Mississippi (CGN 40) - Naval Cruise Book

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•§■■ ' .: ;--v- ; ' ■ ' •■■;. ' : ■■:.:■ ' ' ' MBw Commander Ralph H. Lipfert Executive Officer Commander Ralph Lipfert was born in Washington, D.C . on April 7, 194f). He grew up a service junior living various places on the eastern seaboard. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1966, and immediately entered Surface Nuclear Propulsion School in Bainbridge, Maryland and West Milton, New York. F ' ollowing completion of nuclear power training, CDR Lipfert was assigned to USS TRUXTON (CGN 35) in Long Beach, California where his duties included Reactor Controls Division Officer and Electrical Officer Duty aboard TRUXTON included two deployments to Southeasl Asia and a trip to the Sea of Japan when the USS PUEBLO was captured. Crossing the country for shore duty, CDR Lipfert spent two yeais at the Maj8acii ' . ' .setta Institute of Technology studying Ocean Engineering. He next joined the Precommissioning Crew of the USS NIMITZ CVN 68) as Renctor MecbKnical Assistant. After that rewarding tour he was next stationed on the Commissicniiig Crew of the USS VIRGINIA (CGN US), as the Engineer Officer. This demanding but also rewarding assignment included the entire propulsion plant test program, commissioning, and the long weapons systems workup following commissioning. After a brief stay at the Armed Forces Staff Ci;ilege, CDR Liofert joined the staff of Admiral H.G. Rickover at Naval Reactors in Washington He then reported as B iecut.ive Officer of the USS MISSISSIPPI (CGN tOi. Hj is authorized to wear the Battle Efficiency E ribbo i for service on VlRGINfA, the National Defense Service M (!(il, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medc.l. CDR Lipfert is married to the former Christine Bonds and they reside in Virijini.! 3o h with their three children, Jennifer, Michael, and John. 15

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Captain Raynor A.K. Taylor, USN Commanding Officer Captain Taylor was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on December 22. 1935. He graduated from the U.S. Naval . ' cademy in June of 1960. He then joined the USS ABBOT (DD 629) in Newport, Rhode Island and served as Main Propulsion Assistant, Damage Control Assistant, and Engineer Officer until March 196.3. Duty aboard ABBOT included operations in the Artie and Mediterranean, with CENTO Forces in the Indian O cean and participation in the Cuban missile crisis and quarantine operations. Subsequent assignments in the Surface Nuclear Power Program included leading EOOW and Assistant to the Engineer for Training at the DIG Prototype in West Milton, New York. In 1966, he was assigned as Engineer Officer, USS HOEL (DDG 13) out of San Diego and participated in Northern SAR and gunline operations in Southeast Asia. In 1967 he was selected as a Navy Olmsted Scholar. This tour included studies at the Defense Language Institute, Institute of Political Studies at the University of Grenoble in France, and the American University in Washington, D.C. He was awarded a French Diplome d ' Etat with distinction and a Master of Arts in International studies. Captain Taylor then assumed duties as Main Propulsion Assistant, USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65), an assignment which included nuclear refueling and subsequent deploy- ment to Southeast Asia and to the Indian Ocean. In 1972 he reported to the USS HALSEY (CG 23) Precommission- ing Unit in San Diego and subsequently participated in HALSEY ' S commissioning in Bath, Maine and deployment to the Pacific. Duty in HALSEY included implementation of the first shipwide Combat Systems organization. He then served in Washington, D.C. as Head, Surface Nuclear Power Branch and Head, Naval Reactors Branch in the Bureau of Naval Personnel. Captain Taylor assumed command of the USS SEMMES (DDG 18) in 1978 and deployed to the Mediterranean when he was ordered to command of USS MISSISSIPPI (CGN 40). His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal and Navy Commendation Medal. He is authorized to wear the Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Vietnam Service Medal. Captain Taylor is married to the former Mary Jane Stevens of Newport News, Virginia, and they have two sons, Raynor and Andrew.

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CONSTITUTION 2200 tons, 175 feet The CONSTITUTION was one of six frigates authOTized by Congress in 1794 as a result of growing American interest in seapower and international affairs. Built with timbers brought from states from Maine to Georgia and copper bolts from the shop of Paul Revere, the CONSTITUTION reflected a distinctly American design; she was designed to be strong enough to overpower any other ship her size, and fast enough to run safely away from any larger ship of the line. Launched in 1798, she patrolled off the American east coast during the Quasi-War with Fra»:ce. In 1803 the Barbary pirates threatened free trade in the Mediterranean, and CONSTITUTION sailed to Tripoli under Captain Edward Preble to become flagship of the Mediterranean squadron. A year of successful blockade and coastal attacks ;forced Tripoli ' and Algiers to come to terms, and after two more years of patrol, she returned to jthe United ' State , uhder the commahd of Captain John Rddgera. ' , In 1812 war with Britain loomed and COji- STITUTION put to sea with Captain Isaac Hull at the helm. During the War CONSTITUTION Irpamed the eritinei Atlantic, running the British blockade aft i Boston, and capturing nine merchantmen and five men of war. During this period she engaged and defeated the larger British frigate GUERRIERE. In this action the shot from the GUERRIERE bounced harmlessly off the stout hull of the American ship, earning the CONSTITUTION the nickname Old Ironsides. The dramatic victory was an important event for the infant country. In this battle the United States ' ros e to the rank of a first-class power ' ; the country was fired with fresh confidence and courage, and union among the States was greatly strengthened. The CONSTITUTION remained on active duty, patrollirig all over the world, from the South Pacific to the Mediterranean, until the ripe old age of 85. Her commanders duriiig that period included such notables as William Bainbridge, Charles Stewart, David D. Porter, and George Dewey. Decommissioned in 1882, CONSTITUTION was refitted with money from patriotic organizations and school children. She was recommissioned in 1931 and is today the oldest ship on the Navy List, berthed in Boston, and open to the public. The CONSTITUTION remains an enduring remiifder of the Navy ' s great days of fighting sail and 6f the heroic Americans who so successfully took :h«r 1)» aea to {defend their freedom.