Aubrey Fitch (FFG 34) - Naval Cruise Book

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SYMBOLISM MW, W 0 ff X sw A Sz QW f W X wg! , , ., SHIELD: The blue colors suggest the sky and the sea in allusion to naval aviation. The stars refer to the highest rank achieved by Admiral Aubrey Fitch. The gold area in base refers to a phase of the Battle of the Coral Sea in which Admiral Fitch was the first American Air Admiral to engage the Japanese in the first decisive naval battle in history to be fought entirely by aircraft, without a shot being exchanged by surface ships. This action was decisive in that it halted the enemy's southern conquestp therefore it is symbolized by a weapon of ancient times which was strewn on the ground to halt the advance of cavalry The symbol also refers to the other events in the Admiral's distinguished career: he once commanded the USS Langley the first American aircraft carrierp when the Iapanese struck Pearl Harbor he took Carrier Division One from the West Coast of the United States and penetrated deep into enemy waters. CREST: The shape of the waves was suggested by the design of the Distinguished Service Medal which was awarded twice to Admiral Fitch during his career. The winged trident and open book refer to his appointment as the first naval airman as superintendent of the Naval Academy and the propeller is placed on the book to denote he was instru- mental in the establishment of the Department of Aeronautics during his administration. The propeller also refers to the Army Distinguished Flying Cross Awarded to Admiral Fitch. The gold cross patonce represents the appointment as Honorary Knight in the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, one of the many foreign decorations with which Admiral Fitch was honored.

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V 5 -X ff J W! xX V Mxxxxxtitt.. yy , 'v IHIINX COMMANDING OFFICER COMMANDER ROBERT L. SWEENEY, III UNITED STATES NAVY Commander Sweeney graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy in 1975 with a bachelor of science degree in Systems Engineering. Receiv- ing his surface warfare designation aboard USS RANGER CCV 61j. He saved as Second Division Officer and Assistant Damage Control Assistant. Following the Surface Warfare Department Head Course, Commander Sweeney served in USS OLIVER HAZARD PERRY CFFG 75 as Ship Control Officer and later as Combat Systems Officer. His other sea duty assignments include Operations Officer on the staff of Commander Destroyer Squadron EIGHT. Assistant Surface Operations Officer on the staff of Commander Carrier Group EIGHT and Executive Officer in USS IOHN HALL CFFG 325. Commander Sweeney's shore assignments include flag Lieutenant to the Commander Surface Forces Atlantic Fleet, Sea Coordinator for Surface Iimior Officer Assignments in the Naval Military Personnel Command, and Manpower Analyst in the Secretary of the Navy's Office of Program Appraisal. In 1991 he completed a masters of science degree in Operations Research from the George Washington University and is an Operations Analysis subspecialist. His awards include two Meritorious Service Medals, three Navy Commendation Medals, and the Navy Achievement Medal. Commander Sweeney is married to the former Cynthia Marie Divens. Their four children are Corirme, Catherine, Robert, and Christine.