Bunker Hill (CG 52) - Naval Cruise Book

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Executive Officer LCDR Robert T. Stengel Biography LCDR Stengel, a native of Rock Island, IL, is a 1990 graduate of the University of Chicago with a Bachelors Degree in Biology. Commissioned through the NROTC Program at the Illinois Institute of Technology, he attended Surface Warfare Officers School in San Diego, CA and then reported to USS DAVID R RAY (DD 971 ) home ported Long Beach, CA. After completing tours as Gunneiy Officer and Combat Information Center Officer, he attended the U.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, VA. LCDR Stengel then attended Department Head School and reported as Operations Officer in USS OLDENDORF (DD 972) home ported San Diego, CA. He then reported for a second Operations Officer tour, joining USS CHANCELLORSVILLE (CG 62) in Yokosuka, Japan. CHANCELLORSVILLE served as Air Defense Commander for Battle Force Seventh Fleet and earned two Battle E ' s during his tour. LCDR Stengel then joined the staff of Commander Carrier Group ONE where he served as Surface Strike Officer. He then reported to Commander Afloat Training Group Pacific for duty as the head of Cruise Missile Training. LCDR Stengel joined USS BUNKER HILL (CG 52) in March 2004.

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Phiilo NH4;j7J I ' SSBunkfrHillalM-j Pholourapli aulogrjphcj bj Adm Arleigh A Burke USS BUNKER HILL (CV 17) The Holiday Express CV 17. the first vessel to bear the name BUNKER HILL, was launched 7 December 1942 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy, Mass. She was commissioned 24 May 1943, Captain J. J. Ballentine in command. Reporting to the Pacific in the fall of 1943. Bunker Hill participated in carrier operations during the Rabaul strike, Gilbert Islands operation, Kavieng strikes, Marshall Islands operation, strikes against Chunk, Marinas raid, Palau-Yap-Ulithi-Woleai raids, Chuuk-Satawan-Ponape raids, Hollandia operation, and Marianas operation, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea. During the remaining months of WWII, Bunker Hill participated in the Iwo Jima operation, the 5th Fleet raids against Honshu and the Nansei Shoto, and the 5th and 3rd Fleet raids in support of the Okinawa operation. On 7 April 1945 Bunker Hill ' s aircraft took part in a fast earner task force attack on a Japanese naval force in the East China Sea. During the US attack, the Japanese superbattleship, Yamato, one cruiser, and four destroyers were sunk. On the morning of 1 1 May 1945, while supporting the Okinawa invasion. Bunker Hill was hit and severely damaged by two suicide planes. The ship suffered the loss of 346 men killed, 43 missing, and 264 wounded. Although badly crippled, she managed to return to Bremerton, WA via Pearl Harbor. In September 1945, Bunker Hill reported for duty with the Magic Carpet fleet. She remained on this duty as a unit of TG 16.12, returning veterans from the Pacific until January 1946 when she was ordered to Bremerton for inactivation. She was placed out of commission in reserve on 9 January 1947. While laid up, she was reclassified three times, finally becoming AVT-9 in May 1959; the latter designation indicating that any future commissioned duty would be as an aircraft transport. Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in November 1966, Bunker Hill was used as a stationary electronics test platform at San Diego during the 1960s and early 1970s. She was sold for scrapping in May 1973. Bunker Hill received the Presidential Unit Citation for the period 1 1 November 1943 to 1 1 May 1945. In addition, she received 1 1 battle stars for her service during WWII.

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Command Masterchief CMDCM(AW) Craig A. Beitinger CMDCM(AW) Beitinger was bom in San Diego, Cali- fornia and graduated from Gunderson High School in San Jose, California. He joined the United States Navy on 12 October 1981 under the delayed entry program and re- ported for recruit training at Recruit Training Command, San Diego, California on 1 March 1982. After gradua- tion he attended Intelligence Specialist (IS) A School at the Armed Forces Air Intelli- gence Training Center, Lowry Air Force Base, Denver Colo- rado. Seaman Apprentice Beitinger ' s first duty station was USS Ranger (CV-61) home ported in San Diego, where he completed his first Western Pacific Indian Ocean (WESTPAC IO) deployment. He then transferred to instructor duty at the Fleet Intelligence Training Center, Pacific as a Second Class Petty Officer. Petty Officer Beitinger was selected to Petty Officer First Class and reported to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron One Three Eight (VAQ-138)NASWhidbey Island, Washington. While assigned to VAQ-138 he made his second WESTPAC 10 deployment on board USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and a South American deployment on board USS Constellation (CV-64). Following his transfer to Commander, Medium Attack Tactical Electronic Warfare Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet he was selected for advancement to Chief Petty Officer. Chief Beitinger first sea duty assignment as a Chief Petty Officer was aboard USS Nimitz (CVN-68) home ported in Bremerton, Washington where he made his third WESTPAC IO deployment. He then transferred to Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and was subsequently selected for Senior Chief Petty Officer. Senior Chief Beitinger attended the Senior Enlisted Academy and graduated with honors and reported to Precommissioning Unit (PCU)IwoJima(LHD-7) in Pascagoula, Mississippi (Plank Owner). Master Chief Beitinger transferred to the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center and subsequently to the Center for Naval Intelligence, Dam Neck Virginia. He was selected for the Command Master Chief Program in February 2004 and reported on board USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) in August 2004. Master Chief Beitinger ' s awards include one Meritorious Service Medal, four Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and various unit and campaign awards.