Bunker Hill (CG 52) - Naval Cruise Book

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Captain Rempt describes the Vertical Launch System to a Addressing the crowd at BUNKER HILL ' S arrival ceremony in group of visiting Japanese dignitaries. Yokosuka. ., ti Kl Showing the Gunner ' s Mates how it ' s done. A quick hour of paperwork before a liberty boat in Pattaya. The CO and his wife Pam, an indispensible member of the team.

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Captain Rodney P. Rempt Commanding Officer Captain Rempt was born and raised in Van Nuys, Calif., and graduated from the U.S. Na- val Academy in 1966. His initial assignments at sea were as Terrier Missile Officer aboard USS COONTZ (DLG 9), homeported in San Diego, and as Weapons Officer aboard USS SOMERS (DDG 34) in Long Beach. For his actions during deployments off Vietnam, Cap- tain Rempt was twice awarded the Navy Com- mendation Medal with combat V . After earning a Masters Degree in Systems Analysis from Stanford University in 1979, he complet- ed the Destroyer Department Head Course in Newport, R.I., where he was Honorman in Class 31. Captain Rempt ' s first sea command was USS ANTELOPE (PG 86), one of four missile- armed, gas-turbine-powered patrol gunboats, homeported in Naples, Italy. While on ANTE- LOPE, Captain Rempt participated in Sixth Fleet operations during the October 1973 Mid East War and conducted numerous NATO exercises. Upon his initial assignment to Washington, D.C., in early 1975, Captain Rempt served as the initial project officer for the Vertical Launch System within the Naval Sea Systems Command. He was awarded his third Navy Commendation Medal for successfully initiating full scale development of this new missile launching system. Captain Rempt served as Executive Officer aboard USS DAHLGREN (DDG 43) from June 1978 to March 1980. While aboard, he participated in the CARIB REINFORCEX of Guantanamo Bay in October 1979. In early 1989, Captain Rempt returned to Washington as Program Coordinator for the AEGIS Weapons System (OP-355W). In February 1981, he was selected as the Administrative Assistant and Aide to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. For two years he was responsible for coordination of policy and administrative matters successively for Admirals James D. Watkins and William N. Small, earning a Meritori- ous Service Medal for his efforts. In October 1983 Captain Rempt relieved as Commanding Officer of USS CAL- LAGHAN (DDG 994) during her maiden WESTPAC deployment. During his tenure, CALLAGHAN won the Battle Efficiency E in two different squadrons, all nine departmental awards for which the ship was eligible, and the Anti-Surface Warfare Award for the Pacific Fleet. Four his leadership in the CONSTELLATION battle group during a lengthy Indian Ocean deployment in 1985, Captain Rempt was awarded his second Meritorious Service Medal. Captain Rempt graduated with distinction from the senior course at the Naval War College in 1987 and then served for a year as the Director of the PCO PXO Department at the Surface Warfare Officers School Command in Newport, R.I. He assumed command of USS BUNKER HILL (CG 52) on 26 March 1988. His wife Pam recently received a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island. 20 -T- — ;

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T CDR Russell G. Acree, Executive O fficer, July 87-July 89. CDR Russell Rusty G. Acree Executive Officer FROM CDR Acree ' s FAREWELL MESSAGE Frequently, a farewell message is a total recap of the ship ' s accomplishments. In the interest of brevity, I shall not detail the plethora of achievements you BUNKER HILL sailors have so bril- liantly accomplished during these past 18 months. Suffice it to say that professionalism, pride, initiative, responsibility, individuality and teamwork have so infused you that your performance is rou- tinely regarded an unequivocally outstanding. In just the eleven months that the ship has been in WESTPAC, you have walked off with every nomination for every Warfare Mission Excellence Award for which you were eligible, and have clearly established BUNKER Hill as the premier surface combatant in the Seventh Fleet. You have proven that you are the First Team and that has made my job easy as well as a pleasure because it is easy to succeed with the first team. To all of you officers, chiefs and crew, there is no possible way to repay you for your devotion and hercule- an efforts. I salute you and wish you well. You are America ' s true patriots. The XO hard at work serving pizza during Pizza night. The XO (left) and Captain Rempt discuss a few last minute details as the XO prepares to depart the ship for his next duty station. •