Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 32 text:

CAPTAIN JOHN F. SCHORK CHIEF OF STAFF CRUISER-DESTROYER GROUP FIVE Captain Schork from Oak Harbor. Washington, graduated with honors from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1972. Following a Western Pacific cruise aboard USS LONG BEACH (CGN-9). he underwent tlight training, being designated a Naval Flight Officer in 1973. After training in the A-6A Intruder, he reported to VA-95, where he took part in the evacuation of Saigon and the rescue of the SS MAYAGUEZ. In 1 976 he reported to V A- 1 28 as a (light instructor in the A-6E. His next tour was with V A- 1 65 onboard USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64). deployed to the Indian Ocean. After a two-year tour at BLIPERS as the A6 EA6B Placement Officer, he reported back to VA-95. serving as the Operations Officer. Maintenance Officer, and Safelv Officer durina two cruises aboard USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65 ) to the Pacific Ocean. Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Following a brief tour on the staff of Commander. Medium Attack Tactical Electronic Warfare Wing. U. S. Pacific Fleet as Operations Officer, he reported back to VA-95 as Executive Officer. During the 1988 ENTERPRISEcruise. he participated in Operation Praying Mantis; the April retaliation against Iran. During his tour. VA-95 was awarded the McCIusky Award as the top Attack Squadron in the Navy, the Battle E. and the Chief of Naval Operations Safety S. Captain Schork has accumulated over 4000 tlight hours and 1 000 carrier landings. As the last Executive Officer of USS MIDWAY (CV-4 1 ), he participated in combat operations during Desert Storm and the evacuation of the Philippines in Operation Fiery Vigil. During the 199. academic year, he was the United States representative to the Naval Command College in Newport. Rhode Island, graduating with distinction from the College of Naval Warfare. In January 199.3. he assumed command of the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. During his tour, the air station was awarded the Commander-in-Chief Installation Excellence Award. Captain Schork reported to Commander. Cruiser-DestroyerGroupFIVEasChief of Staff in February 19%. Captain Schork ' s personal awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal v ith Gold Star, the Air Medal with Combat V. and the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V. In 1990 he was the recipient of the Senator Henry M. Jackson Award for Leadership. Captain Schork is married to Carole Ronhaar Schork. and they have two children. Jamie. 1 5. and John, 1 0. 1» - C().S

Page 34 text:

COMMODORE DAVID W. PRATHER COMMANDER DESTROYER SQUADRON THIRTY-ONE A native of Buckner. KY, Captain Sam Prather graduated from the University of Louisville and was commissioned at Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island in April 1971. He served his first tours as CIC Officer in USS VOGELESANG (DD-862) and USS JOSEPHUS DANIELS (CG-27). Upon graduation from Department Head School in December 1975, he completed two Department Head tours as Commissioning Operations Officer in USS PETERSON (DD-969) and Chief Engineer in USS FAIRFAX COUNTY (LST-1 193). During these tours, he participated in numerous Caribbean and special operations and Mediterranean deployments. Following a tour in Washington, D. C. in the Officer Assignment Branch, he was assigned as Executive Officer in USS CROMMELIN (FFG-37) from June 1984 to June 1986. During this period. CROMMELIN completed a deployment to the Western Pacific and North Arabian Sea which included the first operational deployment of the Navy ' s new LAMPS III Helicopter system. In July 1986, Captain Prather joined the Directing Staff of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, UK as part of the U. S. Navy Personnel Exchange Program. While at Greenwich, he taught communication skills and Maritime Geo-political Strategy to NATO and non-NATO midgrade Officers and civilians, initiated and edited the College ' s annual Maritime Strategy publication and conducted a major international maritime conference on NATO ' s response to change in the decade of the 90 ' s. In April 1990, Captain Prather took command of the USS MCCLUSKEY (FFG-41 ). a guided missile fast frigate homeported in San Diego. California. MCCLUSKEY shifted homeports and became part of the Overseas Family Residency Program (OFRP) in Yokosuka. Japan. Under his command, MCCLUSKEY operated extensively with units of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, conducted numerous operations in the South Pacific and deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation DESERT STORM. Captain Prather joined the staff of Commander in Chief, U. S. Pacific Fleet in June 1992 where he served as both the Deputy and Director, Plans and Policies Directorate (N5). During his staff tenure he initiated and developed Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise development program for Southeast Asia, represented the CINCPACFLT at key wargames including those with Russia and United Kingdom, and was instrumental in revitalizing military-to-military contacts programs with the People ' s Republic of China and Russia. Captain Prather is currently serving as Commander, Destroyer Squadron THIRTY-ONE. homeported in Pearl Haibor. Hawaii. Captain Prather is married to the former Donna J. Allen of Louisville. KY. They have two children. Christine and Ryan. He possesses a Masters of Science Degree in Business Administration from Boston University. Among his decorations are the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and Meritorious Unit Commendation.