technician A School in Great Lakes, and was then assigned to USS ALGOL (LKA 54) as an Electronics Technician, Third Class. He returned to Great Lakes again to attend Electronics Technician B School. Upon completion, he was assigned to USS MOUNT WHITNEY (LCC 20) in January, 1972. His next assignment was the pre-commissioning unit for USS SPRUANCE (DD 963). the first of the SPRUANCE Class destroyers. During this tour he was advanced to Electronics Technician. First Class. In 1976 he transferred to the OLIVER HAZARD PERRY (FFG 7) Land-Based Test Center in Ronkonkoma. NY. where he assisted in developing the combat systems for the PERRY class of Fast Frigates. He was advanced to Chief Petty Officer during this tour. Master Chief Anderson returned to sea on the pre-commissioning unit for USS KIDD (DDG 993). During this period he was selected by DESRON 10 to deploy with USS STUMP (DD 978) during their Persian Gulf Deployment. His next assignment was the pre-commissioning detachment for COMPHIBRON 12. in duties including Combat Systems Officer. First Lieutenant. Assistant Combat Systems Readiness Officer and EMO. During this period he was promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer. Following these duties, he reported aboard USS SHREVEPORT ( LPD 1 2 ), where he was selected for advancement to Master Chief After completing his tour on SHREVEPORT. he reported aboard USS BRISCOE (DD 977) in July. 1990. where he served as LCPO for Combat Systems. Electronics Materials officer, and Command Master chief He transferred to USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) in November. 1993, to assume the duties of Command Master Chief His awards include the Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal (7), National Defense Medal (2). Sea Service Ribbon (6), Battle E (5). Southwest Asia Medal and Meritorious Unit Commendation (2). Master Chief Anderson is married to the former Dorothy M. Frey of Marion, children: his sons, Dewey A. and Ryan M., and a daughter, Rene D. He is the father of three Departing Little Creek Hope to s you soon! L, n . Colors uf riB«l Mf Marine Onload JTG-93 Right: uss AMERICA r: ' - V, ! , fe -— = CAPT Keith can ' t hide his excitement as ASHLAND is underway. USS SAVANNAH J - 7: -A I Iff KMti . d3 Poised and alert, waiting for the word go to spring into action. A brief moment of relaxation before operations resume. Left: Another dav, another Helo. i HELO OPS Refueling OPS • ■ • ' 5 , K ' -• . f l i 9 Wet Well OPS Marine OPS Marine OPS Masters of camouflage. The Marines have disguised this 155 mm Howitzer as a crane while passing themselves off a mechanics. .-gnM «! ■ liSL- iJk; Marines on the beach during dynamic guard. All this for a lost contact lens . and 1 want you guys to know I ' ll be behind you all the way. No comment. Marine OPS Mom! Marine OPS Yes. this is definitely Crossing the Line Gosh. I hope this won ' t muss my hair. Slimy wog no longer!  u ' ll j;et your ' s, l)iiddj I Time for a hearty breakfast! LT Sanford prepares for another serving of wojj chow Shellback Initiation I i 1 I Snapshots B- - if Bw. ..-- j j m - T --....:.-. A toasi to the chef for the best invisible pasta in pAirope. ETl Merencilio stands proudly beside (what he thought was) his new boat. However, later on, CW()2 Lagessc had to explain to him that regardless of how much money he had given the SBl ' crew, the boat was still government property. steel Beach Pi cnic Izmir, Turkey Toulon, France Gerald McRainey arriving. French warships. Up, Up and Away! Wk wKt ' ! R I 1 K 1 H -% ' ' _ k yf DC2 Doug Morency attempts to conceal his extra set of eyes with his sunglasses. LSD 1 in the yards Barcelona, Spain ASHLAND in Napk t Naples, Italy Bosporus Dardanelles ( i ENS Zuleta and Il ' Danyluk painting the Childrens Hospital in Romanian officials were the guests at a reception in Constanta Romania. (No paint the wall not the camera) ASHLAND ' s wardroom. f..- :iiifii Above: 2000 Romanians visited ASHLAND in one day. Below: ASHLAND CO CAPT D. W. Keith lays a wreath at the monument to Romania ' s war dead. Students at an art school gave ASHLAND sailors a demonstration of folk dance s and songs. I Constanta, Romania ope The Op operatioi fareiel Operations Mission Ratings The Operations Department performs the functions of combat systems operations and coordination, communication. intelHgence. electronic war- fare. heHcopter and amphibious support. ELECTRONIC TECHNICIAN (ET) - maintains, repairs and caHbrates: radars, electronic communications, recognition and identification, navigation, test and support equipment. ELECTRONIC WARFARE TECHNICIAN (EW) - responsible for the detection, collection, location and classification of elec- tronic emissions. Additionally, they are responsible for acous- tic countermeasures. OPERATIONS SPECIALIST (OS) - responsible for the opera- tion, evaluation and dissemination of information derived from radar, communications and navigation equipment. RADIOMAN (RM) - responsible for the operation of radiotele- phones and teletypes, preparing messages for international and domestic commercial telegraph, and transmitting and receiving na al messaees. SIGNALMAN (SM) - responsible lu. .iiuinj; a, visual messages, encoding and decoding messages honors to passing vessels, and serving as lookouts for sending and recei ing conducting 1 D i V i s i n • ■ A A ' ? -(Jl A ' ' ' - S ' j. 1 lUl! f LT Klipp LT Keegan LT Higglns RMCS(SW) Johnson OSC Stafford SMC l irner {; ETC(SW) Boucher I RMC(SW) Whitt ETl Merencillo ET2 Celia ET3 Brunk ET3 Collins ET3 Conjelko ET3 King ET3 Snider ET3 Vincent ET3 Wood ET3 Yonilovich SMI MacDonald SMI Barnes SM2 Parker SM3 Dawkins SM3 Phillips SM3 Williamson SM3 Williams EWl Wood EW2 Westerman EW3 Washer fk c Q r% n ., i m jm k m 1 Division £mMA OS2 Agillard OS2 Reedom 052 Williams 053 Bonner OS2 Clements 052 Edgemon OS3Gregoire 053 Laranjeiro iMm OS3 Santiago OS3 Stauss OS3 Traxler RMl Keeton RM2 McMeans RM2 Page RM2 Steiner RM3 Keckley RM3 Oberman RM3 Roper RMSN Cope RMSN Threadgill Supply pf f • ft , J • jmif h |r jHk ll m% lu — 1 ! Bv ' 1 M !i i i9 te JMHp Hj p 1 IP nm Bfi 1 s LT Christenson LT.IG March DKl Begany SHI Munoz SHSN Ermeling Supply Mission Ratings t I he Supply Department is charged with providing complete support and services to the ship on a 24-hour-day basis. These services include pro- curement and slocking of consumable items and spare parts, payroll, food and support tor the crev . DISBURSING CLERK (DK) - responsible for preparation of payrolls, transportation entitlements, computation of travel al- lowances and maintenance of financial records and reports. MESS MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST (MS) - serve as cooks, bakers, caterers, and pastry chefs and are responsible for main- tenance of food service, preparation spaces and equipment. SHIP ' S SERVICEMAN (SH) - responsible for the ship ' s barber shop, ship ' s uniform stores, laundries, dry cleaning plants and managing the ship ' s store and associated vending equipment. STOREKEEPER (SK) - responsible for seeing that much needed stores are onboard - everything from clothing to machine parts to forms and food. I N A V ADMIN MSI Foote MSI Marttila MSI Rupert MSI Tessmer MS2 Gibson p - j SSSS T m . 1 1 WVm MM n g w f MS2 Stokes MS3 Akine MS3 Gut MS3 Inserra MA h a MS3 Roper MS3 Watkins MSSN Pulliam n A m M Navigation-Administrative IVIission Ratings The Navigation Adininistrali c Dcparlnicnl is rcspoiisiblo lor ihc safe navigation of the ASHLAND, efficient and meticulous mainte- nance of ship ' s and crews records, and postal and master-at-arms services. MASTER-AT-ARMS (MA) - responsible for the enforcement of good order and discipline, conducting investigations, taking part in correc- tional and rehabilitative programs, and organizing and training sailors assigned to police duties. NAVY COUNSELOR (NO - responsible for assessing interests, ap- titudes, abilities and personalities in order to provide career guidance to naval personnel. X i k PERSONNELMAN (PN) - responsible for keeping records up to date, preparing reports, typing letters, and maintaining files along with assisting crew members signments. and their families with lecal aid and reas- _ POSTAL CLERK (PC) - responsible for collecting po.stage due mail, preparing customs forms, collection and distribution of mail, money order and stamp sales, and maintaining up to date directory ser ice and locator files. QUARTERMASTER (QM) - responsib le for skilled open ocean navigation and coastal piloting, celestial observations, and mainte- nance of charts. na igation aids and ship ' s logs. YEOMAN (YN) - responsible for the written and t ped business and social correspondence, notices, directives, forms, and reports along with the maintenance of service records. N A V ADMIN f LT Sanford LCDR Aldrich MRCM Rohnert MACM Bonhomme QMCS Thayer QMC Page PNC Derrow NCI Adams QMl Kurek QMl Engstrand PN2 Tracey QM2 Beenian YN3 Dewalt YN3 Henry J03 McFadden PN3 Monk YN3 Walker YN3 Wells PNSN Forsythe QMSA Johnson . o n r r Medical and Dental Mission Ratings 1 he Medical and Denial Deparlnients are respi)nsiblc Ini pioMdmg health care, sanitation and emergency medical ser ices. DENTAL TFrHNICIAN (DT) - responsible tor ■•chair-side- laboratorv and administrati c duties. HOSPITAL CORPSMAN (HM) - responsible tor tirst aid. minor surgery, patient care and transportation, prescriptions, laboratory work and food service inspections. s fPP wf O LT Thompson LT Campbell HMCM Bailey DT2 Bentlev HM2 Harelson HM2 Knowles HM2 Morgan DT3 Durant Engineering l lission Ratings The Engineering Department is responsible for the operation and main- tenance of all propulsion, electrical, mechanical and auxiliary systems along with the maintenance of watertight integrity. DAMAGE CONTROLMAN (DC) - maintains and repairs ship ' s dam- age control, fire fighting and repair locker equipment. ELECTRICIAN ' S MATE (EM) - provides for the operation and re- pair of the ship ' s electrical powerplants, electrical equipment, distri- bution switchboards, generators and motors. ENGINEMAN (EN) - operation and maintenance of the ship ' s main propulsion diesel engines, ship ' s service diesel generators, refrigera- tion and air conditioning, distilling plants, boilers and all essential auxiliary support services for the ship. HULL MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN (HT) - maintains and re- pairs the ship ' s hull and fittings; fabricates, cuts and welds for main- tenance and repair to the ship. INTERIOR COMMUNICATIONS ELECTRICIAN (IC) - maintains and operates SITE TV, public address, interior communication, com- mercial telephones, navigation and gyrocompass systems. MACHINERY REPAIRMAN (MR) - operates machmmg equipmenl in order to make replacement parts for repair and t) erhaul of cimi- plex engineering, deck and auxiliary equipment. LT Williams LT Thomas KNCM White ENCS Benthin ENCS Hartley (k ENC Rathhurn ENC Morgan ENC Markul DCC Goodyear DCC Miller ENl Abplanald ENl Gladney ENl Lemaster ENl Jackson ENl Jacobs Bivarra Robinson Saurers Diepenbrock Jones ENl EN2 EN3 EN3 Stickle Beyer Durry Fussell Martin EN3 EN3 BT3 Moffitt Myers Perry Reitano ebb ' p ' ' EN3 Zuleta FN Bobo EN Grella EN Kidd ENFN Martin FN Reimschisel FA Hernandez FN Sanders FA Curtis FR Berrv FN3 Relj;stan EN3 Vann FN Berger FN Davis FA (Jroover .a ft a If J a FA Wilbanks DC ' l (ioldsboroujjh MRl Hanhart MR2 Houston DC2 Mac-Donald DC2 Morency DC2 Orason DC2 Sale DC2 Wood MR3 Caluguri DC3 Cline HT3 Colby DC3 Hendrickson DC3 Lewis HT3 Malonev f ' 1 DC3 Newcomer ' - HT3 Ricchiazzi m. DCFNDial v4 M FN Diaz 1 ' i FN Eaglin FA Honore FN Ramos SN Ricchiazzi HTFN Wages ICl Danvluk ICl Resconsin EM2 Dyroff EM2 Herr EM2 OsterhofT EM2 Poole IC2 Robertson EM2 Sisk EM2 Urquhart EM3 Burton IC3 Freeman EM3 Nickell EM3 Rockwell EM3 Rogers EM3 Roy EMFN Bolton EMFN Lewis ICFN Satterrield rs o n gM dA g gM rn « n MM MM MM Deck Mission Ratings The Deck Department is responsible for all deck seamanship, helicopter. Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC). and Marine em- barkation evolutions. In addition, it is responsible for anti-ship cruise missile defense and physical security. BOATSWAIN ' S MATE (BM) - maintain the ship, serve as steers- man, care for rigging and deck equipment and are responsible for all seamanship, tlight and well deck evolutions. GUNNER ' S MATE (GM) - operates and maintains all gunnery and maizazine svstems as well as associated onboard ordnance. FIRE CONTROL TECHNICIAN (EC) - operates and maintains the MK 15 Mod 2 Close in Weapons System (CIWS) as well as associ- ated ordnance. ttftf?HfWS-t P St LCDR Williams LTJG Teail LT Bend CW03 Barrs BMCM Poore FCC Johnson BMl Johnson BM2 Burks BM2 Stalllngs BM3 Farlett BM3 Landers BM3 Langley BM3 Mills BM3 Velaxco SR Berhow BMSN Boatwright SN Carr, Jr. BMSN Catterton SN Dean SN Faulkner SNGee SN Reams SN Regan SN Robinette BMSN Rodgers SA Williams BMl Murphy BM2 Rakes BM2 Williams BM3 Barnes I £U J2 § a a ft ( A f!5 dJkdM dm £m dk ft ft Q n BM3 Kozinski BM3 Zanotelli SN Canady SN Chism SN Gatewood SA Gray SN Kelly BMSN Meehan SN Spicer SN Tedford SA Thomas SN ' an Dorn GMGl Barlow GMGl Samms FC2 Schaefer FC3 Ewing FC3 Givens GMG3 Pettron GMG3 Wooten S B U - 2 amUZIsaLmmmmsmmm f J ' ' jfHj |r¥ L r ■- io GMG2 RiefTer EN2 Shaffer EN2 Silla F.N3 xMaves ENl KoneU MS2 Kienzle BM2 Kuriger SM3 Johnson EN3 Price SN Crutcher SN Hayes ENFN Petersen SA Salazar Beachmasters CW04 VVatzlavick BMC Weikle BMl Davison 5 W 4f ' JT ' ' ■ ' ' ' 6 ' ' : m- 4 r EN3 Boor SM3 Enger RM3 Hill CM2 Maner EN3 Smith EN3 Stafford SA Adkins EOCN Clarke SN Hoosier n ' RMSN Schenk SMSN Suarez SN Tiinning Awards Ceremony ik Bi Top: A Marine begins to hand — hardcore! Celebrity Mess Cooks Close-in weapon system. Die, wave. Die No more bang bang. o (D :. ' -. m Above: The 25nim crew. WL 4 Far right: Defense Offense i Hb -. ight: GMGl Samms doing his H Hfefl 1 _M r k thing. |HD Pi i mi JPPil Eit eI b:J ! IPW ' ■ M. r ' 7 ill n J Crew Ashore USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) PLAN OF THE DAY ' ' ■I f ra?tEffM-T 3fe TOMENTl ' W ' RETCHE vUNffOR FOLLOWS. LLON LWERSH TROL ' SERi lAPP 3.LEF 4.T-SE 5.SH0 FOR CROSSING THE LINE USE ONLY ALL WOGS ARE CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF READING THE POD CARRY OUT THE NORMAL UNDERWAY ROUTINE AS DELINEATED BY KING NEPTUNE OF THE RAGING MAIN EXCEPT AS MODIFIED BELOW: FRIDAY 5 NOVEMBER 1993 0400 - BREAKFAST FOR ALL LOYAL, TRUSIY SHELLBACKS 0430 - REVEILLE FOR ALL SLIMY WOGS 0500 - MUSTER ALL WOGS ON THE FOCSLE FOR LAST RITES AND BREAKFAST 0500 - DAVY JONES ARRIVES 0515 - ARRIVAL OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS NEPTUNES REX, RULER OF THE RAGING MAIN 53 - COMMENCE THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT 1200 - CLEAN UP SHIP NOTES AND ORDERS: 1 . THOUGHT FOR THE DAY : THE ONLY GOOD WOG IS AN INITIATED WOG. DAVY JONES 2 MISHAPS : A. WHILE UNDERWAY, WOGS SAILED TOO CLOSE TO EQUATOR AND SUFFERED THE THREE TB A TLOY FLU ALT CLEANSE n mi mm WLKNO RESPEQ B,.A. SLTiVIVE C.BE SIOMACL ewmys AREREU WRATH OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, NEPTUNUS REX, RULER OF THE RAGING MAIL. BRUISED RUMP, SHATTERED SPIRIT, RUPTURED TASTE BUDS AND OTHER AFFLICTIONS TOO SORDID TO MENTION WERE ONLY A SMATTERING OF INDIGNITIES HEAPED UPON THEIR WOEFUL SOULS AND WRETCHED SLIMY BODIES. 3: UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL WOGS: Till UNIFORM FOR ALL WOGS WHEN CROSSING i iiH LINE IS AS FOLLOWS: I. LONG KHAKI OR DUNGAREE OR CAMOUGLAGE TROUSERS SKIVVY SHORTS AND INSIDE OUT WITH UNDERSHIRT INSIDE OUT AND BACKWARDS. SKIVVY SHORTS MUST BE WORN BACKWARDS OUTSIDE THE TROUSERS. : APPROPRIATE FOOTWEAR ( NO SANDLES OR SHOWER SHOES ) . 3. LEFT PANTS LEG ROLLED UP TO ABOVE THE KNEE. 4. T-SHIRTS WILL HAVE A ONE FOOT HIGH. BLACK woe, STENCILLED ON BACK. 5. SHOWER SHOES SECURELY TAPED ON KNEES AND HAND PADS (OPTIONAL). 4. UNIFORM FOR SHELLBACKS ALL LOYAL. TRUSTY SHELLBACKS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CEREMONY IN APPROPRIATE COSTUMES OF THEIR OWN DESIGN. 5. HEALTH NOTE : SORRY WOGS. ITS A LITTLE LATE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR HEALTH. 6. WOG WATCHBILL: DON ' T WORRY ABOUT IT WOGS, WELL TELL YOU WHERE WE WANT YOU, WHEN WE WANT YOU . AND HOW WE WANT YOU DRESSED WHEN WE FEEL YOU NEED TO KNOW. 7. WOG DUTIES : A. SUBMIT YOURSELF TO KING NEPTUNE ' S COURT. B. OBEY ALL ORDERS ISSUED BY ANY LOYAL. TRUSTY SHELLBACK. C. ADHERE TO WOG UNIFORM REGS. D. KEEP A SENSE OF HUMOR. E. NEW SHELLBACKS ARE NOT TO TAKE PART IN THE INITIATION CEREMONY BUT MAY WATCH FROM THE 05 LEVEL ONCE THEY HAVE COMPLETED IT 8. SPECIAL CASES : ONLY THE ROYAL COURT CAN SEND A WOG BACK THROUGH THE LINE (MAXIMUM OF THREE TIMES. AS RECORDED BY THE ROYAL SCRIBE). BUT WILL ENTERTAIN THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF ANY LOYAL. TRUSTY SHELLBACK IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER. ALL LOYAL, TRUSTY SHELLBACK HAVE FULL AUTHORITY TO ALTER THE PROCEEDINGS SET FORTH AS THEY DEEM NECESSARY TO PROPERLY CLEANSE SPECIAL CASES . 9. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES: A. IMMEDIATELY ONE THE ARRIVAL OF KING NEPTUNE AND HIS ROYAL PARTY, POLLYWOGS WILL AS- SUME THE POSITION OF SUBMISSION AND HUMBLE RESPECT - ON YOUR SLIMY HANDS AND KNEES WITH YOUR NOSE ON DECK AND STERN IN THE AIR. THE ROYAL SHERIFF AND PIRATES WILL ENSURE THAT DUE RESPECT IS RENDERED. B. ANY WOG ATTEMPTING TO DOLE OUT PUNISHMENT TO A LOYAL, TRUSTY SHELLBACK WILL NOT SURVIVE A SECOND VISIT TO THE COURT. C. BE OF GOOD CHEER, LOWLY SCOREBUTIC WOG, FOR IF YOU BE OF HARDY STOCK AND OF STRONG STOMACH YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF AT DAYS END A LOYAL, TRUSTY SHELLBACK AND WISE OF THE SOL- EMN MYSTERIES OF THE ANCIENT ORDER OF THE DEER THAT IS, IF YOU DON ' T PERISH IN THE ATTEMPT AND ARE RELEGATED TO THE ROYAL COMPOST PILE. D. W. KEITH SENIOR SHELLBACK (NOT OLDEST) COMMANDING OFFICER M R E H E L MSSG ZZ arriving. P S Mk- nv ■ -,- ' mmms J fk w E L L P S Sni I I They ' ll be ai bvetlifui II O.K. one more time. You line up on the rijjht and go long, and you go up about 20 yards and cut across the middle. Beourjje 1 ] Snapshots They ' ll be armor plate or brownies — it depends how long I leave them in the oven. ; wi - Be our guest, be our guest, put our service to the test. Chillin ' in the castle I wish there were more days like this. If i llKurtk« Touring a castle in the sought of France. So is it swab the bulkhead and scrub the deck or . . . Mermaids! Where? li lirowBiifi] QMl Kurek with dungarees two J03 Dewalt. sizes too small. I indscnil) I --( Grown men at work. ' ' ' f A strangely garbed assassin prepares to pounce on GMG3 Evans. Force fed ex-lax. A Old boyscouts never die. They just join the The happy coinmitte Navy. Snapshots IVacc tliroiijjh hiiij;)). 1 When will it end The infinite evolution. The deck, the deck. Always the deck. Why tile a ship anyway? More Snapshots 4 T Hcrt r iA ENCPH w .s Survivors of Gator Fun-Ex L to R: LT Dennis Unruh, ENC Phillip V. Novarra, LT William L. Williams, LT John Thomas, ENC John F. Rathvun. Not a drv eve in the house. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. ,t i i I t ' t-. .1 iMy Far left: 2 squids and a guy with a black sweater. Left: Gimme five. Snapshots J.nd ' .iU I Another first for United States Marine It ' s a B.Y.O.C.L. beach party. (Hrlii Ihe Marines who eoiildn ' t fit on the Corps — a human pepperoni roll. your own jjrenade launcher) AA s decide to swim ashore. Copping a feel The Quad. H e I s Not another ball cap! and more snapshots... ' I r ,. ' ' .:, ' HW wM ;. .s igS B M Above: Bt ' in ; the true shipmate he is, DC3 Scott Hendreickson helps his friends back to the ship. i-, ilO P- ' T ' i Kt Wmmmmmimfmmsmmsmmmmi RS!, amm« i  Snapshots M The secret revealed — Navy chow is really Solent Green! Needs a little more salt. r Napoleon ' ] Bogart NCI Adams trjing to cut in on PC2 Jones ' SRB. IT Saiilord j;rati ' liill aiKiio lido ' s soiiii ' lulpt ' iil tips lr( N3 IKwalt. wm esm Christmas in Naples Stop! Don ' t break that branch. It ' s a national treasure, not to mention a $500 fine. I mm Around t h e world At Work P : k ji Dale Forsythe drags wounded Marine to safety as earthquake (JTG-93) rocks Toulon. ! l A s h r e 1 b mil ■f? Camounage — clad sailors of Beachniaster Unit Two. % I Below: I wish I would have joined the Spanish Navy. Ports The Crew i ' 1 1 . ' J % -- ' ■ ' ■ ■ SfeT ' l n nn nn nr i I tse m The Crew I m -.1- I Homecoming f 11911 % Waiting ends. Looking for Dad. «jO ' ■ ' « ' ,., « ft n. Rain and winds couldn ' t keep away the welcoming crowd. Homecoming P. ' The brow is now open. Looking towards home. miimmmmi tm« miwsma,mM, Tiger Cruise Kp « - liH iHciiiir - - - -■ — J ri|j| t jr% Mp wh Tiger Cruise MKi.mWhtR ' gaitfffBWW 1 ■f- V , Bottom kit: I ' ll eat the MRG ' N now and saw the boot for ' dinner. p fP - f ' - a i i Below, far rij-ht: Unused Navy recruitinn poster- rejected heeause of Marine in baekground. I thought these were one size fits all. At Work Babies 1 Andrew Scan Beeman Born Aug 9. 1993 Sean P. Beeman r Raymond Benjamin Louis Samms Born Aug 21, 1993 Scott Douglas Webb Born Sept 4, 1993 Gregory J. Webb Sapphire Indeneesia Henry Born Sept 2, 1993 Deon D. Henrv Keyiyah Auneigh Wells Born Sept 4, 1993 William T. Wells Unclaimed PPPPPPPPWH| I STATS PAGE HOW MUCH OF WHAT, AND HOW OFTEN, FOR USS ASHLAND DURING JTG-94 His 114,1993 TJVeBs FUEL USED: 9250 LUBE OIL: . 2190 LUBE OIL: POTABLE WATER: Jmm DEPLETED URANIUM FOR CIWS: 5min HIGH EXPLOSIVE: 25min TRAINING POINT, TRACER: .50 CALIBER MACHINE GUN 7.62iniii LINKED FOR M60 MACHINE GUN 7.62inin FOR M-14 RIFLE 7.62iTiin M-14 RIFLE GRENADE .45 CALIBER FOR M1911A1 PISTOL SUPERARBOC (CHAFF): MK 58 SMOKE FLOATS: SIGNAL FLARE (RED STAR) SIGNAL FLARE (GREEN): SIGNAL FLARE (RED): SIGNAL FLARE (WHITE): TOTAL VISITS TO MEDICAL: 1,191 USN 742 USMC TOTAL VISITS FOR COMMON COLD: 236 TOTAL NUMBER OF SHOTS GIVEN: 1,005 TOTAL NUMBER OF X-RAYS TAKEN: 162 TOTAL NUMBER OF LAB TESTS RUN: 253 MARS (MILITARY AFFILUTE RADIO SYSTEM) 2 ROUNDS 1,200 ROUNDS MARS CALLS ATTEMPTED: 649 MARS CALLS COMPLETED: 273 NUMBER OF MINUTES TALKED TO LOVED ONES: 1,365 MINUTES 20 August: Off the east coast of the United states gather the ships of the AMERICA Joint Tasi Group (JTG) and the GUADAL- CANAL Marine Amphibious Ready Group (MARG), including USS ASHLAND (LSD 48). USS GUADAL- CANAL (LPH 7). on it ' s final deployment, leads ASHLAND and USS SHREVEPORT ( LPD 1 2 ) in carrying a Marine Amphibious Ready Group. AMERICA JTG is led by the aircraft carrier USS AMERICA (CV 66). cruisers USS NORMANDY (CG 60) and USS MONTEREY (CG 61). destroyers USS SCOTT (DDG 995) and USS THORN (DD 988). and the fast frigates USS BOONE (FFG 28) and US S SIM PSON (FFG 56). Supporting these ships for the next six months will be the replenishment oiler USS SAVANNAH (AOR 4) and the ammunition ship USS BUTTE (AE 27). Completing the force, always there but rarely seen, is the submarine USS GROTON (SSN 694). This deployment is only the second time a Joint Task Group has deployed with a MARG, to create a multi-mission task force. 06 September: Arriving at Rota, Spain on the 25th of August, on their maiden deployment, the crew of the USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) eagerly await experiencing new sights and sounds at their first of many ports of call. Having left their lamilies, friends and homes just two short weeks earlier. ASHLAND completed an Atlanlic transit with other ships of (he USS AMERICA (CV 66) Joint Task Group. The transit culminated with a Passing of the Watch from the detaching battle group, stores and supplies onload, equip- ment upkeep and normal ship routine. Along with that demanding sched- ule, the crew managed to participate in several MARG (Marine Amphibious Ready Group) athletic events with ASHLAND capturing the softball title and placing 1st and 2nd place in the 5k nm. Additionally, several members of the crew took advantage of tours provided by MWR. Visiting surrounding cities afforded the crew the opportunity to purchase souvenirs and gifts for loved ones back home. The 1st of September found ASHLAND departing Rota for Spanish Phiblex 2-93. A joint American- Spanish amphibious exercise on the southwestern coast of Spain. The conclusion of Spanish Phiblex 293 will see ASHLAND sailing into the Mediter- ranean as an intregal part of the AMERICA JTG. 13 September: Having completed Spanish Phiblex 2-93, USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) .sailed from Sierra de Retin training anchorage enroute to the Adriatic Sea Transiting through the Straits of Gibraltar, the crew was afforded the opportunity to capture a piece of the rock on film and video. In ancient times the straits were known as liie Pillars of Hercules, because of the location of Mount Abyla across the straits on the north African coast. This area marked the eml of the known world. I .egend holds that Hercules split open the land briiige connecting liie conlinents of liurope and Afiica. allowinu access to the sea and the fabled island of Atlantis. Enroute to the Adriatic, where it will be assisting in the United Nations Protection Forces (UNPROFOR) in the former Yugoslavia, ASHLAND continued a busy schedule that included weapons familiarization firings, training on naval rights and responsibilities, and a two-day safety stand down, where the crew drilled on general safety procedures. 27 September: The amphibious assault ship USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) departed Izmir, Turkey on September 19, after a three days port visit where ASHLAND ' s crew toured the historic Turkish city, sampling the local cuisine, visiting bazaars and local historical sights. ASHLAND departed Izmir and set course for the southern coast of Turkey to take part in Operation Dynamic Guard 3-93, a multinational exerci.se involving units from Italy, Turkey and Spain, as well as U.S. forces. ASHLAND, along with USS GUADALCANAL (LPH-7), and the Italian assault carrier SAB MARCOS, supported a multinational amphibious landing at Doganbey, Turkey, near the site of the historic Gallipoili landings of World War One. In a joint landing at Saros Bay, Turkey, the units oi D namic Guard 3-93 practiced coordination with the forces of other natiims, in mine- sweeping operations, fligiil operations and troop landings. As part ol tiuil .oov- dination, ASHLAND c;uTied an obser er from the Turkish Air Force, part of the multinational coordination that is the On a im .ASIII.ANDIiok personal sivcial lunch messdecks honoring crewmembers who have become fathers in September, the first full month of the cruise. A cake cutting ceremony honored the crewmen for their service during this separation from their families. Among the Marine contingent on ASHLAND, the first Marine reenlistment ever held on ASHLAND took place on the starboard bridge wing, as Marine Sgt Donald R. Berry of Alfa Company. Battalion Landing Team 1 8. 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) took the oath of reenlistment. 03 October: Having completed participation in Dynamic Guard 3-93. with a successful backload of 22 MEU Marines and equipment. USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) sailed south to rendezvous with USNS BIG HORN and USS BUTTE in the southern Aegean. Several NATO ships joined together conducting vertical replenishment, connected replenishment and refueling at sea simultaneously. A blue-green team effort by the Sailors and Marines of ASHLAND, the crews of BIG HORN and BUTTE, and the aircrews ensured safe completion of the twelve-hour evolution. After replenishment. ASHLAND detached to proceed independently to the Black Sea for port visits to Constanta. Romania: Varna. Bulgaria: and Istanbul. Turkey. Transiting the Dardanelle and Bosporus straits was a first for ASHLAND as well as many members of the crew. Sailing through the heart of Istanbul provided many unforgettable sights. First stop: Constanta. Romania. ASHLAND arrived at noon on the 2nd of October, receiving honors from Romanian naval units inport. ASHLAND moored pierside at the inner harbor, and was welcomed by the Romanian naval band and a group of well-wishers. Later that afternoon. ASHLAND ' S Commanding Officer. Captain D. W. Keith, accompanied by an ASHLAND Honor and Color guard of Sailors and Marines had the privilege of laying a wreath at Constanta ' s military cemetery, honoring Romania ' s war dead. Captain Keith also paid official calls on the Romanian Navy CNO. the Prefect and the Mayor of Constanta. That evening, a reception was hosted by the commander of the Romanian Navy officially welcoming ASHLAND to Constanta. A better understanding of our two navies and nations was fostered at this meeting. ASHLAND Sailors and Marines took the opportunity to further enhance relations with the local community and our nations by volunteering for community relations projects. The volunteers assisted in repairing and repainting the childrens ward at the local hospital. Other activities included athletic events between ASHLAND and Romanian Sailors and Marines, further fostering goodwill. Tours of castles, including the famed Dracula castle at Bran, were held in the picturesque countryside of Transylvania, and shopping and touring in Constanta. ASHLAND crewmembers were impressed by the friendliness and warmth of the Romanian people and will have many fond memories from the Latin soul of the Balkans:. 10 October: ' Just a few years ago. this visit may not have been possible. Today, sailors of both Navies become ambassadors of goodwill. said Admiral Anghelescu of the Romanian Navy, during a reception held on board the amphibious assault ship USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) during the occasion of ASHLAND ' s port visit to Constanta, Romania. Also in attendance was the commander of the Romanian Naval Infantry and senior Romanian civil officials. During the four day port call. ASHLAND Commanding Officer Captain D. W. Keith and other ASHLAND officers toured a Romanian mine layer and frigate, learning firsthand the capabilities of their Romanian counterparts. ASHLAND reciprocated by conducting tours for Romanian officers and exchanging souvenirs and experiences. Sailors and embarked Marines engaged in numerous athletic competitions with cadets from the Romanian naval academy and hosted them on board to demonstrate Marine amphibious capabilities. Over two thousand Romanians toured ASHLAND. ASHLAND crewmembers spent a day instructing Romanian school children in the finer points of traditional American sports: baseball, football and basketball. DT3 Washington commented The children caught on very quickly, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. CW()4( SW) C. E. Watzlavic of Beachmaster Unit 2 and ASHLAND ' s own ETC(SW) Richard T. Boucher played a guitar and sang in the cultural exchange with the students. To show their appreciation, the students treated over two hundred crewmembers to a demonstration of Romanian folk dancing by the students at their school. ASHLAND departed Constanta. Romania Oct. 6. and was enroute to Varna, Bulgaria when the situation in Somalia required ASHLAND ' s assistance. Within 72 hours, ASHLAND changed course, transitted the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits for the second time in a week, engaged in underway and vertical replenishment with USS BUTTE, enroute to transit the Suez Canal, joining U.S. Naval units off the coast of Somalia in support of Operation Restore Hope. ASHLAND sails with USS GUADALCANAL (LPH 7) and USS SHREVEPORT (LPD 12), standing by to respond at a moments notice as a quick reaction force for operations ashore. 17 October: USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) began its first week of service in Operation Restore Hope with its initial transit of the Suez Canal. During the transit, ASHLAND Sailors and Marines participated in a Run for Fun , jogging on the flight deck for the entire transit. Ten teams ran 19,014 laps, the equivalent of 950 miles. ASHLAND then joined the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72) battle group off the coast of Somalia. Both ASHLAND and LINCOLN are on their first Indian Ocean deployments. ASHLAND and it ' s four hundred marines are part of the reinforcements sent to Somalia by President Clinton to bolster the United Nations and U.S. Forces involved in Operation Restore Hope, standing by to respond to any situation that occurs in Somalia. While waiting the call to action, day to day life on ASHLAND continues. Weapons training was held lor the Marines and Sailors on board, while the Marines lue being briefed and immunized should they be called on to go ashore. On the lighter side, a party was held on ASHLAND ' s mess decks to celebrate the Navy ' s birthday on October 13th. ASHLAND Commanding Officer Captain D. W. Keith spoke to the crew on the Navy ' s continuing mission and the importance of our mission off Somalia, and cut the Navy ' s birthday cake with assistance from the youngest, PNSA Dale Forsythe, and the oldest, SH 1 Paul Munoz, sailors on board ASHLAND. On October 15th, a second party celebrated ASHLAND personnel who had children born recently, or whose birthday fell in October. The week closed with an ice cream sundae Sunday night as a break to a busy week of training and op- erations. On a more solemn note, a burial at sea was held on ASHLAND ' s stem gate on October 1 7. As hymns played and an honor guard fired salutes, the ashes of former Navy Gunners Mate Second Class Frank Shaputnik were scattered over the waves of the Indian Ocean by his son-in-law. Operations Specialist First Class Michael Mus.selman. GM2 Shaputnik served on a troop transport similar to ASHLAND during World War Two, participating in several pacific campaigns. 24 October: USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) began its second week of service in Operation Restore Hope as part of a show of force off Mogadishu, Somalia, including USS GUADALCANAL (LPH 7), USS SHREVEPORT (LPD 12), and Pacific Fleet USS NEW ORLEANS Amphibi- ous Ready Group and the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72) carrier battle group. During it ' s first full week in the Indian Ocean, ASHLAND practiced launching and recovering the Marine and Navy landing craft and amphibious vehicles in its 440 foot long, 50 foot wide well deck, which can be flooded to a depth of ten feet to ser e as a harbor for landing craft. On a solemn note, embarked Marines of Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1 8 held a memorial service for their fallen comrades marking the tenth anniversan,- of the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut on October 23, 1983. In formation on the flight deck of ASHLAND, Sailors and Marines were addressed by ASHLAND Commanding Officer Captain D. W. Keith and CO of Troops Captain A. K. Dixon, on the close ties between the Navy and the Marine Corps, and the continuing mission of both. During the ceremony, a Marine honor guard fired volleys while the landing craft normally embarked on ASHLAND steamed in formation, both as training and as a living symbol of the Navy Marine Corps team. The week ended with a Sunday afternoon Steel Beach Picnic on ASHLAND. In a break from the busy training schedule of the last few weeks. Sailors and embarked Marines ate chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers and steaks grilled by ASHLAND officers. Picnick- ing crewmembers also played basketball, while schools of dolphins kept pace with ASHLAND. 31 October: 1 he earh luoniine calm was siiatlcrcd wilii liie oice of Daw ones booming over the 1 MC, ihivatcnu : ihc uninitiated among the crew w ho iared eiiUux- inio ills domain. In the finest naval tiaditii)n, this scene was played out on ASHLAND as she crossed the equator for the first time on October 25th. The rest of the days saw ASHLAND crewmenibers who claimed to be Shellbacks frantically searching forproof of their crossing into the realm of Davy Jones, and the Wogs pondering their fate. Even in today ' s hi-tech Navy, time is set aside to partici- pate in this ancient seafaring tradition. The actual initiation ceremony had to be postponed until ASHLAND completes her tour on the line off Somalia. Shipboard routine, flight quarters, engineering drills, and other operations went on as usual aboard ASHLAND, as part of days to day operations aboard a ship designed to function as a floating base of operations during amphibious landings. Really, it ' s no different from our normal training. said SK3 Fred Winer. We do all of these operations continuously, wherever we are. But it ' s strange to be doing this when we can look off the flight deck and see Mogadishu in the distance. When we came here, we were told we needed our weapons. said ET2 David J. S. Jones, of Little Creek ' s own special Boat Unit 20. In their thirty-foot rib boats, the desert-camouflage-clad sailors of SBU 20 have sailed within 500 feet of the Somali coast during normal operations. We were told it was a hostile coast, but the army had all the areas we saw under control. It ' s been pretty quiet for us, which is good, because this isn ' t Hollywood. The bad guys don ' t always miss. We just stay ready. Sometimes it ' s nice to be bored. As ASHLAND ' S third week off Somalia came to a close, ASHLAND Sailors and Marines celebrated Hallow- een with a steel beach picnic, bingo, and ice cream sundaes on the mess decks. Thoughts of children in costumes trick or treating on chilly October nights were brought to mind in the heat of the Indian Ocean. Unfortunately, this Halloween wasn ' t lull of tricks or treats for the Sail- ors and Marines of ASHLAND, but realizing the importance of our mission makes our sacrifices and those of our fellow servicemen and women ashore worthwhiie. 07 November: Davy Jones and King Neptune mled aboard USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) on November Fifth, as the Shellbacks of ASHLAND initiated the Pollywogs among ASHLAND ' s crew and embarked Marines into their ancient order. The Slimly Wogs had to crawl from stem to stern of the 609-foot-long ship as the Trusty Shellbacks sprayed them with fire hoses, sent them crawling through water hazards, and challenged them with the other rituals of the shellback. Their trials done, the (exhausted, wet and de-slimed) former wogs were presented to King Neptune and his Royal Court, having proved by their endurance that they were fit to be inducted into the Royal order of the Shellback . It was all harmless fun, part of a naval tradition known as Crossing the Line , a ritual celebrated whenever a ship crosses the equator. Those aboard the ship who have crossed the equator are known as Trusty Shellbacks , and are true seafarers. Those who have not crossed the equator, regardless of rank or years of service, are Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs . The ritual began with a Wog Revolt where the Pollywogs played pranks and practical jokes on the Shellbacks , who quickly suppressed this mutiny despite being outnumbered nearly 10 to 1. The shellbacks chose a King Neptune , Davy Jones and a full royal court from their number, then made up elaborate costumes and difficult (but safe) tests for the initiation. In a ceremony that lasted for hours, the Pollywogs proved their worthiness to be shellbacks . They were quick studies in Wog swimming, and turned out to be very musical. said OS 1 Michael Foraker, a Crusty Shellback who went through his own initiation aboard USS Coral Sea (CV 43) in 1980. They learned new lyrics to old tunes, such as replacing Jingle Bells with Wog Wog Wog , while being spayed with water. Participation is voluntary for ail hands, and those who choose not to be a part conduct normal shipboard routine. Rank made no difference during the ceremony, with the senior Pollywog . ASHLAND Executive officer LCDR J. C. Legg, enduring the same trials as newly arrived seaman recruits. The event had a special meaning for LCDR Legg. My wife ' s father became a shellback during World War Two, recalls LCDR Legg. He was on board an amphibious assault ship als o. I never met him, but my wife has always had his Shellback certificate hanging from our w all. It made me feel closer to him. to go through the same ceremony. Two days earlier, in more con en- tional operations. ASHLAND turned routine maintenance into a training opportunity. ECU 1663 of ACU Two required underway maintenance and Beachmaster Unit Two LARC ' s needed to complete man overboard drills. Both events were incorporated into a welldeck launch from ASHLAND ' s 440 foot long well deck. Maiine Amphibious Armored Vehicles (AAV ' s) embarked on ASHLAND maneuvered in landing formations in sight of the Somali coast, where ASHLAND has spent the last month as part of a reserve of U.S. troops offshore. ASHLAND ' S mission accom- plished, the new and old Shellback Sail- ors and Marines of ASHLAND set their sights on Egypt as ASHLAND headed north. After a trans it of the Suez Canal, ASHLAND will be taking part in Operation Bright Star 94. training exer- cises with the Egyptian military. 14 November: USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) lowered its sterngate and launched it ' s Marines into the seas. First went the Amphibious Assault Vehicles, (AAV ' s), their diesels snorting as they drove off the sterngate and plunged into the waters of the Mediterranean, bobbing to the surface and plowing through the waves towards the distant shore. As more water poured into the well deck of ASHLAND, four-wheeled LARC ' s (Lighter, Amphibious Resupply, Cargo) carrying the desert-camouflage-clad sailors of Beachmaster Unit Two, plowed through the deepening waters on their balloon tires, plunging out the stem gate. Finally, the landing craft within ASHLAND began to float as the well deck became a harbor, complete with linehandlers casting off the mooring lines of the landing craft. ECU 1663. of Little Creek, Virginia ' s Assault Craft Unit Two, was the last amphibious craft into the water. Under the watchful eyes of safety boats launched from ASHLAND, the amphibious vehicles proceeded in formation to shore. The land of the Pharaohs and pyramids received new visitors this week, as the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22 MEU), embarked on the Atlantic Fleet ' s premier Gator, USS ASHLAND (LSD 48), departed ASHLAND ' s well deck and swam their landing craft and AAV ' s ashore to take part in Operation Bright Star 94, a joint exercise by U.S. and Egyptian sea, air, and land forces. ASHLAND is taking part in Bright Star 94 after four weeks of standing by off the coast of Somalia as part of the reserve in support of Operation Restore Hope. ASHLAND departed the Somali coast at the beginning of the week as part of the GUADALCANAL Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group. During it ' s transit north, ASHLAND engaged in fueling at sea with the USNS JOHN LENTHALL and made it ' s second tran- sit of the Suez Canal in one month. The Canal ' s a real experience, said LCPL Robert Dionne, a BET 1 8 Alfa Company Marine infantryman on his first deployment. On one side you could see houses and orchards and vegetation. On the other side, it would be desert. It made a big impression on me. During the transit. Sailors and embarked Marines took part in a run for fun , as representatives from each division on ASHLAND and the embarked Marine and Naval support element units ran laps around ASHLAND ' s tlight deck continuously. There was also a divisional and unit basketball competition held in ASHLAND ' s 440-foot long well deck. Just before the transit of the Canal. ASHLAND hosted a more formal ceremony, as the embarked Marines aboard ASHLAND celebrated the 2 1 8th birthday of the Marine Corps. A forma- tion of Marines and Sailors on ASHLAND ' s tlight deck was addressed by Commanding Officer of Troops Marine Captain A. X. King Dixon, and ASHLAND Commanding Officer Captain D. W. Keith, on the long history of the U.S. Marine Corps, and it ' s tradition in working with the Amphibi ous Navy. A birthday cake made for the celebration, was cut by Captain Dixon with the aid of the vount ' ost and oldest Marines on board. The senior Marine on board stood bye during the ceremony because he was a Sailor. ASHLAND ' s own SHI Paul Munoz served in the Marine Corps from 1966 to 1968. before joining the Navy and received his own slice of the birthday cake, having been a Marine before some of those present had even been born. Once a Marine, always a Marine. Supporting Marines landed ashore. ASHLAND closed the week anchored off the coast of Egypt, and served ice cream sundaes on Sunday on the ship ' s mess decks. Yet the Marines ashore, going through combat maneuvers on the same desert sands that Rommel once battled, are not forgotten on ASHLAND. Before, when we were off Mogadishu. I really worried, says SN Melvin D. Mitchell, of ASHLAND ' s dental depart- ment. We knew if we sent the Marines ashore, some of them might not be com- ing back. Now, we can send them ashore with no worries, and we know they ' re comins back. 28 November: Major Dad landed in Toulon. France, to visit the Sailors and embarked Marines of USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) this Thanksgiving. Television stai Gerald McRaney visited the Atlantic Fleet ' s premier amphibious warfare ship w hile ASHLAND spent Thanksgiving Day at the French port city. I ' d like to thank Vice Admiral Lope i ' ov extending this invitation to me. I ' d also like to tiiank liiose who were responsible for planning (ihis lour) for leaving the best for last. said Mr. McRaney. who is isiting Si ih Fleet units. The star ol the Iclcvision series Major Dad shook IuiikIs w uh W SMmmn mm ' « ' ' a™ Sailors and embarked Marines, and signed autographs on photos or. in one case, on a sailors cowboy hat. The visit was the climax of a Thanksgiving day on which the Sailors and embarked Marines of ASHLAND were treated to a full Thanksgiving meal with turkey, cranberry sauce and all the trimmings. This traditional American meal, served far from home, was a reminder of home after two months of service in Operation Restore Hope off Somalia and recently concluded exercise off Egypt. ASHLAND began this week by holding a Celebrity Mess Cook Night , a charity event in which crewmembers, by donating to the Combined Federal Campaign (CEC), can hire their favor- ite officer or chief to work in the ship ' s galley for a night. The winner of the competition was ETC(SW) Boucher, who spent the night cleaning pans and bowls in the galley deep sink, alongside the Executive officer. Good-natured fun for a good cause, Celebrity Mess Cook Night raised nearly $2,000 pledged to USO through CEC. The following day, ASHLAND en- tered port at Toulon, France. ASHLAND off-loaded the landing craft and Amphibi- ous Assault Vehicles ( AAV ' s) carried in the well deck. The AAV ' s landed at Ar- senal, Toulon, a French naval base, in preparation for an exercise with the French Army planned for next week. Exercises at Camp De Canjuers will give the men of Marine Expeditionary Unit 22 practice in mountain and winter warfare in the nearby Maures Mountains. After 48 consecutive days at sea, ASHLAND Sailors and embarked Marines were eager to see Toulon and the surrounding southern French countryside. Sailors and Marines enjoyed USO-sponsored tours of the Provence area, Paris, the Alps and nearby Monte Carlo. Many sampled local dishes and wines in the sidewalk cafes, or competed in a variety of amateur sporting events with other U.S. ships, French military teams, and teams from local schools. ASHLAND ' S first stop in France, it was also the first visit to France for many of the Sailors and embarked Marines, a welcomed stop on ASHLAND ' s first deployment. 19 December: Six bells are not nonnally rung for a visiting chaplain, but the chaplain visit- ing USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) wasn ' t just any chaplain. Rear Admiral (Upper Half) David White, the Navy ' s Chief of Chaplains, visited ASHLAND on the week before Christmas, while it was moored in Barcelona, Spain. ASHLAND Commanding Officer Captain D. W. Keith gave RADM White a tour of ASHLAND, last of the Whidbey Island class of Landing Ship Docks. I ' ve been in the Gator Navy before, said RADM White. I had a squadron of LST ' s at Guam, years ago. The LST ' s were designed to be used once and left on the beaches. They were never intended to be used for a long time, so habitability wasn ' t a real concern. The difference between tho.se ships and ASHLAND are night and day. This ship is quite a different configuration from anything else in the fleet. Our thought in being out here is to let the people in the fleet know that what they do is appreciated. They are not forgotten, said RADM White, a 26-year Navy veteran. There are a lot of people back home who care about the folks out here. I try to get that message out as much as I can. We visited four ships today, we ' re visiting another one tomorrow, and then we fly off to the next group of ships on our C- 12. I spend about five months out of the year on the road, making sure the word gets out to the fieet. ASHLAND was moored at Barcelona for four days, during which ASHLAND Sailors and embarked Marines toured this historic Spanish city, riding the cable car that passes high over the city, visiting the .stadium and athletic sites used for the 1992 Summer Olympics and touring the famous Monastery of the Holy Grail at Montserrat. A one-day ski trip to An- dorra in the nearby Pyrenees Mountains also drew many participants. A more solemn event drew many participants also, as Quartermaster Senior Chief (SW)Revin Thayer retired from the Navy on December 14. after 20 years of service. An ASHLAND plankowner, QMCS(SW) Thayer is the first person to retire from ASHLAND and leaves behind a Navigation Depart- ment that he trained and organized from scratch. He taught us everything, said QM2 Sean Beeman. who served under QMCS(SW) Thayer from ASHLAND ' S precommissioning detachment, through the challenging process of commission- ing, to ASHLAND ' s first Mediterranean deployment. We ' re all happy for him, and we wish him the best of luck, but we will miss him. As always, training continued throughout the port call, with ASHLAND achieving another first December 17 when, with the ship ' s officers standing by. Captain D. W. Keith placed the coveted Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) pin on LT Sean P. Higgins. An ASHLAND Plankowner. LT Higgins is the first officer to qualify for SWO on ASHLAND. The qualifica- tion was awarded after an exacting process of training, watchstanding and boards which all ASHLAND officers are pursuing during ASHLAND ' s busy operational schedule. With training continuing, ASHLAND proceeded west to Naples, where the Navy ' s premier amphibious gator will spend Christmas and New Year ' s. 26 December: Mount Vesuvius was in the distance and tlags were tlying in the breeze as forty crewmembers of Little Creek-based USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) were promoted to Petty Officer or the next rank of Petty Officer on December 24th. The promotions were not gifts, though they were awarded on Christmas Eve. They were the result of training and tests conducted during ASHLAND ' s Mediter- ranean deployment. The promotions were appreciated during this holiday spent far from home. It was kind of ironic, being frocked on Christmas Eve, said newly promoted BM3 Todd Faulkner. The snow was on the mountains, and it was a nice background. It would ' ve been nicer to be frocked at Little Creek, but if we couldn ' t be there. Naples is a good place for it. ASHLAND moored at Naples December 21st, beginning a two week visit to this southern Italian city, over the Christmas and New Years holiday. During the rest of this Christmas week, ASHLAND sailors and embarked Marines toured the city and surrounding areas. One of the largest tours went to Rome for the Christmas Midnight Mass at the Vatican. There, under ceilings painted by Michelangelo, Sailors and Marines listened to Pope John Paul M ' s Christmas message as the leader of the Catholic church said mass, it was an incredible experience, said ETl Juan Merencillo. We were right behind the altar, and we could see everything. I felt like I was dreaming. It affected every- one the same way. Other tours included an on again off again ski trip to the Italian mountains. Originally the trip was cancelled due to a lack of snow, but a late snowfall made the tour a possibility again. Weather also affected ASHLAND at it ' s moorings, as hig h winds and rough seas rocked the eight-story tall LSD. ASHLAND ' s hard- working deck division was called out late at night on the 23rd to rig more mooring lines as seas roughened. Neither weather nor distance from home prevented Christmas however. At midnight on the 24th, word was passed that Kris Kringle was arriving. The next day. some lucky ASHLAND Sailors and embarked Marines dined with local families, while the rest of the crew ate a deluxe Christmas dinner complete with turkey, ham, eggnog, and 45 boxes of Christmas cookies sent to ASHLAND by the students and faculty of Worthington Elementary near ASHLAND Kentucky, and Bourbon High School of Paris, Kentucky. Worthington Elementary has been adopted by ASHLAND as part of a Partnership of Excellence program be- tween the crew of ASHLAND and the students. Hard driving individuals once again forge history on board USS ASHLAND. Cpl. Michael Hauptly. assigned to the ship ' s deployment of Amphibious As- sault Vehicles, was awarded the coveted Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) decoration on Christmas Eve. Cpl. Hauptly absorbed the entire cumcu- lum in just over four months. Knowledge of a variety of subjects such as amphibi- ous operations, weapons, engineering, administration and flight operations is needed to attain ESWS status. m Widsivitilh I ' lihlisluNii (kiiujMiiiy 05 February: A voyage of firsts came to an end February 5th. as USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) returned to Little Creek. VA. from a six-month deployment to the Mediterra- nean. A crowd of several hundred rela- tives and friends braved freezing winds and rain to welcome ASHLAND back from it ' s initial deployment. During this first deployment. ASHLAND took part in United Nations Operation Restore Hope, off the coast of Somalia. Opera- tions Provide Promise and Deny Flight in the Adriatic, and a series of exercises with US and NATO ships, including Bright Star off the coast of Egypt, and Dynamic Guard in Turkey. While going through these operations. ASHLAND made it ' s first passages through histori- cal waterways such as the Suez Canal, the Bosporus and Dardanelles, the Straits of Messina and the Straits of Gibraltar. The 8th and last of the Whidbey Island class of LSD ' s, during this maiden de- ployment. ASHLAND made port calls in Rota and Barcelona. Spain: Toulon. France: Izmir. Turkey: Constanta. Ro- mania: and Naples. Italy. A favorite stop for many of the ASHLAND crew was Contanta, Roma- nia. I ' ve been to all the other ports we visited on the deployment before. said EM2 James Poole. This was the first time I ' d ever been there. I like being at sea so long as I ' m going somev here i e never been before. For me. that ' s what the Navy is all about. While visiting Constanta. Romania. ASHLAND hosted Admiral Anghelescu of the Romanian Navy, who toasted the ship and it ' s crew. ' Just a few years ago, this visit may not have been possible. said Admiral Anghelescu. commenting on the visit to this formerly communist country. Today, sailors of both na ies become ambassadors of goodwill. ASHLAND spent Thanksgiving in Toulon. France, w here it was visited by Major Dad star Geralil McRane . Christmas and New Year ' s were spent in Naples. Italy. The deployment was not only the tlrst tor ASHLAND, but for many of it ' s crew. On its first deployment. ASHLAND made it ' s first transits of the Suez Canal, the Bosporus and Dardanelles, and the Straits of Gibraltar. ASHLAND also took part in the ancient nautical tradition of Crossing the Line , commemorating it ' s first time crossing the equator. For the crew, crossing the line is celebrated by a ceremony where any sailors who have not crossed the equator, known as Pollywogs . are de- clared Shellbacks , or true sailors after the crossing. My knees still hurt from the shellbacking, said PNSN Dale Forsythe. whose work during the deploy- ment earned him a Navy Achievement Medal. None of us expected to go that far south. It was all done in fun. but 1 think I earned my Shellback . Although the crew appreciated travel, homecoming was eagerly antici- pated. Everybody was happy to be com- ing home, especially the new fathers. said EN3 Darcey Beyer, himself return- ing from his initial deployment. I took a sea and anchor station for a guy whose family was on the pier. It was incredible how many people were out there, even though the weather was pretty bad. But once the brow was open, nobody cared about the weather. With it ' s initial deplo yment com- pleted. ASHLAND now becomes a vet- eran ship, part of the Navy ' s From the Sea strategy. Carrying on the traditions of the Gator Navy and of the first ASHLAND (LSD 1). the first Landing Ship. Dock. ASHLAND has come of age. As Winston Churchill said, during the war in which the first ASHLAND was built. This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is the end of the beginnins. Why, come today so full of tears of weary hearts and unknown fears. Why, come today with heavy hearts, when on a glorious journey I start. Yes, my friends I know you grieve, for surely I too did not want to leave. But we must accept the blessed truth, that God sometimes takes us in our youth. Dear Friends, your memories you keep, of our happy moments and never weep, be happy and strong willed and you ' II get through your strife. For I am with you in both spirit and soul. So in this hour of despair and grief, cling to God ' s word and you ' ll find relief. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name ' s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. -Hi ♦ .1 Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave Who bidd ' st the mighty ocean deep, It ' s own appointed limits keep, Oh hear us when we cry to thee, For those in peril on the sea. God, who dost still the restless foam, Protect the ones we love at home. Provide that they should always be, By Thine own Grace, both safe and free Oh Father, hear us when we pray, For those we love, so far away. Eternal Father, grant, we pray. To all Marines both night and day. The Courage, Honor, Strength and Skill Their land to serve, thy law fulfill. Be Thou the shield forevermore. From every peril to the Corps. Oh Father, King of earth and sea. We dedicate this ship to Thee. In Faith, we send her on her way: In Faith, to Thee, we humbly pray. Oh hear from Heaven, our Sailor ' s cry, And watch and guard her from on high! ixmKa jias ' S ' ii fVrS ' SSS M