USS Tarawa (LHA 1) - Naval Cruise Book

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L' f iff--lwf,ffL0,,M W W QWff SS TARAWA - EAGLE OF THE SEA The wonder ls always that any sane man can be a sallor. Ralph Waldo Emerson A captain's job ranges between The grimy ana glamourous, but aboard ship he is always number one.

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THE CAPTAIN f Dwight D. Timm, CAPT USN A native of Jamestown, North Dakota, our C.0. has the reputation aboard ship of belng quite a guy. No wonder. Among other accomplishments, he can claim more than 4,600 hours of fllght time in over FORTY different models of alrcraftl Since his commissioning in 1957, Capt. Tlmm has served in a variety of billets ranging from Naval Test Pilot to commanding officer of two combat ships. He has over 200 combat missions in the Vietnam conflict, more than 1,000 carrier land- ings, and a chestfull of medals includlng the Bronze Star, Individual Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, 14 Strlke,'FIIght Air Medals and the Vietnamese Air Gallantry Cross with Gold Star. Why would a man with his obviously distin- guished record want to squirt his X.O. wlth a wa- ter pistol? Well, it was Polly Wog Day . It seems that with all of that air and sea tlme, Capt. Timm just never seemed to be in quite the right sea at the right time to cross the equator and when we crossed the line this year, he was as much a wog as any of the others in the ceremony. This was changed when the good Captain took his turn in the Initiation proceedings. We got the feeling that he was as proud of that accomplishment as any previous ones. In less than a year's time as our C.O., the Cap- tain has won the respect, admiration, and frlend- ship of his crew. If he decides to accept another sea command he might look around and find many old Tarawa faces among his new crew. We salute you and our best wishes are with you always, Captain.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER R. F. SCHUERGER, CDR, X.O. Commander Richard F. Schuerger, TARAWA's Ex- ecuTive Officer. has served in a varieTy of posiTions, boTh aT sea and ashore. Included were command of USS CANNET QMSC-2905 and USS FRESNO QLST- 'i'l82y as well as Teaching posiTions aT UCLA, The Naval War College and aT The FleeT Sonar School in Key WesT, Florida. OTher sea Tours since commis- sioning were 'in USS DAMATO CDD-8745, USS D. H. FOX QDD-7795, STaff of COMDESDIV THREE SIX TWO and as XO of USS RACINE CLST-44825. All of CDR Schuerger's service has noT been spenT as an offi- cer, however. Having enlisTed in San Francisco in 4952, The Commander is one of The many ex-enlisT- ed men who Took advanTage of The Navy's NESEP program in which acTive duTy enlisTed personnel can receive a commission. During his Tenure aT UCLA CDR Schuerger was awarded a docToraTe in VocaTional and Technical EducaTion, seTTing an ex- celIenT example for Those enlisTed men who Think They mighT wanT a liTTle more Than The service offers buT aren'T sure jusT how far They can really go. Our XO will Tell Them The sky's The IimiT. He oughT To know, afTer all. he's been There. Our XO is quick To poinT ouT ThaT his iniTials really indicaTe Ready for Sea raTher Than his name. WiTh This being his elev- enTh deploymenT, he may be righT.