Coronado (LPD 11) - Naval Cruise Book

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The first USS CORONADO-KPF-362, a patrol frigate, was built under Maritime Commission contract by the Consolidated Steel Corporation, Los Angeles, California. Her keel was laid 17 April 1943. She served in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, and earned four baffle SUITS in World War ll, before being transferred to faphan under the Mutual Assistance Program in fanuary 1953. The keel of USS CORONADO KLPD-llj was laid 3 May 1965 at the Seattle Shipyard of the Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company and she was commissioned on 23 May 1970. The ship was named after the city of Coronado, California. The name HCORONADOH is originally stamped on the pages of history through the exploits of the famous Spanish explorer Francisco Vazquez De Coronado. After commissioning, CORONADO was assigned to the Amphibious Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. While enroute to her homeport Norfolk, Virginia CORONADO appropriately made her irst Since joining the Atlantic Fleet CORONADO has shown the United States Flag throughout the Caribbean, North Atlantic, and Mediterranean. USS Coronado LPD-II 4 J I f I port of call to her namesake city, Coronado, California. 5

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, f , , 5,., ,., - , W W . -.1 , it ,fe f , . . , ,,,V , .. -A -VVV V- , ff,-rw' Bwnff l. e ff ' ' ' , , 6 ' f ' - , f sr 'Q I 6' W 'Q I f ffwf , ,ye . N., f , tvf f fx ' :.Q..,Q,Q Si . 1? ' ff -frr . '1:'j', frfr J -z - ' jyfii gf . f . ,f .A , stef gtfiyn , , Mg, rf, ii I W Officer Captain LeBlanc commenced his naval career in the Naval Reserve in New Orleans, La. in August 1950. He was assigned to flight training as a Naval Aviation Cadet in 1951 and commissioned an Ensign and desig- nated a Naval Aviator the following year. From 1953 - 1956 he served in fighter squadrons embarked in USS BOXER and USS HANCOCK and deployed to the Western Pacific. Assigned for the next three years to the Naval Air Special Weapons Facility in Albuquerque, N.M., Captain LeBlanc flew in support of AEC research and development projects. He participated as a weapons effects test pilot during atomic tests at the Eniwetok Proving Crounds in 1958. In 1959 he was assigned to VX-5 as a project pilot developing final delivery bombing tactics for light attack and fighter aircraft. Commencing in 1961 he served a two year tour as Nuclear Readiness Officer on the Staff of COMNA VAIRLANT. Except for six months at the Armed Forces Staff College, Captain LeBlanc spent the next six years in attack squadrons, deploying with SIXTH and SECOND Fleets embarked in USS ENTERPRISE and USS AMERICA and with the SEVENTH Fleet in the Culf of Tonkin embarked in USS INTREPID and again in ENTERPRISE. During the latter Captain LeBlanc commanded VA-215. In 1969 he was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations where he served as Program Co- ordinator for the A-7 aircraft. The following year he returned to the West Coast and command of VA-125, a Fleet Readiness Squadron training replacement pilots for A-7 fleet squadrons. In 1971 Ca ta' L Bl p in e anc returned to the East Coast and a two year tour as Executive Officer of USS AMERICA Extended deployments were completed with SIXTH and SEVENTH Fleets The followin ear he attended Old . . . . I ' g V Dommwn UnwerSLty where he earned a BA degree in Political Science. During the two years preceding his assignment as Commfmdlng Officer, USS CORONADO KLPD-111, he served as Trainin Officer on the Staff of COMNAVAIRLANT. During the time - De 1, 197 ' g cem er 6 Mediterranean deployment, Captain LeBlanc commanded CORONAD0 GS She Conducted the eUflCUCl5i0n of 301 U,S. Citizens and third-country nationals from Beirut, Lebanon , CClP5am LeBlanc 'WSWS the Distinguished Flying Cross with three stars, the Bronze Star medal with one star, the Air Medal with two stars and strike fl' h f - - the combat UVM. Captain LeBlanc is married to the former Maxine Blanchett of Bay C't M' h' Th 'd ' V' ' ' Beach, Virginia with their four children, Georges 111, Jacques, Claire, and Ahfdreic Lgan- ey MSL e m Lrgmw L5 5 Uumeffll 7, and U16 Navy Commendation Medal with two stars and -e-ee--- e Captain Georges E. LeBlanc, Jr,, USN