Bataan (LHD 5) - Naval Cruise Book

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Colonel Walter E. Gaskin was born in Savannah, -•Georgia on May 8. 195 1 . He graduated from Savan- nah State University NROTC Scholarship Program with a r Bachelor of Science in 1974. He later earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma in 1: 1992. He was commissioned a second lieutenant on June 2, 1974. After graduation from The Basic School, he was - assigned to the Second Marine Division where he served as a rifle platoon commander and executive officer for Com- pany K, 106 Recoilless Rifle Platoon Commander in Third Battalion, Second Marines. II In May 1977, he reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. where he served as a series commander, executive officer and commanding officer of h Company F, Second Recruit Training Battalion. In 1980, he was assigned as the Marine Officer Instructor at the NROTC Unit, Savannah State University until ordered to Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, Va. in 1983. In July 1984, Colonel Gaskin joined First Battal- ion, Second Marines where he served as the Battalion Operations Officer. He was subsequently selected to attend the U.S. Army Command and Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in July 1986. From 1987 until 1990, Colonel Gaskin served as an action officer at Headquarters. U.S. Marine Corps and Marine Co:ps Combat Development Command in charge of Unit Environmental Training Programs (jungle, cold weather and combined arms exercises). In 1990, he was assigned to the Combined Forces Command, Seoul, Korea where he served as head. Ground Forces Branch, Opera- tions Division. In July 1992. he reported to II Marine Expeditionary Force where he served as Current Opera- tions Action Officer and Operations Officer for II MEF (Forward) during the planning and excution of Battle Griffin Exercise in Norway. In July 1993, Colonel Gaskin attended the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks. Carlisle. Penn. After graduation in June 1994, he was assigned as the Executive Officer, Sixth Marine Regiment, Second Marine Division. In April 1995. he assumed command of Second Battalion, Second Marines. In January 1996, he deployed with Battalion Landing Team 2 2 as part of the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Mediterranean Sea for a Landing Force Sixth Fleet deployment. During that deployment, he participated in Operation Assured Response and Quick Response in defense of American Embassies in Liberia and the Central African Republic. From September 1996 to July 1998, Colonel Gaskin served as the Ground Colonels ' Monitor at Head- quarters. U.S. Marine Corps. Colonel Gaskin served as Head, Expeditionary s V Colonel Walter E. Gaskin Commander 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Operations, Operations Division. II MEF in from August 1998 until he assumed command of the 22d Marine Expedi- tionary Unit in January 1999. His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with combat ' V, ' Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal. Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars in lieu of 2 ' ' and 3 ' awards. Navy and Marine Corps Achieve- ment Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon. Colonel Gaskin is married to the former Dora Hall of New Orleans, La. and has four children.

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vm ' Commander Amphibious Squadron Six - Nebraska. A Navy junior, he graduated from West Springfield High School, Virginia in 1970, and then attended the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1974, with a Bach- elor If Science Degree in General Engineering. He the reported to the USS LANG (FF 1060) where he served from September 1974, to December 1976, as Main Propulsion Assistant, completing two deployments to the Western Pacific and qualifying as a Surface Warfare Officer. Captain Jasper then began flight training, receiving his wings and designation as a Naval Aviation on July 1978. Captain jasper underwent A-7E Corsair II fleet readiness training at VA-174, NAS Cecil Field, Florida reporting to the VA-1 2 Flying Ubangis on board the USS I DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) in April 1979. ] completed one Indian Ocean and two Mediterranean deployments during this tour, accumulating 400 IKE traps. His next tour of duty was a flight instructor with V 4 in Pensacola, Florida from August 1 982 through May 1 985. In July 1 985 Captain Jasper reported to the VA- 1 Z Flying Eagles for A-7E refresher training. He then I reported tot he VA-I47 Argonauts for his Department Head tour which included Around the World deploy- ment on board USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63) in 1 987. Captain Jasper was then assigned to the staff of Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet as the Light Attack Strike Fighter Training and Readiness Office from August 1988 until June 1990. This period was the introduction of the FA-18C Night Attack program, and development of the joint AIRPAC AIRLANT Training anc Readiness Manual. After FA- 1 8 transition training with VFA-I25, Captain Jasper reported to the VFA-1 13 Sting- . ers as Executive Officer in January 1991. Captain Jasper assumed command of VFA-1 13 in May 1992. During his command the Stingers earned the 1992 Chief of Naval Operations Safety and extended its unprecedented safety record ro over 19 years and 83,000 mishap free flight hours. He reprted to the Naval War College as a student in March 1994 and graduated in Marc 1995, earning a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. Captain Jasper and his family traveled to Sasebo, Japan in September 1995, where he commanded the USS DUBUQUE (LPD-8) as part of the Seventh Fleet Forward Deployed Naval Forces until April 1997. Captain Jasper assumed his current duties as Com- mander, Amphibious Squadron SIX in 16 October 1998. Captain Jasper ' s decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, two Navy Commendatins Medals, two Navy Achievement Medals and other campaign and unit awards. He is married tot he former Rosemary Berman of San Diego, California. They reside with their children, Emily, Andrew, and Philip, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. •mi. mdmM

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