El Paso (LKA 117) - Naval Cruise Book

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, . . oFFicER ' CGMMQNQLNS Wi ,.,......11- I ! i I r 6 f f i l D.c.RoPER -,H .,.,g.... Captain, US Navy 'Wigs ffm' Yhcjn A native of Los Angeles, California, Captain Daniel C. Roper graduated from California State Polytechnic T University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronic Engineering in June 4968. He subsequently- reported 0 d the NASA Flight Research Center as an Army Military Detailee, where he was a project engineer for lifting b0dY Un SR-74 programs. I . After an intersenlice transfer to the Navy, Captain Roper earned a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering followed by designation as a Naval Aviator in September 4972. , Following a tour flying the EKA-3B with VAO-430 Det 4 aboard USS RANGER CCV-643 as the MaintenanceOffiCGff , he transitioned to the EA-6B Prowler in June 4974 and was assigned to VAO-433 embarked on the USS JOHN F- ' KENNEDY CCV-673. Selected as the Navy's exchange pilot, he was the Air Force test pilot school distinguished 4 graduate in 4977. ' During three years as the Naval Air Test Center, Captain Roper performed carrier suitability and ordnance - separation tests on the EA-6B Prowler, A-6E intruder, and KA-3B aircraft and was the Operations Officer. He joined VAO-437, the first squadron to receive the ICAP ll version of the EA-6B, in August 4984, and served as the SafetY and Maintenance Officer. Taking over as Commanding Officer in January 4985, VAO-437 deployed aboard USS SARATOGA CCV-603 for over seven months to the indian Ocean and supported the successful freedom Of navigation operations near the Gulf of Sidra in the Mediterranean Sea. Captain Roper has flown 24 different military aircraft including the EA-6B, A-6, A-3, F-44, F-45, F-46, and F-A and landed aboard 44 different aircraft carriers, accumulating A000 flight hours and 965 arrested landings. Following selection for and completion of the Navy's Nuclear Power Qualification Program, Captain Roper reported aboard USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER CCVN-693 as Executive Officer in March 4988 and served until JulY 4 .

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I Ing on January 47, 4970 USS EL PASO s schedule has been a busy one She has d pl d T Th M Tdl m ' e oye o e ey Mjerranean seven TI es, TransrTed The Suez Canal boTh NorTh and SouThbound H 'IIPW I I b - I I I I' I I an a b all ATIa T d P fc FI T Sh h rT T d ' ' S GSU In O 9 I I FI IC an CIQII ,GG S. 9 QS DCI ICIIDCI 9 ,IIfIIQIIeX9I'CISGS In - bw If d I . . ' I IIIIVVTIIIQIII OYWCJY e Canb eciw- d an O ' I T d m rT ' Th d ST T 1 . an 9 n I S. V SI DU GTOUS DO S In G G CI GS, Canada, Europe, Afrrc , and The Carl ean , V. VI V :Vw . TIITVVTTQIIQWQLTIPLIEQEIII, . -V 113 If are -f -A ,-1' -I -V VVIVIT---.Ra-2 ,I1wVIVVV I. ..f1Iv'HnV1'P'IE'IVvAIsVMM1I V - ISI:-T. f??iMG -, I V .. f V: 'IIIA fm- wweliw I ,VVIQQI V V ' . . , V I lggqfpfyqsjgw - e Q Th All QIIFIHWI f' Om rn J I 4974 Th df' ' GS UDVVII. r one ov one c M encrn rn u y , e secon., ' - - . . e ember 4978 and V' f - - . Ve Third In J n ovrekm ul Involve T f b h Q . VII k 4 I NMWE F y S SDSIVG T9 LII' IS In O V VIVVVVM- V V , V .VAIV IDI ,I . I , RWEHI- 555:-,Q Alfie EL PA ' earned numerous awards - ,,, V Aw 4974 4978 4983 d 4 4988 USS EL PASOIT d ' ' epa men a award ...f r which she compeTed, CGIITITroI DC VC6Th awards ,VV I I ,V .f V. I VV yy u..V, ,. , l L.: V' phlbrous AssaulT Award ThD, The hlTIThe Gunn.eryV-VSVysTeVI.s . V V, X ,, .I-I-:..I 5T,-I - A-IIHVIIE, MI-.2-IIII-V-I ' W ,V I. I ' III -MV.. A ' ec G W J 1 G , .RW W . A J IIITIIV T I' , W I 'IIIQIIV ,, I 'WIIsI '-'I , -' I V If' 'W' T ., ' ,.. 1' -'T'I'N 'I' ' ' 'I 5:ITIIKv,h' Q ,II -I. I g P IIIQTQFMQQVVEQQQ-1EigI,Iz:s-nml V ,.,. ' IV 'll I I9 ef ' V - 'ITVIIIIIPII 'IIIIIIT IIITIMILVIVIVIIIIIVVIIIIIIIIIEIQI 'IV-ITIIII' IMIIIIIIVIIETIIVWTIIII-IIIIIIIIIT- II lI ' IVV 31 IIl'eIrIfsIII'III - V III V -- Iv- IV --IV-I-I -I V VII- I-I' I-- XVI IV I I VI I-A--IIIVIIV VVIVI VII . I SV II ,- V. 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... - 4-- ... ..,1,,.,-T-v ---f-T.1-9-.-.f ---,...-Y---4-.,-.,-,-- I C12 IH, :I alll! 'l' ICER IN YEARS TO COME, HISTORY WILL NOTE THAT ROUGHLY SIX HUNDRED MEN, MARINES AND SAILORS , TRANSITED THE ATLANTIC ONBOARD THE USS EL PASO TO CONDUCT AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT MEDITERRANEAN BASIN. THESE MEN, DEDICATED TO PROFESSIONALISM, EARNED A WELL DESERVED RESPECT AND FRIENDSHIP FROM OUR NATO ALLIES. CONSUMATE HARD WORK AND SELF DISCIPLINE IN THEIR TRAINING AT SEA AND PROFESSIONALISM ASHORE SIGNIFICANLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE BUILDING OF GOOD WILL IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION FOR THE BETTERMENT OF WORLD PEACE AND FREEDOM TO DESCRIBE THE LIFE OF A SAILOR OR MARINE WOULD BE DIFFICULT HOWEVER THE PICTURES CONTAINED WITHIN THIS CHRONICLE ARE AN ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE A SMALL BUT IMPORTANT GLIMPSE OF LIFE ONBOARD AND ASHORE DURING MARG I 90 IT IS MY HOPE IN YEARS TO COME THIS BOOK MAY BE UTILIZED BY THE STRONG MEN THAT SAILED ONBOARD THE USS EL PASO TO DESCRIBE TO THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS NOT ONLY THE DAILY OPERATIONS THAT TRANSPIRED BUT ALSO THE SPECIAL PRIDE AND CAMARADERIE SHARED BY THE SAILORS AND MARINES WHO MADE THIS SIX MONTH FLOAT II 1 W g 'U'xr 5,3992 'Mfg Ji-e US S E1Paso ILKA 1171 f I I I -, ' I I I , . 1 3 ,R , 1 -'Uv' ID E 25. Y-ww' I L ' '. 5 A iQ- I v': .. 'X -N, , 21: . .1 fW '- W W , 'I U F11 , ' - ' Em A f gn 1 fm - , ' . .g, , J' -1.12 . I V , Q 1' O 'QI ff A l ' W , liz f f7- ma l' T 'U U H+ fm News - -, I Qf vB rlfmxw ' . A, NAI' . i'?f f-E 1 . 'T T-LA r A .. f JE? 2. 25, 14-'1Qu'M f ln. , 5 ' I 1 , - , 44 ' wdixlq I , . l . H T ex ,, a XX? I. . - Am- fvn' It x -M. 0.3 , 'I -Yin -Str .-:.7Q1,,--mi., ,.f I I . ,,c..i- n--. :.- gin? - ' 1 l I I ' I