Concord (AFS 5) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMAND MASTER CHIEF MRCM JOHN S. HANDZUK Master Chief Handzuk was born and raised in North Tonawanda, New York and is a 1966 graduate of North Tonawanda Senior High School. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Handzuk. In over 22 years of naval service, he has served on a variety of ships, overseas stations and shore duty. These assignments include USS CONSTITUTION (IX- 21) Old Ironsides, NASU Iwakuni, Japan, NSA Danang, RVN, USS GRAND CANYON (AR-28), NAS Jacksonville, Fl., USS YOSEMITE (AD-19), RTC Or- lando, and USS SARATOGA (CV-60). While assigned to USS CHARLES R. WARE (DD-865), he made an around the world cruise. Master Chief Handzuk has earned two Navy Achievement Medals, the Navy Unit Commendation, four Battle Efficiency Ribbons, four Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two campaign stars. Gallantry Cross Medal with Palm, Sea Service Ribbon with three stars. Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the crossed cutlasses of the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist. Master Chief Handzuk is married to the former Barbara J. Padgett of Jackson- ville, Florida. They have three daughters and a son, Tina, Robin, Becky, and Allen. The Master Chief and his wife now reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER LIEUTENANT COMMANDER ROBERT J. O ' NEILL LCDR O ' Neill was born in New York City, New York, on 30 October 1954. He graduated from Garden City High School in 1972, and from Fairleigh Dickenson University with a BS in Biology in 1976. On 18 March 1977, LCDR O ' Neill received a commission in the United States Navy. After attending Surface Warfare Officer School in Newport, R.I., he report- ed to USS DETROIT (AOE-4) in October of 1978 as Combat Information Center Officer. Following this two year assignment, which included two deployments with the U.S. Sixth Fleet, he received orders to USS TACOMA (PG-92) as the ship ' s Executive Officer. In September 1981, he assumed command of the Naval Reserve Center, Port- land, Maine. During this assignment, he earned a masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern Maine. He returned to Newport, R.I. in March 1984 to attend Surface Warfare Officers School Department Head class 82. Following graduation, he was ordered to USS MOINESTER (FF-1097) as the ship ' s Weapons Officer. While assigned to USS MOINESTER, he made another Sixth Fleet deployment and numerous operations in the Atlantic Special Operating Area. Completing this tour in May 1986, he reported to USS WHID- BEY ISLAND (LSD-41) in July as the ship ' s First Lieutenant where he helped prepare USS WHIDBEY ISLAND for her maiden operations with the Second and Sixth Fleets. He was promoted to his present rank in July 1986. Since departing USS WHIDBEY ISLAND in January 1988, LCDR O ' Neill has been a member of the Chief of Naval Operations ' special project team on Amphibi- ous Warfare. Prior to reporting for duty at the Armed Forces Staff College, he was assigned to the Operations and Plans division at the Supreme Allied Command Atlantic. He reported to his present assignment in April 1989 and assumed the duties of Executive Officer of USS CONCORD (AFS-5).

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CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS OF USS CONCORD First row kneeling: GMCS(SW) George Knight, BMC(SW) Don Herman, DPCS(SW) Don Niehl, SKCM(SW) Bob Lansang, HMC Ken Epley, BMC(SW) Art Lavigne, SKCS(CW) Lee Bryant, MSCS(SW) C.P. Bernardo, EMC(SW) Dan Gumaya. Second row: MRCM(SW) John Handzuk, MMC(SW) Mike Houghton, ETC(SW) Paul Durbin, RMC(SW) Ed Fauss, SKC(SW) Terry Hunt, SKC(SW) P.R. Rubis, MACS Mike Wawer, BTC(SW) George Fellers, BMCM(SW) Mike Melita. Back row: BTC Bob Turzak, SKCS(SW) Carl Cole, PNCS(SW) Pete Notgrass, EMC(SW) Don Toney, AMSC(AW) Steve Sooy, DCC(SW) Rick Morgan, EMC(SW) Danny Gross.