Forrestal (CVA 59) - Naval Cruise Book

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I l' I - i ,,x I l , ,. , lx ll I 1 ' I I I J, ml' ll 5 W CAPTAIN JAMES SETON GRAY, JR. Captain James S. Gray, Jr., is the son of,kMr. and Mrs. James Seton Gray, Sr. of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was born in Mil- waukee on February 1, 1914. He was graduated from Wauwatosa High School in Wisconsin, and was ap- pointed to the U. S. Naval Academy graduating in 1936. He was designated a Naval Aviator in 1939. Prior to his assignment as Chief of Staff, Com- mander Carrier Division FOUR, Captain Gray was commanding officer of two fighter squadrons and a night fighter squadron aboard the carrier ENTER- PRISE. He was a member of Fighting Squadron SIX at the Battle of Midway and participated also in the major actions of 1944. During 1942 and 1943, he commanded the Fighter Training Squadron at Pensacola. At the war's end he was Commander Car- rier Air Group THREE. In 1947, upon completing a tour of duty as Aide to the Superintendent of the U. S. Naval Academy, he attended the Armed Forces Staf College as a member of that institution's first class. He then commanded Patrol Squadron TWENTY-TWO, The Pacific Typhoon Chasers. In 1949, he became the first All Weather Flying Coordinator for the Deputy Chief of Naval Opera- tions for Air. In 1951, he served as Executive Ofi- cer of the USS CORAL SEA through 1952. He graduated in 1955, from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. For the next three years he served on the staffs of the Commander in Chief Atlantic Fleet and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He then became Commanding Officer of the ammunition ship USS MAUNA LOA and later the USS SURIBACHI. His most recent command before reporting to COM- CARDIV FOUR was as Commanding Officer of the USS CORAL SEA. For distinguished service to his country, Captain Gray holds five Distinguished Flying Crosses, five Air Medals, the Treasury Department Gold Life Saving Medal, two Presidential Unit Citations, and two Navy Unit Citations.

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...X li J W .1 'Q X, .Q ...L X 4g,.i - -- V xx- 1 XJMI-,V Captain Robert E. Riera was born in Pensacola, Florida, November 30, 1912. He was graduated from the Naval Academy in 1935, and has been a naval aviator since January 1940. At the outbreak of World War II, Captain Riera was a student at the :Naval Postgraduate School. He has served as Executive Officer of VB-23 and VB-16, both aboard USS LEXINGTON, Commanding Offi- cer of VB-20 aboard USS ENTERPRISE, Com- manding Officer, CAG-11 aboard USS I-IORNETQ Operations Officer, COMCARDIV FOUR, Executive Officer, USS CORAL SEA and Commanding Officer, USS GREENWICH BAY. For action in the Pacific during World War II, Captain Riera was awarded the Navy Cross, Dis- tinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat V, Presidential Unit Citation CHORNETJ and Navy Unit Citation QENTER- PRISEJ. I ' CAPTAIN I ROBERT' E. RIERA A 28 April 1960 to 15 June 1961 .