Blue Ridge (LCC 19) - Naval Cruise Book

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.-.--« Commander Amphibious Group One, who also serves as Commander Amphibious Force, U. S. Seventh Fleet, and Commander Task Force 76, is tasked v ith directing and coordinating the movement and actions of the amphibious ships deployed to the Western Pacific. During times of strife, the group com- mander is responsible for one of the most complex forms of modern warfare — the amphibious assault. In such an operation, his main concern is placing a hardhitting Marine landing force ashore and keeping it there. Now, however, with the Navy operating in a peacetime existence. Commander Amphib- ious Group One has found his major concern somewhat altered. At present the major task of the U. S. Navy pertains to the training and readiness of its various units. This holds true in the Amphibious Force also and was exemplified by the major exercises BLUE RIDGE and other gator ships participated in during 1973. Included were a major operation with South Korean forces and two amphibious exercises with Naval Forces from the Republic of the Philippines. CTF-76 MISSION

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COMMANDER W. C. HOLT 37 Dec. 71 to 15 Sept 73 Commander William C. Holt, a native of West Palm Beach, Florida, was commissioned in 1958 at the Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. A graduate of Palm Beach Junior College and Florida State University, his initial service was as Engineering Officer aboard the ice breaker USS BURTON ISLAND. Visiting Antarctica once and the Arctic three times, BURTON ISLAND was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation during this period for scientific achievement in the Bellinghausen Sea, Antarctica. In 1961 Commander Holt was assigned to the destroyer USS BLUE as Operations Officer and in 1963 he became an instructor and scheduling officer at Fleet Training Group, San Diego, California. From 1966 to 1967 he was the Executive Officer of the destroyer escort USS PARLE. He subsequently served a two year tour as Surface Operations Officer on the staff of Commander U. S. SIXTH Fleet aboard the cruiser USS LITTLE ROCK, where he was awarded the Navy Commenda- tion Medal. Commander Holt was then assigned to the office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D.C., where he was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal as Manpower Coordinator in the planning of the new NIMITZ class nuclear aircraft carriers and the SSN-688 class fast attack nuclear submarines. Commander Holt assumed the Position of Executive Officer aboard USS BLUE RIDGE in January of 1972 and served in that capacity until September of 1973 when he left to take command of the USS MOUNT VERNON. Commander Holt is married to the former Georgina Joyce of Everett, Washington. The couple and their two sons reside in San Diego, California.

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REAR ADMIRAL W. D. TOOLE, JR. July 1972 to April 1973 X Rear Admiral W. D. Toole, Jr., was born in Augusta, Ga. He studied at the University of South Carolina, the University of North Carolina and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland in 1955. In addition, he has graduated from the U.S. Naval Intelligence School, the U. S. Naval Flight Program, the National War College and received a Masters degree from George Washington University in 1967. On receiving his commission as an Ensign in 1946, he was assigned to the USS PAUL G. BAKER. In February 1947 he reported to the USS KLONDIKE followed by duty on the USS GEORGE CLYMER. He returned to Washington, D.C. in 1948 and served at the Naval Communication Station until December 1949. Rear Admiral Toole entered the Naval flight training program in 1950 and received his wings in August 1951. He flew with Patrol Squadron 10 until February 1954 and then was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations as liaison officer with the Headquarters, Directorate of Intelligence, U. S. Air Force. In April 1957, he reported to the staff of Commander Middle East Force as Aide and Flag Lieutenant. In December 1958 he joined Airborne Early Warning Squadron Four, the Navy ' s Hurricane Hunters. After flying two storm seasons. Rear Admiral Toole then reported to the Bureau of Naval Personnel in November 1960. In June 1963 he became Operations Officer of Patrol Squadron Seven and subsequently served as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of the squadron. In August 1966 he attended the National War College and upon graduation was assigned as the executive assistant to the Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy for Manpower. In February 1968 he was reassigned as Naval Aide and Executive Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Prior to assuming command of USS IWO JIMA, he was the commanding officer of the USS MISPILLION, a jumboized fleet oiler. Following his tour as CO of the IWO JIMA he took over as Commander Amphibious Group One and Commander Amphibious Force, U. S. Seventh Fleet. He served in that post from July of 1972 until April of 1973. From there he went on to assume the position of Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Force, U. S. Seventh Fleet. Vi ' I