Belleau Wood (LHA 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMAND AT SEA Only a seaman realizes to what extent an entire ship reflects the personality and ability of one individual, her Commanding Officer. To a landsman this is not understandable and at times it is even difficult for us to comprehend, but it is so! A ship at sea is a different world in herself and in consideration of the protracted and distant operations of the fleet units, the Navy must place great power, responsibility, and trust in the hands of those leaders chosen for command. In each ship there is one man who, in the hour of emergency or peril at sea, can turn to no other man. There is one alone who is ultimately responsible for the safe navigation, engi- neering performance, accurate gunfire and morale of his ship. He is the Commanding Of- ficer. He is the ship. This is the most difficult and demanding assignment in the Navy. There is not an instance during his tour as Commanding Officer that he can escape the grasp of command responsi- bility. His privileges in view of his obligations are almost ludicrously small; nevertheless, command is the spur which has given the Navy its great leaders. It is a duty which most richly deserves the highest, time honored title of the seagoing world ...CAPTAIN. Introduction

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BELLEAUWOOD COMMANDING OFFICERS CAPT. T.C. STEELE CAPT J.C.HAYES CAPT H.B. CHASE III CAPT F.R. DONOVAN CAPT CM. BARKER CAPT L.F. SCHRIEFER CAPT H.F. TAHANEY, JR. CAPT G.P. LOVE CAPT D.J. BRADT CAPT H.M. HIGHFILL CAPT J.W.TOWNES III CAPT F.R. RUEHE CAPT W.L. HARRIS, JR. 23 SEP 1978 - 8 JUL 1980 8 JUL 1980 - 24 APR 1982 24 APR 1982-1 AUG 1983 1 AUG 1983 - 31 JUL 1984 31 JUL 1984 -10 JUL 1986 19 JUL 1986 -11 DEC 1987 11 DEC 1987 - 19 JAN 1990 19 JAN 1990 -2 JUL 1991 2 JUL 1991 -6 JUL 1993 6 JUL 1993 - 27 JAN 1995 27 JAN 1995- 4 JUN 1996 4 JUN 1996 -9 JAN 1998 9 JAN 1998- Introduction

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James A. Hayes Comphibron Eleven A Chicago native, Captain Hayes attended Northwestern University where he received his commission via the regular Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 1971. His first assignment was as a Combat In- formation Officer in USS MADDOX (DD 731). His second tour of duty was in USS PARSONS (DDG 33), where he served as Navigator and Communi- cations Officer. In 1974, he was assigned to Service Schools Command, Great Lakes, work- ing in curriculum development at the Propulsion Engineering School. Re- turning to sea in 1977, he ser ' ed as Operations Officer in USS O ' CALLAHAN (FF 1051) and in 1979 as Chief Engineer in USS RACINE (LST1191). After completing Naval Postgraduate School in 1983, he was awarded a Master of Arts degree in National Security Affairs and was subsequently assigned as Executive Officer in USS BRISTOL COUNTY (EST 1198). In 1985, Captain Hayes was assigned to the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a politico-military officer in what became the Force Struc- ture, Resource and Assessment Directorate (J-8). In 1988, Captain Hayes served as Surface Operations Officer, Joint Task Force, Middle East. In 1989, Captain Hayes assumed command of USS FORT MCHENRY (LSD 43), a tour that included operations in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD STORM. He was subsequently assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Amphibious Branch Head (N853) in the Ex- peditionary Warfare Division (N85). He served as Commanding Officer, USS TARAWA (LHA !) from Januan, ' 1995 to June 1996. Before reporting as Commander, Amphibious Squadron ELEVEN, he was assigned as Com- manding Officer, Fleet Training Center, San Diego, from November 1996 to August 1997. Captain Hayes took command of Amphibious Squadron ELEVEN on Sep- tember 25, 1997. Captain Hayes ' personal awards include the Legion of Merit (with one Gold Star), the Defense Mentorious Service Medal (with one Oak Cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal (with on Gold Star), the Joint Service Achievement Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal. Captain Hayes and his wife, Holly, have four children. Introduction