Merrimack (AO 179) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 80 of the 1996 volume:

5 t •can ff £ S c aitv- t 9 J ' fa k MAKE ALL PREPARATIONS FOR GETTING UNDERWAY. THE SHIP EXPECTS TO GET UNDERWAY AT 1100, 26 JANUARY 1996. .:• ' COMMANDING OFFICER COMMANDER ROBERTA SPILLANE Commander Spillane is originally from Gradyville, Pennsylvania and attended East Stroudsburg State College, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education in 1975. She enlisted in the Navy in 1978 and served as a Hospital Corpsman at the National Naval Medical Cen- ter, Bethesda. Maryland until entering Officer Candidate School Following commissioning in 1979, Commander Spillane served in USS CANOPUS (AS 34) as Electrical Officer and in USS FULTON (AS 11) as Main Propulsion Assistant, where she also com- pleted Navy SCUBA School. Subsequent sea tours include Operations Officer in USS POINT LOMA (AGDS 2) and Executive Officer and First Lieutenant in USS SHENANDOAH (AD 44) After a brief shore tour at the US Naval Academy, Commander Spillane was assigned as Executive Officer, USS SYLVANIA (AFS 2). She most recently served as an instructor at Surface Warfare Officers School Command, Prospective Commanding Officer Executive Officer Department, in Newport Rhode Is- land Commander Spillane earned a Master of Education degree in Education Administration from San Diego State University in 1987 and was designated an Education and Training Management Subspe- cialist. Commander Spillane ' s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (4 Awards), Navy Achievement Medal (2 Awards), Southwest Asis Service Medal and various unit and service awards. She and hei reside in Little Creek, Virginia EXECUTIVE OFFICER LT COMMANDER KELLY S. BOSE Lieutenant Commander Bose graduated from Fairborn Baker High School in Fairborn, Ohio. She earned her Bachelor ' s degree in International Studies at the University ot Texas and was commis- sioned through the NROTC program in 1982. After commissioning, Lieutenant Commander Bose served as Inside Machinery Repair Division Of- ficer in USS FRANK CABLE (AS 40) and First Division Officer, Electrical Officer and Operations Offic- er Navigator in USS L.Y. SPEAR (AS 36). In her department head tour she served as Operations Offi- cer followed by Engineer Officer in USS SHENANDOAH (AD 44). Shore tours included two years at the Naval Magazine on Guam where she served as the Conventional Ordnance Officer and assign- ment as the Maritime Tactical Communications Officer on the Supreme Allied Command, Atlantic Staff. Lieutenant Commander Bose ' s decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medical, Navy Commendation Medal (3 Awards), Southwest Asis Service Medal and various unit and service awards. She resides with her husband and son in Norfolk, Virginia. COMMAND MASTER CHBEF MMCM(SW SS) DANIEL E. SMITH MMCM(SW SS) Daniel E. Smith is a native of Strykerville, NY. He entered recruit training in Great Lakes, IL in 1973 and graduated from Machinist ' s Mate class A school at Great Lakes. Following class A school he was assigned a short tour on USS GUAM (LPH 9) prior to attending Nuclear Power School at Bainbridge, MD. Upon graduation from Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) at Ball- ston Spa. NY he was assigned as an instructor at NPTU. At the close of his tour at NPTU, he volun- teered for submarine duty. Follow on tours include USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (SSBN 600), NPTU Ballston Spa, NY, USS BUFFALO (SSN 715), USS NEW YORK CITY (SSN 696), Nuclear Plan- ning Division SUBASE, Pearl Harbor, USS HELENA (SSN 725) and most recently, Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Advanced to MMCM in 1991 MMCM in 1991 MMCM(SW SS) Smith was assigned as Command Master Chief. USS MERRIMACK (AO 179) in September 1995. His awards include two Navy Com- mendation Medals, three Navy Achievement Medals, a Battle E , five Good Conduct Medals, a Navy Expeditionary Medal, four awards of the Sea Service Ribbon including two FBM Deterrent Pa- trol Pins and two National Defense. Master Chief Smith is married to the former Linda Goiter and they have three children Carin, Cathie and Kai WARD ROOM CHIEF ' S MESS DISTINGUISHED GUESTS â– r- « r -j • ' . w REENLISTMENTS S£F r â„¢_ • J I H SljIr ' w- ' â–  ADVANCEMENTS y DCC(SEL) PORTER V V QM3 CANNAMELA ET2 CHILDS BM1 GONZALES SK3 CHESTNUT EM2 DENNIS MM1 SMITH BT3 DOMINO OS2 HERNANDEZ GMG3FIESCHELL QM2 RYAN GMG3 GREEN FC2 SCEARCE RM3HERRERA EN2 WILLIAMS MS3 HOWELL BT3 JONES QM3 JONES SM3 LATSHAW SK3 MEJIA EN3 PEARCY SH3 SIMMONS MM3 SIMPSON BM3 STILES SH3 VOSS MM3 WHITE SMCS GENET BTCS ROSS MMCM BOUCHONVILLE ESWS BM2(SW) ANDERSON MM3(SW) BARGERSTOCK QM2(SW) BLOCKER YN1(SW) BONNER ET2(SW) CHILDS IC3(SW) DOUGLAS SKC(SW) ELLRICH BT2(SW) ENCARNACION SN(SW) EVANS SH1(SW) GRIGGS OS2(SW) HERNANDEZ MM2(SW) HOBBS DC3(SW) KEIFFER ET3(SW) LEE EM2(SW) PLOWMAN DC1(SW) PORTER FC2(SW) SCEARCE SH1(SW) SIMMONS MMCM(SW) SMITH OS1(SW) STONE OS2(SW) TURNER EN3(SW) WILLIAMS SWO LTJG CASTELL ENSCUENCA ENSHORNE ENSZWEIG MEDICAL SWO LCDR GUITERREZ SUPPLY SWO LTJG HANSON COMMUNITY SERVICE SHIP ' S ALONGSIDE USSSAN JACINTO — 19 USS GEORGE WASHINGTON — 1 2 USS MOUNT BAKER — 11 USS BARRY — 1 1 USS ARTHUR W. RADFORD --9 USSCONOLLY — 9 USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS — 7 USS STOUT — 7 USSTORTUGA — 5 USS TRENTON — 5 USS THACH — 4 USS GUAM — 3 USS JOHN YOUNG — 3 USS PORTLAND — 3 USS RODNEY M.DAVIS USS UNDERWOOD — 2 USS AMERICA— 1 USS ANCHORAGE — 2 USS BOONE — 1 USS BUTTE — 1 USS CARON — 1 USS DENVER — 1 USS DEWERT — 1 M USS DOYLE — 1 USSINGERSOLL— 1 USS JOHNS. McCAIN — 1 USS MONTEREY — 1 USS PELELIU — 1 USS NORMANDY — 1 USNSSAN DIEGO — 1 USS SCOTT— 1 SPS AUSTRIAS — 2 SSPFCE.A. OBREGON — 1 SPFFCANARIUS — 1 ITSESPERO — 2 HMNLS KARAL DOORMAN - TCGKARADENIZ — 2 TCP KOCATEPE — 1 FS LAFAYETTE — 1 ITS LIBECCIO — 1 HMS LONDON — 1 HMS NOTTINGHAM --1 ITS PERSEO — 1 HSTHEMISTOKLIS--1 HMNLS TJERKHIDDES- -1 •i - f ' ' 5 ' t i HALF-WAY DAY OLYMPIAD TUG-OF-WAR FLIGHT QUARTERS ' ( ' â– P 71 â–  r 4i | ; SE VILLA SUEZ CANAL MY BUDDY r 1 ' A B -j 1 k SEARCH AND RESCUE i « A y JEBELALI - L 4 i k KESdlL! • f[| „ l.llll ! !f !!!!!!!! ' III! tut Ml m f mi ii ' mi mi PALMA 23 JULY: HOMECOMING! WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILIES ON THE PIER, USS MER MACK ENDED ONE OF THE BUSIEST DEPLOYMENTS IN HER HISTORY. 45 DIFFE ENT SHIPS, FROM SEVEN COUNTRIES AND THE US COMBINED FOR TWO AND HALF TIMES THE UNREPS FROM THE LAST DEPLOYMENT. AS OUR LAST CL TOMER, USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS PULLED IN, WE CHEERED AND SENT SPECI. GOODIES OVER TO CELEBRATE. USNS LENTHALL CONSOLED US TO ENSUI WE HAD A (NEARLY) FULL TANK TO PULL IN WITH. THE CHIEF ' S MESS ENSURI A LATE NIGHT OF PIZZAS AND MOVIES FOR CHANNEL FEVER THE NIGHT E FORE, JOINING THE LINE OF SHIPS PULLING IN, WE BREATHED A SIGH OF F LIEF, AND SMILED AS WE FOUND OUR FAMILIES ON THE PIER. 21 JULY: WELCOME TIGERS! AFTER UNREPPING OUR WAY ACROSS THE ATLA TIC, KEEPING THE ARG AND THE BATTLE GROUP FUELED, WE BID FAREWELL THE ARG, AND WITH THE BATTLE GROUP PULLED INTO, OR CLOSE TO BERMUI TO PICK UP THE TIGERS. ELEVEN FAMILY MEMBERS JOINED US FOR THE RE OF THE TRIP INTO NORFOLK. THEY WERE INVITED TO EVERY EVOLUTION Tl SHIP HELD, AND SAW THE LOGISTICS FORCE AT WORK. 1 1 JULY: MERRIMACK LEAVES THE SIXTH FLEET! WE ' VE PASSED THE TORCH USS SUPPLY AND HAVE HEADED OUT OF THE MED. WITH THE ROCK ( GIBRALTAR A FUZZY VIEW IN THE DISTANCE, WE HEADED NORTH TO ROTA F( ONE LAST (VERY) BRIEF STOP FOR FUEL AND THEN WEST FOR HOME. OUR ME ITERRANEAN JOB WAS COMPLETE, BUT THE CRUISE WORK WAS STILL WITH UJ 3 JULY: PALMA SPAIN! HERALDED AS ONE THE MOST PICTURESQUE PORTS THE WESTERN MED, PALMA SPAIN WAS THE PERFECT SETTING FOR OUR LA PORT VISIT. ALTHOUGH ORIGINALLY PIERSIDE, IN THE WORDS OF THE CO MANDING OFFICER SOMEONE FIGURED OUT WE ' RE AN OILER AND THE SI- HAD TO BERTH-SHIFT TO AN ANCHORAGE. THE WATER TAXI SERVICE WAS VE RELIABLE, AND THE WARM HOSPITALITY OF THE LOCAL POPULATION MADE TF ALMOST EVERYONE ' S FAVORITE PORT. WE USED THE LAST OF OUR PESET AND DISPOSED OF THE REST OF OUR FOREIGN CURRENCY GETTING SOI LAST MINUTE SOUVENIRS. THE RELAXED ATMOSPHERE AND SANDY BEACH OF PALMA, PALMA NOVA AND MAGALUF EASED THE STRESS AND TENSIONS ( THE LAST SIX MONTHS AND GAVE US ALL A MUCH NEEDED REST BEFORE Tl HEAVY UNREP SCHEDULE ON THE WAY HOME. THE SHIP BEGAN TO GET HI HOMECOMING COAT OF PAINT AND WE ALL STARTED TO WRAP UP MEDITERF NEAN LOOSE ENDS. 27 JUNE: LAST STOP IN AUGUSTA BAY. MERRIMACK PULLED INTO AUGUSTA B FOR ONE LAST TIME. LOADING UP ON FUEL AND CARGO, MERRIMACK PF PARED TO HEAD INTO THE HOME STRETCH OF THE MEDITERRANEAN REFL INGS. THE COMMANDING OFFICER HOSTED A RECEPTION ON THE SHIP FC THE LOCAL CIVILIAN AND NAVY OFFICIALS WHO MADE OUR SIX TRIPS INTO A GUSTA BAY SMOOTH AND PRODUCTIVE EVOLUTIONS. 22 JUNE: AFTER YET ANOTHER BSF IN AUGUSTA BAY, MERRIMACK HIT SOU! BAY GREECE READY TO ROLL. ON THE WAY THERE, HOWEVER, SHE TRAVEL! ON UP THE AEGEAN SEA INTO THE SEA OF CONSTELLATIONS, AND WOVE HI WAY THROUGH THE GREEK ISLANDS. IN SOUDA BAY, THE FIRST CLASS PET OFFICERS HOSTED A BEACH PARTY AND THE WHOLE CREW ENJOYED THE L CAL SCENERY AND CUISINE. 14 JUNE: MERRIMACK HIT A DEPLOYMENT MILESTONE WITH HER 100TH UNDE WAY REPLENISHMENT OF THE CRUISE. AS USS BARRY CAME ALONGSIDE, Tl CREW WAS GATHERED TO GIVE THEM A CHEER AND WE REMINDED THEM TK THEY WERE (COINCIDENTALLY) OUR 1500TH CAREER CUSTOMER LAST DECE BER 01 JUNE: NAPLES IN SPRINGTIME. ON THE HEELS OF THE BOILER EXPLOSIO MERRIMACK ANCHORED IN NAPLES AS SCHEDULED ALTHOUGH EARLY. WORKING PORT, WE UTILIZED THE SERVICES OF USS SIMON LAKE MAKE SON MID-DEPLOYMENT ALTERATIONS AND REPAIRS. WHILE IN NAPLES, THE CRE WAS GRANTED AN AUDIENCE WITH THE POPE IN ROME. ADORNED IN OUR Fl ST DRESS WHITES, WE JOINED THE CREW OF USS TORTUGA IN THE SQUARE )F ST PETER ' S BASILICA AND ENJOYED A ONCE IN A LIFETIME CHANCE TO SEE HE POPE. LATER IN THE WEEK, WITH THE SHIP PROPERLY BLESSED, WE WEL- :OMED THE MCA INSPECTION TEAM ONBOARD AND SET SAIL ONCE AGAIN. MAY: WHAT STARTED AS MAIN SPACE. FIRE DRILL UNEXPECTANTLY TURNED sITO A REAL EMERGENCY AS FUEL LEAKED BY A QUICK ACTING FUEL OIL VALVE .ND EXPLODED. THE CREW SPRUNG INTO ACTION AND DID ALL THE RIGHT HINGS TO PROTECT BOTH THE SHIP AND THE CREW. THERE WERE NO PER- ONNEL CASUALTIES AND DAMAGE TO THE SHIP WAS RELATIVELY MINOR. RESS COVERAGE REACHED THE STATES, BUT WAS SHORT LIVED. 7 MAY: THE CREW OF MERRIMACK CELEBRATED MEMORIAL DAY BY PULLING KlTO BEAUTIFUL MARSEILLE FRANCE. MAXIMUM LIBERTY WAS THE ORDER OF HE DAY FOR THIS SHORT THREE DAY VISIT. THE CREW TOOK EXTRA TRIPS TO ARIS AND TOULON, AND HIKED ALL OVER THIS HILLY TOWN. WE SAMPLED THE OCAL FOOD, INCLUDING ESCARGOT, WORKED ON OUR TANS AND RELAXED. HEN WE LEFT MARSEILLE, WE CARRIED MIDSHIPMEN FROM USNA AND NROTC INITS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND SETTLED INTO SOME INTENSE TRAINING. 4 MAY: MERRIMACK ANCHORED AT LA MADDELLENA TO PICK UP A PUMP. AL- HOUGH THE CREW WAS NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE SHIP, WE GO SOME iREAT EYE-BALL LIBERTY IN THIS BEAUTIFUL BAY. 3 MAY: AFTER AN UNEXPECTED WEEK INPORT IN AUGUSTA BAY, MERRIMACK SOT UNDERWAY AND HEADED NORTH. AN EVAPORATOR CASUALTY WHICH OC- CURRED EARLIER IN THE WEEK NECESSITATED STAYING LONG THAN EXPECTED 4 AUGUSTA BAY. NEVER ONE TO MISS A COMMITMENT THOUGH, WE GOT UN- ERWAY ON MONDAY THE 20TH TO REFUEL USS DOYLE, THEN PULLED BACK IN. i HILE IN THIS WORKING PORT, THE CREW TOOK ADVANTAGE OF TRIPS TO NAS SIGONELLA AND THE NEARBY TOWN OF SIRACUSA. 4 MAY: IN THE DARK HOURS OF 14 MAY 96, USS MERRIMACK GOT UNDERWAY iNCE AGAIN FOR THE TRANSIT THROUGH THE SUEZ CANAL. ACCOMPANIED BY SS GEORGE WASHINGTON, USS SAN JACINTO, USS MOUNT BAKER AND USS CRANTON, MERRIMACK WOVE HER WAY THROUGH THE 104 MILE TRACK BACK 3 THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA. KEEPING UP A NAVY TRADITION, THE CREW OF HE MERRIMACK, LED BY BT3 TANYA BENNETT AND THE SHIP ' S PHYSICIAN ' S AS- ISTANT LCDR DAVID GUTIERREZ RAN THE DITCH . CREWMEMBERS SIGNED P IN 15 MINUTE INCREMENTS TO TAKE TURNS RUNNING THE NEARLY QUAR- ER MILE TREK AROUND MERRIMACK ' S DECK FOR THE ENTIRE TRANSIT UP THE UEZ CANAL. THE RUN STARTED AT 0630 IN THE MORNING WHEN THE SHIP EN- ERED THE CANAL AND CONTINUED UNTIL 1730 WHEN THE SHIP CLEARED THE ANAL IN PORT SAID, EGYPT MAY: IN A MISSION ONLY THE LOGISTICS FORCE CAN SUPPORT, USS MERRI- IACK, IN TANDEM WITH USS MOUNT BAKER, SENT MUCH NEEDED SUPPLIES TO .S. EMBASSIES FROM AROUND THE ARABIAN PENINSULA. MERRIMACK PICKED P THE SUPPLIES DESIGNATED FOR THE EMBASSIES AND HEADED TO SEA WITH HEM. MEETING UP WITH MOUNT BAKER AFTER THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ TRAN- IT, MERRIMACK LOADED TWO SH-46 HELICOPTERS WITH DRY GOODS AND EV- RYDAY STAPLES BOUND FOR THESE REMOTE EMBASSIES, AND SENT THEM TO IOUNT BAKER FOR FURTHER TRANSFER. MAY: MERRIMACK HITS THE AROUND THE WORLD POINT. WITH OVER 24,000 ILES UNDER HER BELT, MERRIMACK ' S CURRENT DEPLOYMENT HAS ALREADY KEN HER FURTHER THAN THE DISTANCE AROUND THE EARTH. MAY: AS A SURE SIGN THAT MERRIMACK ' S CURRENT MED RED DEPLOYMENT ON THE DOWN-HILL SIDE, USS MERRIMACK ONCE AGAIN TRANSITED THE TRAIT OF HORMUZ AND IS HEADED TOWARD THE RED SEA. AFTER A BRIEF TOP FOR FUEL (BSF) IN JEBAL ALI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, ONE LAST TIME, 4E CREW OF MERRIMACK SET SAIL SOUTH AND AROUND THE STRAIT. ALONG ' ITH THE AMMUNITION SHIP, USS MOUNT BAKER, MERRIMACK SET A HIGHER ONDITION OF READINESS AND THE NAVIGATION DETAIL AND LEFT THE LAND OF GOLDEN OIL WELLS. 26 APRIL: THE CREW OF USS MERRIMACK CELEBRATED THE HALFWAY POINT 01 THE CURRENT DEPLOYMENT. WHILE INPORT JEBEL ALI, UNITED ARAB EMIR ATES, THE LIBERTY PARTY HIT THE BEACH WITH HIGH HOPES AND PLANS TC CELEBRATE IN STYLE, WHILE THOSE LEFT ON BOARD WITH THE DUTY CELE BRATED A LITTLE MORE CALMLY, AND TELEPHONED HOME. SINCE DEPARTING NORFOLK VIRGINIA JANUARY 26TH, MERRIMACK HAS HOSTED 81 UNDERWA REPLENISHMENTS TO 34 DIFFERENT SHIPS FROM FOUR NATO NATIONS ANt THE UNITED STATES. SO FAR, USS SAN JACINTO LEADS THE FREQUENT FLYEF (REFERRING TO FLYING REPLENISHMENT RIGS) CLUB WITH 9 VISITS ALONG SIDE, FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY USS GEORGE WASHINGTON AND USS MOUN BAKER WITH 7 AND 6 RESPECTIVELY. MERRIMACK HAS TRANSFERRED A TOTAI OF 15,198, 124 GALLONS OF FUEL AND CONDUCTED 88.5 HOURS OF FLIGHT QUARTERS WITH 86 SAFE LANDINGS TAKEOFFS, AND 198 PALLETS OF CARGC VERTREPED. 23 APRIL: MERRIMACK HOSTED THE 60 ' S SINGING GROUP THE TEMPTATIONS ' THE GROUP AND THEIR ENTOURAGE TOURED THE SHIP, SIGNED AUTOGRAPHS AND SANG A FEW SONGS FOR THE CREW, INCLUDING MY GIRL THEY RE CEIVED SHIP ' S BALLCAPS, A SHIP ' S PLAQUE AND A GROUP HONORARY CREW MEMBER CERTIFICATE. 21 APRIL: AS WE NEARED THE HALFWAY POINT, THE OFFICERS PREPARED I MERRIMACK OLYMPIAD CELEBRATION FOR THE CREW, A FEW DAYS EARU SINCE MERRIMACK WAS INPORT ON THE 26TH. 17 APRIL: MERRIMACK ' S TEAM OF EXPERT BOATSWAIN ' S MATES ASSISTED US! GEORGE WASHINGTON WITH HER FIRST-EVER HIGHLINE PERSONNEL TRANS FER. I ' VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE SAID MERRIMACK ' S COM MAND DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROGRAM ADVISOR, GMC(SW) GLENN PETERSEN BUT I ' D DO IT AGAIN . IN THE USUAL SPIRIT OF TEAMWORK BETWEEN MERRI MACK AND GEORGE WASHINGTON, THE EVOLUTION WAS SMOOTH, SETTING HIGH STANDARD FOR THE FUTURE. 17 APRIL: MERRIMACK ONCE AGAIN DONNED HER COSTUME AS A MERCHAN VESSEL AND PLAYED HOST TO SEAL THEM EIGHT FOR NIGHT HELICOPTER BORNE VISIT, SEARCH AND SEIZURE EXERCISES. MERRIMACK ' S CONFIGURA TION AND THE WILLINGNESS OF HER CREW MAKE HER A FAVORITE PLATFORK FOR HBVSS EXERCISES. MERRIMACK TAKES PRIDE IN THE PART SHE PLAYS If THE TRAINING OF THE FORCES NECESSARY FOR ONGOING INTERDICTION OP ERATIONS HERE IN THE ARABIAN GULF. 13 APRIL: MERRIMACK PARTICIPATED IN PROJECT HANDCLASP IN DUBAI UAE WHEN THE CREW OF MERRIMACK HEARD OF A HANDICAP OLYMPICS TRAININC CENTER BADLY IN NEED OF A PAINT JOB, 12 OF MERRIMACK ' S FINEST, ALONC WITH EIGHT SAILORS FROM USS MOUNT BAKER, RESPONDED. THE GROUP HEADED BY MERRIMACK ' S COMMAND MASTER CHIEF AND MOUNT BAKER ' ! CHAPLAIN BRAVED THE SUNBURN AND A FEW EXOTIC CRAWLEY-THINGS TC PAINT A WALL ONE-EIGHTH OF A MILE LONG. WHEN THEY WERE DONE, THE CREW WISHED THEY COULD HAVE SPENT MORE TIME TAKING CARE OF THE CENTER. 10 APRIL: DURING A VISIT BY COMMANDER, COMBAT LOGISTICS GROUP TWO RADM KRISTENSEN, AND COMMANDER, TASK FORCE FIVE THREE COMC RANKIN, THE CREW OF USS MERRIMACK WAS PRAISED FOR THE JOB THEY ARE DOING IN THE CENTCOM OPERATING AREA. YOU ' RE DOING IT WELL, DOING T PROFESSIONALLY SAID RADM KRISTENSEN WHILE ADDRESSING THE CREW A ADMIRAL ' S CALL. THROUGHOUT APRIL: MERRIMACK MAKES SEVERAL PORT VISITS TO JEBEL AL IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. AS THE MAIN REFUELING PORT IN THE ARABIAh GULF, MERRIMACK HAS STOPPED FOR BRIEF STOPS FOR FUEL (BSF) AND I- COUPLE OF LIBERTY VISITS. THE CREW HAS HAD A CHANCE TO SOCIALIZE WITT LOCAL AMERICANS, NATIVES AND CAMELS. THE SHOPPING AND SAND SKIING HAS MADE THIS A REAL SUMMER VACATION SPOT MARCH 24TH: USS MERRIMACK TRANSITED THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AND BE- CAME THE ARABIAN GULF ON-STATION OILER FOR THE UNITED STATES FLEET AS MERRIMACK AND HER CREW OF 270 COMMEMORATED THE ONE-THIRD POINT OF HER DEPLOYMENT, THEIR AWARD OF THE ARMED FORCES EXPEDI- TIONARY MEDAL. AND ENTITLEMENT TO IMMIMENT DANGER PAY, MANY OF THE SAILORS GAZED IN AMAZEMENT AT THIS FAR-AWAY LAND MOST HAD ONLY HEARD OF IN THE NEWS. 15 MARCH: USS MERRIMACK TRANSITED THE SUEZ CANAL TO JOIN THE CEN- TRAL COMMAND OPERATING THEATER. AS MERRIMACK MADE THE 20 HOUR TRIP FOLLOWED BY THE AMMUNITION SHIP USS MOUNT BAKER ENERGY ON THE SHIP WAS HIGH IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS NEW AND EXCITING PART OF THE WORLD. 10 MARCH: WHILE MAKING THE TRIP FROM AUGUSTA BAY ITALY TO SOUDA BAY GREECE, USS MERRIMACK RECEIVED THE WORD TO CHANGE COURSE FOR THE SUEZ CANAL AND HEAD TO THE ARABIAN GULF. AS THE CREW HEARD OF THE HEIGHTENED TENSIONS IN TAIWAN, AND REALIZED THAT MERRIMACK WAS TO 3ECOME A PLAYER AFFECTED BY REAL WORLD POLITICS, THE ENERGY LEVEL SHOT UP. AND ALL HANDS PITCHED IN TO MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUST- MENTS TO SUPPORT THE TRANSIT. 1 MARCH: PORT VISIT NAPLES ITALY. DESPITE FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND FHE INCONVENIENCE OF BEING ANCHORED OUT, THE CREW OF MERRIMACK REALLY ENJOYED A FIVE DAY PORT VISIT TO NAPLES ITALY. THEY TOOK ADVAN- rAGE OF THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF ROME, AND A FEW EVEN GOT TO SEE THE WE MERRIMACK GOT TO ENJOY SOME AMERICAN COMRADERIE WITH USS vIOUNT BAKER AND USS ARTHUR W RADFORD, AND GOT A CHANCE TO SPREAD rHEIR WINGS A LITTLE AND SEE SOME REAL MEDITERRANEAN CULTURE ONE 3F THE MOST OFTEN HEARD REMARKS WAS HAVE YOU TRIED THE PIZZA? IT ' S N10TLIKE.ATHOME! . 3 FEB: MERRIMACK WAS THE ONLY REFUELING GAME IN TWO FOR SHAREM VSW EXERCISES IN THE WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN THIS WEEK WITH THE :REW ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SUBMARINE SIGHTINGS, SHIPS FROM THE JNITED STATES AND FOUR ALLIED COUNTRIES REGULARLY PULLED IN TO FILL ER UP . AS THE DUTY OILER FOR THE EXERCISE, MERRIMACK WAS CON- STANTLY ON CALL, AND HER 30 MINUTES OR LESS ' WAS REALLY PUT TO THE EST. 6 FEB: MERRIMACK INVADED AUGUSTA BAY ITALY. ALTHOUGH ONLY INPORT : OR A FEW DAYS, MERRIMACK SAILORS TOOK THE CHANCE TO HEAD UP TO JAS SIGONELLA, DRINK SOME CAPPUCCINO AND REALIZE THAT ONE THOU- SAND LIRE WASN ' T REALLY THAT MUCH MONEY. THE LANDSCAPE WAS AMAZ- MG, THE CULTURE FASCINATING AND THE FOOD EXCELLENT 3 FEB: AS MERRIMACK TRANSITED THE STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR SHE JOINED ' HE USNS BIG HORN AND USNS LEROY GRUMMUN AS THE DUTY OILERS FOR HE UNITED STATES FLEET IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. ALTHOUGH MAKING THE RANSIT AT NIGHT DUE TO OPERATIONAL COMMITMENTS, MANY OF THE CREW URNED OUT NEVERTHELESS TO SEE MOROCCO AND SPAIN PASS BY ON El- HER SIDE OF THE SHIP. MERRIMACK RELIEVED USS MONONGAHELA AND WILL AKE STATION WHEREVER ASKED. I FEB: TWO WEEKS OUT AND MERRIMACK HIT EUROPE FOR HER FIRST PORT ' •SIT IN THE MED AS THE CREW ATTACKED THE NAVY EXCHANGE FOR FORGOT- EN ITEMS AND SOUVENIRS, THEY ALSO WENT OUTSIDE THE GATES TO EXPERI- :NCE A LIFESTYLE THAT SHUTS DOWN FOR THE AFTERNOON BUT KEEPS GO- G HALF WAY INTO THE NIGHT. ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL Jftii 9 Ifl LCDR GUTIERREZ PNC ADELL M S ' OMC(SW) RIEKER YN1(SW) BONNER HERNANDEZ YNKSW AW) RILEY MA1 TAVARES HM2 SMITH YN3 LEWIS PN3 MCDADE SN GREEN YNSNHIGH SN POTEET PNSN THOMAS £ V j el : bt .« ! DECK CW02 MCCLELLAN ENS HORNE ENSZWEIG LCDR KOWALEWSKI IB! IBr 31 BMC(SW) BONNELL MMC(SW) GEORGE BMC(SW) GIBSON n. S L nlUnAnUoON 1st DIVISION BM1(SW SS) BM2(SW) BM2(SW) STEVENS BM3 YEARWOOD SN AGEE FABIAN ANDERSON v ' SN ELMORE BMSN FITZMORRIS SN MARTINEZ SN MILLER SN MONTOYA SN SAUNDERS SN TUGGLE VI 2nd DIVISION BM1 PEEPLES BM2(SW) TYMKIN BM2 JOHNSON BM3 MOONEY BM3 PALMER SN BINDELL SN CASEY SN CONNOLLY SN DEJESUS SN FLORES SNHASSELL SN HAWKINS SN LE SN MULLINS SN RUIZ RASE BM1 BALLEN BM1 GONZALES MM1(SW) SMITH BM1(SW)STAHL MM2 MAGBY BM2 NEWTON BM2 RODRIGUEZ BM2 SMITH MM2 VIGIL BM3 BRAVO EM3(SW) BROWN BM3 DENTON EM3 GRAHAM EM3 LAMB BM3(SW) MANGIN MM3RECKITT BM3 WILLIAMS SN BAEZA SN BOVEE SN CERA SN DESTURLER SN(SW) EVANS SN LIMOGE SN LOVE SN MARKHAM SN MCGLYNN EMFN MEASE SN NAILS SN SHYRER SN SOPER I % EMFN SULLIVAN SN WHEELER SN WILSON SN WINKLE SN FOWLER SN STAFFORD SN SCHOFIELD SN TIMMERMAN ENGINEERING LT WILLIAMS CW02 BURTON LTJG CASTELL LT BENNETT RoTjPHONVIM BTCS(SW) ROSS E FYANnFR MMC ( SW ) HAUSER BTC(SW) HAUGEN HTC(SW) RILEY BTC(SW) KENTISH A-GANG MM1 MICHAELS EN1 TAYLOR EN1 CARTEEN MM1 KOSTUSIAK MM2(SW) HOBBS MR2(SW) PETTS EN2(SW) WILLIAMS MM3 STEWART MM3GOBLE MM3(SW) FN ANTHONY BARGERSTOCK — — • nr Tj| f if — ,; H{ J WW diJMkk Jlr V t B DIVISION BT1(SW) FRIDAY BT1(SW) BT2 HARRIS BT3(SW) BENNETT BT3 DOMINO BOUCHONVILLE BT3 GARCIA BT3 JONES BT3 LILLIS BT3 MURRAY BT3 THOMPSON FN DURON FN JACKSON FN JACOBS BTFN WILSON BTFAATWOOD IHL ol ifej NrvA . E DIVISION IC2 BESCHLER EM2(SW) DENNIS EM2(SW) FRANKLIN IC2(SW) JOHNSON EM2(SW) PLOWMAN IC3 BALDWIN IC3(SW) DOUGLAS EMFN FLEMMING EM3 SELLERS IC3 WARNER EM3 HARDY m - :v Company • R a i s las M-DIVISION MM1(SW)LOHNES MM2(SW) HARMON MM3 BERNIER MM3 EDWARDS MM3 LITZENBURG MM3 OTERO MM3 WOOD MMFN MUNSON MMFN PEARCY FN SIMPSON - i i ri R DIVISION DC1(SW) PORTER DC1(SW) MONIE oPmSJ?,- RUTLEDOE HT2(SW) DC2(SW) RUSSELL BEALEFIELD HT3 BOCHNIK HT3 BOWSER DC3(SW) KEIFFER HTFN VANDYKE HTFN SEVILLANO HTFN WHITTMAN DCFN RIVERA DCFR HAINES OPERATIONS I LT BERRY ENS CUENCA SMCS(SW) GENET LT BENNETT ETCS(SW) SMITH QMC(SW) BARKENHAGEN RMC(SW) INGRAM OC OE OF DIVISION RM1 BRADLEY RM3 BRIDGE RM3 HERRERA RM3 KELLEY RMSN THOMPSON ET2(SW) CHILDS ET3 KING â–  FC2(SW) SCEARCE FC3 HAAG ET3(SW)LEE FC1(SW) FC2(SW) OATES THOMPSON fife ifaTOtfl â–  Ol DIVISION OS1(SW) STONE OS2(SW) OS2(SW) TURNER OS3 CAMPBELL OS3 LANIER HERNANDEZ OS3 RANDALL OS3 ROBINSON OSSN ALLEN OSSN WEBBER OSSA BELCHER OS DIVISION £ ... SM2(SW) BEMBRY SM2(SW) MAYNARD SM3 COOPER SM3 LATSHAW V |tV m 1 NAV DIVISION QM1(SW) CHOINERE QM2(SW) BLOCKER QM2 RYAN QM3 JONES M TRUST YOUR KEEL TO THOSE WHO WEAR THE WHEEL tJ2 4-12 •A B _-3S ♦ SUPPLY LTJG HANSON MSCS(SW) WEATHERSPOON LT DYSON SKC(SW) ELLRICH SKC(SW) RAMONES DKC(AW) SANCHEZ 35 is 63 S-1 DIVISION SK1 FLOOD SK2 COURIE PC2 DAVIS SK3 CHESTNUT SK3 MEJIA S-2 DIVISION MS1 HOLMES MS1 JOHNSON MS2 DAVIS MS2 RENDER MS3 HOWELL MSSN CHRISTYNIA MSSN DAVIS MSSN DIETSCHE MSSN STEEN MSSN TOTTEN MSSN WALKER MSSN WALKER i if - ' - S-3 S-4 DIVISION SH1(SW) GRIGGS SH1(SW) SIMMONS SH3 YOUNG â– â– â– â–  SH3 SIMMONS SH3VOSS SHSR LEYVA DK3 KITTLEMAN DKSN PEERY X WEAPONS GMC(SW) GMG2KING GMG2 SMITH GMG3 DECKER GMG3 GREEN PETERSEN GMG3 FIESCHEL GMGSN EATON SN BALL â–  v MERRIMACK ' S TIGERS HOMECOMING UCOMI HOM£ ♦■ifet-sr 1 __l ' -mo. 3££t 6i MAKE ALL PREPARATIONS FOR ENTERING PORT, THE SHIP EXPECTS TO MOOR, STARBOARD SIDE TO, PIER 3, N.O.B., NORFOLK VIRGINIA AT APPROXIMATELY 1130, 23 JULY 1996. J5 k H«UB B kÂ