Butte (AE 27) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPTAIN V. L. (Cowboy) ROS- SON isn't just the commanding officer, he’s part of the crew. Blue jeans or shorts and a T-shirt are comfortable he says, and there isn’t a man onboard that won’t disagree. Ammunition ships don’t maneuver like tin cans”, but to this man command maneuvers are like riding a horse, (see page 23) Captain Vernon L. Rosson. USN is a native of Southeast Texas. He graduated from Lamar University in Beaumont. Texas, in I960, and attended graduate school at the University of Texas until November. 1961 when he entered Officer Candidate School al Newport. Rhode Island, receiving his commission as an Ensign in April. 1962. Captain Rosson has served as Mine Counter Measures Officer. USS WOODPECKER (MSC-209): Operations Officer. USS CROMWELL (DE-I0I4): Communications Officer. COMCRUDES- FLOT ELEVEN; Commanding Officer, USS PLEDGE (MSO-492); and Ex ecutive Officer. USS SYLVANIA (AFS-2). He also received a degree in Communications Engineering from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey. California and attended the Command and Staff course at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Captain Rosson is married to the former Louise Carolyn Lakie of Port Arthur. Texas. They have a son. Marc, and two daughers. Allison and Kristin. Captain Rosson has been in command of the BUTTE (AE-27) since June. 1981. 4

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Sfafi4 Sfatt4tic PCI LEISS Length 564' Draft 28' Ream 81' Displacement 19.000 tons Horsepower 22.000 shaft Speed 20 knots + Armament Two twin 3V50 cal dual purpose gun mounts and Four .50 cal machine guns. Replenishment at sea stations ...................... 9 Vertical replenishment stations .................... I Complement (with AirDet embarked) 32 Officers 340 Enlisted PCI LEISS

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a O cc t Commander Gordon E. KAUFFMAN. USN, is a native of Craigmont, Idaho. He was graduated with a BA in English from the University of Washington in June, 1963 and joined the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps took him to Bogota, Colombia for two years. He entered Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, in August. 1966. He was commissioned as an Ensign in December of that year. Commander KAUFFMAN served as Combat Information Center Officer. USS DAMATO (DD-871): Engineering Officer. USS WHIPPLE (FF-1062); and Engineering Officer. USS WICHITA (AOR-I). He was Operations Officer. COMDESDIV 102; Counterinsurgency Officer and Briefing Officer (Spanish English). COMUSNAVSO COMFIFTEEN in the Canal Zone; and Organization Development and Management Officer. HUMRESMANDET. Yokosuka. Japan. Commander KAUFFMAN also attended the Brazilian Naval War College at Rio de Janeiro for a year. Commander KAUFFMAN was awarded the Navy Commendation Metal for his performance in USS WICHITA. Commander KAUFFMAN served as the Executive Officer of USS BUTTE (AF-27) from January 1981 until June 1982. Commander KAUFFMAN married the former Mary Jean SHARP while he was stationed in the Canal Zone. They have a daughter. Anne, and a son. Earl, and reside in Shrewsburg. New Jersey. Commander KAUFFMAN is presently serving a well deserved tour ashore as Commander Recruiting District. New Jersey. GOOD LUCK. COMMANDER! EDITORS NOTE: Trying to capture Commander Kauffman on film was a hard task to accomplish but to capture him on film wearing a smile was harder. l 5