Donald Beary (FF 1085) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 6 text:

CDR ELMER J. HALLEY, JR.

Page 5 text:

On 22 July 1972, USS DONALD B. BEARY was commissioned; named in honor of Vice Admiral Donald Bradford Beary, USN whose genius was largely responsible for the revolutionary success of mobile underway replenishment leading to victory in the Pacific during World War 11. She is the eighth ship of the USS JOSEPH HEWES (FF-1078) class of frigate specially designated for detecting and destroying enemy submarines. DONALD B. BEARY was built by Avondale Shipyards, Incorporated, at Westwego, Louisiana. Her keel was laid on 24 July 1970, and she was launched 22 May 1971. Mrs. Mary L. Beary, widow of Admiral Beary, is the ship ' s sponsor. Since commissioning, USS DONALD B. BEARY has participated in numerous major deployments. Several were to the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean and some were in the Middle East and Indian Ocean. Ship ' s decorations include Navy Unit Commendation, two Navy Expe- ditionary Medals, two Navy E ' s , National Defense Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbons. On 2 July 1986, Commander Elmer J. Halley, Jr. assumed the duties of DONALD B. BEAR Y ' s eighth com- manding officer. DONALD B. BEARY operates as part of Destroyer Squadron Ten within Cruiser Destroyer Group Eight, Naval Surface Force, United States Atlantic Fleet.

Page 7 text:

Commander Elmer J. Halley, Jr., a native of Westmont, New Jersey, graduated from the U.S. Naval Acad- emy in June 1967. His first tour was in USS ROBERT H. MCCARD (DD 822) where he served as Main Propulsion Assistant. After completing Naval Destroyer School in September 1969, he was assigned to USS FURSE (DD 882) as Engineer Officer. Following an assignment as a Naval Advisor in Vietnam, he was ordered under the Personnel Exchange Program to the NBCD School of the Royal New Zealand Navy in Auckland, New Zealand as the Officer-in-Charge. In June 1975, Commander Halley began studies in the Oceanography Curriculum at the Naval Postgrad- uate School, Monterey, California, and received a Master of Science degree in Physics. Upon completion of OCA School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in November 1977, he was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62) as the Damage Control Assistant. In October 1979, Commander Halley attended the Armed Forces Staff College as a student in the Joint Operations Curriculum. He was next assigned as Executive Officer on USS BLANDY (DD 943) from August 1 980 until November 1 98 1 when he was ordered as the Chief Staff Officer of Destroyer Squadron TWENTY-SIX. Commander Halley was assigned in May 1984 to the Staff of Commander Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet in the Combat Systems Directorate as Head of the Cruiser-Destroyer Require- ments Section. On 3 July 1986, he assumed command of USS DONALD B. BEARY (FF 1085). His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (with gold star), the Navy Achievement Medal (with combat V ), the Navy Unit Commendation, and various service and campaign medals. Commander Halley is married to the former Sallie L. Stricklin of Florence, South Carolina. They reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia with their three children, Lauren, Jack, and Jim. . x