Monongahela (AO 178) - Naval Cruise Book

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Commanding Commander Lawrence F. Diddlemeyer United States Navy Commanding Officer 5 August 1987 - 1 August 1989 Upon graduation from high school in 1964 CDR Diddlemeyer enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and eighteen months later was selected to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. He graduated and was commissioned an Ensign in June 1969. His first duty assignment was as DASH Officer and 3M Coordinator aboard the Yokosuka homeported destroyer USS LEONARD F. MA- SON (DD 582). He later assumed duties as the USS MASON ' s First Lieutenant and Gunnery Officer. In June 1971. CDR Diddlemeyer was ordered to the Naval Advisory Group Vietnam. After a year of Vietnamese language training, he reported to the West Delta Advisory Element at Chou Doc, Vietnam as the Maintenance Advisor. CDR Diddlemeyer was subsequently evacu- ated to recover from a leg injury and detailed to serve as the Boston Navy Shipyard Athletic Director until attending the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. California in June 1973. Graduating with a Master ' s Degree in Oceanography in June 1975 he reported to the Sur- face Warfare Officers School in Newport. Rhode Island to attend the Department Head Course. In June 1976.CDR Diddlemeyer reported as the Weapons Officer of the Philadelphia home- ported destroyer USS HAROLD J. ELLISON (DD 864). The following year, he completed his qualifications for command aboard USS ELLISON. CDR Diddlemeyer then reported to the fleet oiler USS CANISTEO (AO 99) in February 1 978 as the Operations Officer. He subse- quently assumed the duties of First Lieutenant on board USS CANISTEO during a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea in 1979. After departing USS CANISTEO, CDR Diddlemeyer re- ported to the Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force assuming duties as the Opera- tional Testing Director for towed array sonar systems. In March 1982, CDR Diddlemeyer was assigned as PXO of the new construction fleet oiler PLATTE (AO 186). Follow ing the Executive Officer tour on USS PLATTE, CDR Diddlcmcy er served as the Chief Staff Officer of the staff of Commander Service Squadron FOUR from January 1985 until January 1987. Following shore duty at SERVRON FOUR. CDR Diddlemeyer assumed duties as the Commanding Officer of USS MONONGAHELA (AO 178) on 5 ' August 1987. CDR Diddlemeyer is married to the former Joanne Marie Marenghi of Boston. Massachu- setts. Mrs. Diddlemeyer is a teacher with a Master ' s Degree in Reading. The Diddlemeyer ' s have one daughter Lisa Marie, born in 1978.