Comstock (LSD 45 LSD 19) - Naval Cruise Book

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LCDR ED HARRINGTON (U ■1 . K BivBIII II H Ui S i £ 1 eu- HH I I go ■ ■g H 1 It = i) u IS rJHK RRGISSISG a IN THE END 59 LCDR BOB KOPAS

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COMMANDER GREGG S. JACKSON Thanks (o the i.rev of L!SS Comstock (LSD 45) and the marines and sailors of embarked iniits (MSSCi-13. ACL ' -5 Dei Bravo, I st LAR and BLT I I Tanks ) for the hard work put forth into making WliSTPAC 91NH a resounding success. Arriving in the Arabian Gulf during heightened tensions related to United Nations nuclear site inspections in Iraq, the USS Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group ( Peleliu. Juneau and Comstock) and the 13th Marine Expeditionarv Unit ( MEU ) helped keep the pressure on Iraq as well as pla a large peacekeeping role in Operation Southern Watch. Deployment 97 98 began on August 28. 1 997. and an extremely busy six months was underway. Friends and family said goodbye, and the ship was en route Pearl Harbor. Haw aii. While the marines conducted sustainmeni training off Bellows Beach, Comstock entered Pearl for 1 day. emergency repairs to a stand-by lube oil pump (McDonalds was the highlight). After departing Haw aii. the Comstock crossed the International Dateline and everyone on board became part of an elite group of Mariners called the Golden Dragons. In Guam the crew enjoyed their liberty opportunity . Comstock A ' fct fc ■ ' ■ ' ' welcomed a new Executive Officer, Lieutenant I tt t 19$ i 1 Commander Ed Hamngton relieved Lieutenant Commander I H f 1 Bob Kopas. Singapore was the next stop and a hard earned U ' J well done goes out to our basketball team for their win in I B ■ Sportsfest ' 97 against other teams in the PELELIU ARG. H ■ The crew enjo yed more liberty and saw what this bustling (although expensive city) had to offer. The na igation team guided us safely through the smoked and haze filled Straits of Malacca to Phuket. Thailand where Comstock participated in various Community Relations Projects. Sailors and marines gave a helping hand cooking meals and painting various buildings forpeople in need. . fter Thailand it was time to go on station in the Persian Gulf. We conducted training but still found some time to have fun. Special events such as flight deck picnics, a talent show, ice cream nights, sports picnics, pizza night and bingo tournaments were always a hit. Comstock held events during the holidays to keep spirits up and take a break from the usually intense schedule. Everyone w eleomed a traditional Thanksgi ing meal complete with all the fixings. For Christmas, movies were show n on the turntable and V.I.P.s came aboard to spread the cheer of the holidays season. General Charles Krulak. Commandant of the Marine Corps visited Comstock to help celebrate the Marine Corps birthday in November. Rear Admiral Brewer. Commander Amphibious Group Three, and the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy visited and thanked the crew for their hard work during the holiday season. The crew from Good Morning America. London came to film sailors and ask how they felt about spending the holidays in the Gulf The New Year marked the end of an exercise called EAGER MACE which involved the marines training in Kuwait Comstock then transitted through the Strait of Hormuz officially ending our time in the Gulf and beginning the journey home. The next port call. Port Blair. India was a visit aimed at enhancing relations between the United Stales and India. Comstock may ha e been the first ever U.S. Naval ship to go there. The ship hosted an Indian Navy Vice Admiral and other officers from Indian military to a luncheon and tour of the ship. Nearly 1.000 Indians visited Comstock during the 24 hour port visit. Penang. Malaysia was the next stop and proved to be a great liberty port. Sailors and marines enjoyed sunbathing. shopping, snorkeling and relaxing in the sun. The fun was not over yet. we had another liberty port to enjoy before returning to the familiar waters of Third Fleet. In Bali. Indionesia. sailors and marines spent time doing more shopping and relaxing in the sun. On the way home. Comstock crossed the equator and all wogs on board became Trusty Shellbacks . Those who participated in the festivities had fun doing damage control Olympics, weightlifting, exercise competitions and card and bingo games. Friends and family came onboard to experience life at sea for a few days on Comstock s Tiger Cruise. Many events were planned to keepeveryone busy and show them the normal operations of a ship. Activities included an air demonstration, icecream night. pizza night and damage control Olympics. On February 27.1 998, the deployment drew to a close as we were moored pierside, San Diego once again. The support werecieved from home was tremendous. Comstock ' stimein the Persian Gulf was challenging for all of us and our families. Despite the pressure and anxiety which was generated at times, you hung in there and never lost faith. Sailors efforts have a direct effect on events in the Gulfand contribute to protecting the peace. The effort ' s of the spouses who stand behind those sailors, providing support and taking care of children and other business at home are an equally critical part of the Navy effort. Thanks again to the crew and our families for an oulstandingjob on WESTPAC 97-98. you made it happen. HOORAH!

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ENCM (SW) NESTOR PEREZ ii IN THE END 99 ENCM (SW) CHARLES HENTLEY 44 IN THE BEGINNING