Fife (DD 991) - Naval Cruise Book

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Deployment ' 92 COMMANDER DAVID G. YOSHIHARA UNITED STATES NAVY CDR David G. Yoshihara was born on 6 March 1 957 on Midway Island. A graduate of Radford High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy, gradu- ating in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean Engineering. After receiving his commission, his first tour of duty was in USS REEVES (CG-24), serving as Assistant Combat Information Center Officer and First Lieutenant. He was reas- signed next as Aide and Flag Lieutenant to Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group ONE. Commander Yoshihara attended the Naval Postgraduate School from October 1983 to March 1 986 where he received a Master of Science degree in Operations Analysis. After completing the Surface Warfare Officer ' s School, Department Head Course, he served as Operations Officer in USS CURTS (FFG-38). Next, he served as Operations Officer in Destroyer Squadron THREE ONE. He continued on sea duty completing his most recent assignment as Executive Officer in USS FIFE (DD-991), homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. Commander Yoshihara ' s awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (3 awards). jj LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JAMES L. O ' KEEFE, III UNITED STATES NAVY L CDR James L. O ' Keefe III was born on 2 1 January 1 957 in Groton, Connecticut. A graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in Alexandria, Virginia, he entered the Pennsylvania State University, graduating in 1 979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. After receiving his commission, his first tour of duty was in USS OLDENDORF ( DD-972 ), serving as Auxiliaries Officer, Damage Control Assistant, and Anti-Submarine Weapons Officer from February 1980 until August 1983. Lieutenant Commander O ' Keefe attended the Naval Postgraduate School from August 1983 to March 1 986 where he received a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Mechanical Engineer Degree. After completing the Surface Warfare Officer ' s School, Department Head Course, he served as Engineer Officer in USS LEFTWICH (DD-984) from November 1986 to May 1988. Next, he split-toured to USS VALLEY FORGE (CG-50), where he served as Engineer Officer from August 1988 to May 1 990. LCDR O ' Keefe then taught engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy from June 1990 to June 1992. Following completion of the Surface Warfare Officer ' s School, Prospective Executive Officer Course, he reported to USS FIFE (DD-99 1 ) as Executive Officer in September 1992. Lieutenant Commander O ' Keefe ' s awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (three awards). Navy Achievement Medal, Battle Efficiency Ribbon (three awards), and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (two awards). He is a qualified Small Craft Officer as well as an Offshore Sailing Skipper. Additionally, he is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of California. •« E X E C U T I V E O F F I C E R S

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Ahabian Gulf A O F F I C E R COMMANDER DANIEL T. VILOTTI UNITED STATES N AVY CDR Daniel T. Vilotti was born on 31 March 1953 in St. Helena, California. A graduate of Ukiah High School in Ukiah, California, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1971. Upon graduation he reported for duty aboard USS ENGLAND (CG-22). In September of 1978, he was reassigned as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans at CINCPACFLT. Upon completion of a two year tour in Hawaii, he attended Surface Warfare Officer ' s School Department Head Course. After graduating with distinction, he reported for duty in USS DAVID R RAY (DD-971) as Engineer Officer from September of 1981 to June 1983. From July of 1983 to March 1985 he served as Weapons Officer in USS LEAHY (CG-16) and upon completion of his tour, reported for duty at the Naval Military Personnel Command. He served as a Surface Junior Officer Detailer and Sea Coordinator until August 1987. He then attended SWOS PXO Course in Newport, Rhode Island and reported as Executive Officer in USS CHANDLER (DDG-996) m January of 1988. In May 1989 he reported for duty as Flag Secretary on the Staff of Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Commander Vilotti ' s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (four awards). Meritorious Unit Commendation (two awards). Battle Efficiency Ribbon (five av. ' ards), Navy Expeditiona ry Medal, National Defense Medal (two awards), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal and four Deployment Ribbons. BBflRTffUWrj LUmHUi ' W ' J WMIJ Hiaa

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Arabian Gulf E L O Y H I S T O R Y In mid April 1 992 US S FIFE (DD-991 ) deployed as part of the INDEPENDENCE Battle Group, commencing an exciting six month deployment. FIFE conducted a solo transit of the East and South China Seas while the rest of the INDEPENDENCE Battle Group traveled to Australia for the 50th anniversary celebration of the Battle for the Coral Sea. Embarking Neptunus Rex on April 21st, the ship was cleansed of slimy pollywogs in a rousing shellback ceremony. The next three weeks would provide very enjoyable liberty stops in Bali, Indonesia, Singapore, and Phuket, Thailand. After crossing the Bay of Bengal and entering the North Arabian Sea, FIFE participated m exercise Al Hout Omani 2-92 with the British ships HMS YORK (D 98 ) and HMS BAYLEAF (A 109) and four Royal Omani patrol boats. At the conclusion of the exercise, FIFE ' s crew spent four days of well-earned liberty in Muscat, Oman. After transiting the Straits of Hormuz, FIFE began patrols as the Northern Arabian Gulf strike platform in earl y June. She also conducted shallow water Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) training with French ship FS JEAN DE VIENNE (D 643) and her embarked Lynx helicopter against a mini-mobile target (MMT). Afterwards FIFE returned to the Northern Arabian Gulf for more patrols, until a mid July port call in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. She then returned to Bahrain for exercise Neon Spark 92-3, conducting joint operations with three Royal Bahraini patrol boats in the Central Arabian Gulf. During late July and early August, FIFE was inport Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates for a ship ' s maintenance availability with USS ACADIA (AD-42). Crew members made frequent trips to nearby Dubai for liberty. The rest of August was spent in the Central and Northern Arabian Gulf on strike operations patrol. A last minute port call in Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates provided FIFE crew members with an opportunity to become goodwill ambassadors. The Sultan of Ras al Khaimah, the longest reigning ruler in the world, was hosted onboard FIFE for lunch and a tour of the ship. The ship was the first U.S. Navy vessel to pull into the emirate in nine years. In early September, FIFE rejoined the battle group, performing plane guard duties during Operation Southern Watch, until USS INDEPENDENCE (CV-62) turned over with the USS RANGER (CV-61) and then out-chopped from the Arabian Gulf on 17 September 1992. The battle group departed the USNAVCENT area of operations on September 28th with crew members looking forward to liberty in Pattaya, Thailand and Hong Kong. The highlight of the return trip back from Hong Kong, , however, was embarking 1 8 fam- ily members and friends known as Tigers. Although somewhat thwarted by heavy seas, the guests really enjoyed the ride to Japan. On 13 October 1992, the battle | group returned to Yokosuka Na- val Base, completing its second six I month deployment in two years. Family and loved ones gave the | crew a long awaited warm wel- come home, ltd One of the ship ' s missions is to use its helicopter assets to photograph Arabian Gulf oil terminals.