Saipan (LHA 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARLES R. SMITH JR. EXECUTIVE OFFICER 32nd MARINE AMPHIBIOUS UNIT Lieutenant Colonel SMITH, a native of Albemarle, North Carolina and a graduate of North Carolina State University was commissioned a Second lieutenant in the U. S. Marine Corps in June 4964. Following completion of the Marine Officer Basic School and the Armored Officer Course, he was assigned to the Third Marine Division, where he served as a Platoon Commander and Battalion Operations Officer. Returning to the United States in 4963, Lieutenant Colonel SMITH served in various assignments at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina. In 4965 he was reassigned to the Marine Corps Development Gnd Education Command, Ouantico, Virginia, where he served as an Officer Candidate School Platoon Commander: Aide de Camp to the Director, Marine Corps Landing Force Development Center, and as a Student at the Amphibious Warfare School. In 4967 Gnd 4968, Lieutenant Colonel SMITH served as the Company Commander, B Company, Third Assault Amphibian Battalion, First Marine Division, engaged in combat operations in the Republic of Vietnam. From 4968 until 4974, he served as Commanding officer, marine Barracks, Earle, New Jersey. Reassigned to Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps in 4974, he served as the Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Staff, Headquarters U. S. Marine Corps until 49741. Qi Q ,ang- X an X sf a - I -if , if xi - XR. I ' 41 f I I .1 ? 'X ...L Following a tour with the Third Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan, Lieutenant Colonel SMITH attended the U. S. Army Command and General Staff College, where he graduated with honors in 4976. From 4976 until 4980, he served on recruiting duty as the Commanding Officer, Recruiting Station, New York, and subsequently as the Assistant Director for Personnel Procurement, First Marine Corps District. He attended the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island during the 4980-84 academic year, graduating with distinction in June 4984. He assumed his current duties in July 4984. Lieutenant Colonel SMlTH's decorations include the Bronze Star with combat the Navy Commenda- tion Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Meritorious Unit Citation, the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnamese Service Medal, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallentry with silver star, the Vietnamese Cross of G-allentry unit award, the Vietnamese Civil Action Medal, the Vietnamese Campaign Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Lieutenant Colonel SMITH resides with his wife, son, and daughter in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

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1 11 6 I 'I Colonel POORE entered the Marine Corps in 4066 as a captain after serving eight years in the United States Air Force flying B-A7 and B-52 aircraft in the Strategic Air Command. From May 4053 to June 4056 he was a member of a Marine Corps Reserve infantry company attaining the rank of private first class. ln July 4056 he entered the U. S. Air Force Aviation Cadet Program and was Commissioned a second lieutenant in December 4057. Upon transferring to the Marine Corps. Colonel POORE was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 4A QMAG-4415. ln 4067 he was assigned to MAG-42 at Chu Lai, RVN and in August 4068 assumed duties as air base operations officer. Chu Lai. He was transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Ouantico, Virginia in November 4068 and served as the executive officer and operations ofticer of Station Operations and Engineering Squadron. From August 4060 to February 4070 he attended the Amphibious Warfare School and upon graduation remained at the Aviation Branch, Education Center as an instructor. Assigned to MAG-42 at lwakuni, Japan in 4074 Colonel POORE was the operations officer and executive ofhcer of Marine All-Weather COLONEL RICHARD T. POORE COMMANDING OFFICER 32nd MARINE AMPHIBIOUS UNIT Attack Squadron 533 CVMA CAWQ-5333. Assuming duties as commander, Detachment A, MAG-42 in April 4072, he deployed to Bien Hoa, Vietnam as operations officer of MAG-42 QForwardQ in May 4072. Later that year he reported to Headquarters Marine Corps for duty as tactical air programs officer. From June 4076 to June 4070 he was assigned as Assistant Division Chief, Exercise Division, Operations Director- ate. Headquarters, United States European Com- mand, Stuttgart, Germany. He was Commanding Officer of VMA CAW5-224 from June 4070 to May 4080 and assumed command of MAG-40 on 7 June 4080 and participated in Exercise Teamwork-80. On 24 November 4980 he assumed command of the 32d Marine Amphibious Unit. His personal decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross with two gold stars in lieu of second and third awards, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster in lieu of second award, the Bronze Star Medal with combat a single mission air medal 22 strikefflight air medal awards. Vietnamese cross of gallantry, and several unit citations and campaign medals. Colonel POORE is married to the former Elizabeth Hodges of Annapolis, Maryland. They have a son and four daughters.

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