Camden (AOE 2) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 11 text:

THE CEREMONY The Change of Command Ceremony is a time honored tradition which formally restates to the officers and men of the command, the con- tinuity of command. It is a formal ritual conducted before the assembled com- pany of the command. The Change of Command of a naval ship is unique in the world today; it is the transfer of total responsibility, authority and accoun- tability from one individual to another individual. PROGRAM Band Concert National Anthem Invocation LCDR THOMAS A. SCHULTZ Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy Farewell Remarks and Reading of Orders CAPTAIN RICHARD T. THOMAS U.S. Navy Reading of Orders and Remarks CAPTAIN DONAI D L. FELT U.S. Navy Presentation of Commission Pennant Benediction Ceremony Concluded

Page 10 text:

CHANGE OF COMMAND of UNITED STATES SHIP CAMDEN AOE-2 MAN-OF-WAR ANCHORAGE SINGAPORE 4 NOVEMBER 1974

Page 12 text:

c IVI A N D I N G F F I C E R CAPT. DONALD L. FELT, USN Captain FELT was commissioned upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1953, and sub- sequently served in the Pacific Fleet Attack Transport, GEORGE CLYMER (APA-27). Upon completion of flight training in 1956, Cap- tain FELT served in Attack Squadron Thirty-Four for four years. During this period the squadron com- pleted two deployments to the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean in SARATOGA (CVA-60), participating in the U.S. response to the Lebanon crisis in 1958. From 1960 to 1963, Captain FELT studied at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, graduating with the Degree of Aeronautical Engineer. He then again served in Attack Squadron Thirty-Four as Operations Officer. Captain FELT sailed in Vietnam waters during 1966-1967 as Strike Operations Officer in INTREPID (CVS-II) flying combat missions in the A4 Skyhawk over South Vietnam with the embarked squadrons. Later he assumed the duties of Executive Officer of Attack Squadron Twenty-Seven, a newly forming A7 Corsair II squadron. After a 1968 WESTPAC deploy- ment, Captain FELT assumed command of the squadron for a second tour off Vietnam in CONSTELLATION (CVA-64) in 1969-1970. During this tour he flew over 225 combat missions in the Corsair. A succession of staff jobs followed: CINCPACFLT as Air Operations Officer; OPNAV (OP-60) as Aviation Plans, then FHead, Pacific Area Plans Section; and to date, as Chief, LANT SOUTH AL-REDCOM Division, J-3, Organization of the joint Chiefs of Staff. Captain FELT has been awarded the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Air Medal (22 Strike Flight Awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (4 awards with Combat V), and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. Captain FELT is married to the former Marguerite Synon. They have five children: Kitty (16), Mimi (14), Liz (12), George (9), and Sara (6).