Forrestal (CVA 59) - Naval Cruise Book

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Captain obert Captain Robert S. Cole, a native of West Point, New York, entered the Navy in September 1963 from the NROTC contract program. Commissioned after graduation from Penn State Uni- versity, he completed flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in May 1965. Following A-4E replacement pilot training, Captain Cole re- ported to Attack Squadron FIFTEEN, NAS Cecil Field. During his tour, Captain Cole flew more than 200 combat missions over North Vietnam from the carrier deck of USS INTREPID. As- signed flight instructor duty, Captain Cole reported to Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX at NAS Miramar in November 1968. During his tour he worked as Squadron Train- ing Officer and helped initiate adversary training among Mira- mar based fighter squadrons. In July 1970 the Captain reported to Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE, as Maintenance Officer, forward de- ployed aboard USS MIDWAY in Japan. ' Captain Cole attended the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island in 1975, followed by a tour in the Pentagon where he served as the Head of Naval Aviation Manpower and Plan- ning COP-051. In August 1978 Captain Cole reported to FI- TRON SEVENTY-FOUR as Executive Officer and later be- came Commanding Officer embarked on board USS FORRES- S. Cole, USN TAL. In August 1981 he reported to Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet as Fighter Training Officer for the East Coast. In April 1984 Captain Cole reported aboard USS JOHN F. KENNEDY as Executive Officer, followed by com- mand of the USS CANISTEO CAO-991 in July 1986. He re- turned to USS FORRESTAL from his last assignment as Execu- tive Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe X Com- mander in Chief European Command, SHAPE, Belgium. Captain Cole has logged over 3500 hours of flight time and 800 carrier landings. His personal decorations include the De- fense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal ftwo awardsj, Air Med- al, seventeen Strike Flight Air Medals, Navy Commendation Medal with combat Vw Cfour awardsj, Navy Achievement Med- al with combat V,' Qthree awardsj, Humanitarian Service Med- al, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry CBronze Starj plus various unit awards and campaign medals. He has written numerous articles on Naval Aviation Safety and 'served as Grampaw Pettibonel' while Contributing Editor to Naval Aviation News Magazine. The Captain completed his Masters Degree at Salve Regina College, Newport, Rhode Island. Captain Cole resides in Jack- sonville, Florida with his wife, Paula. The Cole's have four chil- dren.

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