Camden (AOE 2) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 10 text:

Tir i ik

Page 9 text:

Captain R. Stringfellow Captain R. T. Thomas

Page 11 text:

CAMDEN welcomes not only a new Commanding Of- ficer with this 1973 Cruise Book, but welcomes his lovely wife, Marion, and his three daughters, Kathy, Jean, and Janet, and son, John. Although Captain Thomas has com- manded CAMDEN for the better part of 1973, the deploy- ment has delayed the meeting of his family until this time. Welcome to CAMDENl! Captain Richard T. THOMAS was born in Chamberlain. South Dakota. Upon graduation from Custer High School in 1947, he attended the University of Nebraska under the Naval Reserve Officer Training Program and was commissioned an Ensign in 1951. His first duty assignment was aboard the USS PRINCETON (CV-37), where he served during the Korean War. After basic flight training at Pensacola Florida and multi-engine at Hutchinson, Kansas, Captain THOMAS began a progressive ASW tour with Patrol Squadron 48 followed by a three year tour as a Formation Flight Instructor with Training Squadron 3 at Milton, Florida and a second shipboard tour on USS ANTIETAM (CVS- 36) where he served as Maintenance Officer (V-6) and Communications Department head until February 1963. In July 1965, following a tour as Maintenance and Operations Officer with Patrol Squadron 8. Captain THOMAS commenced a year ' s post-graduate training at Monterey, California, where he earned a Master ' s Degree in Financial Management. In 1967, he was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff where, after a year learning basic staff disciplines, he was assigned as the only Navy member of a five man liaison team responsible to the Executive Secretary of the State Department Operations Center. For his outstanding work during this tour he was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal. In March of 1969, Captain THOMAS reported to Patrol Squadron 5 as Executive Officer and a year later relieved as Commanding Officer of the MAD FOXES. In January 1971, Captain THOMAS reported to the USS LEXINGTON (CVT-16) as the ship ' s Navigator and on 15 July 1971, assumed the duties as Executive Officer. In July 1972, he reported to Chief of Naval Air Training Staff as a Plans Officer where he served until his assign- ment in March 1973 as Commanding Officer, USS CAMDEN. Captain THOMAS is married to the former Marian Roberts of McCook, Nebraska. The Thomas ' residing in the Bremerton area. are now HHWS!? ' if(( i ?