Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31) - Naval Cruise Book

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Commander James A. de anahl A Executive fticer James A. de Ganahl was born on August 24, 1924 in Santa Monica, California. He attended St. Anthony's School, Sussex, England, Kent School, Kent, Connecticut, and Bullis Preparatory School, Silver Springs, Maryland. He received his appointment to the U. S. Naval Academy in June 1943. Commander de Ganahl graduated from the Academy on June 5, 1946 with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He was commissioned an Ensign the same day. In August 1946, he reported to the USS RICH QDD 8201 as Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, and also served as Assistant Gunnery Officer and CIC Officer. Detached from the RICH in December 1948, he reported for flight training at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. He was awarded his aviator's wings on September 27, 1950. He then received orders to Composite Squadron TWELVE, andtserved as Team Pilot until August 1953. He was a Gunnery Instructor at Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Barin Field, Foley, Alabama from August 1953 to June 1956. After a tour of duty with Naval Security Group Activity, Bremerhaven, Germany, he served with Heavy Attack Squadron THREE and Heavy Attack Squadron FIVE. He returned to Heavy Attack Squadron THREE in May 1961 and served as Carrier Operations Officer until June 1962. He then reported for duty as Training Officer with Heavy Attack Wing ONE. Commander de Ganahl became Executive Officer of Reconnaissance Attack Squadron NINE in May 1963, and served as RVAH-9's Commanding Officer from .Iune 1964 until June 1965, during which time the squadron deployed on the USS SARATOGA as the first RA5C Vigilante squadron to operate in the Mediterranean. He reported for duty on the staff of Commander, Naval Air Forces, U. S. Atlantic Fleet, and served there as Reconnaissance Training Officer until ordered to the USS BON HOMME RICHARD in June 1966 as Prospective Navigator. Commander de Ganahl reported aboard the BON HOMME RICHARD on September 9, 1966, and became the ship's Executive Officer on June 23, 1967. He holds the Atlantic Theater Ribbon, Europe Occupation Ribbon, World War II-Victory Medal and the Korean Service Medal.

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Commander illiam C. Doak, xecutive fficer Commander William C. Doak entered the AVCAD Program upon graduation from high school in 1943, and was commissioned Ensign and designated a Naval Aviator in 1945. He received fighter operational training in Miami, Florida, and joined his first operational squadron, VF-58, in June of the following year. His next assignments were as a pilot with VF-12 and VX-3. Following this he served as Primary Flight Instructor, NAAS Whiting Field, Florida, student at the first Navy jet Photographic Reconnaissance class at Pensacola, Florida, and in 1953 joined VC-6 where he spent three years aboard various aircraft carriers in the Western Pacific. Devoting the major portion of 1956 at the General Line School in Monterey, California, he next turned to two years scholastic endeav- or at Stanford University, where he earned his AB degree in Political Science. After three months training at the Pacific Fleet Nuclear Weapons Training Center, he served as Assistant Operations Officer, Weapon Employment Officer and Special Weapon Coordinator aboard the USS TICONDEROGA QCVA-143. In August 1961, Commander Doak reported to Utility Squadron SEVEN, NAS North Island, where he served as Maintenance Officer for one year and as Executive Officer for another year. In 1963 he served as Executive Officer of VF-124, and in 1964 assumed command of VF-51 aboard the USS TICONDEROGA. In Octo- ber 1965 he reported to the USS BON HOMME RICHARD for duty as Operations Officer, and in 1966 became Executive Officer. Comman- der Doak has been selected for promotion to Captain. Commander Doak is married to the former Charlotte A. Schreiner of Chadwick, Illinois, and their present address is San Diego, California. ' . ,,,,,, , A +1 -T f-AHL--. -.- ..... .. .. .. , ,, S . ..,.,,,. N.. . .... 1... ,-. Q., M. . .-

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l Commander Carrier Division SEVEN embarked aboard BON HOMME RICH- ARD this deployment on April 14, 1967. Rear Admiral Vincent P. de Poix was commander and his chief of staff was Captain H. F. Lang. The f'Bonnie Dick was no stranger to the flag command which had embarked aboard this veteran aircraft carrier twice before. When they em- barked with us in April it was the begin- ning of their third combat deployment to the waters off the coast of Vietnam and in the Tonkin Gulf. Rear Admiral de Poix 'acted as Yankee Team Commander on three separate occasions starting April 29, 1967. During our last line period he was Yankee Team Commander from July 3 through July 23. As Yankee Team Commander he directed the daily planning and coordina- tion of air strikes over North Vietnam from the three aircraft carriers, in- cluding the Bonnie Dick , on-station in the Tonkin Gulf. As Commander Carrier Division SEVEN, he acted as operational com- mander of his flagship and those ships in company who operated with and sup- ported the mission of the task group. 3.