Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31) - Naval Cruise Book

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Captain erard F. Colleran, Commanding fficer Captain Gerard F. Colleran was born in Boston, Massachusetts on October 11, 1921. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy as a Mid- shipman in 1939 and was commissioned Ensign upon graduation in June 1942. During World War II Captain Colleran served as Engineering Division Officer aboard the USS ATLANTA which was sunk at Guadal- canal in November, 1942. He later reported aboard the USS BUNKER HILL as Fire Control Division Officer. For service aboard the ATLANTA and BUNKER HILL he received two Presidential Unit Citations. Captain Colleran's next duty station was the USS SPRING- FIELD where he served as Fire Control Division Officer. In July, 1945, he entered flight training at the Naval Air Station, Dallas, Texas, where he was designated a Naval Aviator in Novem- ber, 1946. He reported to FIGHTER SQUADRON 8A in June, 1947, as Operations Officer, and later became Executive Officer and Acting Commanding Officer. In July, 1949, he joined the Staff of Comman'der Fleet Air, at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, as Fighter Squadron Training Officer. From January 1951 to May 1953, he served as Guided Missiles Project Officer at the Navy Department's Bureau of Ordnance. . His next two years were spent as Executive Officer of FIGHTER SQUADRON 72. Captain Colleran later reported to the Naval War College for a Command and Staff Course. Upon graduation he was assigned to the Navy Department in Washington, where he served as head of Combat Air and Special Weapons Section, Plans Branch, Avionics Division. In February 1959, he was assigned to CARRIER AIR WING TWELVE, and in July 1959, became Commanding Officer of FIGHTER SQUAD- RON 191. While serving as Operations Officer aboard the USS MIDWAY in 1962, he was ordered for service with the Navy Department to head the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Section. In July 1964, he assumed command of the fleet oiler USS TALUGA QAO-621. He assumed the duties of Commanding Officer BON HOMME RICHARD on December 9, 1965. Captain Colleran has been awarded the American ,Defense,.American Theatre, Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Q14 Starsl, Philippine Lib- eration, World War II Victory, European Occupation, Korean Service, and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals. In addition to two Presi- dential Unit Citations, he also wears the Bronze Star and Commendation Ribbon. ' ' 'Y' . Y -..K ' '-41: -5' -'- van- J- -- .. .Lin.1f 'jg..,,.,..,,.::.z7..z531-'Jie W, i, MNA:-,,MjNTVH-:Y

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aptain . I ,f K Harold F. Lang, I Chief Qf staff, ComCarDiv EVE Captain Harold F. Lang, Chief of Staff for Commander Carrier Division SEVEN, was appointed to the U. S. Naval Academy from his native New Jersey in 1939. Upon his graduation and commissioning on June 19, 1942, he was ordered to the cruiser MILWAUKEE. While aboard the MILWAUKEE he participated in the Murmansk Run - convoy and anti-submarine duty around the northern capes of Norway protecting munitions destined for the Russian war effort through the port of Murmansk. He was assigned to the cruiser SALT LAKE CITY in October 1944, where he served through the invasions of Iwo Jima-and Okinawa, and the subsequent occupation of Japan. He attended flight schools at Pensacola and Jacksonville, Florida, and was designated a Naval Aviator in August 1947. His first avia- tion assignment was with Attack Squadron 18-A flying TBM 'fAvengers and AD Skyraiders. After training at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland, he became an armamentfweapons test pilot and served as Branch Engineering Director at the Center until April 1953. During the Korean War Captain Lang served as executive officer and acting commanding officer of Fighter Squadron 143, flying F9F-6 Cougar jets from the aircraft carrier ESSEX. In August 1954 he was assigned to the staff of Commander Fleet Air Hawaii as Attack Carrier and Air Group Training Officer. During a tour as Air-to-Air Guided Missile and Space Projects Officer at the Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake, Calif., he began studying for a masters degree in Dynamics and Space Technology through the University of California. He received his degree in 1961. Captain Lang became commanding officer of Heavy Attack Squadron SEVEN in October 1958, and assumed command of Carrier Air Group SEVEN in March 1960. He then served as Operations Officer of the nuclear-powered attack aircraft carrier ENTERPRISE, program manager for all-weather attack aircraft in the Bureau of Naval Weapons, commanded the fleet oiler KANKAKEE and the super-carrier SARATOGA, and assumed the duties of Chief of Staff of Carrier Division SEVEN in November 1966. In addition to the Bronze Star QOkinawa - 19453 and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal fDominican Republic Expeditionjg Captain Lang wears the American Defense Service Medal, China Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal fwith three starsjz Philippine Liberation Ribbong European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal fwith two starsjg Victory Medal fWorld War 1111 Navy Occupation Service Medal fjapanlg Korean Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

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Captain I Charles . uiz, Commanding fficer Charles Kenneth Ruiz was born in Rock Island, Illinois, on July ll, 1921. He attended Ysleta fTexasJ High School and Rutherford Preparatory School, Long Beach, prior to entering the U. S. Naval Academy on appointment from the state of Texas in 1939. Graduated and commissioned an Ensign on June 19, 1942, he subsequently advanced in rank to that of Captain, to date from July 1, 1962. Highlights from Captain Ruiz's career included duty in USS VINCENNES QCA-405, which was sunk during the first battle of Savo Island. He then transferred to submarine duty and completed nine war patrols in the Pacific in USS POLLOCK CSS-1801. His next sub- marine assignment was Executive Officer and Navigator of USS S-14 QSS-1 191. Captain Ruiz is qualified for submarine command. From submarine duty Captain Ruiz entered Flight Training, and upon being designated as a Naval Aviator, he joined Fighter Squad- ron TWELVE. He next served as Acceptance Test Pilot for Phantom and Banshee aircraft at McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, then as Operations Officer, USS CORREGIDOR QCVE-581. He served as Executive Officer of Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWO during the Korean conflict. Captain Ruiz was a student at the Naval War College Newport R I before reporting as Executive Assistant to th Ch' f f h B , , . ., e ie o t e u- reau of Aeronautics, Navy Department, Washington, D.C. He attended a refresher course in air weapons after which he commanded Attack Squadron SEVENTY-TWO, the first A4D squadron, which had Mediterranean deployment in USS RANDOLPH. ' While serving on the Staff of Commander SECOND Fleet, Captain Ruiz was detached for fitting out duty in USS CONSTELLATION QCVA-643 at the New York Naval Shipyard. He became Executive Officer upon her commissioning, October 27, 1961. From July 1962 to June 1964 he was Commander Strike Fleet, Atlantic Representative in Europe, after which he commanded USS DIAMOND HEAD QAE-19 . D h ' ' ' 1 I J etac ed in July 1965, he next attended the National War College, and in September 1966, reported for instruc- tion in advanced management at the Graduate School of Business Administration, Harvard University. In September 1966, he was ordered to duty as Commanding Officer ol the BON HOMME RICHARD. Captain Ruiz's decorations include the Silver Star Medal Commendation Ribbon with Combat V th P 'f' C D , , e acl ic ampaign Medal is ith one silver star and four bronze stars, and the Submarine Combat Insignia with three stars.