Blue Ridge (LCC 19) - Naval Cruise Book

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™ jnsi- ible, nain rial ■■; shed REAR ADMIRAL D. B. WHITMIRE Commander, Amphibious Force, U. S. Seventh Fleet 15

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CTF-76 MISSION Commander Amphibious Group ONE, who also serves as Commander Amphibious Force, U. S. Seventh Fleet and Commander Task Force 76, is tasked with directing and coordinating the movement and actions of the amphibious ships deployed to the Western Pacific. Homebased in White Beach, Okinawa, COMPHIBGRU ONE, operating from various flag ships including USS BLUE RIDGE, schedules and controls over thirty ships and craft ranging in size from small Mechanized Landing Craft (LCM ' s) to Helicopter Landing Ships (LPH ' s). He controls Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG ' s) normally com- prised on an LPH, a Landing Platform Dock (LPD), an Assault Cargo Ship (LKA), a Landing Ship Dock (LSD) and one or more Landing Ship Tanks (LST) with em- barked Marines, ready to react to emergency situations anywhere on short notice. During combat, COMPHIBGRU ONE is responsi- ble for the most complex form of warfare imaginable, amphibious assault. In such an operation, his main concern is putting a hard-hitting Marine landing force ashore and keeping it there. In peacetime, his major concern is somewhat altered. At present his major task pertains to training and readiness preparation. This is accomplished through exercises such as Bayanihan. 14

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;■ . .,•?.: . UiHti - Rear Admiral Donald Boone Whitmire entered the Navy in 1 946 following his education at the Univer- sity of Alabama and the US Naval Academy. During his college years he was a standout football player, being named to the College All-American team as a lineman in 1942, 43 and 44. In 1956, he was named to the College Football Hall of Fame, the only Naval Of- ficer presently on active duty so honored. Rear Admiral Whitmire ' s first duties were aboard the destroyers USS LLOYD THOMAS (DD-764), USS FURSE (DD-882) and USS MADDOX (DD-731). He left surface ships for submarine training at New London, Connecticut in 1948, subsequently serving aboard the following subs; USS BLOWER (SS-325), USS BLEN- ny (SS-324), USS GUDGEON (SS-567) and USS RONQUIL (SS-396). Previous ship commands have included USS REDFISH (SS-395), USS SALMON (SS-573) and USS NAVARRO (APA-215). He has also commanded Sub- marine Division ONE HUNDRED TWO and Amphibious Squadron Two. He assumed his present command of Amphibious Group ONE Commander Amphibious Force, U. S. SEVENTH Fleet 21 September 1974. Rear Admiral Whitmire has been awarded the Legion of Merit, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and the Bronze Star with Combat V . He is married to the former Joan Corcoran of Southport, England and has two sons, Robert Donald, an Ensign on the USS HALSEY (CG-23) and Richard Michael, a resident of Panama City, FA. i9 I I ws empr planr CAPTAIN D. T. LAMB Chief of Staff, CTF-76 16 hfin