Chandler (DDG 996) - Naval Cruise Book

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FORMER COMMANDING OFFICER COMMANDER HENRY W STRICKLAND Commander Strickland was graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and commissioned Ensign U.S. Navy in June 1966. His first tour of duty following his commissioning was in USS SELLERS IDDG 111. He served in this ship for 3 years, first as Missile Officer, and then as Fire Control Officer. From June to December 1969, Commander Strickland attended U.S. Naval Destroyer School at Newport, Rhode Island, ln December 1969, Commander Strickland reported to USS TOWERS fDDG 92 as Operations Officer. This second shipboard tour was followed by one year of service as an advisor in the Republic of Vietnam. In 1972, Commander Strickland reported to the U.S. Navy Post- graduate School at Monterey, California, where he studied Weapons Systems Engineering. He graduated with a Master of Science Degree in Physics. In 1975 Commander Strickland reported to USS COCHRANE IDDG 211 where he served two years as Executive Ofhcer. After one year of study at the U.S. Naval War College at Newport, Rhode lsland, Commander Strickland served on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D.C. as CG-47 Class Program Coordinator. During his career Commander Strickland has made extended deployments to both the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean and the Seventh Fleet in the Western PaciHc. He wears the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation and several campaign service medals. Commander Strickland was born and reared in Jesup. Georgia. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest F. Strickland, life long residents of Jesup. Commander Strickland is married to the former Harriet Nichols, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D.A. Nichols, who are natives and residents of Wayne County and Jesup. The Stricklands have two children: Hope, age 14 and John, age 11.

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COMMANDER DESTROYER SQUADRON I TWENTY-THREE CAPTAIN WILLIAM H. KERSTING, USN William Henry Kersting was born in New York City, New York and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in Sept 1951 and served as a Radarman in USS CUSHING IDD 7971 and USS FRONTIER IAD 251. He attended Officers Candidate School and was commissioned in June 1956. He was promoted to his rank of Captain on 1 Feb 1978. His initial sea tour as an officer was in USS BROWN IDD 5461 followed by assignment to USS NE WELL IDER 3221 where he served as Gunnery Officer. He was next assigned as OfHcer-in-Charge of USS ALBERT T. HARRIS IDE 4471. From October 1961 to November 1963 he served as Commanding Officer of USS MIDDLESEX COUNTY ILST 9831 and then reported to Beach Jumper Unit ONE where he served as Executive Officer and subsequently as Commanding Ofhcer. In August of 1966 he reported to the newly established Naval Special Warfare Group, Western Pacific Detachment, homeported in Okinawa, where he was assigned as Assistant Ofhcer-in-Charge and then Officer-in-Charge. He next commanded USS CONQUEST IMSO 4881 from April 1968 to November 1969 and then served as Chief Staff Officer of MINE FLOTILLA THREE. In July 1971 he assumed command of USS HOLLISTER IDD 7881. In FEB 1973 he reported to U.S. Naval Station, Subic Bay, R.P., for duty as Executive Officer. From Sept 1974 to July 1975 he attended Verne College under the College Degree Completion Program. In August of 1975 he joined the Staff of Commander Cruiser - Destroyer Group ONE as Surface Opera tions Officer. He then served 1, in the ofHce of the Chief of Naval Operations from Sept 1977 to OCT 1978. From 17 Nov 1978 to 20 Aug 1980 he was assigned as Commander MINE SQUADRON FIVE. On 29 Oct 1980 he assumed command of U.S. Naval Station, Subic Bay. Captain Kersting's personal decorations include the Silver Star Medal, the Legion of Merit with Star and Combat V , the Bronze Star Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal with star and Combat V . Captain Kersting is married 'to the former Eva L. Tucker of Tonkawa, Oklahoma. They reside in San Diego, California.

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COMMANDING OFFICER COMMANDER ROBERT CL NA TTER Commander Robert J. Natter, United States Navy was born in Trussville, Alabama, on April 9, 1945. He was graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and commissioned an Ensign in June 1967. After commissioning, Commander Natter was assigned as Engineer in USS VIREO IMSC 2051 homeported in Sasebo, Japan: then as Executive OfHcer in USS CADDO PARISH ILST 5151 and USS IREDLL COUNTY ILST 8391 in the Republic of Vietnam. He next was assigned to duty with Naval Special Warfare Group ONE serving as Officer-in-Charge of a Seal Boat Support Unit in Vietnam. From June 1971 to September 1972, he attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, receiving a Masters Degree in Management. Following Graduate School and assignment to destroyer school in Newport, Rhode Island, Commander Natter served as Operations Officer in USS BRADLEY fDE 10411. He next was assigned to the U.S. Naval Academy as a Company Officer and later as Flag Secretary to the Superintendent. His next move was an assignment to USS HE WI TT KDD 9661 as Executive Officer, and his most recent tour of duty was inthe Pentagon, as Executive Assistant to the Director of Naval Warfare in- the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Commander Natter's personal decorations include the Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Combat IL Navy Achievement Medal with Combat IL the Purple Heart and various unit and campaign awards. Commander Natter is married to the former Claudia Kaine of Coronado, California. They ha ve two children Kelly and Kendall. ik 23? E353 27154 CQJM-MANBR G GFFIGE 6