Spruance (DD 963) - Naval Cruise Book

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LE OF CONTENTS 4 CHAIN fCN C'fJN1NI:XNID 62 NXARDROOM 10 THE CREW 66 PORTS OF CALL 44 CURRENT EVENTS 84 CHANGE OF COMMAND 46 DAILY ROUTINE 86 DESERT STORM 60 CHIEF'S MESS 88 HOMECOMINC1 96 THE STAFF 3 .' A 390 -

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uesday, 7 August, 1990 was a nor- mal workday for most Mayport sail- ors, except for the men of SPRUANCE. That fateful day marked the end of months of preparation: the long-awaited Med cruise was about to begin. Sorrow mingled with nervous expecta- tion on Echo pier as countless sailors said their last goodbyes before boarding the looming grey warship that would be their home for at least the next six months. In an orderly flurry of activity, the ship took in all lines, made up two waiting tugs, and slid slowly away from its berth. The crew, turned out in their sharpest summer whites, manned the rails, taking one last lingering look at the familiar sights of home. SPRUANCE left Mayport as part of the USS SARATOGA CCV-601 carrier battle BYOUD. Driven by reports of Iraqi hostil- ities, the battle group transited the Atlantic at high speed, entering the Mediterranean Sea eleven days later. When the SARATOGA and her escorts entered the Red Sea, SPRUANCE was di- rected to remain in the eastem Mediter- raneang her mission: to maintain a U.S. Naval presence in the area. This tasking included goodwill visits to eastern Med ports, submarine hunting in the central Mediterranean, and service as the Amer- ican representative in the Naval On Call Forces, Mediterranean CNAVOCFOR- MEDJ, a NATO taskforce responsible for maintaining a visible naval presence in the Med. After a Christmas portcall in Thes- saloniki, Greece, SPRUANCE sailed to Haifa, Israel where CDR William J. Gerken assumed command. On 07 Jan- uary, SPRUANCE proceeded north and took assigned station, patrolling the waters of the eastern Med.

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COMMANDI G OFFICER i , 3 f V' 6,7 ff ' ,f, ., :X VM!,fVYl,, ,M I . . KY Qs., 7 , ' fr CHRI TOPHER E. WEAVER CDR Christopher Edward Weaver was born in Harrisonville, Missouri.. App0111tCd 10 the U.S. Naval Academy in 1967, he graduated and received his commission with the class of 1971. CDR Weaver's initial assignment included duties as NaV1g21t0f, Flfst Lieutenant and Combat Information Center Officer aboard USS MARVIN SHIELDS QDE 10663. Upon graduation from Destroyer School in May, 1975, CDR Weaver WHS assigned as Weapons Officer on USS CAPODANNO QFF 10933. This tour included Mediterranean and West Afr1can!M1ddle East deployments. He detached from CAPODANNO in January 1977 for reassignment as Engineer Officer on USS BQUL' DER ' ' QLST 1 1903. CDR Weaver was reassigned in November 1978 to the Naval M1l1taI'Y Personnel Command, Washington, D.C. as Surface Junior Officer, Assignment OffICCf and Surface Assignment Branch Shore Coordinator. From April 1982 to November 1983, CDR Weaver served as Executive Officer in USS SAMUEL ELIOT MORISON CFFG 133. During his tenure, the ship participated in OPERATION URGENT FURY 111 water near the Caribbean Island of Grenada. In January 1984, CDR Weaver assumed co d mman of USS EXULTANT CMSO 4413 where he served until July 1986.. Ffflm August 1986 to July 1988, he was assigned as Chairman of Seamanship and Navigatlon at the U S. Naval Academ . In F b . y e mary 1989, CDR Weaver assumed command of USS SPRUANCE CDD 9633. CDR Weaver's decorations include the Meritorious SCI'V1Ce Medal, Navy Commendation Medal ftwo stars3, National Defense Medal Armed ForceS Expeditiona M d . E ry e al and Vietnam Campaign and Service Medals. CDR Weaver is married to the fomier Christine Diane Gilmore of Canton, O hio. l CH-XIX OF COMMAND ,f: I J