Merrill (DD 976) - Naval Cruise Book

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Charlie Oscar -MC! Did anyone put coin in the meter? Captain ' s Mess Captain helps the Air Det with Karoke. Smile. You ' re on Candid Camera! Commanding Officer

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Commander Jose Luis Betancourt, Jr., VSN Comnumder Jose Luis Betancourt was born in Matamoros. Tamaulipas. Mexico. He has been a resident of the United States sinct early childhood and was raised in Brownsville. Texas. He received his Bachelor ' s Degree. Cum Laude. from Pan American Universi- ty. Edinburgh. Texas, in 1970 and u;i.s commissioned Ensign. United States Naval Reserve, after completion of Officer Candidate School in 1972. Upon receiving his commission, he was assigned as Communications Officer on board USS FREDERICK (LST-1184) and latei served as Operations Officer until his transfer to the Department Head School. Newport. Rhode Island. After graduation, he served af Weapons Officer in USS JOHN S. McCAIN (DDG-36} from 1976 to 1978. After a tour of duty as Flag Lieutenant and Aide to thi Commander. Naval Forces Marianas. Commander Betancourt was a student in the Command and Staff Course of the Naval War Col- lege. Newport. Rhode Island. He graduated from the Naval War College in 1980 and then served as Weapons Officer in USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY (CG-32) until December 1982. Following this tour. Commander Betancourt was assigned to the Offict of the Chief of Naval Personnel in Washington. D.C. where he served as a Special Assistant for Minority Affairs. He served as Exec- utive Officer of USS FOX (CG-33) from March 1985 to October 1986. Commander Betancourt ' s second tour in Washington was tc the staff of the Commander. Navy Recruiting Command, where he served as Special Assistant for Officer Programs until March 1989. Commander Betancourt ' s military decorations include three awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal and others. Commander Betancourt is married to the former .Angelica Garcia of Brownsville. Texas. They have three children: Jeffrey. Richarc and Jennifer. Comiiiamler Bclanciiuri

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Lieutenant Commander Mark W. Balmert USN LCDR Balmert was born in Fort Madison. Iowa, on 24 November 1954. He was commissioned Ensign upon graduation from the University of Notre Dame in December. 1977. where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. Following .Surface War are Officer School in Newport. Rhode Island. LCDR Balmert was sent to the guided mis. ' iile destroyer USS LYNDE McCORMICK (DDG-8) in San Diego. California. He remained on board for more than three years, serving as Boilers Officer. Machinery Division Officer, and Main Propulsion Assistant. In 1981 LCDR Balmert was assigned to the Staff. Commander Seventh Fleet, embarked in USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC-m in Yokosuka. Japan. He was promoted to Lieutenant in January 1982. For the next two years he worked Surface Warfare Operations and Fleet Scheduling in the Operations Department. Returning to the United States in November. 198. . LCDR Balmert was assigned to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. California. He completed his studies in June. 1985. earning a Masters of Science in .Administrative Sciences and sub-speciality code in Financial Management. In July. 1985 he was assigned as a Department Head student to Surface Warfare Officer School in Newport. Rhode Island. LCDR Balmert returned to San Diego. California in June 1986 and assumed the duties of Engineer Officer in VSS FIFE (DD- 991). He was promoted to his present grad of Lieutenant Commander in August. 1987. In July. 1988 LCDR Balmert was trans- ferred to the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk. Virginia where he was a student in Class 84. In January. 1989 LCDR Balmert reported to Headquarters. United Nations Command Combined Forces Command in Seoul. Korea, where he was a. ' isigned as a Contingency Plans Officer. In February. 1991 he returned to the United States and in May 1991 he assumed his present duties as Executive Officer m USS MERRILL (DD-976). Lieutenant Commander Balmert ' s military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star, the Joint Services Achievement Medal and others. Lieutenant Commander Balmert is manicd to his wife Chae and has a daudUer Emilv. l.CDR Balmert