Belleau Wood (LHA 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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ommanding fficer USS BELLEAU WOOD CLHA 3 om in Atlanta, Georgia, Captain Earl L. Gay is a 1980 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. Following designation as a Naval Aviator in November 1981, he flew Search and Rescue missions in the high Si- erra Nevada mountains. In October 1983, he recorded the highest rescue in the contiguous United States recovering an injured hiker at the 14.000 foot level of Mount Whitney, Califor- nia. In December 1983, Captain Gay reported to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light THREE ONE CHSL 315 for SH-2F pilot training and was assigned to the world famous f'Magi- ciansi' of HSL 35. He embarked onboard USS FLETCHER CDD 9925, USS COOK CFF 10835 and USS LEFTWICH CDD 9845 completing several deployments to the Eastern!Western Pacific and Indian Oceans sewing as detach- ment Operations, Maintenance and Officer in Charge COIC5. Commander Gay reported to the HSL 41 'fSeahawks,, in June 1987 as an in- structor pilot in the SH-60B Fleet Replacement Squadron. During this tour he served as Safety Ofhcer and Quality Assurance Officer. In Feb- mary 1990, Captain Gay first reported to the BattleCats of HSL 43 as OIC of Detachment FOUR embarked aboard USS CROMMELIN CFFG 375 and later as Detachment ELEVEN OIC aboard USS DAVID R. RAY CDD 9715 in the Arabian Gulf. On station before, during and after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, Detach- ment ELEVEN spearheaded Allied coalition efforts in enforcing UN sanctions against Iraq during Operation Desert Shield. Upon his re- turn. Captain Gay served as squadron Aviation Maintenance Officer. In his next assignment, Captain Gay served as Joint Plans Officer in the I3 and J5 Directorates at U.S. Forces Command CFORSCOM5 and U.S. Atlantic Command fUSACOM5. During this tour, Captain Gay participated in the joint contingency planning and execution of Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, Hurricane Andrew relief efforts and the implementation of Adaptive Joint Force Packages for combatant CINCs. After completing his joint assignment, Captain Gay reported to Air University, Montgomery, AL where he graduated from Air War College and earned a Master's Degree from Troy State University. In August 1995, Captain Gay re- ported back to HSL 43 as Executive Officer and assumed command of the BattleCats', in October 1996. During his command tour HSL 43 deployed the Navy's first HELLFIRE MissilelNight Vision Goggle CNVG5 detach- ment and conducted the iirst fleet warshot firing of AGM-119 PENGUIN missile. The squadron additionally earned the Meritori- ous Unit Commendation, COMNAVAIRPAC Battle Efficiency Award, Lockheed-Martin Superior Maintenance Award and the CNO Safety Award. Captain Gay reported to USS BOXER CLHD 45 as Air Boss in April 1998 and deployed to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf with the embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit CMEU5. During this tour BOXER earned 2 consecutive COMNAV- SURFPAC Battle Awards and the CNO Admiral Flatley Award for aviation safety. CAPT Gay next assumed com- mand of HSL 41 in June 2000, training all West Coast SH-60B Pilots and Aircrewmen. He also served as the National President of the Naval Helicopter Association CNHA5. In October 2001, Captain Gay reported to USS BELLEAU WOOD to serve as the Executive Ofhcer. In May 2003, Captain Gay assumed command of USS BELLEAU WOOD. During his tour onboard USS BELLEAU WOOD, he completed two deployments, the most recent being as the Expeditionary Strike Group THREE CESG 35 Flagship Commander which supported combat operations for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. Captain Gay's personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal C35, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal C35, Navy Achievement Medal and the 1993 NAACP Roy Wilkins Award for outstanding community service. U.SS.EiE.LiElill Wooly - QW! 0 :

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MINI 131153 Y USS B Commander Donald Willie Williamson was born in Wareham, Massachusetts. The oldest son of an Air Force family, he grew up in numerous places across the country and ultimately settled in his parents' hometown of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. He graduated in 1983 from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. After completing Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, Commander Williamson was commissioned an Ensign on 5 October 1984. He then attended flight training at NAS Whiting Field, Milton, Florida, and was winged a Naval Aviator on 10 January 1986. After completion of the SH-60B Fleet Replacement Squadron, HSL-41, NAS North Island, San Diego, California, Commander Williamson reported as a plankowner', to HSL-45, where he served from September 1986 to February 1990. He deployed to the Arabian Gulf in USS VANDEGRIFT QFFG 481 from June to December 1988. His next assignment was to the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, where he was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a JCS Intern in J4, the Logistics Directorate, from March 1990 to April 1991. Commander Williamson then served a tour of duty in Atsugi, Japan, as a plankowner with the HSL-51 t'Warlords from August 1991 to August 1994. He served as Quality Assurance Officer, Detachment Maintenance Officer, and Detachment Officer in Charge and completed deployments in USS FIFE CDD 9913 to the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf and in USS CURTS CFFG 383 to the Arabian Gulf. Following his overseas tour, he reported to the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, from August 1994 to May 1995, earning a Masters of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. Commander Williamson next reported to HSL-43 for his Department Head tour from August 1995 to February 1998. He served as Detachment Officer in Charge in USS JARRETT CFFG 331, deploying to the Arabian Gulf, and as squadron Maintenance Officer. Next, Commander Williamson served as Flag Aide to the Commander, United States Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, from February 1998 to December 1999. In September 2000, Commander Williamson reported as Executive Officer of the HSL-37 EasyRidersf' homeported at Marine Corp Base Kaneohe Bay, Kaneohe, Hawaii. Sixteen months later, he assumed duties as Commanding Officer on 15 January 2002. He remained in command at HSL-37 until May 2003. His next assignment was to the USS BELLEAU WOOD CLHA 33, homeported in San Diego, California. Commander Williamson served as Air Boss from August 2003 to September 2004. Commander Williamson assumed duties as Executive Officer in September 2004, while deployed to the Northern Arabian Gulf, in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. Commander Williamson has been awarded several personal awards, but is most proud of his unit decorations, which include the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Navy Unit Commendation, four Meritorious Unit Commendations, and seven Battle Efficiency awards. He is married to the former Julie Kae Crotteau from Cameron, Wisconsin, and has one son and one daughter. W