Saipan (LHA 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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Following a Restricted Availability in Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, October 1985 to February 1986, Saipan sailed to Guantanamo Bay to complete Refresher Training March-May 1986. Amphibious Refresher Training was held later in May off the coast of North Carolina with a 99.97 overall grade, the highest score ever achieved by an amphibious ship. After work-ups in June and July, Saipan began her 1986-7 deployment August 17, 1986 - and the story of that cruise unfolds herein. Saipan's recent awards include the Battle Efficiency E ithird award - issued for the period ending Navy and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals: and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon i4 starsl. Saipans motto. Omnia Facimus - We do it alI - aptly describes the unique capabilities and history of this very special ship. September 30, 19869, The Admiral Flatley Safety Award for 1985 isecond awardlg The Sledge Award iaviatiori maintenancel for 1985 isecond awardlg the Naval Am- phibious Base Captains Cup in 1984 and 1985 for ex- cellence in sports, and the Atlantic Fleet Surface Force Admiral's Cup for athletic excellence in 1985 Saipan also received the first award ol COMPHIBRON TWELVE s Bronze Anchor award for retention excellence in 1985 Saipan has received the Humanitarian Service Medal, Z'

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C aptain Lind was born in Kane, Pennsylvania and raised in Danville, Virginia. A 1961 graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, he eamed a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering. ln January, 1962, Captain Lind entered the Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pen- sacola, Florida, attaining his com- mission in April. Completing flight training in September, 1963, at New Iberia, Louisiana, he was ordered to VS-41 at NAS North Island for Fleet Replacement Pilot Training. ln February, 1964, Cap- tain Lind joined VS-21, also located at NAS North Island, fly- ing the S-2F Tracker. He made two deployments to the Gulf of Tonkin aboard USS KEAR- SARGE ICVS-33l with VS-21, receiving the Air Medal for action in support of Seventh Fleet Operations. Other personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star in lieu of a second award. ln 1967, Captain Lind received orders to the Naval Tactical Doc- trine Activity in Washington, D.C., as the CNO NATOPS Coor- dinator for VS, VT, CVAICVS and General NATOPS manuals. ln March, 1970, Captain Lind reported aboard USS JOHN F. KENNEDY lCV-673, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, for duty as Assistant Navigator. During this tour of duty Captain Lind achieved undenivay qualifications as Officer of the Deck IFI and Command Duty Officer lUlVVl. After completing his tour aboard uss Joi-IN F. KENNEDY, cap- tain Lind was assigned to VS-33 at NAS North Island where he served as the Maintenance Of- ficer, Administrative Officer, and Operations Officer. Returning to Washington, D.C., in 1974, to serve as Air Combat Carrier Placement Of- ficer at the Bureau of Naval Per- sonnel, Captain Lind then com- menced S-3A transition in January, 1977. ln August, 1977, Captain Lind completed S-3A transition and begin his tour as Executive Of- ficer of VS-31. On November 8, 1978, Captain Lind became the Commanding Officer of VS-31 in ceremonies held at the Squadron's homeport of NAS Cecil Field, Florida. ln March 1980, Captain Lind assumed the duties of Chief Staff Officer of Sea Based Anti-Submarine Wing One in Jacksonville, Florida. Upon terminating shore duty in January, 1981, he was assigned to the USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWEFI lCVN-691 as the Navigator until January 1, 1982, when he was reassigned as Operations Officer. He com- manded the Amphibious Cargo Ship USS EL PASO lLKA-171 from February, 1984 until August, 1985. Captain Lind assumed command of the Am- phibious Assault Ship USS SAIPAN lLHA-25 on 13 December 1985 in ceremonies at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Port- smouth, VA. Captain Lind is married to the former Patricia A. Feldman of Danville, Virginia. They have two daughters, Debbie and Beth, and a son, Mark. Captain Lind and his family reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia.