Saipan (LHA 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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L ieutenant Colonel SEELEY was bom February 10, 1944 in Millen, Georgia. After graduating from high school in Ithaca, NY, he joined the Marine Corps PLClA Program. He enlisted in February 1964 and upon completion of Avionics Technician Trainin at NAS Memphis, he joined VMF gkwl-122 in MCAS El Toro, California. ln December 1965, Lieutenant Col- -, onel SEELEY was selected for flight 8 training as a Marine Aviation Cadet and was designated a Naval Aviator and commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 21 March 1967. Lieutenant Colonel SEELEY reported to MAG-26 at MCAS New River and deployed to the Carib- bean with HMM-264 and served with HMM-162 prior to reassignment to the 1st MAW in the Republic of Vietnam in October 1967. While in the RVN, he flew the UH-34 and served with HMM- 361, HMM-163 and HMM-363. Returning to CONUS in November 1968, Lieutenant Colonel SEELEY served as a T-34 and UH-D flight in- structor in the Naval Air Training Com- mand in VT-1 and HT-8 until December 1970. Upon completion of a transition program in AH-1G gunships with the U.S. Army at Hunter Army Airfield. Savannah, Georgia, he retumed to Vietnam and served as the Assistant Operations Officer of HML-367. The Squadron relocated to Okinawa in mid 1971 and Lieutenant Colonel SEELEY genre? as the Squadwn LOQlS1iCS Lieutenant Colonel Seeley ICG. ln Februa 1972, Lieutenant Col- Cemmarldirlg Officer onel SEELE reported to HMX-1 where he served as the Personnel Of- 4 ficer and Flight Officer. He was selected for the College Degree Pro- gram in 1975 and attended Comell University graduating in June 1977. Retuming to MCAS New River, he joined HMA-269, MAG-29 and served as the Administration Of- fioer, Operations Officer and Aircraft Maintenance Officer. From December 1977 to June 1979 he als0 served as the Air Liaison Officer for 32d MAU and deployed twice to the Mediterranean. Ordered to MCDEC, Ouantico in 1980, Lieutenant Colonel SEELEY performed the duties as an ill' structor, faculty advisor and academic supervisor at the Amphibious Warfare School. He retumed T0 MAG-29 in June 1983 and served as the Assistant Operations Officer for Group Headquarters. He WZS assigned as the Executive Officer of HMM-162 from July 1984 until Februa 1986 when he assumed his current duty as the Commanding Officer of the Golden Eagles of HMM-1 621 Lieutenant Colonel SEELEY's personal decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with numerals one and 38, Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the Presidential Service Badge. Lieutenant Colonel SEELEY and his wife, the former Suzan Marie Maunus of Lansing, Michigan, h8V9 one son, Dean and one daughter, Kristina. 136 A '

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i I THE HISTORY DF MEDIUM HELICOPTER SQUAD-162 Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-162 was commissioned in June of 1951 at the Marine Corps Air Facility Santa I1Ana, Califomia. In July 1953 the squadron deployed to Hanshin, Japan. It was later moved to the Naval Air Facility at I II I I 4 I I I I I I I I Oppama, Japan where it worked in conjunction with the 3rd Marine Division. ln February 1959, HMR lLi-162 was transferred to the Marine Corps Air Facility, New River, North Carolina, vlmere it became a unit of Marina Aircraft Group-26. Duri the summer months HMR ILl-162 was involved in relief operations in the Gulf Coast area in the aftermath of Hurricanenzarla. ln June 1962 HMR lLi-162 deeplcged to Udorn, Thailand. The squadron was redesignated to HMM-162 the same year. On Januarbd, 1963, HMM-1 2 eployed to Danang, South Vietnam. The squadron returned to the United States and relocated to CAF, New River 17 June 1963, During the summer of 1966 the squadron flew over 1,000 hours per month while accmulating over 10.000 accident rs free hou . ln November 1970, HMM-162 successfully completed shipboard and amphibious operations aboard the USS Cor- onado. The operation included troop lifts, cargo transfers and carrier qualifications. HMM-162 deployed to the Mediterranean on 17 April 1971 aboard the USS GUAM in support of the 32nd MAU. After returning from the Med deployment HMM-162 settled into garrison life. Dun this non-deployed period the squadron participated in many exercises including Exotic Dancer and Exploit AIg28, a trainin exercise to evaluate the capab lities of the AV-8A Harrier aboard an LPH. On 30 April 1974, HMM-162 deployedqwith the 34th MAU to the Mediterranean. During this deployment HMM-162 participated in Operation Nimbus StarfMoon and evacuation of U.S. Nationals from the Island of Cyprus. Leaving for the Mediterranean on 6 January 1976, HMM-162 joined the 34th MAU. Deplgjyed aboard the LPH Guadalcanal, the squadron monitored the unrest in Europe. Durin February 1978, the aqua ron was deployed to Naval Station Roosevelt ROQGS, Puerto Rico to support the 38th MRU for READEX 1-78. i in was not readil available From 23 Au ust to 31 October 1978 HMM 1520 took a North Atlantic cruise aboard I 'I This exercise demonstrated the squadrons ability to provide rapid helicopter sup rt in the Caribbean area when naval l I I th PD Y - 9 - ' the US8 Guadalcandal with the 4th MAB forces The squadron supported NATO exercises Northern Weddlng and Bold Guard. On 21 December 1978 HMM-162 received its first CH-46E helicopters, making it the first tactIcal squadron with the newest model helicopter On 3 July 1979, the Golden Eagles of HMM-16 received the Fleet Marine Force Atlantic Aviation Safety Award of 4,724 accident-free flight hours. he award was especially meaningful because HMM-162 amassed the accident free hours while SUCCGSSIUII5 integrating the new helicopter into he fleet's ln- ventorg. During the period 10 October to 16 November 1979 HMM-16 was assijgned to the 38th AU and deployed to the U. . Naval Base , Guantanamo Ban Cuba for REINFORCEX 1-80 From 9 uly to 7 December 1980 the squadron was embarked aboard the USS SAIPA for readex 3-80 From 28 August 1980 to 23 February 1981 HMM-162 served as the Combat Aviation Element of the 34th MAU, The squadron took part in several other exercises including: Team Work-80 and Pl-llBLEX 12-80. On 10 January 1983 HMM-162 detached from Marine Aircraft Group-26 and lolned xlylvarine Aircraft Group-29 as a step in the helicopter aircraft group reorganization within the Second Marine AIrcraft ln g. Embarked aboard the USS lWO JIMA from 11 May to 7 December 1983, HMM-162 served as the Air Combat Element j of the 24th MAU. Duringothis period the squadron conducted dai? flight operations in the Beirut, Lebanon area. The squadron flew over 7,4 deployed fli ht hours, setting a new L 6F light hour record. Located at MCAS New Fliver from December 1983 to January 1983, HMM-162 participated in several exercises and received two awards. The squadron flew over 20,000 accident-free hours and received the F MFLant Annual Aviation Safety Award for 1983. On 25 September 1984, HMM-162 received its second maior award of the year, the National Defense Transportation Association Unit Award for 1984. The squadron was aboard the USS Saipan from January to August 1985 as the 24th MAU Air Combat Element. The squadron conducted daily flight operations and accrued 4,675 hours, carrying 20,625 passengers and 3,218,716 n pou ds of car o. ln October T985 the squadron supported Combined Arms Operation-86. In November HMM-162 participated in a MAG-31 training exercise, the tactical insertfextract of Golf Company 218 at OLF Atlantic. A detachment also deplcged to Puerto Rico to support Allied Caribe 85, where a variety of training flights were conducted in support of MAR ET UNITAS and a French Contin ent. In its 35 year history, HMTM-162 has earned the following unit awards, each represented by a streamer on the squadrons color: Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation with bronze star, Meritorious Unit.Commenda- hon with bronze star, National Defense Medal with bronze star, Korean Service, Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal with two bronze stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, and the Viet- nam Cross of Gallantry with palm streamer. .gi ias

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ajor ALLEN was bom in Cordell, Oklahoma on the 7th of January 1948. He was commis- sioned a Second Lieutenant through the PLCJA program upon graduation form Southwestem State University at Weatherford, Oklahoma in June 1970. Major ALLEN reported for flight training at NAS Pen- sacola in August 1970 and was designated a Naval Aviator on 8 October 1971. He reported to MAG-26 at MCAS New River, Jacksonville, N.C. in November 1971 and served as the Ground Safety Officer for HML-167. He completed the transition syllabus in February 1972 and was designated Pilot Oualified in Model fPOMj in the UH-1N. ln April 1972, he was reassi ned to the 1st MAW in Okinawa where he servegwith HML-367, HMM-184 and HMH-463. His billet assignments included Assistant Administrative Officer, Adjutant, and Awards Officer. While servin with HMM-164 and HMH-463 in the Tonkin Gul? Republic of Vietnam, Major Allen flew the UH-1E, and participated in Operation End Sweep with TF-78, special Search and Rescue Operations with the 33rd MAU, and Operation Home Comin . Returning to CONUS in May 1373, Major ALLEN received orders to Station Operations and Engineer- ing Squadron at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina He served as a Search and Rescue jSARi Pilot and was nominated for the Navy Helicopter Association Annual SAR Crew Award for rescuing an A-4 pilOt from the Bogue Sound. While assigned as a SAR pilot, Major A LEN completed a transition syllabus to the CH-46A and was designated a Helicopter Aircraft Command in February 19 5. From August 19 5 to November 1979, Major ALLEN was assigned to MAG-29 at MCAS New River. l-le served with MABS-29, H8MS-29, HML- 268, and HML-167. His bullet assignments included Operations Officer, Group Adjutant, and Ad- giinilstrative Officer. Additionally Major ALLEN 2, M3jOI' AIISFI Aepo ed with HMH-362 for LF6F 2-77 as the Train- - - ing Officer and with HMM-264 for Lrer 2-79 as me EXQCUUVG Gfhcer Assistant Logistics Officer. In December 1979, Major ALLEN reported to the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey. California and subsequently graduated in May 1981 with a Masters Oegree in Financial Management, After com- Dleting the Special Education Program, he was assigned to the Fiscal Division, Budget Branch, at Head- quarters Marine Corps. Major ALLEN was the Fiscal Directors representative on the Program Objective Memorandum jPOMj Working Group and served as the Program Budget Coordinator. He returned to MCAS New River in August 1984 and was assigned as the Fiscal Officer for MAG-29. lrl August 1985, he was reassigned to HMA-269 where he served as the Executive Officer and Opera- gOf?s Officer. He joined the Golden Eagles on March 7, 1988 and is serving as the Squadron Executive icer. Mellgajlor ALLEN's personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy Ahievement a. Major ALLEN and his wife, the former Patricia MOORE of Carnegie. Oklahoma, have two daughters: Remy Dion and Rebecca Dian.