El Paso (LKA 117) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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FFICER CTl2l'TQ'Mff5E2l'Cf'R?5Gl52Up - 24 in CLTCOLJ Richard T. Kohl LTCol Kohl is from ST. Paul, Minnesofa, and aTTended The Universify of Minnesofa. He graduafed from MankaTo STaTe College in 4966 wiTh a BA in Psychology. , Joining The Marine Corps Reserve in November 4965, LTCol Kohl came on acTive duTy in AugusT 4966 To aTTend The 4OTh Officer Candidafe School COCS3 class. Upon complefion of OCS, The 2ndLT Kohl wenT To The Basic School CTBSD, compleTing The course In May 4967. Before going To Viefnam, 2ndLT Kohl aTTended The Psychological OperaTions Course aT FT. Bragg, NC. Arriving in Vlefnam during July 4967, 2ndLT Kohl was assigned as a Plafoon Commander, 2nd Plafoon, A Co 4726 aT Khesanh. AfTer 6 monfhs he was assigned as AssisTanT S-4, Then as S-A for 4726. Refurning To The US in 4968 he was assigned To 2nd ITR, Camp Lejeune, as a Compar1Y Commander and Then as Special Senfices Officer. ln December 4969 LT. Kohl was ordered To Guam To be CO, Marine Defachmenf USS Profeus CAs-493. LT. Kohl was promofed To CapTain 4 Jan 4970. ReTurning To The US in January 4972, Capfain Kohl aTTended Amphibious Warfare School CAWS3. ln July 4972 he was ordered To Okinawa, becoming CO, L Co, 374. Refurning home in Sepfember 4973, he was assigned To The Training Branch aT HQMC sewing as an acTion officer, and laTer as an adminisTraTive assisTanT To The DirecTor of Training. ln May 4977 CapT Kohl was assigned To Recruifing DuTy in Minneapolis, Minnesofa. He was promofed To Major Ori 4 June 4977. The following year Maj Kohl was Transferred To Camp Elmore, Norfolk, VA, for duTy as The camp S-4. ln 4982 he wGS ordered To 3rd FSSG on Okinawa where he worked in The G-3 Operafions SecTion. He was XO for CSSD-33 during Team SpiriT 4933 and subsequenTly became CO of CSSD-32 deploying To Camp Fuji, Japan. Refurning To The US in Sepfember 4983, Major Kohl was assigned To Headquarters FMFLanT in The G-4 secTion. He was direcTly involved wiTh The logisTic supporl efforl for BeiruT as well G5 handling The war Trophy issue resulTing from Grenada. Promofed To his presenf rank on 4 OcT 4985, LTcol Kohl became The G-4 Operafions Officer aT FMFLanT. Reassigned To The Afh MEB in Augusf 4987, he became The AssisTanT G-4, unTil his assignmenf To 2d FSSG during May of This year. LT. Col Kohl's personal decorafions include The Purple Hearl, Meriforious Service medal wiTh Cold STar in lieu of second award, The Navy Commendafion Medal, wiTh Combaf V and The Navy Achievemenf Medal. He is married To The former Carleen D. Suennen Of Robinsdale Minnesofa They have Three children Julie Ann who is a member of The cl f 4994 T I A d ,dnd Two sons Michael 46 and Sfephen 42 boTh adopfed from Managua, Nicaragua. GSS O G The Us NGVG CG emy