Whidbey Island (LSD 41) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDER OF TROOPS CAPT Ralph Hershfelt III was born in Tupelo, MS on May 7, 1972. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves in 1991. After attending Officer Candi- date School QOCSD, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1996. He graduated from The Basic School QTBSJ and the Infantry OfHcer's Course CIOCJ in February and September of 1997, respectively. CAPT HershfeIt's lirst assignement was to 2 d Bat- talion, 1S' Marines in Camp Pendleton, CA, and he deployed with the 11th MEU, where he served as Weapons Platoon Commander and Company Ex- ecutive Ofticer. After attending the MAGTF Intelli- gence Course QMIOC5 in July 2000, he was then assigned to 3'dAABN as the Battalion Intelligence Oficer in January 2001. His following assignment was to 2nd Battalion 4 l Marines as the Battalion ln- telligence Ofticer and he subsequently deployed to Okinawa with the 315' MEU from August 2002 to June 2003. CAPT Hershfelt attended the Expedi- tionary Warfare QEWSI School in Ouantico, Va in July of 2003 and upon grduation from EWS, he was assigned to 15' Battalion 8 ' Marines, assuming the duties of Assistant Operations Officer, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom ll. Deployed as Com- pany Commander of BCO, BLT 118 with the 24th MEU QSOCI from June 2006 to December 2006, CAPT Hershfelt served as USS WHIDBEY lSLAND's Commander of Troops QCOTQ, l 'L-lb A 84

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FIRST SERGEANT First Sergeant Willie Drains was born in Americus, GA on December 20, 1964. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in January, 1984 and attended the Basic Engineer School QBESD. He was assigned to 91' Engineer Support Battalion, Okinawa Japan in March 1984. His next assignment was to 298 Combat Engineer Battalion in July of 1985 and he was later assigned to HQ Platoon as a Supply NCD in June 1986. First Sergeant Drains next reported to Headquarters and Service Company as an instructor at Engineer Training Area and subsequently to Marine Barracks Ground Defense Security Force. Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. ln 1991, he reported to Marine Corps Engineer School as an instructor and, in January 1995, First Sergeant Drains reported to Parris island, SC as a Drill Instructor for 151 Recruit Training Battalion. After completing his Dl tour, he transfered to Camp Lejeune, NC in June 1997 with the 88 Engineer Support Battalion. ln November 2001, he retumed to Pants Island as a Limited Range Dfticer, and Platoon Sergeant. First Sergeant Drains was promoted to his current rank in March 2003 and reassigned in September for duty with Recruit Training Regiment. In June 2005, he reported to Drill instructor School as an instructor. Most recently, First Sergeant Drains was reported to his present duty station with the 15' Battalion, 8 ' Marine Regiment where lie currently served as Company First Sergeant ol B Co. BLT 1!8 with the 24th MEU tSOCi during June 2006 to December 2006. L......:i '45 85 A 5-k