USS Tarawa (LHA 1) - Naval Cruise Book

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Uss TARAWA QLHA-19 Combining the functions of four amphibious ships, TARAWA carries helicop- ters, Harrier jets, landing craft, tanks, jeeps, cargo and troops giving her almost a single-handed capability to conduct landing-force operations. In addition to her full-length flight deck, which can handle nine helicopters at the same time, TARAWA has a large well-deck in her stern that enables her to dock landing craft, including the new Landing Craft Air Cushioned CLCACJ, within her hull. Trucks, jeeps, tanks or cargo can be delivered from storage areas via a system of inclined ramps, elevators and conveyors to landing craft in the well deck or the helicopters on the flight deck. TARAWA's extensive electronics and communications system give task force commanders a high degree of versatility in conducting an assault operation. The heart of TARAWA's electronics is the Integrated Amphibious Warfare Data Computer system, which not only keeps track of the landing force after it leaves the ship, but also tracks enemy targets ashore With current ' ormation, the t CIICHI data system can aim and f1re the ship' ns o direct ire rom other ships It can also maintain air and surface tra ic control not only for TARAWA's jets, h los, and landing craft, but for combat air rol and task force supply Sh1pS as well area o o ' ' a u es o civi strife, TARAWA hellcopters provide a unique capability for assisting the rapid V. evacuation and protection for Amerlcan c1t1zens T e late Fleet Admiral Chester W. N1m1tZ once said, e .S. Navy's erran of mercy have saved more lives than its guns ever destroyed. TARAWA IS better ited to hat kt an ny her ip af oat. W ether 1S a typhoon in Southeast Asia, an earthquake or a hurricane at home, TARAWA can provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care, communlcatlons and transportatlon for disaster victims Major medical facllities aboard include four operating rooms, enslve re units, a blo d bank, laboratories and wards for up to 300 patients The present day TARAWA was built by the Ingalls Shlpbuilding Division of 1tton Industries at Pascagoula Mississippi and commissioned May 29 1976. u - sequently TARAWA became and remalns a vital member of the Navy!Mar1ne Corps team in the Pacific Fleet. TARAWA has long been a major factor in the projectlon of U S presence overseas TARAWA deployed on her first Western PaC1f1C deploy- ment in March 1979. The ship operated with temporarily assigned AV-8A Harrier jump-jets in addition to an embarked helicopter squadron 1n a successful experiment to determine the feasibility of operating jets from an amphibious assault ship Dur- ing this deployment TARAWA rescued 400 Vietnamese refugees in the South China Sea. composite squadron of 29 helicopters and six AV-8A s. The squadron was the first in Marine Corps aviation history to conduct integrated helicopter operations' aboard an LHA for an extended deployment of more than five months , TARAWA completed her third deployment to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean in November 1983. In September 1983 TARAWA was sent to the troubled waters of the Eastern Mediterranean by order of President Reagan to support the United Nations peacekeeping force in Beirut Lebanon. TARAWA underwent a maintenance and upkeep perlod and comprehensive traln- in evolutlons in reparing for her deployment in February 1984. The ship won its second Adm1ralFlatley Award for aviation safety ln the preceding 12 months TARAWA steamed out of San D1ego1n October 1984 on her fourth Western Pa- ci ic deployment e ar icipated in var1ous'oin 1'1'11IaI' exerclses w' a ICS the region. After TARAWA returned home in April 1985 she completed another maintenance and upkeep period prior to resuming training and readlness exercises ' preparation for her next deployment. In June 1986 TARAWA deployed for the fifth time to the Western Pacific I May 1987 TARAWA began a comprehensive overhaul which lasted through May of inf i a ' ' ' S gu r f f . ' ff e . pat ' . In an f p l1t1c l nr t r 1 h ' ' D Th U ds su t tas h a ot sh 1 h it ' ' ' ' int ' ca . o L. . , . . , , S b - The Eagle of the Seal' began her second deployment in October 1980 with a g ' 0 P , f . - Sh P t ' ' ' J t 'lt y ' 1th 11' in ' ' ' 1n s . , I1 6

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Captain Gregory C. Butler Chief Of Staff Commander, Amphibious Squadron ONE Captain Gregory C. Butler graduated from Chico State College in California and was commissioned anEnsign in May, 1970 through the Reserves Officer Candidate program. His first tour of duty was aboard the USS TULARE CLKA- 1123 where he served as Boat Engineering Officer. Assistant Operations Officer and Navigator through two cruises to the Western Pacific. He served as Flag Lieutenant to Commander. U.S. Naval Forces Philippines in Subic Bay, R.P. from 1975, where the staff participated in refugee evacuation efforts after the collapse of South Vietnam. Captain Butler attended the Surface Warfare School Com- mand Department Head course and reported to subsequent tours on USS MANLEY CDD 9403 as Operations Officer and USS PENSACOLA QLSD 383 as First Lieutenant. Commencing in January 1981. Captain Butler attended the Armed Forces Staff College. Norfolk. Virginia, and in July ofthat year was assigned to the staff of Commander, U.S. Naval Surface Forces Atlantic. During that tour he served as the Force Plans Officer. His subsequent tours included duty as Executive Officer of USS DENVER CLPD 93 from November 1983 until January 1986, and Operations Officer on the staff of Commander, Amphibious Squadron ONE from February 1986 until May 1988. From December 1988 until December 1990, Captain Butler commanded the USS ANCHORAGE CLSD 363 homeported in Long Beach. CA. USS ANCHORAGE deployed 01 December 1990 in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD. Upon detach- ment from the USS ANCHORAGE. Captain Butler assumed the duties as Chief of Staff Officer for Commander, Amphibious Squadron ONE. Captain Butler's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal. the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal and the Naval Reserve Meritorious Medal in addition to various campaign awards. Captain Butler is married to the former Kathy Metherd of Red Bluff. California. They have a daughter, Shannon, and son. Matthew. MMCMCSW3 Nestor G. Flores Command Master Chief Amphibious Squadron ONE Master Chief Petty Officer Nestor G. Flores is a native of Pangasinan, Philippines. He graduated High School from University of the East, Caloocan City, Philippines and enlisted in the United States Navy from Subic Bay Naval Station in June 1973. Following recruit training at Recruit Training Command, San Diego, he was assigned to USS SIMON LAKE QAS-333 in Rota, Spain Master Chief Flores attended Machinist Mate Class A School in Great Lakes, Illinois and later assigned to the USS VREELAND QFF-10683. His subsequent sea duty tours included the USS MONTICELLO CLSD-353, USS AN- CHORAGE CLSD-363, and USS DIXON QAS-373. From November 1986 until April 1990, Master Chief Flores served as a Recruit Company Commander in Recruit Training Command, San Diego. In May 1990 he reported to the Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, Rhode Island, followed by the Senior Enlisted Propulsion Engineering Course in Great Lakes, Illinois in July 1990. Master Chief Flores assumed the duties as Command Master Chief and Assistant Material Officer for Commander, Amphibious Squadron ONE in October 1990. Master Chief Flores' personal awards include the Navy Achievement Medal in addition to various campaign and service medals. Master Chief Flores is married to the former Magi Macanas Del Castillo of Pangasinan, Philippines. They have two sons, Daniel and Joseph. 5

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1988. In July 1987, TARAWA won the Admiral Flatley award for the third time. In late May of 1988, TARAWA rejoined the Pacific Fleet to resume training and readi- ness exercises in preparation for her next deployment. TARAWA began her sixth operational deployment in July of 1989. She partici- pated in joint military exercises in Thailand before returning to San Diego in De- cember, 1989. In May, 1990, TARAWA participated in Fleet Exercise RIMPAC-90, the largest peacetime ship movement since World War II, serving as flag ship for Commander, Amphibious Group THREE and the FIFTH marine Expeditionary Brigade. Between June and October 1990, TARAWA underwent a four-month repair avail- ability at Long Beach Naval Shipyard. Forty-eight days later she deployed to the Arabian Gulf as the flagship of a thirteen-ship amphibious task force on 1 December, 1990 in support of Operations Desert Shield!Storm. It was the largest such deployment since the Vietnam conflict in 1965. Embarked were the Commander, Amphibious Group THREE and the FIFTH Marine Expeditionary Brigade. TARAWA participated in amphibious assault exercise Sea Soldier IV in Oman in January as a rehearsal for the proposed landing into Kuwait. On 24 February 1991, TARAWA landed elements of the FIFTH Marine Expeditionary Brigade into Saudi Arabia just south of the Kuwait border to join up with the FIRST Marine Expe ditionary Force in liberating Kuwait. In May, TARAWA departed the Arabian Gulf and was diverted to Bangladesh to render twoiweeks of humanitarian assistance to typhoon victims in Operation Sea Angel. The 2000 tons of rice delivered by TARAWA's helicopters and landing craft helped more than 1.5 million inhabitants of southeast Bangladesh. TARAWA, the proud Eagle of the Sea returned home to America's Finest City in June of 1991. In September 1992, TARAWA underwent a brief upkeep period that lasted until December. In May 1992, TARAWA began her eighth operational deployment. She partici- pated in Operation Eager Mace 92-3 and was also involved in providing command and control for the movement of Pakistani troops to the famine-stricken country of So- malia. In November 1992, TARAWA returned to her homeport of San Diego.