America (CV 66) - Naval Cruise Book

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Capt. Meyer Commanding Officer

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over Southeast Asia. One significant bombing sortie resulted in destruc- tion of the Thanh Hoa bridge, vital link in the Viet Cong supply line form North Vietnam. For this superb war- time performance, both AMERICA and Air Wing Nine were awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation on their return to Norfolk. Allied operation in the Med In July 1971, after a six month overhaul, upkeep and training peri- od, AMERICA left Norfolk for a third Mediterranean deployment, a par- ticular emphasis of this cruise was joint operations with allied navies. These exercises were particularly successful and the ship ' s aircraft re- cord was accident-free. AMERICA returned in December 1971 and six months later was en- route to her third combat deploy- ment to Southeast Asia. She was one of four aircraft carriers on Yan- kee Station the day that the Viet Nam Peace Agreement went into ef- fect. AMERICA returned to Norfolk on 24 March 1973, within one week of the final prisoner of war release and after nearly 300 days away from homeport, AMERICA was awarded her second Meritorious Unit Com- mendation during this cruise. After a three-month maintenance and upkeep period, AMERICA sailed on her fourth deployment to the Mediterranean in early July. The ship was delayed from returning due to the deteriorating situation in Cy- prus. She finally arrived in Norfolk on 3 August after completing more than 8,600 launches without an ac- cident. Three of the squadrons em- barked aboard AMERICA during the cruise were awarded 1974 CNO Air Safety Awards. After a brief period of leave and upkeep in Norfolk, AMERICA re- turned to sea on 6 September 1974 to participate in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) exer- cise Northern Merger. Naval and shore units from nine of the NATO countries participated in the two- week exercises which included a port visit to Portsmouth, England. Following an 11-month shipyard period during which time AMERICA was renovated and adapted for the addition of the S-3 and F-14 aircraft, AMERICA embarked on her fifth Mediterranean deployment on 15 April 1976. An early accomplish- ment of this deployment was the aid provided by the ship in the evacua- tion of American and foreign nation- als during the civil conflict in Leba- non. Midway through the cruise, the ship was notified of its selection to again receive the Admiral Flatley Safety Award in recognition of AMERICA ' S exceptional aircraft safe- ty record. She returned from this deployment in October, 1976. South American goodwill cruise AMERICA rejoined the fleet after a three-month shipyard period in Portsmouth, Virginia. On 10 June 1977, the ship led a five-ship task group that deployed to South Amer- ica. During th is five-week period, AMERICA and other ships of the task group conducted exercises with units of the Brazilian Navy. This marked the first time in history that Brazilian aircraft operated from the deck of an American carrier. 29 September 1977 saw AMERICA leaving Norfolk for her sixth Mediter- ranean deployment. The cruise in- cluded intensive flight operation, participation in the annual NATO National Week XXI fleet exercises and port visits to Italy, Spain, and Yugoslavia. AMERICA returned to her Norfolk homeport in late April 1978. AMERICA entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard in June of 1978 for a three month yard period. Departing the shipyard on 19 June, AMERICA spent the rest of 1978 in training in the Virginia Capes and carribean operating areas. A heavy and successful training schedule in January and early febru- ary of 1979 prepared AMERICA and CVW-1 1, a west coast air wing on its first time aboard AMERICA, for de- ployment together. Departing on 13 March, the AMERICA began her sev- enth deployment to the Mediterra- nean. During the six month long deploy- ment, AMERICA operated under the command of Commander Cruiser Destroyer Group Two, RADM Gor- don R. Nagler, who also served as Commander Carrier Task Group 60.2 while under the operational control of SIXTH Fleet Forces. The AMERICA participated in Several major exercises including Dawn Pa- trol ' 79 and National Week XXVII. AMERICA also made several inter- esting port calls, including Alexan- dria, Egypt and Split, Yugoslavia. AMERICA returned to Norfolk from her Med deployment on 23 September 1979. In her fourteen years of service, USS AMERICA has been awarded the Navy Unit Commendation, two Meritorious Unit Commendation, the National Defense Service Medal, the Viet Nam Service Medal with four battle stars, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (Army level) and the Viet Nam Campaign Medal. Commanding Officers, USS America Capt. Lawrence Heyworth, Jr. 23 JAN 65 - 20 JUL 66 Capt. Donald D. Engen 20 JUL 66 - 31 JUL 67 Capt. Frederick C. Turner 31 JUL 67 - 04 OCT 68 Capt. Richard E. Rumble 04 OCT 68 - 20 DEC 69 Capt. Thomas B. Hayward 20 DEC 69 - 02 NOV 70 Capt. Thomas B. Russell 02 NOV 70 - 07 APR 72 Capt. Burton H. Shepard 07 APR 72-11 APR 73 Capt. Thomas H. Replogle 11 APR 73 - 29 SEP 74 Capt. Daniel G. McCormick 29 SEP 74 - 07 SEP 76 Capt. Robert B. Fuller 07 SEP 76-17 APR 78 Capt. William F. Meyer 17 APR 78 - 23 AUG 79 Capt. Rene W. Leeds 23 AUG 79 - 19

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Captain William F. Meyer was born in Hamler, Ohio, on July 21, 1932. He graduated from Ohio Northern University with a Bachelor of Sci- ence Degree in Civil Engineering and commenced Officers Candidate School on January 19, 1955. Com- missioned on May 6, 1955, he com- pleted flight training and was as- signed to A-96. In April 1958, he was assigned as flight instructor with VA-125. After a tour as special projects pilot for the Bureau of Naval Weapons at North American Aviation, he received re- fresher training prior to becoming Operations Officer of Reconnais- sance Attack Squadron 5. During this tour. Captain Meyer deployed to Southeast Asia aboard the USS RANGER and participated in the first deployment of the RA-5C aircraft. After attending the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia, Captain Meyer became Readiness Officer on the staff of Reconnais- sance Attack Wing ONE. In Septem- ber 1969, he joined RVAH-9 as Ex- ecutive Officer and subsequently as- sumed command of the Squadron. Captain Meyer then attended the Naval War College in Newport. Rhode Island, before assuming com- mand of Carrier Air Wing SEVEN. After assignment as Staff Oper- ations Officer on Carrier Division FOUR, he assumed command of USS CONCORD (AFS 5). After com- pletion of the Senior Officer Ship Material Course in Idaho Falls, Ida- ho, Captain Meyer was assigned as Chief of Staff for Service Group TWO. On 17 April 1978, Captain Meyer assumed command of the USS AMERICA (CV 66). In addition to various campaign and service awards. Captain Meyer wears the Meritorious Service Med- al, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Med- al. Captain Meyer is married to the former Carol Reams of Ada, Ohio. The Meyers have two children: Cathy Elizabeth and Gregory Wil- liam. 21