Cleveland (LPD 7 CL 55) - Naval Cruise Book

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER - W. L. Marks A native of Flint, Miclnigan, Commander William L. Marl s graduated from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa in February 1966 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Following commis- sioning at Officer Candidate School, he attended the Submarine Officer Basic Course in Groton, Connec- ticut, and was subsequently assigned to the USS BARRACUDA (SST-3), homeported in Key West, Florida, in July 1967. In BARRACUDA he served as Weapons and Supply Officer and later as the Engineer Officer. Commander Marks ' next assignment was with Submarine Development Group ONE in San Diego, California, where he was the Assistant Officer- In-Charge of the first Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle. In 1972, Commander Marks was transferred to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where he served as Engineer Officer of USS BARBEL (SS580) until 1974, and Operations Officer and Navigator of USS BLUEBACK (SS-581) until January, 1977. In March of 1977, He assumed the duties as Executive Officer of USS BARBEL (SS-580). Commander Marks then attended the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and was selected for surface ship command. Following graduation he was assigned a qualification tour as Executive Officer of USS CLEVELAND (LPD7) homeported in San Diego, California. In September 1982, Commander Marks began the en-route training to assume command of USS MOUNT VERNON (LSD-39). Commander Marks is married to the former Pamela Ann Morey of Ames, Iowa. They have two daughters, Kathryn Ann and Diane Marie.

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April 2, 1982 On the morning of April 2nd, 1982, USS CLEVELAND departed Son Diego for o six-month deployment to the Western Pacific, leaving family and friends behind, For those who had been on WestPac before, the separa- tion was something they were familiar with; for many of those wogs ' who were new to the Navy, the long voyage would prove to be more than they bargained for in terms of family separation, Goodbyes were not long enough as CLEVELAND made preparations to get underway. There was an hour long breakfast for the crew and their family members; then the ship was cleared of visitors at 10 a,m. The special sec and anchor detail was set, and the ship left at 11 a,m,, not to return for six months. Chaplain Griffith soys goodbye to his wife on the flight deck.