Mars (AFS 1) - Naval Cruise Book

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Ml CAPTAIN MARC A. OSTERTAG II COMMANDING OFFICER Captain Marc A. Ostertag II was bom in Wichita, Kansas and raised in Sarasota, Florida. He graduated from Wichita State University and was commissioned an Ensign in 1968. After completing flight training, he was designated a Naval Aviator and assigned duties as Flight Instructor with VT-7 in Meridian, Mississippi. Subsequent flying tours included numerous fighter Squadrons including VF-124, VF-121, VF- 161, VF-211, VF-101 and Command of VF-102. Accumulating over 4000 hours in the F-8, F-4 and F-14 aircraft. Significant tours ashore have included Pacific Missile Test Center, Aide Flag Lieutenant to VADM R. R. Monroe at Commander Test and Evaluation Forces and Defense Nuclear Agency, Fighter Detailer and Air Combat Placement Officer, Naval Military Personnel Command, and the Staff of Commander Naval Air Forces Atlantic. Captain Ostertag is a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort McNair, Washington D.C In November 1988, he reported as Executive Officer, USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67), where he served until April of 1990 when he received orders to Command USS MARS (AFS-1). Personal Awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal as well as two Navy Meritorious Service Medals and various other Expeditionary and unit awards. Captain Ostertag resides with his best friend and wife, Marsha, and sons Doug and Marc and daughter Kelly at Naval Air Station Alameda, California 8 CO

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COMMANDING OFFICER CAPT. OSTERTAG CO 7

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AS USS MARS (AFS-1) CELEBRATED HER 29th BIRTHDAY ON 5 MAY 1991, SHE WAS ENROUTE TO A JOYOUS HOMECOMING IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY. IT WAS A TIME OF REFLECTION. LOOKING BACK ON HER LONG AND ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER, HER MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HER BRIGHT FUTURE FOR CONTINUED SERVICE. BUT MOST OF ALL IT WAS THE TIME TO REFLECT UPON HER AND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS IN THE SUPPORT OF DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM. YOU WERE ASKED TO BE THE THUNDER AND LIGHTING OF DESERT STORM. YOU WERE THAT TEMPEST AND SO MUCH MORE. DURING HOSTILITIES YOUR RECORDS OF ACCOMPLISHMENT ECLIPSED ALL PREVI- OUS MARS RECORDS, 8315 PALLETS OF FOOD, PARTS, AND MATERIALS, WEIGHING A GRAND TOTAL OF 10, 533, 783 POUNDS WERE DELIVERED TO 46 DIFFERENT SHIPS UNITS IN SUPPORT OF BOTH THE PACIFIC AND ATLANTIC AMPHIBIOUS TASK FORCES. (THE LARGEST AMPHIBIOUS TASK FORCE ASSEMBLED SINCE WORLD WAR II) IT ' S A RECORD THAT WILL STAND! FOR THAT YOU CAN BE JUSTIFIABLY PROUD. THE UNITED NATIONS COALITION FORCES STUNNING VICTORY IN KUWAIT WOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN PLACE WITHOUT YOUR GARGANTUAN LOGISTIC EFFORTS. YOUR COURAGEOUS ACTS, YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE, YOUR DETERMINATION AND YOUR LOVE OF YOUR COUNTRY WERE THE BACK BONE OF THIS COLOSSAL EFFORT. YOU HAVE WRITTEN A PART OF HISTORY IN THE DESERT SANDS AND EARNED THE HEARTY RESPECT OF A GRATEFUL NATION. THE LEGEND LIVES ON. CAPT. OSTERTAG CO 9