Kalamazoo (AOR 6) - Naval Cruise Book

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ON THE ROAD AGAIN MED 1-93 K-ZOO HITS THE TRAIL

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COMMAND MASTER CHIEF BMCM(SW) ROBERT J. DOBLER Master Chief Boatswain Mate (Surface Warfare) Robert J. Dobler w as born in Sharon. Pennsylvania on Oct. 14. 1953. He graduated from Hickory High School in 1971 and in August 1971 attended Youngstown College of Business and Professional Drafting. To avoid induction in the Army, Master Chief Dobler joined the Navy on February 2, 1972. Fol- lowing basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois, he reported to the Staff at Navy Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, in April 1972. While there he was promoted from Seaman Recniit to Second Class Boat- swain Mate. Upon completing a fouryear tour in Monterey, Master Chief Dobler reported aboard USS KISKA (AE- 35 ) homeported in Concord, Califor- nia, in April 1 976, making two West- em Pacific and numerous Eastern pa- cific deployments. While aboard he v as Command Advanced to First Class Boatswain Mate. In December 1979, MasterChief Dobler reported to Naval Weapons Station Concord, California, as the Tugmaster aboard USS POKAGON (YTB-836) providing Navy tug ser- vices to the entire San Francisco Bay, Sacramento, and Stockton, Califor- nia areas. During this tour Master Chief Dobler was selected and ad- vanced to Chief Boatswain Mate. Master Chief Dobler transferred ii Hccember of 1982 to the USS W ' ITA (AOR-1 ) homeported in Oak ' alifornia. While aboard the Wici itch of the West, as the ship is n, the ship made one Western i i ■ deployment as the support ship in s ' ch for the downed KAL 007, one Indian Ocean cruise, and numerous Eastern Pacific deploy- ments which included Central Ameri- can cruise to various areas of Central famous Battleship Missouri. On her return voyage, the K.C. navigated around the continent of Australia and returned via the South Pacific. In October of 1988, he reported to NAVAL AIR STATION MEM- PHIS, Tennessee, where MasterChief Dobler served as N AS ISTLt. In this assignment, he personally managed and coordinated the Navy ' s second prototype program employing ap- proximately 100 minimum security Federal Prison Camp Inmates. While at Memphis, he was selected to attend the NAVY SENIOR ENLISTED ACADEMY at Newport, Rhode Is- land, and graduated October 1989, Brown Group in Class 38. He also was advanced to Master Chief Boat- America. During the tour aboard the swain Mate during this tour of duty. Wicked Witch of the West Master Master Chief Dobler assumed Chief Dobler acquired his Surface the duties as Command Master Chief Warfare designation and was pro- of USS KALAMAZOO (AOR-6) on moted to Senior Chief Boatswain November 8, 1991. In October of Mate. 1 992 the KZOO, as the ship is oth- Leaving the WICHITA in May ei-wise known, deployed to the Medi- 1986, Master Chief Dobler reported terranean Sea in support of the .IFK for a tour aboard the USS KANSAS Battle Group and the MED NATO CITY (AOR-3) also homeported in forces. Oakland, California. The K.C. imme- diately deployed for a North Pacific cruise to Alaska and Canada. When the Kuwaiti tankers were reflagged, the K.C. was then given a 30 day notice to deploy to the Indian Ocean Arabian Sea as the support ship for the Battle Group Romeo where the flag ship was the in- Master Chief Dobler and Chaplain X ' citch lead our Command at sol ing problems. .As you can see, they are ofl ' on another mission.

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MED 1-93 In early October the Kalamazoo slipped her moorings a nd steamed out into the Au- tumn sea. The changing hues of the trees were so applicable to the crew. The golds, reds and browns seemed to reflect the hope, the excite- ment, the sadness of leaving. Six months have passed, the Kalamazoo is steaming home. Millions of gallons of fuel have been pumped, tons of mail, passengers, and supplies delivered, hundreds of hours have been flown, and thousands of miles navigated all to bring the best service to the fleet, to proudly serve our Navy and Nation. The tulips, dogwoods, and azaleas will be blooming when the Super K steams into Nor- folk. It seems very fitting that it should be so. When the Kalamazoo departed it was Autumn and the world turned bleak w ithout her. Now the world blooms and comes alive as the K- ZOO returns. Soon this cruise will be but a proud, fading memory. But for the Kalamazoo sailors it is but another beginning for in the Spring time a young man ' s fancy turns to