USS Tarawa (LHA 1) - Naval Cruise Book

“Captain Wirt R. Fladd Commanding Officer Captain Wirt R. Fladd was born in ochester, New York, the son of Mr. jid Mrs. Harold J. Fladd. Upon aduation in 1963 from the Univer- ty of Rochester, he entered Officer andidate School at Newport, Rhode land and was commissioned an En- gn in February 1964. Captain Fladd ' s afloat duties have icluded junior officer tours aboard Le USS Lenawee (APA 195), USS [etcher (DD 445), and USS Taylor )D 468). He was Executive Officer : USS Vancouver (LPD 2), and has ;rved as Commanding Officer of SS Floyd County (LST 762), USS Tacoma (PG 92), USS Beaufort (ATS 2), and USS Frederick (LST 1184). Ad- ditionally, he was Chief Staff Officer at Amphibious Squadron Three. He reported for duty as Commanding Officer, USS Tarawa (LHA 1) in March 1989 following a tour as Com- manding Officer of USS Denver (LPD 9). Captain Fladd ' s shore duties have included assignments as Flag Secre- tary to Commander, Western Sea Frontier, student at the U.S. Naval War College, and two tours at the Naval Militay Personnel Command, first as the Combat Logistics Force Placement Officer and most recently as Deputy to the Director, Surface Warfare and General Unrestricted Line Officer Distribution Division. Captain Fladd has been awarded the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Combat V, Merito- rious Service Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V. Captain Fladd is married to the former Valerie Valsey of Rochester, New York. They have two daughters, Cara and Jennifer. The Fladd ' s reside at the Naval Amphibious Base, Coro- nado, California. ”