Cleveland (LPD 7 CL 55) - Naval Cruise Book

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Captain Richard J. Cavicke Commanding Officer USS CLEVELAND Captain Richard John Cavicke was born in Somer- ville, Massachusetts. He attended Cornell University prior to entering the Navy as an Aviation Cadet in February 1953. The major portion of Capt. Cavicke ' s aviation ca- reer was spent piloting single seat fighter aircraft from the decks of Pacific Fleet carriers. After completing flight training in 1954 his first assignment was to Fighter Squadron 124 at NAS Miramar, Calif, oper- ating the F7U-3 Cutlass. Following a WESTPAC de- ployment aboard USS HANCOCK in 1957, he trans- ferred to Fighter Squadron 211 at NAS Moffett Field, Calif, made a second WESTPAC onboard USS MIDWAY and marked the beginning of a long associ- ation with the F8 Crusader. From 1959 to 1961 he served as a Combat Flight Instructor in the Crusader Training Squadron at Mof- fett Field and Miramar. In August 1962 he reported to Fighter Squadron 1 1 1 and there made two WEST- PAC ' S onboard USS KITTY HAWK. During the second of these deployments he participated in the first armed combat flights of the South East Asian War. Onboard the USS BON HOMME RICHARD he served as Aircraft Handling Officer during initial Vietnam combat operations. In 1968 he joined Fighter Squadron 24 for consecutive tours as Executive Offi- cer and then Commanding Officer making two com- bat deployments aboard USS HANCOCK. Next he attended the Naval War College and then served as a Staff member for Commander Carrier Group One during combat operations aboard USS MIDWAY and Indian Ocean Operations aboard USS KITTY HAWK. In 1 974 he reported to the Staff of the Chief of Naval Operations as the Assist. Head of the Air- craft and Weapons Requirement Branch. Capt. Cavicke assumed command of the USS CLEVELAND in August 1977 after completing the four month Senior Officer ' s ship Material Readiness Course at Idaho Falls. Capt. Cavicke ' s personal decorations include: the Bronze Star with Gold Star, Strike Flight Air Medal with numeral 10, Navy Commendation Medal, Presi- dential, Navy and Meritorious Unit Citations, Viet- namese Distinguished Service Order Second Class and Vi tnamese Cross of Galantry. ' IS

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Executive Officer Commander Nathan L. Astleford