USS Tarawa (LHA 1) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 8 text:

Captain Braden J. Phillips Commander, Amphibious Squadron ONE Captain Braden J. Phillips is a native of Lockport, New York. He graduated from Lockport Senior High School and enrolled at the U. S. Naval Academy, where he graduated and was commissioned with the class of 1968 Following flight training, he earned his wings in August 1969 and was assigned to VT- 27 at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas as a SERGRAD fSelected Retained Graduatej fly- ing the TS-2A. He was named Instructor of the Year in 1971. Following RAG training in the S-2E with VS-30, he reported to VS-22 at NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island in April 1972. In August 1972, he participated in the VS-22 detachment to augment VRC-50 flying the C-lA from Da Nang Airbase, Republic of Vietnam to the carriers on Yankee Station. In June 1973, he again cross decked to join the World Famous Hukkers of VS-28 embarked in USS INDEPENDENCE CCVA-621 for a Medi- terranean deployment and the final evaluation of the CV concept. In January 1974, he reported to the U. S. Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California where he earned a Master of Sci- 4 ence Degree in Financial Management. From October 1975 to November 1977 he served in USS MIDWAYCCV-411, homeported in Yokosuka, Japan, as Navy Tactical Data Sys- tems!Anti-Air Warfare Officer and Operations Administrative Assistant. Hits next tour of duty was with the Director, Fiscal Manage- ment Division COP-923 in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, from January 1978 to September 1979. He has been designated a Proven Sub-specialist in Financial Manage- ment since 1979. Following jet transition in October 1979, Captain Phillips joined VS-41 at NAS North Island, San Diego, California for training in the S-3A Viking. He reported to VS-24 at NAS Cecil Field, Florida in October 1980 and completed a Mediterranean deployment on board USS NIMITZ CCVN-681 as Squadron A Operations Officer. Following a brief tour on ' the Staff of Commander, Air Anti-Submarine Wing One, he reported as Executive Officer of VS-28 in November 1982. In 1982, VS-28 embarked on a Caribbean!Mediterranean! North Atlantic deployment which included combat operations of Grenada and Lebanon. In May 1984, he assumed command of VS-28 and subsequently completed a Mediterranean! Indian Ocean deployment in USS INDEPEN- DENCE KCV-623. In January 1986, Captain Phillips re- ported as Assistant for Congressional Appro- priations Matters in the Office of the Navy Comptroller, Director of Budgets and Reports CNCBJ. Captain Phillips then commanded VS- 27 ,the East Coast S-3B Fleet Replacement Squadron, from January 1988 to February 1989. He commanded USS OGDEN QLPD-SJ from October 1989 to May 1991. OGDEN, as a component of Amphibious Squadron Five, was deployed for 301 days in support of Op- erations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. OGDEN was involved in several Multi-National Maritime Interception Opera- tions prior to hostilities and evacuated 1,413 Iraqi Prisoners of War from Faylaka Island after the cease fire. Captain Phillips assumed command as Commander, Amphibious Squadron One in October 1991. His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal Cwith two gold starsj and the Navy Achievement Medal. Captain Phillips is married to the Susan Louise Garrett of Jacksonville, Florida, Their at Los former who is a Personal Fitness Instructor. daughter, Blake Elizabeth, is a junior Alamitos High School. The Phillips family resides in Los Alamitos, California. l

Page 7 text:

Captain Charles D. Carey,III Executive Officer Captain Charles D. Carey, III of Chicago, IL received his commission in 1970 upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy. On his first duty assignment he served as Navigator on USS DECATUR CDDG-315. He then re- ported to USS HENRY B. WILSON CDDG- 71 as the Fire Control Officer. Capt. Carey has additional sea duty as Operations Officer on USS HOEL CDDG-13J, Engineer on USS JOUETTCCG- 291, Executive Officer on USS BRADLEY QPF-10413, and Commanding Officer of USS HEPBURN CFF-1055j. He also served as Chief of Staff for DESRON 13. Capt. Carey has been assigned ashore as Nuclear Power Officer Re- cruiter for Navy Recruiting District, Indianapolis and Personnel Policy Coor- dinator for OPNAV-13. Capt. Carey is married to the former Sandy J. Peck of Palos Verdes Est, CA. They have two daughters, Stephanie and Christina, and a son, Sean. li Nuwff' , ap, . 1fa,.., 1 1 P 1 iff Ir ia I GMCM Earl W. Brandon Jr. Command Master Chief Master Chief Brandon enlisted in the Navy in January 1965. He received basic training at Recruit Training Command, San Diego, CA. After completion of basic training he was assigned to the USS Hopewell QDD-6811. His next assignment was to the Naval Support Activity, Da Nang, Vietnam, followed by a tour at the Naval Magazine, Subic Bay, Philippines. He was briefly assigned to the Pre-commissioning crew of USS Midway, before being assigned to Naval Sta- tion, Stangley Point, Philippines. After the closing of Stangley Point, he went back to Subic Bay to complete his tour in the Philippines. In May 1978 he reported on board USS Okinawa QLPH-31. During his tour he advanced to Chief Petty Officer. Then came a tour as Navy Recruiter in Zanesville, Ohio. While assigned to recruiting duty he advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer. In December 1983 he reported to USS O'Brien CDD-9753. During his tour on O'Brien he was advanced to Master Chief Petty Officer and subsequently assumed duties as Command Master Chief. In September 1986 he reported to USS Belleau Wood QLHA-31. Where he also assumed duties as Command Master Chief. For his next assignment he was selected to head up the Commander Naval Surface Force Pacific Fleet Combat Systems Assessment Team. In January 1989 Master Chief Brandon reported to the USS TARAWA QLHA-lj as the Command Master Chief. During his tourhe was part of operations that included support of Desert Shield!Storm and Operation Sea Angel in Bangladesh. Master Chief Brandon's personal awards in- clude, the Navy Commendation Medalftwo gold starsj, the Navy Achievement Medalfone gold starj, and other Unit and Campaign awards. He is married to the former Clarina Buenaobra, they have one son, Melchor. , 3

Page 9 text:

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