Jouett (DLG 29) - Naval Cruise Book

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Captain Edward Samuel Briggs United States Navy Edward Samuel Briggs was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on October 4, 1926. He was graduated from the Naval Academy and commissioned Ensign in June 1949. Follow- ing three months instructor duty at Annap- olis, he entered flight training at Pensacola, Florida. Upon completion of Advanced Training at the Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas, in March 1951, he received his Naval Aviator Wings. Captain Briggs ' first operational tour of duty was with VF-192. With this unit, he flew 52 combat missions during the Korean Conflict. Following tours as flight instructor at NAS Whiting Field and NAS Sherman Field in Pensacola, he served aboard USS Ranger (CVA-61) as Assistant Air Intelligence Officer and Assistant Special Weapons Officer. In 1962 Captain Briggs became Executive Officer of USS Harry E. Hubbard (DD-748) and in 1966 he assumed command of USS Turner Joy (DD-951). Captain Briggs graduated from Line School, U. S. Naval Post-Graduate School at Monterey in 1957, from the Naval War College at Newport in 1961, and from the Joint Services Staff College, United King- dom, in 1964. Other assignments included duties with the Strategic Plans Division of the Commander in Chief, U. S. Naval Forces, Europe and as Surface Operations Officer with Commander, Task Force Seventy-Seven. He reported to JOUETT from a tour of duty in OPNAV where he was a member of the Operations Study Group in the office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Fleet Requirements and Operations). While serving with VF-192, Captain Briggs earned the Bronze Star with Combat V , a second Bronze Star, the Air Medal with one Gold Star, three Navy Commenda- tion Medals, and the Navy Unit Citation. He has been awarded two Meritorious Unit Citations, one of these and the the Combat Action Ribbon were received while com- manding the USS Turner Joy. Other awards include the Victory Medal, the Korean Theater Medal with two stars, the Vietnam Theater Medal with five stars, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, two Republic of Vietnam Medals, and the American Defense Service Medal. Captain Briggs is married to the former Nanette Parks of St. Paul, Minnesota. They have one son, Jeffrey. The Captains ' parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Briggs, reside in St. Paul, Minnesota.

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Captain Ralph E. Wilson Jr., USN Captain Wilson was born in New Londo ' n, Conn., on 3 April 1927. He attended Admiral Farragut Academy and the U. S. Naval Academy Preparatory School before entering the Naval Academy. He graduated from the Naval Academy in June of 1949. Captain Wilson served in sea billets as a junior officer in the cruiser USS Roanoke (CL-145), the destroyer USS Dyess (DDR-880) and as Communications Officer on the Staff of Commander Destroyer Flotilla Six. His duties have also included Executive Officer of USS Benham (DD-796) and the Engineer Officer of USS Kearsarge (CVS-33). Captain Wilson has attended the U. S. Naval Postgraduate School, the U. S. Naval War College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He has been awarded a Master of Science Degree in bo th Engineer- ing Electronics, and Business Administra- tion. He has also served in two billets involving Radar Development and Electronic Warfare in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D. C. Captain Wilson has commanded USS John S. McCain (DDG-36), USS Epperson (DD-719) in the Pacific Fleet and Destroyer Divisions 162 and 82 in the Atlantic Fleet. While Division Commander Captain Wilson made two transits around Africa to the Indian Ocean area. Prior to receiving orders to command JOUETT, Captain Wilson served in the Joint Continental Defense Systems Integration Planning Staff. Captain Wilson has been awarded the following sen ice medals: Americal Theater Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Naval Occupation Service Medal with European Clasp, The National Defense Sen ice Medal with bronze star, The Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with clasp. Captain Wilson is married to the former Elizabeth Struble of Chevy Chase, Maryland, and has two children, Laura Elizabeth and Ralph E., III.