Midway (CV 41) - Naval Cruise Book

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SHIPHANDLER OF THE YEAR ' COMNAVAIRPAC Shiphandler of the Year Lt(ig) Gene D ' Avanzo demonstrated for the second consecutive year that he is the standard for junior officer seamanship in MIDWAY when he was named by the Commander. Naval Air Force. Pacific (COMNAVAIRPAC) as the COMNAVAIRPAC Shiphandler of the Year for 1984. In 1983. he won the prestigious Prince Henry the Navigator competition, conducted annually by the Commander. Task Force 70. Recognition as the COMNAVAIRPAC Shiphandler of the Year is the result of his selection as MIDWAY ' S best Officer of the Deck (OOD). from among a group of outstanding OOD ' s. by the Commanding Officer. Executive Officer and Navigator. After having been selected as such, his record was screened by a board of officers at the COMNAVAIRPAC staff, along with those of shiphandlers from the other Pacific Fleet carriers. LT(jg) D ' Avanzo ' s particular strengths included his coolness under pressure and his quick responses in stressful situations. Considered an excellent tacticion for an officer of his experience level, his command presence impressed the judges, and he won the coveted award. A native of New York. LT(jg) D ' Avanzo enlisted in the Army and the Defense Language Institute as a Russian linguist. After leaving the Army, he attended college, then entered the Officers ' Basic course in San Diego, he • ordered to MIDWAY, where he served first as the Air Transport Officer, folio by a tour as OW Division Officer and Assistant Electronic Materials Officer. An excellent instructor who became a mainstay in MIDWAY ' S rigorous OOD qualification program. LT(jg) D ' Avanzo succeeded in this demanding competition by consistently putting forth whatever effort necessary to gel the job done. As a qualified OOD and CIC Watch Officer during intense deployments to the Northern Pacific and Indian Oceans. LT(jg) D ' Avanzo set the standard by which all AIRPAC shiphandlers are measured. .. tiife. LT(JG) G. D. D ' AVANZO SHIPHANDLER 1984 ENGINEER WATCH OFFICER OF THE YEAR COMNAVAIRPAC EOOW OF THE YEAR Annually, the Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific (COMNAVAIRPAC) selects one Engineering Officer of the Watch (EOOW) from among the carriers in the Pacific Fleet as the EOOW of the Year. For the second consecutive year, a MIDWAY EOOW. IT Lawrence T. Di Rita, was awarded this honor. LT Di Rita, a native of Detroit. Michigan, is a 1980 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where he majored in Economics. Upon completion of the Surface Warfare Officers ' Basic course and the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Officers ' course, both in San Diego, he was ordered to USS KIRK (FF-1087) as ASW Officer. While in KIRK, he qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) and Officer of the Deck, then -—• ' ■ ' - ' ' — • ' - • Aircraft Carrier Readiness Improvement Program (CRIP). The CRIP in 1976 to improve carrier engineering readiness by assigning qualK Warfare Officers to the engineering department of conventionally pov ers. under the assumption that such officers would be able to devote more time to engineering department matters and less to professional qualification. After quali- fying as an EOOW. LT Di Rita was named Repair Officer, a billet he held for five months, following which he relieved as Boilers Officer. The EOOW Is the focal point for all watchstations in the engineering plant. At any given time in MIDWAY during normal steaming conditions, there are approxi- mately 115 w atchstanders. and the EOOW coordinates their activities by monitor- ing plant conditions from his position in Main Control. Only at his watchstation can cumulative Indications from throughout the plant be properly analyzed to deter- mine the required action during normal and abnormal conditions. MIDWAY ' S un- precedented success in the May 1984 Operational Propulsion Plant Recertification Examination (OPPRE) was the key factor in LT Di Rita ' s selection as EOOW of the as one of the two EOOW ' s on watch during the examination. During his portion of the OPPRE. the engineering plant successfully passed all twenty-one of the casualty control drills imposed upon them during a grueling nine hour watch. As the Navy ' s oldest and busiest carrier with the largest engineering plant. MIDWAY consistently outperforms the newest carriers in steaming hours, safety and sutainability. The COMNAVAIRPAC EOOW of the Year award is just another Indication that — the Magic continues! LT L. T. DI ' RITA EOOW 1984

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SMCM £ L EDWARDS COMMAND MASTER CHIEF The Command Master Chief primarily functions as the principle enlisted advisor to the Commanding Officer, keeping him appraised of the existing or potential situations, procedures, and practices which effect the welfare, morale, job satisfaction, efficiency, and well being of assigned enlisted mem- bers and their dependents. ' He also maintains a laison with the Force, Fleet, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, ensur- ing progressive and positive two way dialogue be- tween the enlisted community and the command. He maintains an Open Door policy for command personnel and makes frequent visits to all service, berthing, and work areas to aid in the generation of meaningful dialogue concerning personnel, techni- cal, and professional developments with command personnel. Command Master Chief Petty Officer Edward L. Edwards is a qualified Enlisted Surface Warfare Spe- cialist with over 15 years of sea duty. During his career he has served aboard USS TOMBIGBEE (AOG- I), USS AJAX (AR-6), USS BELLATRIX (AF-62), USS CONFLICT (MSO-426). USS TERRELL COUNTY (LST 1157), USS CLEVELAND (LPD-7). USS STEIN (DE 1065). USS MOBILE (LKA-II5), USS MARS (AFS-I), USS FOR- RESTAL (CV 59), and USS AMERICA (CV 66). His other assignments have included Naval Station, New OrleanSi Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka; Na- val Station San Diego-, Commander Amphibious Group Three and Career Counselor at COMFAIR- WESTPAC. Master Chief Edwards holds two Associate of Sci- ence degrees in Supervision and Personnel Manage- ment. He has been named Sailor of the Year on USS MOBILE and Western Pacific Chief of the Year while serving under the Commander, Fleet Air. In 1978 he received the Tokyo Navy League Award and quali- fied as Officer of the Deck (independent steaming) while aboard USS TERRELL COUNTY. His numerous awards include the Navy Commen- dation Medal, The Presidential Unit Citation, The Navy Unit Commendation, the Vietnam Service Medal, two Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals, two Navy Achievement Medals, The National De- fense Service Medal, and two Meritorious Unit Com- mendations. Command Master Chief Edwards and his wife Chiyoe and sons Dan and Dale reside in Yokosuka, Japan.

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BTI BROWN SAILOR OF THE YEAR USS MIDWAYS ' SAILORS OF THE MONTH AWI Rcfford (ops) ' W ' a m AT2 Morion (ajmd) • • ■ - YNJ Walker (executive) DKI Roberlo (supply) iLlL I GMT:J West (weps) BT3 Cacha (eng) FINEST AMHI Devaughn (air) GMT2 Arteaga (weps) BM3 Lewin (deck) AOI Price (vf 151) AA LVocaiiipo (air) ABn Mulhern (air) RMSN Clark (comm) BT3 Marlincz (eng) MMFN Davis (eng) AOI Ridge (aimd) AN Lindsey (air) ABfcJ Kirly (air) SN Ball (deck) SM3 Wold (comm) YNSN Wilkerson (executive) ACI Wayth (ops) AM Latore (air) AT2 Starky (aimd) AN Cody (weps) DKI Roberto (supply) AMHI Devaughn (air) GMT2 Arteaga (weps) AOI Price (vf 151) ABn Mulhern (air) BT3 Martinez (eng) AOI Ridge (aimd) ABfcJ Kirly (air) ACI Wayth (ops) AT2 Starky (aimd) ays has been an ex- ceptional and talented individual. He was born on 10 April 1956. in Knoxville Tennessee and grew up in that area. While attending Clinton High School he distinguished himself as an outstanding athlete. Pel- n broke out of the pack early and ihc outstanding recruit from his RTC ' ing A school Petty Officer Brown reported to USS MIDWAY, and by February 1977 he • ' ad qualified ahead of schedule as hircroom Top- ratch and as main control Cold Iron Supervisor of the Watch, qualifications normally achieved by more experienced Petty Officers. His competence and professionalism resulted in assignment as space su- pervisor of 4 Charlie Fireroom, a position usually held by a First Class Petty Officer. In April 1978 Petty Officer Brown married ZonI linda Traje in the Philippines and a year later had his first child. Meanwhile he qualified as Boiler Techni- cian of the watch on MIDWAY. As such he served as the principle assistant for Boiler Operations. He was ordered lo USS ROBfcRT A. OWbNS (DDG 837). From January 1980 to October 1980. He again distinguished himself and received a letter of commendation from the Commanding Officer for his superb perfor- mance. He also qualified as Duty bngineer. His next tour of duty was ashore at his home town recruiting station. He demonstrated a high degree of inilive and earned the Navy Achievement Medal and the Gold Wreath Award for recruiting excellence. Petty Officer Brown and his family also welcomed another addition, a baby girl. He returned to MIDWAY for duty in December 1983 and assumed as before a strong leadership role. Currently. BTI Brown is the LPO in the Oil lab re sponsible lor -40 men. He supervises the receipt and transfer of over 3 million gallons of fuel for twelve boilers, oversees boiler water chemistry and super- vises distribution and chemical treatment of over 400.000 gallons of potable and feed water. Petty Officer Brown and his family reside in Yokosuka. Japan and serve as outstanding representatives of MIDWAY AND THb NAVY. AN Pirando (weps) AN Jennings (air) AN Gabrial (air) MSSN Haaf (supply) ISSN Schaller (ops) SN Ross (deck) YNSN Walker (executive) FMFN Fox (eng) YNSN Weaver (executive)