America (CV 66) - Naval Cruise Book

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The Challenge of the Sea . .T 1 i.

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UNITED STATES SHIP AMERICA CV-66 VOLUME II 1982-1983

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' I ince assuming commana on mj duly 1982, the crew has made me extremely proud to be the four- teenth Commanding Officer of the USS AMERICA. I am sure you all realize the special honor to have command of a ship named for our great country. On top of this is the distinct privilege of working with the finest men our nation has to offer. The recently com- pleted Mediterranean — Indian Ocean cruise proved once again to our nation, the willingness of the USS AMERICA to demonstrate and if necessary, defend those values, ideals, and traditions from which our country was founded. From the Atlantic through the Mediterranean and n to the Indian Ocean the AMERICA ' S presence was felt. You, the crew, carried out our mission admirably from pre-deployment workups through the last day of the cruise. The challenge of long days at sea and limited liberty ports were met with vitality and enthu- siasm. Everytime AMERICA was called upon to per- form she did so flawlessly and with that extra effort that became her hallmark. Even while enjoying liber- ty, you were proud ambassadors of good will who readily gave your time to perform a variety of com- munity oriented projects which brought a little sun- shine into the lives of those less fortunate. Finally, I would like to extend my personal grati- tude to the families and friends who endured this extended separation. Your unselfish efforts in assum- ing domestic responsibilities did not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Join us now, the crew of AMERICA, as we relive our odyssey through the pages of this book. O D. T SCHWAAB CAPT USN Commanding Officer