Ashland (LSD 48) - Naval Cruise Book

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Captain Richard L. Diddams Jr., USMC Captain Diddams was born on March 22, 1962 in Oak Park, Illinois. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in June 1984 and served in the reserves until his discharge in 1985 to attend Officer Candidate School. In 1985, Captain Diddams graduated from John Brown University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Civil Engineering. In February 1 986 he was commis- sioned a Second Lieutenant and sent to The Basic School and Infantry Officers Course. Captain Diddams was then ordered to 1st Battalion. 9th Marines and .served consecu- tively as a platoon commander, adjutant H S company executive officer. STA platoon commander and rifle company executive officer. Upon completion of this Fleet Marine Force tour, Captain Diddams was sent to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. California where he served from January 1990 until March 1991 as a Series Commander for Golf Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion and as Aide-de- Camp to the Commanding General. Marine Corps Recaiit Depot and Western Recruiting Region from April 1991 to December 1992. Capain Diddams was then reassigned to the Infantry Officers Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, from which he graduated with honors in June 1993 and remained on station as the Assistant Marine Corps Representative until November 1993. His next assignment was with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines as the Commanding Officer Company E from November 1993 until December 1994. During this period. Captain Diddams participated in Operations Support Democracy and Uphold Democracy. In December 1994 he commanded Headquarters and Service Company in 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines until his current reassignment as the Commanding Officer for Company D, Marine Forces Unitas in January 1995. His decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of second award and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Captain Diddams is married to the former Valerie Rathbun of Tuscon, Arizona. They have two children, Joshua and Laura.

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Lieutenant Colonel Cletis R. Davis, USMC Lieutenant Colonel Davis was born December 6, 1950 in Lake City, Arkansas and attended school in the Lake City public schools. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in May of 1969 and served until January of 1974 with the 5th, 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions in California, the Republic of Vietnam and North Carolina. After his release from active duty in 1974, Lieutenant Colonel Davis attended Arkansas State University and received a Bachelors of Science degree in General Business in 1977. He was then commis- sioned and ordered to The Basic School and Officers Course which he completed in 1978. He was then ordered to the First Marine Brigade in Hawaii, where he served with the 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines until 1982. While assigned to the 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines he served consecu- tively as rifle and weapons platoon commander, rifle company execu- tive officer, assistant BLT logistics officer and Commanding Officer Company G. Upon completion of this Fleet Marine Force tour. Lieutenant Colonel Davis was sent to Marine Recruiting Station, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where he served from February 1982 until November 1984. He served in the billets of operations and executive officer during his recruiting tour. In November 1984, Lieutenant Colonel Davis was reassigned to the Infantry Officers Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Georgia from which he graduated in 1985. His next assignment was with the 3rd Battalion 9th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Lieutenant Colonel Davis served with the 3rd Battalion 9th Marines from June 1985 until December 1987. His assignments while with this battalion were as assistant regimental operations officer, battalion logisitics officer, battalion executive officer and Commanding Officer Company K. After this Fleet Marine Force tour. Lieutenant Colonel Davis was ordered to USS WISCONSIN (BB-64) tor duty as the Commanding Officer, Marine Detachment. He assumed this billet in February 1988 and relinquished command in June 1989 with subsequent assignment to MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina. He initially reported to the Recruit Training Regiment for duty as a series commander and then battalion executive officer. Lieutenant Colonel Davis also served with the recruiting service once again as the operations officer for the Eastern Recruiting Region and as assistant Chief of Staff, recruiting. During 1 99 1 , he served TAD with the I MEF during Operation Desert Stomi in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. In July 1992 Lieutenant Colonel Davis was reassigned to the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia. Upon graduation in 1993, he was ordered to the 3rd Battalion 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division for duty as operations and executive officer. During his tour with the 3rd Battalion 6th Marines the unit provided the ground combat element for the United States forces retrograde from Somalia and participated in contingency opera- tions off the coast of Haiti and in the Adriatic Sea. He assumed command of II MEF Marine Forces Unitas on 19 January 1995. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal. Navy Achievenment Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon. Lieutenant Colonel Davis is married to the former Heather Joy Moss of Geraldton, Western Australia. They have two children: Adrienne, 9, and Cameron, 7.

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