Sylvania (AFS 2) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 22 text:

EXECUTIVE OFFICER Commander Michael Francis Morrell was born in Catskill NY in 1947. He subsequently moved to Elmira NY where he lived until entering the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1965. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and was commissioned an Ensign US Navy in June 1969. Commander Morrell's first fleet assignment was in USS Rowan QDD-7823, where he served as Main Propulsion Assistant, Chief Engineer, CIC Officer, and Operations Officer over a four year span. During this period, Rowan changed homeports from SanDiego to Yokosuka, Japan, and conducted extensive operations in the Western Pacific and Vietnam areas. In 1974 and 1975, he was assigned as Communications!Electronic Warfare Officer on the staff of the Commander, Maritime Command in Halifax Nova Scotia, Canada, as part of the Personnel Exchange Program. Following this assignment, he attended the department head curriculum at the Surface Warfare Officer School in Newport, Rhode Island. He subsequently reported for duty as Weapons Officer of USS Capodonno tFF 10935 in October, 1976. During this tour, he completed a UNITAS deployment to South America. ln November, 1978, Commander Morrell was assigned as Administration and Training Officer for Commander, Destroyer Squadron 2, and served in that capacity until February, 1981, after which he attended the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, graduating with a Master of Science Degree in Operations Reserach in March, 1983. Com- mander Morrell reported to SYLVANIA as Executive Officer in July, 1983. Commander Morrell's decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal tKoreai, Navy E ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal, Sea Service Ribbon, and Meritorious Unit Commendation. Commander Morrell resides in Norfolk, VA, with his wife, the former Carole Valois of Elmira, NY, and their four children, Amy, Andrew, Daniel, and Kathleen.

Page 21 text:

. . + Twvw' -xi. . ' 4 ,s f .. . . . J. .1 gb, L Y 'M i tr l-Q-Nr. . A 1- A R' t 4, K. -' ,,, ' 55, K . C , .ar 1 bww J 'wh'-wa.-.nu-tiff. Captain Robert Eugene Tucker, Jr., was born in the Panama Canal Zone in 1937. The son of a career Army Officer, he entered the Navy in 1955 after graduation from high school. Reporting first to USNTC Bainbridge, MD, for recruit training and Prep School, and then to the U.S. Naval Academy, he was graduated and commissioned on 8 June 1960. Captain Tucker's initial sea duty was in USS Fletcher QDDE 445i where he served a three year tour as DCA and Engineering Officer. While attached to Fletcher, he made two deployments to the Western Pacific and participated in the recovery of the first manned space capsules in 1961-62. In the summer of 1963, he reported to Pensacola, FL, for flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in December, 1964. Upon completion of F-4 replacement training with VF-101 in Key West, CAPT Tucker reported to the TARSIERS of VF-33. While deployed to the Med with VF-33 aboard USS AMERICA QCV 669, he participated in the 1967 Paris Air Show and was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for his aerial demonstration of the slow flight characteristics of the F-4B Phantom. During his three year tour with VF-33, he made two Med deployments and one to the Western Pacific, and was the first pilot to attain 500 arrested landings aboard AMERICA. In February, 1969, CAPT Tucker reported to the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, MD. While at Patuxent River, he served two and one half years as a project pilot in the Carrier Suitability Branch of the Flight Test Division, participating in the ACLS certification of eight CV's and major carrier suitability testing of the F-4, F-8, and RA-5C aircraft. In December, 1971, CAPT Tucker participated in the Navy's first evaluation of the F-14, becoming the second Naval Aviator to fly the TOMCAT. ln the summer of 1972, CAPT Tucker reported to VF-103 and served as the SLUGGERS' operations officer for two years. While deployed to WESTPAC with CVW-3 aboard USS SARATOGA QCV 603, CAPT Tucker and his RIO, LTJG Bruce Edens, shot down a MIG 21 during a night intercept over North Vietnam. He served concurrently as Air Wing Operations Officer during the last five months of that deployment and has flown over 250 combat missions. In June, 1974, CAPT Tucker reported as Officer in Charge of VF-101 Aerial Combat Maneuvering!Tactics Detachment in Key West. He then served his COXXO tour with the BEDEVILERS of Fighter Squadron 74 from 1975-78. During his tour with VF-74, he recorded his 1,000th carrier arrested landing. He currently has over 1,250 carrier arrested landings. After a short tour on the staff of Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, CAPT Tucker reported to USS FORRESTAL CCV-595 as Commander, Carrier Air Wing 17 where he served until July, 1980. He then commanded Fighter Wing One at Oceana, VA, from July 1980 until April 1982. He was Commanding Officer of USS SYLVANIA QAFS 21 from December, 1982, until June, 1984. During his tour, SYLVANIA won the Battle Efficiency all the departmental awards for which eligible 475, the Blue R for achieving SuperStar status in retention for over ten consecutive months, and the Atlantic Fleet Golden Anchor Award for overall excellence in retention. CAPT Tucker's decorations include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, 16 Srike!Flight and two individual Air Medals, Five Navy Commendation Medals with Combat the Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Five Vietnam Campaign Ribbons, and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star. N CAPT Tucker's next tour of duty will be as Commanding Officer, USS CORAL SEA fCV 431. He will be relieved by CAPT Buzz Needham. CAPT Tucker resides in Virginia Beach with his wife, the former Alice Jeffrey, and their two children, Leslie and Bob. CD. BIOGRAPHY

Page 23 text:

TGP Cl-IOP - SUPPLY CDFFICEFR l Commander Eugene Charles Trimpert was born in Bethel, CT, in 1941. l-le received his commission from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1965. Upon completion of the Basic Qualification Course at the Navy Supply Corps School, he reported to NAVSUPPACT, Da Nang. Subsequent tours included SUB BASE New London, CT, Navy School of Transportation Management, USS CAMDEN QAOE 25, Commander, Construction Battalions, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Staff, USS DALE QCC 195, the Naval War College, CINCPACFLTXCCMNAVLOGPAC Staff, NSC Pearl Harbor, HI, and his current duty as Supply Office USS SYLVANIA. Commander Trimpert's awards include the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, two Navy Unit Commendations, Meritorious Unit Commendationi Battle E , Navy Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Ribbon with six stars, Sea Service Flibbon, and the Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal First Class.