Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPTAIN THOMAS A. MERCER U.S. NAVY COMMANDING OFFICER, USS CARL VINSON Captain Thomas A. Mercer, born in Pensacola, Fla., graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1962. After short tours as an instructor at the Naval Academy and service on board USS RANDOLPH (CVS- 15), CAPT Mercer entered flight training and was designated as a Naval aviator in February 1964. After A-4C training with VA-44, he reported in August 1964 to VA-172 for a three-year tour, during which he completed two Mediterranean cruises and one Southeast Asia combat deployment on board USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT (CVA-42). In August 1967, he reported to the U.S. Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, Calif., where he received his Master ' s Degree in aeronautical engineering in September 1969. Subsequently, CAPT Mercer underwent training in the A-7E Corsair II at NAS Lemoore and reported to VA-195 as the squadron was transitioning to the CORSAIR in March 1970. With VA-195 he made two combat deployments to Southeast Asia on board USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63). After a IVi year tour at the Bureau of Naval Personnel as the Light Attack Placement Officer, he completed refresher training in the A-7E and then joined VA-82 as Executive Officer in July 1975. The squadron deployed on board USS NIMITZ (CVN-68) for its initial refresher training and a deployment to Northern Europe. In November 1976 he assumed command of VA-82 while embarked aboard NIMITZ on its first Mediterranean deployment. Following this tour, CAPT Mercer attended nuclear power training in Orlando, Fla., and nuclear prototype training in Idaho Falls, Idaho, prior to reporting to USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65) in July 1979 as Executive Officer. In September 1981 he assumed command of USS GUADALCA NAL (LPH-7) in Palma, Majorca, and completed two Mediterranean deployments and three major exercises to Northern Europe and the Caribbean, detaching from GUADALCANAL off Lebanon in March 1983. He assumed command of USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70) on July 30, 1983, as CARL VINSON was deployed in the North Arabian Sea. Among his awards are the Distinguished Flying Cross (three awards), four individual Flight Air Medals, 25 Strike Flight Air Medals and six Navy Commendation Medals. He has logged over 3,500 hours in the A-4C and A-7E aircraft and has made 900 carrier landings. CAPT Mercer is married to the former Delta Rebecca Krauss of Pittsburgh and they reside in Alameda with their son. Bill. Their other son, Thomas Jr., is a midshipman at the Naval Academv. ' •■esr II COMMANDING OFFICER I 29

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CAPTAIN DOYLE J. BQRCHERS II U.S. NAVY EXECUTIVE OFFICER. USS CARL VINSON government of Iran. He became Executive Officer of Fighter Squadron ONE in January 1979 and commanded VF-1 from January 1980 to May 1981 aboard USS RANGER during a WESTPAC Indian Ocean cruise, during which he introduced VECTOR LOGIC tactics to the Seventh Fleet. From June 1981 to May 1982 he was head of Tactical Air Analysis at the Pentagon in OP-96. After being selected to command the F-14 readiness squadron, VF-124, he accepted orders to nuclear power training. He subsequently attended Nuclear Power School in Orlando, Fla.; the NPTU at Idaho Fails, Idaho; and the PCO course at Naval Reactors, Wash., D.C. His awards include the individual Air Medal, seven Strike Flight Air Medals and the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V. CAPT Borchers reported as Executive Officer of USS CARL VINSON in November 1983. He is married to the former Jeanne Luberda of Washington, D.C. The Borchers have two children, John and Gwendolyn. I 1 1 V I ' i Captain Doyle John Borchers II was born in Boerne, Texas, on May 13, 1942. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1961. Commissioned in June 1965, CAPT Borchers entered flight training and received his wings in February 1967. He reported to VF-101, NAS Oceana, Va., for training in the F-4B J PHANTOM II and was assigned to VF-33, flying 130 combat missions over North Vietnam in the PHANTOM. CAPT Borchers graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Md., and was assigned to the Weapons Systems Test Division at the Naval Air Test Center as an F-14 project test pilot, where he was nominated as NATC ' s Test Pilot of the Year and was a member of the F-14 Joint Evaluation Team at the Naval Missile Center, Pt. Mugu, Calif. There he participated in the Navy Preliminary Evaluations and Board Inspection and Survey Trials for the F-14A TOMCAT and was the flrst Navy pilot to fire a Phoenix Missile with a live warhead against an airborne target. In 1977, at Naval Air Systems Command, he was Deputy « Program Manager for F-I4A training for both the Navy and the • ▼ 5 30 1X0